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Putin spoke for over an hour in a speech heavy with historical references questioning Ukraine's right to sovereignty and alleging the West had cheated Moscow.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.

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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.

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She previously served as a Republican delegate from Frederick County.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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."

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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" " 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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Thomas Flohr

Vista Founder & Chairman

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AIR HAMBURG Embraer Lineage 1000E

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. (<p>Courtesy of Warner Bros.</p>)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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'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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)
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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.

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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"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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.
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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

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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.
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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









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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.









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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









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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









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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.













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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









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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









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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









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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.

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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.









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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.

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Adwoa Safo Absent From Parliament But Present On Tik Tik - VIDEO

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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.





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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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 .

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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.
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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.

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 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

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It sounded nice. None of it happened.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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2022-02-22T13:46+0000

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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

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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

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ukraine

donbass

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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opinion

donbass

ukraine

neo-nazi

donetsk people's republic

lugansk peoples republic

recognition

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"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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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dead

dead fish

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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.

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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

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jens stoltenberg

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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!

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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

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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

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2022-02-22T17:22+0000

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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!

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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

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russia

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.
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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:

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 
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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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(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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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

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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:

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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 

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Here are some trending topics for today, Feb. 21.

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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:

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Here are more of the trending topics from today around the country:

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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.

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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.

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This story was updated to correct Floyds age when he died. He was 46, not 45.

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Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan.

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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.

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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.
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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...
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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.

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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.

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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
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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.

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[ 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[ 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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.'

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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.

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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.

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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.'

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[ 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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(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.

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Those were the last words Crum said he heard from his friend.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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).
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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Volkswagen Cuts Production and Night Shifts as Global Chip Shortage Continues To Hit Automakers

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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.

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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

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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."

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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.
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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.

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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!

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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.



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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.

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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.

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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.


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New youth take-home kits launched by Aboriginal Healing and Wellness aim to promote caring and compassion along with positive Indigenous identity.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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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.)
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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)".

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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.

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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)

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.





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"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.



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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.





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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

***

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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?

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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.
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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.

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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.
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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.




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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.
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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.
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-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.




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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."
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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

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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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
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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.'
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.'

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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.'
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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.'

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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.

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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.'
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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

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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.
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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
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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

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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Warehouses planned for Dutch Springs moved closer to construction Monday when Bethlehem Township gave its approval for the redevelopment.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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

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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

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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?
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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.





. . .
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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. 
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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
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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.

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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.







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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

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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/

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Elate Communications

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+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

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Twitter @Workhuman

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- 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.

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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

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.





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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.





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Commissioning team observing the delivery of first ore to Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 high-pressure-grinding-rolls (HPGR) stockpile on February 18th.





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Assembly of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 flotation cells now is complete and early-stage commissioning activities are underway.





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Mill operator Rachel Museka, collecting pulp-density samples at Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 concentrator.





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Gracia Mbaka Indundu, Senior Operator, at the first two concentrate filter presses, which were supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland.





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Priscille Mandandj, Rachel Museka, Esther Kabiz and Flora Kaj Somp, celebrating the completion of construction of the Phase 2 ball mills.





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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.





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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.





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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.'







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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cops charged him about 5 a.m. with driving under the influence, driving while ability impaired and refusing to take a blood alcohol test.

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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.

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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

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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

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Click Here To See Related Reports on Industrial Salt Market

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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





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*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



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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.







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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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:

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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.

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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

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Figure 2: San Andres Drillhole Location Map

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Figure 3: San Andres 3D Geological Model View Looking Along Strike South to North

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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.



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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

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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.







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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.'







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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 ..

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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



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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.







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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Image 1: Real User Monitoring (RUM)









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[ 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.

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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.

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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.

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[ 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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.
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Since this is International Dark Sky Week, it seemed like a perfect time to addres
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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%..

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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%..

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Yall, solar and wind! she mocked.

Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens, Bronx) is one of the architects behind the ambitious Green New Deal environmentalism proposal.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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But for Putin, Taylor added, the ultimate geopolitical prize has always been Ukraine: the closest, largest East Slavic quote-unquote brother nation.
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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
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com
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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.



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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.

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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.



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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.



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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.

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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.

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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.



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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.




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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

___

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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)

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Joplin, MO (64801)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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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
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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
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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)
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...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.

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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)

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(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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"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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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.

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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.

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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".

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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






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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.
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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..

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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".
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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.
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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
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Family resource center counselors are required by law to perform vision tests for second- and fifth-grade students  a task that proved difficult with old and outdated screening machines.

The 29-year-old machines also required some language comprehension, which meant preschool students, kindergarteners, first-grade and some second-grade students, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) students often couldnt take the tests.

So Krissy Hutchason, Daviess County Public Schools social worker, appealed to the Foundation for DCPS for help to purchase two new vision screening machines. The machines run about $6,000 each.

The Foundation approved Hutchasons request, and she was able to purchase one of the machines in December. Foundation Board Member Casey Hamilton then asked if she could talk with local eye care professionals to see if they would be interested in helping to purchase the second machine.

Hamilton said the response was amazing.

Soon there were donations from RiverPark EyeCare, Advantage EyeCare and Owensboro Family Eye Care totaling $4,500 for the new vision screening machine.

Hamiltons husband, Rob Hamilton, of RiverPark EyeCare, has helped the district perform the vision screenings in the past. He said its important to know as soon as possible if there are any irregularities in children that could impact education.

We were excited to work with the Foundation for DCPS in helping to provide a vision machine for students, he said. Better vision is essential to learning, especially in todays digital world.

The new machines are about the size of a hand-held camera, and have the capability to screen eyes quickly. A photo and information about the students eyes are then available for eye care professionals, which can indicate if the student has any issues.

The new machines will also allow the family resource center coordinators to screen every elementary school student every year.

Vicki Quisenberry, Foundation for DCPS executive director, said the organization is honored to be able to work with local professionals in the community to help provide advanced technology for district staff to benefit students.

We are exceedingly grateful for our active board members, like Casey, who work to create solutions that engage local professionals interested in helping students succeed in the classroom, she said.

Matt Robbins, DCPS superintendent, agreed, and said the district values and appreciates its community partners. The generous support of RiverPark EyeCare, Owensboro Family Eye Care and Advantage Eye Care will make it possible for DCPS to help students with vision issues that district from the classroom.

Thanks to generous eye care professionals in our community, our children can truly look forward to a brighter future without limitations, he said.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
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Faced with a backlog of criminal cases stemming from when courts shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court system has embraced mediation as a way to resolve cases.

Court officials say the process can help move cases to a resolution without having to go to trial. While the process isnt new, mediation has become more common due to the pandemic.

We have been doing felony mediation for years. I have data back to 2007, even, said Malissa Carman-Good, implementation and court services project manager for the Administrative Office of the Courts Information and Technology Service.

We have been doing it for a very long time, and it has been a good and successful program, Carman-Goode said, and said later, we have ramped it up because of the pandemic.

Mediation is a process where a retired judge hears from both sides in a criminal case and gives opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution and defense. The purpose is for the prosecution and defense to get an unbiased view from a judge that has experience both trying cases and hearing them as a judge. The judges go through a training program to learn how to mediate cases.

Daviess Circuit Judge Lisa Payne Jones said she scheduled a mediator to hear three days of cases in her division this month. The process hasnt caught on much in the county yet, Jones said.

Part of it is they havent used it here as much as other places, Jones said. It has been hard for us: We havent done a lot of them to get that ball rolling.

A major death penalty case was resolved by mediation in October, when Matthew A. Adams, 29, took a plea agreement that sent him to prison for life without parole, for the 2018 death of Erica Owen, 28, in her home on Placid Place. Adams pleaded guilty to murder (domestic violence) after a one-day mediation.

Mediators can mediate traffic cases, they can mediate sex abuse cases, and any other felony, Jones said.

Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington said he has ordered mediations when the parties requested them. Because of the delay moving cases caused by the pandemic mediation allows more access to the justice system, Wethington said.

Retired Judge Tyler Gill, who served 26 years as a circuit judge in Logan and Todd counties, said the pandemic required the adoption of mediation on a larger scale.

You need to try some cases, Gill said. But, from a statewide standpoint, because of COVID, there were no cases being tried. We needed to alleviate the backlog.

The process gives a neutral perspective and increases the chances of an agreed-upon solution, Gill said.

The process is voluntary. A defendant can refuse to have his or her case mediated, and can reject any plea offer the prosecution or defense puts forward.

Its by agreement, Wethington said. The parties dont have to mediate. The Commonwealth doesnt have to make an offer. Mediation is an agreement to see if they can attempt to resolve the issue.

The process is also kept confidential, so anything said in mediation cant be used against the defendant if the case eventually goes to trial.

I explain, even though I am a judge, Im not there as a judge. I can make no rulings, and I can give no legal advice, Gill said.

Instead, the mediating judge gives his or her view on how the prosecution and defense might play out at trial.

The defendant and the attorneys have to be open-minded, as does the Commonwealths Attorney, Gill said.

The mediators are able to look at the strengths of both sides, Carman-Goode said.

If the mediation results in a plea agreement, the judge accepting the agreement first asks the defendant about the mediation, such as whether he or she felt the process was fair, Carman-Goode said. If the judge is satisfied, the defendant will then be asked standard questions before accepting a plea, such as whether the plea is being made voluntarily, Carman-Goode said.

Victims can participate, and the state constitution gives victims the right to be heard and be kept informed of all stages of their case.

Victims and defendants, everyone wants to have their say, Gill said.

The prosecutor is the person who ultimately decides whether a plea agreement goes forward.

Gill expects that there will be regular mediation of cases even after the pandemic backlog is eliminated.

Gill said, Getting a neutral person to reinforce the opinions of their own attorneys is helpful, such as when the defense is recommending the defendant take a plea agreement rather than go to trial.

It wont be used as much when this is over, but I dont think that it will go away completely, Gill said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
Ohio County boasts a historic cemetery second to none in this section of the country. It is known as Alexanders cemetery, located near Hartford, and has but recently been restored by interested citizens of the county. The D.A.R. chapter took a leading part in restoration of this ancient burying ground, now 115 years established. In the year 1808, Col. Alexander Barnett deeded the property for the purpose of a cemetery. Col. Barnett was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It is from this ancestor that the large family of Barnetts of Ohio and Daviess counties are descended. Other names in the cemetery include Ford, Tinsley, Steven and Allen.

 Feb. 21, 1922, shouting to a passer-by to catch her when she jumped from the roof of a three-story house where she had been kept prisoner since Saturday, Evelyn George, 9 years old, escaped from her captor who had kept her in the house, four doors from her home for two days. Clarence Williams was passing an alley when he heard a child crying for help. He located the little girl on the roof and she started to jump. He rescued her.

 Feb. 22, Miss Mary Rose Boone, pretty Owensboro girl, was free again. A surety company signed the $2,000 bond after she had pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing a $1,000 note from Nicholas Bishop. Miss Boone was expected to return from Owensboro from Elyria, O., but it is understood before she returns she will visit Bishop, a former fiance. Bishop and Miss Boone were previously engaged and she charges a plot because she had refused to marry him.

 Feb. 23, Lula Summers, 14-year-old runaway, charged that she had been kept captive for two days by Jack Alderson who posed as an officer. Alderson was arrested on a statutory charge. The girl, who ran away from home in Madisonville, says that Alderson met her on the street at night and told her that he was an officer and would have to arrest her. He then took her to his room in a cheap boarding house where she was kept prisoner for two days.

 Feb. 24, Rockport and Spencer County were visited by a severe cyclone this morning which caused a great deal of damage. No lives were lost and no one seriously injured. The big wind, which was accompanied by shrill whistling, lasted for five minutes coming out of the south and taking a northwesterly course. A vacant building belonging to Albert Parker, roof was split in half, one part of it being lifted to the street and the other crushing the weatherboarding on one side. Window shutters were reduced to kindling.

 Feb. 25, fire, the origin which is being investigated by a board of inquiry, early today destroy at a loss of $2,000 the temporary office of H. W. Ward, superintendent of instruction, and damaged to the extent of $10,000 the senior officers quarter of the United States Veterans hospital in Dawson Springs. The fire had gained so much headway before being discovered by a night watchman.

50 Years Ago

 Feb. 21, 1972, Ralph E. Nelson, manager of finance at General Electric Company, has been named chairman of the seventh annual Owensboro-Daviess County United Fund Appeal. Fred N. Gipe told the 30-member board of directors that Nelsons previous work with the United Fund indicated that he had the ability and volunteer leadership background necessary to maintain the level of success achieved the last few years.

 Feb. 22, the Owensboro Police Department has received a $45,941 grant from the Kentucky Crime Commission to create a local evidence specialist team. The grant will provide funds for the city police department to purchase a mobile crime laboratory and hire two specialists who will collect, identify and record evidence at the scene of a crime or in conjunction with any criminal investigation. It will be one of the firsts established in Kentucky.

 Feb. 23, more than 100 countries will be represented when the third annual session of the Brescia Model General Assembly of the United Nations convenes Thursday. Students from Brescia, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro High School, and Mt. St. Joseph Academy will act as delegates of the United Nations countries. The first session will be open to the public.

 Feb. 24, Mrs. Donald McCabe was the recipient of the second Diana Award presented in Owensboro by Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority. The Diana Award is presented to a woman who has given of herself unselfishly to some area of service which benefits others. Mrs. McCabe was nominated by the Junior Womans Club for extensive work with the Owensboro Area Council for Children, Spastics Home and School and Boys and Girls Club.
 Hydrogen production and storage equipment to be added to existing validation facility to support commercialization of hydrogen gas turbines by 2025.

 Product reliability to be enhanced through steady demonstration testing at in-house facilities, with validation using large frame JAC class turbines and small to mid-sized H-25 class turbines.

 Gas turbine emissions to be reduced to zero carbon while maintaining low NOx levels.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2022

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Announces Approval of Multiple Projects Creating Over 390 Good-Paying Jobs and Economic Opportunities

LANSING, Mich.?- Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today in announcing Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a wide range of projects, including support for Ford's transformational Michigan Central Innovation District, an initiative aimed at increasing high-speed internet access across Michigan, business expansions including a new joint venture between Magna and LAN Manufacturing that will bring 390 jobs to Detroit, and other actions that will continue strengthening Michigan's economy.

"Today's Michigan Strategic Fund approvals will help us continue to drive economic growth in Michigan by expanding on our leadership in the future of mobility and electric vehicles, investing in our communities, creating hundreds of jobs for our residents, and furthering initiatives that will ensure long-term economic opportunity throughout the state," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "These actions demonstrate our ongoing laser focus on growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and putting Michiganders first."

Support for Michigan Central Innovation District positions Michigan as hub for global technology, future mobility

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) today approved $7.5 million in funding to Ford Motor Co. to support new programs that accelerate economic development, new technology activation, workforce training, and community engagement in the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The grant will have a three-year term and the ability to allocate additional funds in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 if agreed-upon grant milestones are met, including a requirement that it create at least 2,500 non-Ford jobs within the district.

Anchored at the Michigan Central Train Station, which Ford originally announced support for in 2018, the district will be a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a globally-recognized hub for talent, mobility innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, affordable housing, small business opportunities and community engagement.

Earlier this month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Google Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to announce a new partnership to activate the Michigan Central Innovation District in an effort to attract and retain highly skilled talent and high-growth companies while supporting the development of neighboring neighborhoods.?

Today's MSF grant will support initiatives that help to activate the district by creating the right conditions for high-skill, high-wage job creation, workforce development, startup growth, and next-generation mobility and electrification leadership.

With today's MSF grant, the district will be bolstered by a comprehensive cross-departmental collaboration that includes aligning more than $126 million in state resources and support, including the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the MEDC, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Google is also joining Ford as a Founding Member of the district, where it will leverage the assets of the district to collaborate on new products and services that will define the future of mobility. As founding members, Google and Ford will also help mentor entrepreneurs and local businesses, as well as develop the workforce in Detroit.

Since 2018, Ford has been in the process of investing $740 million in the 1.2-million-square-foot campus, which is expected to hold 5,000 Ford and non-Ford workers.

Funding for broadband project will help increase access to high-speed internet for all Michiganders

The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved up to $5.2 million from federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funds to Connected Nation Michigan for the Broadband Infrastructure Audit and Validation project.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed that access to high-speed internet connectivity is lacking in many parts of the state - especially for Michigan's most vulnerable populations, who need access to telework opportunities, telehealth services, and online education opportunities now more than ever.

This project is expected to allow state and community leaders, along with internet service providers, to make informed decisions regarding efficient expansion of high-speed internet service throughout the state and better target its grant funding in a way that will result in productive high-speed internet expansion across Michigan.

More details on this initiative will be provided later this week.

Three business expansion projects will bring growth, job opportunities to Southeast Michigan

LM Manufacturing is a joint venture between auto supplier Magna and LAN Manufacturing Group, LLC. The company will provide manufacturing, assembly, sequencing, supply chain and logistics management for complete seat assemblies and other modular assemblies for the auto and related industries.

LM Manufacturing plans to begin manufacturing seating assemblies for Ford and will locate the manufacturing, assembly, sequencing, supply chain and logistics management in an existing facility in Detroit. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $18.1 million and create 390 jobs, supported by a $2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in other locations.

The project contributes to the MEDC's ongoing efforts to strengthen Michigan's leadership in automotive manufacturing. The project will bring good jobs to area residents and has the potential to lead to future growth and investment in Michigan.?

"We are excited about this opportunity with LM Manufacturing as we continue supporting Ford on some of their high-volume vehicle programs," said Magna Seating President John Wyskiel. "We expect the joint venture to complement the seating capabilities and footprint we already have in the state."

The city of Detroit anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project. Individuals interested in careers with LM Manufacturing should visit http://www.lm-mfg.com/.

"The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is pleased to support a project that will bring nearly 400 well-paying jobs to Detroiters and reactivate a large format industrial campus in Southwest Detroit," said Kenyetta Bridges, Executive Vice President, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. "This project further demonstrates the City's strengths and advantages to support manufacturing, and we are thrilled that LM Manufacturing - a joint venture between an international automotive supplier and a Detroit-based minority supplier - chose Detroit as its home base. DEGC looks forward to our continued work with LM Manufacturing as this project comes to fruition."

Real estate developer Bedrock today announced its support for LM Manufacturing's project by leasing space in its former Sakthi Industrial Campus to develop the plant. In doing so, Bedrock is providing 296,000 square feet of manufacturing space in the Delray neighborhood, just five miles west of Detroit's city center.

"Bedrock is best known for our transformational investments in the heart of the city, but we are committed to connecting and amplifying economic development efforts across all of Detroit - and in this case, by placing permanent and well-paying job opportunities where they are needed most," said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. "Partnering with LM Manufacturing is a game changer for the Delray area and a chance to transform the once vacant site into a beacon of opportunity and sustainability."

Dana Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dana Incorporated headquartered in Maumee, OH. The company is a global supplier of fully integrated drivetrain and electrified propulsion systems for all passenger vehicles, serving primarily automotive OEMs that manufacture light vehicles, off-highway vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Dana continues to experience significant growth in electrification and plans to establish a new Electric Vehicle technology center in the city of Novi, where it will house electrification R&D and engineering. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $9 million and create up to 150 high-wage jobs, supported by a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in North America and Europe.

By securing this project in Novi, Michigan continues to underscore its position as the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. This project will solidify Dana's presence and future investment in the state, and puts Michigan in a strong position for future growth opportunities in the ever-evolving transportation industry.

Individuals interested in careers with Dana should visit https://www.dana.com/careers/.

"Dana Incorporated has a long history of driving innovation in the Detroit Region and continues to be a globally recognized leader in vehicle electrification," said Maureen Donohue Krauss, CEO and president of the Detroit Regional Partnership. "We are excited about this latest investment and expansion as it reinforces a simple fact - to be on the cutting-edge of next-generation mobility, companies must have a presence in the Detroit Region."

The Michigan International Technology Center Redevelopment Authority (MITC) plans to support the construction of a new, 65,952-square-foot commercial flex space development in the townships of Plymouth and Northville at the site of the former Detroit House of Corrections. The building will be constructed by Hillside Ridge Road Holdings East, LLC while the MITC is overseeing infrastructure improvements as part of a larger development area. Significant infrastructure improvements are being undertaken, including a stormwater detention pond, sidewalks, curbs, paving and landscaping, that will support this project and attract future investment. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $38.7 million, and when the facility is fully leased, it is expected to have the potential to support efforts that could employ up to 300 full-time equivalent office and R&D jobs.

The MITC today received MSF approval of $15.6 million in state tax capture for the alleviation of brownfield conditions at the site, making it suitable for redevelopment. Local support for the project includes approval of the local portion of the brownfield work plan valued at $13.8 million and potentially a future Industrial Facilities Tax abatement. Both the townships of Plymouth and Northville are engaged with MEDC's Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

The project will transform an underutilized property into functional, available space critical for ongoing business attraction and expansion efforts in the region. Completion of the project will also bring additional investment, increased worker traffic, and tax revenue to the neighborhood, city, and local businesses. Market analysis has repeatedly shown that large move-in ready sites are in high demand in metro Detroit.?Supporting this type of property remains critical to retaining existing companies in the state as they grow and offers opportunities to attract new companies here to Michigan.

The Michigan Strategic Fund supports the acceleration of high-tech innovation in the state

The MSF Board also approved various amendments and funding allocations to support the continued growth and impact of Michigan's entrepreneurial university programs, including:

SPARK MI STEM internship program - Originally approved in March 2021 , the program is a partnership between MEDC and Ann Arbor SPARK aimed at retaining Michigan's STEM college graduates in the state to address the unmet need for tech talent. The program helps to place STEM students currently attending Michigan colleges annually into STEM-focused internships throughout Michigan. In less than 12 months, t he program has already placed 159 interns into positions with high-tech companies across the state . The MSF today approved an additional $1 million in funding to continue building on the success and impact of the program .

Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Ag Bio Innovation Hub - The MSF today allocated $328,975 from the MTRAC program in additional funding for the Michigan State University MTRAC Ag Bio Innovation Hub , which focuses on commercializing technologies related to food, fuel and fiber, including bio-derived and bio-based materials, natural resources and animal health . Between January 2017 and September 2021, the MTRAC Ag Bio Innovation Hub has helped form six startups and funded 67 projects leading to more than $91 million in follow-on funding.

Business Incubator Program/Gateway Representative - Since 2009, the Michigan Strategic Fund has provided funding to business incubators in Michigan to stimulate the creation and continued growth of technology-based businesses and jobs. The Business Incubator Grant is designed to support the SmartZones across Michigan , by dedicating individual Gateway Representative s at each organization that are responsible for managing all client services at each SmartZone . Today, the MSF approved a total of $1.9 million in additional funding to support these Gateway Representatives at Michigan's 19 SmartZone organizations .

Community vitality project to bring needed housing to village of Merrill

The 235 W. Saginaw Street Redevelopment Project will redevelop the vacant, former Merrill High School building in the village of Merrill into a multifamily housing development. When completed, the development will consist of 17 market-rate residential rental units, 11 of which will be ADA compliant, and a parking garage.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4 million and will revitalize an obsolete building into much-needed housing, while also adding vibrancy, density and walkability to downtown Merrill, which hasn't seen significant investment in many years. The project is also expected to serve as a catalyst for future revitalization in the community.

The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved a Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based loan participation of $1.9 million. In addition, the Saginaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority received MSF approval of state tax capture valued at $130,060 to reimburse for brownfield remediation activities.

The village of Merrill has approved a nine-year Commercial Rehabilitation Act property tax abatement valued at $338,902 in support of the project, as well as the local portion of the tax capture valued at $47,566. The village of Merrill is engaged with MEDC's?Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

"The projects approved today are proof of Team Michigan's commitment to taking a people-first approach to economic development in the state. From building on our leadership in EV and mobility innovation resulting in more good jobs in Southeast Michigan, to supporting affordable housing, entrepreneurial opportunities and increasing access to high-speed internet across Michigan - we remain laser-focused on ensuring every Michigander feels the impact of economic opportunity in their daily lives," said Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO and Michigan Strategic Fund President and Chair Quentin Messer Jr. "Today's MSF actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring we are creating upward economic mobility for our 10 million plus friends and neighbors across our great state."

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy.?For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit?www.MichiganBusiness.org.?For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at?www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on:?Facebook,?Instagram,?LinkedIn, and?Twitter.

# # #
MANISTEE COUNTY  Water levels on the Great Lakes are continuing to fall from record highs seen just a few years ago.

Data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shows a 2-foot drop on Lakes Michigan and Huron from their monthly record high for February set in 2020.

Lake Michigan water levels fell about 4 inches between December and January, after receiving well below average precipitation, according to the Army Corps report.

Forecasted water levels as of Feb. 18 are lower than they were a year ago across the Great Lakes except Lake Ontario. The levels are still above their long-term average for February on all lakes other than Superior.

Over the next month, Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are expected to remain steady near their current levels, according to the report. Lake Erie is forecast to rise about 1 inch and Lake Ontario is expected to rise about 4 inches.

The Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District releases weekly forecasts of the water levels on its website, lre.usace.army.mil.

Ice coverage on the Great Lakes has also increased in February according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

According to statistics from NOAA, total coverage on the Great Lakes is about 33% as of Feb. 21, down from a high this month on Feb. 16 of just under 50%. Ice coverage on Jan. 1 was just 2.35%.

Courtesy photo/Great Lakes Surface Environmental Analysis

Here is the ice coverage for each lake as of Feb. 22:

 Lake Superior  30.65%

 Lake Michigan  21.99%

 Lake Huron  39.94%

 Lake Erie  70.67%

 Lake Ontario  5.62%

 Lake St. Clair  87.65%

 Total Coverage  33.02%

Arielle Breen/News Advocate

Manistee Marina, breakwaters work to start

Work on waterfront facilities in Manistee are expected to pick up in spring and summer, according to city Harbormaster Jeff Mikula.

Mikula reported to the city's harbor commission that plans are moving forward to replace five docks at the Manistee Muncipal Marina.

Twelve of the 17 docks at the marina were replaced in 2019 due to damage from seiche event the previous year. The city submitted a grant application to replace the final five docks that were not covered by insurance.

The docks were set to be replaced in December, but work was delayed due to weather. It is expected that this work will move forward once weather improves.

The marina dock replacement will cost $425,775 according to the bid that Great Lakes Docks and Materials gave to the city in September.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also planning improvements at the Manistee Harbor's south breakwater that could also begin as early as May, according to Mikula, who said the Corps also intends to dredge the harbor between late summer and fall.

What is the Winter Grab?

Scientists are collecting evidence from the Great Lakes in a wideranging study to learn how climate change is affecting the lakes and the creatures that live in them.

Crews from over a dozen U.S. and Canadian universities and government agencies began their expeditions onto frozen sections of the Great Lakes last week to collect water samples and other information from below the ice.

We've been ignoring winter on the Great Lakes for so long, said Ted Ozersky, a lake biologist with the University of Minnesota Duluth, who announced the Winter Grab expedition on Feb. 3.

There are lots of ways in which ice and winter conditions can affect the ecosystem. We dont fully understand all of them. We have a general idea of how it should work but in many cases we havent done the footwork to see, Ozersky said.



Great Lakes ice cover has declined steadily since the 1970s and some projections indicate it could become scarce later this century.



While that might boost the cargo shipping industry, the results for lake ecology are unknown.



Ice is a dramatic physical force," Ozersky said, influencing everything from the exchange of carbon dioxide between air and water to light penetration and the water column's thermal structure. Such characteristics can determine how much plankton is available for fish.



Nearshore ice can protect fish eggs and prevent crashing waves from eroding shorelines.



We know its important but because we havent studied it, there are many areas where we dont fully understand the effect of having or not having ice, Ozersky said.



The University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, a partnership with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, is funding this month's excursion.

Its studies could influence practical matters such as upgrading shoreline infrastructure and planting winter cover crops to prevent erosion, according to Ozersky.

As we get this information, we'll hopefully have a better idea what the loss of winter will mean and how to adjust management practices to mitigate the harmful effects, Ozersky said.

$1 billion aimed at Great Lakes clean up

A $1 billion federal investment announced Feb. 17 is being aimed at restoring several Great Lakes harbors and tributary rivers that have been polluted by industrial toxins.

The investment comes from a bipartisan infrastructure agreement that was enacted in November 2021. Combined with annual funding through an ongoing recovery program, it will enable agencies to finish work on 22 sites designated as areas of concern by 2030.

These areas of concern were first identified in 1987 under the federal Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

The U.S. and Canada listed 43 sites  31 of them in the U.S.  as toxic hot spots, largely because of contaminated sediments that make the waters unsuitable for fishing, swimming and other uses.

The billion-dollar bonus from the infrastructure package will enable the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to devote more resources to those issues from the program's core budget. Congress voted separately in 2021 to increase the initiative's annual funding from $300 million to $475 million over five years.

Locations targeted by the restoration efforts include the Clinton River, Detroit River, Manistique River, Muskegon Lake, River Raisin, Rouge River, St. Clair River, St. Marys River and Torch Lake in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

$1.1 million for coastal management in Michigan



More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to 17 coastal management projects and programs in Michigan.



Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says the funding will help protect, preserve, enhance and wisely develop the state's coastal resources.



Recipients are located across Michigan and include $45,000 for Hancock to do a feasibility analysis for nature-based shore protection and restoration. The analysis will help address erosion issues at a high erosion shoreline areas on the Keweenaw Waterway.



Bay City will receive $80,000 to develop design and construction plans to enhance four waterfront boating access sites on the Saginaw River, while the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority in Brighton will get nearly $195,000 to install a barrier-free kayak launch, install site amenities for an outdoor education space, and plant trees.



Associated Press writers John Flesher and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
UNIVERSITY CENTER  Saginaw Valley State University announced its president's and dean's lists for the fall semester, and a handful of Manistee County students earned recognition.

Anna Lee, of Manistee, is one of more than 600 students from Saginaw Valley State University who earned a spot on the president's list.

To be eligible for the president's list, a student must take at least 12 credit hours and earn a 4.0 grade point average.

Three Manistee County students are among the nearly 2,000 to earn a spot on the SVSU dean's list.

These students are:

 Angelina Jolicoeur, of Kaleva;

 Zachary Lee, of Manistee; and

 Claire Ball, of Wellston.

To be eligible for the deans' list, a student must take at least 12 credit hours and carry a semester GPA of 3.4 or better.

Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 90 programs of study for its more than 8,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students.

SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. In 2015, SVSU received the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7% of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84% of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.

SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students' performance in math and science at the middle school, high school and university levels.
OSCEOLA COUNTY  An Evart man is facing several charges, including third degree criminal sexual conduct, after being arrested last week by the Michigan State Police.

Brian Gene Beemer, of Evart, was arraigned on Feb. 17 in the 77th District Court in Osceola County for one count child sexually abusive activity, one count criminal sexual conduct third degree victim 13-15, possession child sexually abusive material, children accosting for immoral purposes, and one count contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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Haley Cucinello has been the advisor for the Laker Schools FFA since 2015 and keeps the students involved and engaged with hands-on activities that teach them the practicalities of the agricultural world.

Cucinello's family set an example for her when she was young, being part of the Pigeon FFA Chapter. However, Elkton, Pigeon, and Bay Port high schools were forced to merge with Laker High School when it became clear that there were too many students for the individual buildings to hold. The Laker FFA chapter was officially chartered in 1960 and Cucinello's grandfather was the first chapter secretary of the new program. This tradition planted the thought in her head that, one day, she too would be greatly involved in the FFA.

She joined in the 8th grade and served as a chapter, regional, and state officer during her time and this reaffirmed her love for the organization.

"There's a place for every student in an FFA program," she said. "The diversity of course offerings, coupled with the ability for students to challenge themselves socially and professionally, is a great highlight to the organization."

As the Laker FFA advisor, Cucinello keeps the 167 students involved in this year's FFA involved in the community and their own futures. The chapter has recently partnered with the Elkton Historical Society, with plans to do landscaping around log cabins in Elkton.

However, the biggest involvement comes with their contest season, around February. This includes Career Development events and leadership contests, which test the students' public speaking. These include the Parliamentary Procedure, where a group of students has a 12-minute meeting to discuss and solve a topic or problem they've been given.

One of Laker FFA's most anticipated contests, though, is the skills contest in the spring, in which students must demonstrate hands-on skills in a certain contest area.

However, Laker isn't just interested in keeping the students involved in the school's FFA; they look farther than that by offering work-based learning. This program, available for 11th-12th grade students, gives them the opportunity to work for a local agricultural business and make some money for half the school day.

"It builds a really nice partnership between our program and the businesses in the community," Cucinello said. "And it gives the kids an outside scope for what working for the company might be like."

The chapter has accrued a large number of accolades and recognition since it was chartered in 1960. This includes 99 state-level proficiency awards, 14 State Stars of Michigan, and 27 nationally-recognized career development teams. They've also had 29 State FFA officers, 43 American FFA Degrees, 749 state FFA Degrees, and many more throughout their history.

This year's officers include President Peyton Kuhn, Vice Presidents Alex Smith and Maya Viers, Secretary Alex Scaddan, Treasurer Erin McArdle, Reporter Emily Smith, Sentinel Brianna Yoder, Parliamentarian Reagan Boyce, Historian Devonee Gnagey, and Chaplain Olivia Seley.
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Last February, Jayan Bryan was driving with her roommate DYanna Wallace on a stretch of Interstate 84 when they crashed.

Bryan, who had just turned 25, was killed and Wallace was severely injured, according to legal filings.

In two claims seeking a total of $200 million against the state, attorneys for the womens families want to know why it took state police hours to find the crashed vehicle after a passing motorist reported hitting a piece of debris from the wreck.

One year since the incident occurred, there are still a number of unanswered questions.

Heres what we know about the crash:

Two people were involved

According to legal filings and fire department reports, Bryan and Wallace, who lived in Rocky Hill, were involved in the crash. Bryan was driving the red Nissan sedan and Wallace was a passenger.

Bryan had turned 25 years old in the days before the crash. According to her mother, Kristine Kulmacz, Bryan had recently crossed another milestone: She moved out of her parents Middletown home and into an apartment in Rocky Hill with Wallace.

Bryan was pronounced dead at the scene, according to records. Wallace was severely injured and has undergone 15 surgeries, according to her attorney, Peter Bowman. She still has not returned home since the crash, he added.

Where the crash happened

The Nissan crashed along Interstate 84 near the Southington-Cheshire line, according to legal filings. A report from the Cheshire Fire Department places the crash near Exit 28 in the eastbound lanes.

According to the claims filed by Wallace and Bryans estate, the crash happened between 10 p.m. on Feb. 19, 2021, and 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2021.

According to a report from the Cheshire Fire Department, the vehicle hit a bridge abutment.

Bryan and Wallace were not found for hours

While the precise time of the crash remains unclear, the claims filed against that state argue that Bryan and Wallace were not found for hours.

A state trooper trainee was initially called to the area after a passing driver hit some debris in the road around 1:47 a.m. The debris was discovered to be the trunk lid, with the license plate attached, of the Nissan that Bryan was driving, filings show.

The claims argue that Bryan and Wallace were not found in the crashed car until the same state trooper trainee returned about 7:24 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2021. At the time, troopers reported that Bryan had no pulse, according to the Cheshire Fire Department report.

The victims are seeking $200 million in damages

According to the claims filed with the state, Wallace and Bryans estate are each seeking $100 million in damages.

They argue, among other things, that the trooper trainee failed to properly investigate the debris in the roadway and the state has not properly funded police.

Heres what we dont know about the crash:

What caused the crash

State police have yet to release a report on the crash. Sgt. Dawn Pagan, a spokesperson for the agency, said an investigation into the crash was still ongoing last week.

Neither the filing, nor the report from Cheshire Police Department, offer a reason for why the car crashed.

Why it took so long for the crash to be discovered

Absent a report from the state police, there has been no explanation as to why it took hours for Bryan and Wallace to be found in the crashed vehicle.

The crash happened along a fairly busy stretch of I-84.

The claims filed against the state argue that the initial responding officer, a trooper trainee, did not adequately investigate when he was called for debris in the road at 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2021.

Whether the claims will be approved

In Connecticut, a system is in place to file a lawsuit against the government that seeks monetary damages. The claims, an initial step in the process, are sent to the states claims commissioner for review.

Ultimately, a decision will be made if the claim can move to the courts. According to the claims commissioners website, the attorney generals office files a position on the claim. A hearing is held if necessary before a claim can be approved.

From there, the claim can move to a lawsuit before a Superior Court judge.

If any discipline has come from the incident

It was not immediately clear if anyone was disciplined as a result of this incident.

When asked about the claims, state police cited ongoing litigation when they declined to comment on the matter.

According to state records, the trooper named in the claims remains on payroll and has collected overtime since the start of 2022.
Most of the concerns are uttered off the record, a few in public spaces. But the inevitable questioning from fellow Democrats has begun: Is Gov. Ned Lamont up to the tricky task of managing an unfolding school construction financing scandal in an already volatile election year?

First came disclosure of an FBI investigation, then a steady drip of complaints that Konstantinos Diamantis, an administration official Lamont fired in October, had used his perch in state government to pressure municipalities to hire certain contractors for state-financed school projects.

If action is not taken soon by Lamont, this will be death by a thousand cuts, a Democratic campaign consultant, Mike Farina, wrote in a Facebook thread that began a week ago and has rambled on with updates.

The social media thread echoes what other Democrats are saying elsewhere.

One source of Democratic angst is that Lamonts campaign has not begun television advertising, while his Republican opponent, Bob Stefanowski, just made his second $1 million purchase. So far, the ads have promoted Stefanowski and have not attacked Lamont.

Another is Lamonts unwavering public confidence in Melissa McCaw, who oversees the state budget as the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and named Diamantis as her top deputy.

When a demolition contractor complained to McCaw in 2020 that OPM was urging the town of Groton to set aside open bidding in favor of hiring from the states limited emergency bid list of approved contractors, the response was delegated to legal staff and Diamantis  the official in charge of school construction grants.

McCaw told CT Mirror in an interview over the weekend that the complaint was seen as a bid dispute, not a claim of wrongdoing.

Ceding the advertising airwaves to Stefanowski is not unusual for a governor who began the year with strong approval ratings and the name recognition and other benefits of incumbency, primary among them the ability to command media attention simply by doing his job.

But that calculus changed, at least to some Democrats, on Feb. 2 with the disclosure that the FBI had subpoenaed records relating to school construction grants and other programs overseen by Diamantis, a former Democratic lawmaker.

How that revelation influences the election will depend on the narrative that eventually evolves: Whatever Diamantis did or didnt do, did the governor respond responsibly, with transparency and accountability?

Every day that goes by without shaping that narrative is a day lost, Democrats say.

The danger is that you keep telling yourself, Oh, the election is far away. Its not that far away, said Roy Occhiogrosso, a senior strategist to Lamonts predecessor, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. As somebody once famously said, It gets late early. And things that happen now are foundational pieces of what will become the actual campaign when it begins in earnest.

Vinnie Mauro, the Democratic chair of New Haven, the city that produces the most Democratic votes in statewide elections, puts a slightly different twist on the same concern: When the other party is working to make early gains, standing still can mean losing ground.

The problem would be the governor being in neutral for so long, you end up going in reverse, said Mauro, who also is chief of staff to the Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven.

Lamont, who left Thursday night for a weeklong trade mission to Israel, has campaigned by governing, conducting official events that underscore themes central to his reelection campaign, including his management of the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to improve Connecticuts business climate.

On Thursday morning, he welcomed David Neeleman, an iconic figure in the airline industry as a co-founder of Jet Blue and four other airlines, to Bradley International Airport to announce that his newest venture, Breeze Airways, would make Bradley its fifth base of operations, bringing new nonstop flights and more than 200 jobs.

One thing Ive learned in life is you dont always have the wind to your back. Connecticuts got the wind to its back. I cant get distracted by some deputy at OPM and what that means, Lamont said. Ive got to make sure that we keep flying. And thats what this event is. Thats what all our events are.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said he is confident in the governors reelection campaign and in McCaw and Josh Geballe, who was the commissioner of administrative services and chief operating officer.

Ill be the first to say that I would have a hard time believing that Josh Geballe or Melissa McCaw had knowledge of something improper and did not stop it, Ritter said. I have a hard time believing that.

But the more important question, of course, is what the larger public believes  or will come to believe. Ritter said the governor just needs to continue to be very open and honest about whats going on. And its better to get everything out early.

On Feb. 9, the governor proposed a budget that cuts taxes, makes some programmatic improvements and produces a projected surplus that can continue to pay down the states pension debt  normally a formula for a happy news day.

But the big news that day was that Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr., facing possible removal proceedings over his hiring of Anastasia Diamantis, would retire.

Another distraction: McCaw opened a budget briefing the same day by awkwardly attesting to her close working relationship with Lamont and implicitly confirming a distant relationship with others on his staff.

Her statement came a day after the CT Mirror reported that a sealed grievance filed by Diamantis says McCaw was treated disrespectfully by Lamonts two top aides, Paul Mounds and Josh Geballe.

Occhiogrosso said the inability of the administration to cut through the clutter of those stories demonstrated it was time for Lamont, who is independently wealthy and self-funding his campaign, to start telling his story with advertising.

When you have unlimited resources, and a track record that on paper is pretty good  Id be trying to put this thing away now, he said.

Liz Kurantowicz, a Republican consultant advising Stefanowskis campaign, said the Democratic concerns are telling and harbingers of a competitive race.

I think it tells you an awful lot about how concerned Democrats are about their ability to win and the concern they have about federal investigations into his administration, she said.

Lamont rejects any notion he has not acted forcefully.

You know, when it came to what happened with the deputy at OPM, hes gone. I took that very seriously, immediately, Lamont said. And people are going to be continuing the investigations, thats fine. They ought to know I acted on it quickly. If anything comes up again, Ill act on it quickly. Thats what I do.

The deputy, as Lamont cryptically referred to him, is Diamantis, a lawyer and former Democratic lawmaker from Bristol who served 14 years in the House before losing a Democratic primary in 2006.

Diamantis was hired in 2015 to direct the Office of School Construction Grants & Review, a civil-service job in the Department of Administrative Services. At the time, the DAS commissioner was Melody Currey, a former House Democratic colleague.

McCaw hired him as her deputy in 2019, a political job in which he served at the discretion of the governor. Lamont and McCaw allowed Diamantis to keep the school construction duties and bring them to OPM from DAS.

Lamont fired him from the political OPM job and suspended him from the civil-service school construction post in October, eight days after the FBI served its subpoena.

But the proximate cause, Lamont said, was the conclusion Diamantis had been untruthful about helping his daughter, Anastasia, get an executive assistant job with Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr.

The same daughter was hired by Construction Advocacy Professionals, or CAP, a school construction management company, in July 2019, about the same time the company got two no-bid contracts worth a combined $530,000 to oversee the building of a new elementary school in Tolland.

Tollands school superintendent, Walter Willett, issued a statement a week ago that Diamantis pressured the town to choose CAP and another contractor, DAmato Construction, for the school construction project.

Willetts claim was first reported Feb. 11 by The Hartford Courant, which ignited the thread on the Facebook page of Farina, who advises Democratic candidates for General Assembly.

This is the kind of thing that brings down an Administration and affects down ballot races across the entire state, Farina wrote. We have our work cut out for us this fall, and we will work harder than ever to stop Bob Stefanowski and the Connecticut Republican Party.

Farina stood by those comments in an interview.

On the Facebook page, he and others argued for days over the degree to which the scandal jeopardized Democrats election hopes. Farina saw the great danger to down-ballot candidates for General Assembly in swing districts.

Last Wednesday, days after warning about death from a thousand cuts if new revelations continue, Farina posted a CT Mirror story about a contractor complaining about potential interference in competitive bidding long before the FBI came calling.

Farina offered one terse comment about the piece.

And the thousand cuts begin
Map data:  2022, Google

This automated story was produced for Hearst Connecticut by United Robots using artificial intelligence and data science. Property information is compiled from municipal assessors in Connecticut.

The property located on 42 Middlefield Street in Middletown was sold on January 27, 2022 for $245,000, or $151 per square foot. The house built in 1939 has an interior space of 1,618 square feet. The property features four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The unit sits on a 16,988 square-foot lot.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  China said Monday it will impose new sanctions on U.S. defense contractors Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin due to their arms sales to Taiwan, stepping up a feud with Washington over security and Beijings strategic ambitions.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the move at a daily press briefing, citing a newly passed Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law that took effect in 2021. It was in response to a $100 million deal approved by the U.S. for maintenance of Taiwan's missile defense systems by the two companies.

China once again urges the U.S. government and relevant parties to . . . stop arms sales to Taiwan and sever military ties with Taiwan," Wang said.

China will continue to take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and security interests in accordance with the development of the situation," he said without giving any details.

Taiwan is a democratically self-governed island that communist-ruled China claims as its own territory. The two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

The U.S. has no formal relations with Taiwan but is its main ally. It has increased weapons sales in recent years, angering China with the sales. U.S. law requires the government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself.

Beijing regularly pressures American companies to try to influence U.S. policy.

In October 2020, Beijing also announced sanctions against Raytheon and other defense contractors and relevant American individuals. A day later, the State Department said it had notified Congress of plans for a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon attack missiles to Taiwan.

It's unclear what penalties, if any, were imposed. U.S. weapons or military aircraft sales to Taiwan in 2010, 2015 and 2019 drew similar threats of sanctions.

China maintains that U.S. arms sale to Taiwan violates its so-called one-China principle" and provisions of agreements between Beijing and Washington.

Tensions over Taiwan have been mounting as Beijing has stepped up military activity around the island to try to force concessions from the pro-independence administration of President Tsai Ing-wen. The Communist Party also is using the Chinese mainlands growing economic weight to pressure other governments to cut diplomatic and unofficial ties with Taiwan.

Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other defense industry giants face controls on sales to China of military and dual-use technologies that have both defense and commercial applications. But they also have major civilian businesses and China is a huge market for aviation, among other industries.

___

Associated Press video producer Liu Zheng contributed to this report from Beijing.
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote next week on landmark legislation that would expedite health care and disability payments to millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other military environmental exposures.

The $282 billion Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act would designate 23 illnesses as likely linked to battlefield pollutants, paving the way for veterans diagnosed with these diseases to receive Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

If it became law, the bill would be the most comprehensive legislation to address combat environmental exposures since the Agent Orange Act of 1991, which declared that defoliants used during the Vietnam War likely caused at least a dozen types of illnesses in veterans.

Read Next: Washington Asks the Defense Department to Send in the National Guard Ahead of Trucker Protest

Currently, the VA decides post-9/11 exposure claims on a case-by-case basis, with the exception of those filed for asthma, rhinitis or sinusitis. Affected veterans must prove a connection between their illnesses and their military service, either demonstrating exposure or bringing in experts to support their claims.

Kate Hendricks Thomas, a Marine Corps veteran diagnosed at age 38 with stage 4 breast cancer, had her claim approved after many years of fighting, but not before she spent thousands to treat the cancer she said has spread from "her skull to her toes."

"I was exposed to burn pits in Baghdad, in Fallujah, all over the country," Thomas said on a Tuesday call in which several lawmakers and veterans spoke with reporters. "I remember seeing [them] as I was out running. We would clean our air conditioning units, and there would be black particulate matter in the filter. I knew that I was exposed to that, but I didn't really understand it."

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., expressed confidence that the PACT bill would pass the House with bipartisan support.

Takano, the bill's sponsor, said the legislation would fulfill a promise made to U.S. service members when they deployed.

"For too long, America's message to toxic-exposed service members and veterans has been simple: We thank you for your service, but the price tag for addressing your exposure is just too high," Takano said.

He described a $1 billion bill passed in the Senate last week that would expand health benefits to nearly 1 million more post-9/11 deployed veterans as a "legislative half measure that narrows benefits for some veterans and excludes others altogether."

That bill, sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., would give all post-9/11 combat veterans up to 10 years to enroll in VA health care after they transitioned from military service and create a one-year enrollment period for those not already receiving VA health care.

It does not include a list of diseases that would automatically qualify veterans for expedited benefits or award compensation to survivors of veterans who have died from those illnesses.

Tester and Moran have pledged, however, that their proposal, considered more palatable to fiscal conservatives than Takano's bill or a different $233 billion proposal from Tester known as the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops, or COST of War, Act, would be the first of three burn pit-related bills that eventually would designate diseases as linked to deployment exposures.

The Senate's proposed phased approach has infuriated advocacy groups and activists, including Burn Pits 360 and comedian-turned-advocate Jon Stewart.

"The reality is the PACT Act and [Tester's original COST of War bill] are the acts that actually deal with toxic exposure," Stewart said during the call. "The bastards are sneaky. They are going to try and sneak around and go, 'Hey man, for a billion dollars, you can get away with this and maybe everybody will leave us alone.'"

Afghanistan veteran Jen Burch said that, after she arrived home from deployment, she went straight to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

Her health problems -- and the lack of support she received -- deteriorated to a point in 2013 when she attempted suicide, she said.

"You have a veteran who has medical problems from toxic exposures getting denied benefits in health care from the VA, and they might not be able to work because of their medical problems," Burch said. "Now they're financially hurting, they can't get the health care, they can't support their family. ... The next thing you know, they're another statistic because they took their life because they couldn't handle it."

Since 2007, with some modifications and exceptions, bills in the House are required to include a way to cover their cost so they have little to no impact on the federal deficit or a surplus when one exists.

The PACT act, which would cost $85 billion in the first five years after passing and $282 billion over 10 years, doesn't currently include a way to cover its cost.

Takano said, however, that he has been talking with legislators who hold the congressional purse strings and would request a waiver to the rules if a solution isn't found.

"I think the American people would go along with the idea that we have a debt we need to reckon with our veterans," he said.

The Senate bill and Takano's proposal both have broad support from veterans service organizations, including the Military Officers Association of America, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Takano expressed hope that his bill would receive a strong vote in the House, paving the way for the Senate to consider it in lieu of Tester and Moran's phased plan.

"I can't emphasize enough about the importance of these presumptions," Takano said. "Agreeing to a strong list of presumptions is at the heart of removing the burden of proof from the veterans to the benefit of the doubt being extended to them."

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on twitter @patriciakime

Related: Law Aimed at Helping Millions Exposed to Burn Pits and Toxins Would Cost at Least $282 Billion
Homestead, FL (33030)

Today

A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard, said Tuesday that taking part in the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, was antithetical to the Army's values and there's no room for those soldiers who participated to continue their service. Yet, the service component's top leader conceded that the decision to boot soldiers rests with the adjutants general of the states where those soldiers serve.

At least two National Guard soldiers were part of the pro-Trump mob that ransacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power. Neither of those soldiers has been removed from the force, with leadership in their respective states allowing them to continue service.

"It's obvious that extremism does not match the Army Values," Jensen said during an interview with the Center for a New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. "As it relates to any particular case, I really have to defer to each of those adjutants general that are responsible for those decisions. But I can tell you we take extremism very seriously in the National Guard. There's no place for extremism inside of our ranks."

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Pfc. Abram Markofski -- an infantryman who serves in Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, a National Guard unit based in River Falls, Wisconsin -- was sentenced in December to two years' probation and $1,500 in fines and restitution on one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct at the Capitol.

Wisconsin's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, who has the authority to remove Markofski, has allowed him to continue his service.

"Out of respect for the civilian judicial process, the Wisconsin National Guard allowed due process to play out, and the chain of command is now contemplating its courses of action based on the outcome," Maj. Joe Trovato, a Wisconsin Guard spokesperson, told Military.com in an email. "This is currently an open and ongoing personnel matter."

During a trial tied to Markofski's actions on Jan. 6, multiple soldiers who have served with him -- including his platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Joel Stevenson -- penned character statements to the Department of Justice, saying he should be able to continue his military career.

Cpl. Jacob Fracker -- a Virginia infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team -- admitted to being in the mob in multiple social media posts, even posting selfies of himself and a co-defendant in the Capitol during the assault.

Fracker faces charges of obstruction of an official proceeding; aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds.

Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, Virginia's adjutant general, has allowed Fracker to continue to serve while the charges are adjudicated. However, Fracker is forbidden from taking part in any military duties until his case is resolved.

"If there is sufficient evidence, the [Virginia National Guard] will pursue an administrative discharge action against Fracker," Cotton Puryear, a Guard spokesperson, told Military.com in a statement. "If not, the administrative board will wait until his case is adjudicated in civilian court to take any further action."

Some other troops among those who broke into the Capitol have been dismissed by their respective branches, including Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, an Army Reserve human resources specialist who was demoted from sergeant to private and discharged from the force in June.

Some of the Guards inaction on its members may be attributed to its troops' dual obligations to both the governors they serve and the federal government. When not on federal orders, there's apparently little that can be done if the state's adjutant general declines to act. Fracker and Markofski were both off duty during the riot. That jurisdictional policy gives those generals power not seen elsewhere in the military, which typically has much larger chains of command. That issue has drawn the ire of Congress over sexual assault issues, with the National Guard having little oversight on such problems within individual states and territories.

Experts say there's no evidence that service members or veterans are more prone to radicalization. Yet their combat training and inherent social credibility can be attractive to extremist groups. In January, Christopher Arthur, who served as a cavalry scout in the National Guard, was arrested after running a business for years training civilians how to defend their homes against police, including the use of bombs.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: What Happened to Members of the Military Accused of Storming the Capitol on January 6?
Russia has "undeniably" begun an invasion of Ukraine by declaring regions in its east independent and will now face billions of dollars in sanctions and additional U.S. troops deployed to the Baltic states, President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

An infantry battalion based in Italy, as well as F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters, will be moving to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and be in place later this week to defend the NATO alliance, the Biden administration said. Thousands of U.S. troops have already deployed to Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Germany.

The financial penalties and troop movements were the latest response from the U.S. and NATO allies after Russian President Vladimir Putin began moving troops into the two separatist regions where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukraine's western-aligned central government for years.

Read Next: Washington Asks the Defense Department to Send in the National Guard Ahead of Trucker Protest

"He bizarrely asserted that these regions are no longer part of Ukraine and they're sovereign territory. Put simply, Russia just announced those carving out a big chunk of Ukraine," Biden said in an address to the nation Tuesday afternoon.

Putin's incursion into Ukraine was read by the U.S. and allies as the start of his bid to seize control of the former Soviet republic after spending nearly a year massing more than 150,000 troops at its borders, though no open battlefield violence beyond some shelling between Ukraine and separatist factions in the countrys east had yet commenced. The West repeatedly warned Putin is likely to stage a false flag attack as a pretext to a full-blown invasion.

The first tranche of sanctions announced by Biden targets two Russian banking firms, including the country's fifth-largest bank, holding $50 billion in assets, and a bank with $35 billion in assets that finances Putin's military activity, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Five Russian oligarchs and their families were also targeted by the sanctions, in a bid to punish the country's elite for Putin's moves on Ukraine.

"The full block of these banks means they can no longer make any transactions with the U.S. or Europe and their assets in our respective financial systems are frozen," the official said in a briefing to reporters. "If this invasion proceeds, we are ready to press a button to take further action on the very largest Russian financial institutions."

Germany, after talks with the U.S., also announced it halted the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline with Russia, which had invested $11 billion in the project in hopes of selling fuel to Europe.

Biden's order Tuesday will also move more U.S. military hardware east, including up to eight F-35 jets from Germany to NATO's eastern flank; 20 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from Germany to the Baltic region; and 12 Apaches with an attack aviation task force from Greece to Poland, according to a senior defense official.

The U.S. was already in the process of deploying about 6,000 soldiers to Europe to bolster NATO, though Biden has made clear that the United States will not fight to defend Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance. Last week, a dozen Air Force F-35 fighter jets and 350 airmen from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, arrived in Germany, and the U.S. announced a planned sale of 250 Abrams tanks to Poland.

Soldiers with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, began deploying earlier this month.

"Russia's latest invasion is threatening the peace and security and prosperity of Ukraine and [the] trans-Atlantic community," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday during a meeting with the Ukrainian foreign minister.

Austin warned during a trip to NATO's eastern flank last week that Russia was "uncoiling and now poised to strike" Ukraine.

Putin claimed he was sending troops into the Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions to "maintain peace," and the Russian parliament granted him the authority Tuesday to use military force outside of Russia in a symbolic vote. He has also claimed that the regions cover a wider stretch of territory now controlled by the Ukrainian government.

The area saw an increased amount of shelling last week, including damage to a school in Ukraine-held territory, ratcheting up concerns that the violence could be a precursor to a full-scale invasion.

The Russian president, who annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014 despite international condemnation, has demanded that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance pull back from eastern Europe.

"He is setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view," Biden said in his address Tuesday. "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine."

-- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten.

Related: US Will Sell Poland Tanks to Bolster NATO Against Putin
The Department of Defense is considering activating National Guard units to respond to a possible protest by truck convoys in the nation's capital later this week, according to a statement released Tuesday.

"The Department is analyzing a request for assistance from the US Capitol Police and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in an emailed 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 and DC government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries," Kirby added, before noting that "no decisions have been made yet to approve these requests."

Read Next: Army's Controversial Fitness Test Might Become Official This Year, Leaked Plan Says

The protests in the U.S. come on the heels of a weeks-long blockade in Canada by a "Freedom Convoy" of truckers opposing the country's COVID-19 mandates and policies, snarling traffic in that country's capital of Ottawa. Although the protests were ostensibly organized around opposition to the vaccine mandate that requires all Canadian truckers crossing the U.S.-Canadian border to be fully vaccinated or face a two-week quarantine, statements issued by a group that purports to speak for the movement have said they seek the "end of all vaccine mandates."

After donor data from crowdfunding website GiveSendGo was hacked and released, several media outlets reported that the movement was financed in large part by donors in the United States. The Intercept reported that its analysis showed that "hundreds of donors are members of the Oath Keepers, an American far-right paramilitary organization" and that Thomas Siebel, an American billionaire businessman, gave $90,000 -- the largest individual donation.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that an analysis of U.S. ZIP codes from the dataset showed that "the richer an American community was, the more likely residents there were to donate, and the biggest number of contributions often came from communities where registered Republicans made up solid majorities."

On Friday, U.S. Capitol Police said that they, along with other law enforcement groups in the D.C. area, were "aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, DC around the time of the State of the Union."

President Joe Biden's first State of the Union is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1.

Kirby's statement confirmed that help from the National Guard had been requested, but made clear that its participation is not yet guaranteed.

The Capitol Police said that a "temporary inner-perimeter fence" could also be part of its security plans but stressed that "at this time no decision has been made."

"As with any demonstration, the USCP will facilitate lawful First Amendment activity," the Capitol Police said in a press release.

The last major deployment of National Guard troops to the nation's capital and, more specifically, to the U.S. Capitol building itself, was in the days following Jan. 6, 2021, when a throng of rioters burst through police lines and caused millions of dollars of damage to the landmark. The mob's goal was to halt the certification of the election results that declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election.

The Guard ended up being deployed in the city, in some capacity, for about four months.

Unlike states, in which governors can swiftly deploy the National Guard, D.C. has no elected official with such authority. Instead, it has traditionally fallen to the secretary of the Army to approve requests. However, following the events of Jan. 6, the Pentagon has streamlined that process and delegated the power to deploy the National Guard solely to the secretary of defense.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: A Year Later, a Guardsman Who Responded to the Capitol Riot Recalls Delays and Uncertainty
When Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, he surrendered an estimated 28,000 Confederate troops. Many remember this moment as the end of the American Civil War, but it wasn't the last army to give up to federal troops.

Appomattox might have been the most famous surrender in the war, but it wasn't the largest. Confederate troops could have continued the fight, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis wanted them to do so. There were still several rebel armies in the field, but they weren't out to fight. They were going to negotiate their safe passage home and the end of the Civil War.

The largest surrender came when Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Gen. William T. Sherman at Bennett Place, North Carolina. It wasn't until Johnston and Sherman agreed to terms that the war effectively ended, weeks after the surrender at Appomattox.

Sherman famously (or infamously, depending on which side of the Mason-Dixon Line you're on) marched to the sea between Nov. 15 and Dec. 21, 1864. His army left a path of destruction from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. After his March to the Sea, he turned his army north toward the Carolinas.

Gen. William T. Sherman, also known as "Mr. Steal Your Grain." (National Archives) Gen. William T. Sherman, also known as "Mr. Steal Your Grain." (National Archives)

As Sherman entered Raleigh in April 1865, Lee's army of Northern Virginia had already given up. The only force to stand in the way of Sherman and his brand of total war with the South was Johnston and his force of more than 89,000 Confederate troops. Instead of continuing the fight, however, Johnston sought a meeting with Sherman.

The two sides met at a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett to negotiate terms of surrender on April 17, 1865. The Confederate forces not only wanted paroles and pardons for the soldiers in Johnston's army, but they also wanted the reestablishment of state governments in place before the war. Sherman agreed initially, but he received a telegraph informing him of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln two days earlier.

Lincoln wanted a more sympathetic and compassionate resolution to the war. He wanted to pardon all Confederate troops, protect the private property of Southern landowners and allow the states autonomy in rebuilding and rejoining the Union. With Lincoln dead, the North was out for justice.

U.S. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and Lincoln's cabinet rejected the agreed terms of surrender and ordered Sherman to renegotiate on military terms only. Johnston met with Davis in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where Davis ordered Johnston to escape from North Carolina with his cavalry and reject the negotiations.

Johnston disobeyed Davis' orders, telling the Confederate president that the people of the South were tired of war, considered themselves defeated and that his army was deserting en masse.

Johnston met with Sherman once more on April 26, 1865. The two sides came to agree to essentially the same terms Grant and Lee agreed to at Appomattox Court House. More than 89,000 Confederate soldiers were allowed to return to their homes and were given 10 days' rations. With the end of the Civil War in the southeastern United States, Sherman began distributing food to southern civilians.

Substantial Confederate armies were still in the field, but none was as large or essential to continuing the rebellion as Johnston's. Davis considered the surrender an act of treachery, even as Johnston was held by Union forces until May 2. Johnston never forgot Sherman's generosity in the surrender agreement, and the two became close friends for the rest of their lives.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Lt. Col. James Harvey had one wish for much of his Air Force career. He wanted the 332nd Fighter Group -- the Tuskegee Airmen -- to be recognized for winning the Air Force's first-ever aerial gunnery competition.

"We were the original 'Top Gun,'" he told AARP Studios. "Our competitors didn't think we were real. We were Black and flying this obsolete aircraft. We weren't supposed to win it."

The 1949 Air Force Annual 'Top Gun' Weapons Meet winners with the competition trophy. (U.S. Air Force) The 1949 Air Force Annual 'Top Gun' Weapons Meet winners with the competition trophy. (U.S. Air Force)

Harvey was drafted into the Army in 1943 as an Army Air Corps engineer. Just a few years earlier, he'd seen a group of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks flying over his home in Pennsylvania, which planted the idea of flying one someday into his mind. So when the chance to apply to the Air Corps' Aviation Cadet Training Program came up, he jumped at it.

In October 1944, he graduated from the Tuskegee Flight Program and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Like many of the new Tuskegee Airmen, he was assigned to replace pilots in the 332nd fighting in Europe. Although Harvey never saw action during World War II, he and his fellow Black pilots continued serving.

The postwar Tuskegee Airmen made history just a few years later, but their accomplishment went unrecognized for decades afterward.

Despite what the movie "Top Gun" will tell you, the U.S. military's first real-world "Top Gun" program wasn't set up by the Navy. It was an Air Force program that first took place in 1949. Tuskegee Airmen Capt. Alva Temple, 1st Lt. Harry Stewart, 1st Lt. James H. Harvey III and alternate Halbert Alexander, competing in P-47N Thunderbolts, would win it.

In January 1949, the chief of staff of the Air Force put a call out to all USAF fighter groups to send their three top scorers to represent their group at the first Top Gun "weapons meet."

The airmen went to Las Vegas Air Force Base, now called Nellis Air Force Base, and pilots competed in five events -- aerial gunnery, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocket firing and panel strafing. Lt. Col. James Harvey calls it the "highlight of my career."

Harvey has a reason for being proud of his team's achievements. Despite flying obsolete aircraft, they led the 10-day event almost every step of the way. Their competitors were flying the P-51 Mustang and the P-82 Twin Mustang fighters.

"It didn't matter, though," Harvey said. "It's the skill of the pilot that determines what's gonna happen. They were there to compete, and we were there to win."

The competition is now called "William Tell," and the winner of the annual event has their name added to the list of past winners in the Air Force Association's yearly almanac. For 46 years, the winner of the 1949 competition was listed as "unknown." It wasn't until 1995 that it finally listed the winner as the 332nd Fighter Group.

"When it was announced that we, the 332nd, had won the trophy, the room was quiet," Harvey recalled. "There was no applause or anything like that. Because we weren't supposed to win it. Little did I know, this was the last time the public would see the trophy for 55 years."

The trophy sat in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, for much of that time. Harvey went on to fight in the Korean War, becoming the first Black jet pilot in combat, flying 126 combat missions. He retired in 1965.

Air Force pilot and Tuskegee Airman James Harvey in Korea. (James H. Harvey III) Air Force pilot and Tuskegee Airman James Harvey in Korea. (James H. Harvey III)

Historian Zellie Rainey Orr discovered the trophy and the story of the 332nd's epic "Top Gun" victory. In 2004, the trophy was finally put on display in the Air Force museum. Harvey's wish that Nellis Air Force Base would recognize the win took a few more years and intervention from AARP.

AARP's Wish of a Lifetime program seeks to change the way society views the values of older people by granting them one of their lifelong wishes. It learned about Lt. Col. Harvey's story and looked into the true story. The result was that Nellis Air Force Base recognized the victory with a commemorative plaque posted there in January 2022, honoring the achievement of the Tuskegee Airmen.

"It proves that if you believe in something and you stay at it, you'll finally get the recognition you deserve," said Harvey, who turned 98 in 2021. "This plaque, finally, after many years, will be at the top, number one."

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Keokuk, IA (52632)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
AK Songstress

21.02.2022 LISTEN

Ghanaian musician, AK Songstress, has revealed there is what we term locally as juju in music.

She shared that, everything happened after she released her hit song Jonathan.

Talking to Doctar Cann on Happy 98.9FMs Showbiz Xtra she said, The song became a hit after I released it. Two weeks after releasing the song I realized I couldnt sleep and was restless. I was stressed and kept having bad dreams.

Telling her boss about how she felt, he asked her not to worry and brushed it aside as he really did not believe in spirituality, although AK believed otherwise.

One time I suddenly fainted out of nowhere and because of what happened previously, I realized something was wrong with me, I mean spiritually, she said.

AK Songstress disclosed she believes there are forces on earth and when youre progressing, a lot of things can happen but she did not know for a fact what was happening to her.

According to her, she is a very spiritual person who believes in prayers and fasting, and also has the ability to see things.

God reveals a lot of things to me and although Ive not had my biggest breakthrough yet, I know whats ahead, she emphasized.

She furthered that, although she had heard about spiritual forces and voodoo being used in the music industry, she had never experienced it. She and her manager were both surprised after everything that happened.

From what she has experienced, she said, In a country where our president takes his own chair to interviews we need you be careful.

---happyghana.com
Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician, Kofi Nti, has disclosed what called for his break in the music industry.

He shared that, a lot of circumstances led to his break but unlike what most people assumed, his break did not mean he had stopped doing music but rather, he went off to bring his fans better music.

Talking to Foster Romanus on e.TV Ghanas Late Nite Celebrity Show, he said, At a point in my career, I was not myself. I went off to recover and bring back something good because looking at what Ive done in previous years, it was tight and I didnt want to bring something that will be lower my standards because everyone knows how hard Kofi Nti goes on his songs.

He mentioned that, some challenges he was facing at the time also resulted to his break, and he decided to take some time off to work on himself and come back better.

Talking about his come back, Kofi Nti shared that he has been able to resolve most of the things he was facing in the previous years, and is ready to give his fans what they expect of him.

While I was away, I heard a lot of rumors about me and how most of my fans kept asking when I was coming back. So I decided to come out to clear most of the misconceptions and also give my fans what they have been waiting for all the years I was away.

He urged his fans to stay with him while he brings them nothing but the best in highlife music like he has always done.

---happyghana.com
Islamic fundamentalism is one of the enemies of Bangladeshi society against the progress of women and the country. Women education is the main weapon to prevent this fundamentalism.

by Swadesh Roy

Bangladesh government has made a decision to open all educational institutions. It has been more than two years except reopening of some private universities. The world knows that it is a part of the recent global consequences of Covid-19. In the past, natural disasters, man-made disasters or any world war did not disrupt educational continuity in that way.

However, the world is recovering from all the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is true that the world is coming out from the hit of the pandemic but it has created several wounds in the body of the world or the world population. So, the General Secretary of the United Nations, Anthony Guterres, stated in this week, Global governance is failing at precisely the moment when the world should be coming together to solve the global problems. We need to act together in the national and the global self-interest, to protect critical global public goods, like public health and a livable climate and support humanitys well-being. Mr. Guterres emphasized the global togetherness of people across the world to solve these global problems. At this moment, public health, ruined economy are the most important for reversing the world in its previous position.

All the eyes of the world are now focusing on these aspects. But a silent ruined site is gradually disappearing from the screen - it is women education in the third world or the poor world - many countries in Africa, South-East Asia, and mainly South-Asian countries like India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These South Asian countries women and choice don't go often together. In India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, women's choice depends on male, the head of the family, religion, caste, society and poverty. God is always unkind to the girls in these South Asian countries. So, Gods religion never helps a girl to step forward. Its been two years ahuge number of school and college going girls had to stay home. For the lack of information technology, most of the poor girls did not get education through techno logistic support. But they became more adult meanwhile. In this circumstance, male and religion both will go against the commencement of further education for the several classes of girls. Simultaneously, most of the poor people in South Asia became poorer in the last two years. Most of the lower class people degraded to the poor class. Similarly, middle-class people to lower class. The history of the societies of the South Asian families shows that when poverty hits like this, the male head of the family cut the facilities first of the girl and the women in the family. It is obvious, many heads of the families will make decisions to stop the education of the girls. Even, all the female members of the families will get comparatively less food than the male. South Asian societies have yet to accept female members in the families who will raise their voice and say, what may come, we all will fight together and will continue our education. So, it can be said that in the South-Asian region, the majority of the girls will drop out from the schools of the backward class of Indians and most of the villages in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In comparison with the backward class of Indians and the villages of Afghanistan, the women of the Bangladeshi poor class are more empowered. Despite this, the percentage of losing jobs and shutdown of small businesses are significant in the last two years in Bangladesh. Therefore, when the Bangladesh government is going to open the educational institutions after two years; meanwhile, many things happened in the country. Now, lots of families do not able to send their girls to schools. Though, the legal marriage age for girls in Bangladesh is eighteen years. But newspapers have been publishing many underage girls' marriage news. That's why, if any scientific survey can be done in Bangladesh, the world will see a large number of girls are facing hazardous positions concerning their education. They have no independent choice if they can go to their schools and colleges again. However, world statistics have shown the potentiality of education for Bangladeshi women. Besides, Islamic fundamentalism is one of the enemies of Bangladeshi society against the progress of women and the country. Women education is the main weapon to prevent this fundamentalism.

In conclusion, now it is most important for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Guterres that he should address the world specifically and urge everyone to work together for women education in the poor world, from Ethiopia to Bangladesh.

The author is a senior journalist of Bangladesh and also the highest state award-winning media person
22.02.2022 LISTEN

Founder and leader of the Ark of Salvation Ministry International located at Donaso, a town near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Osomafo Morrison has said prosperity will not usher one into heaven.

He said alot of pastors have reduced the true word of God to prosperity messages.

According to him, churches have created the impression that God's only blessing is wealth.

The teachings of prosperity and wealth the man of God said, though can be found in the scriptures, however many pastors today portray prosperity and wealth as the gateway to heaven.

In an interview with the Modernghana News correspondent in Kumasi, Osomafo Morrison expressed worry that the absence of the message of salvation in churches is contributing to the love for money and fame in the society.

He indicated that the love of money has compelled many Christians to use sinful ways to become wealthy in society.

"As pastors our core mandate is to ensure that we teach our members the word of God and guide them to understand the Kingdom principles towards their salvation," he intimated.

Osomafo Morrison observed that many pastors have deviated from the true teachings of the word and putting in place their own methods to approach the Bible.

The teachings of these pastors he stated, blind their members into worldly gains forgetting that one can gain everything when he or she seeks first the Kingdom of God according to the Bible.

The man of God noted that most churches have shifted their focus on wonders, miracles and prosperity messages using words like "I decree and l declare."

In order to reverse the trend, the man of God urged Christians to pray to God to open their eyes about the works of pastors they encounter.

The clergy stated that many Christians have been praying for several years but hardly archive results, because such Christians fail to check their attitudes whether they conform to the word of God or not.

On this note Osomafo charged Ghanaians especially Christians to put their trust in God and look towards salvation since worldly gains are vanity.
21.02.2022 LISTEN

Has the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) been dissolved?

UTAG has been on strike for more than 40 days and the students you represent, who are the worst affected by this action, are yet to hear any concrete steps you're taking on the matter. I stand to be corrected but so far, no firm statement, no word to the university student, nothing!

Meanwhile, various SRCs each year pump thousands of cedis of students hard earned monies as dues to you! Is this worth it?

As for NUGS, I have indicated times without number that it is a hopeless body for sometime now so I wouldn't waste my time on them.

Our SRCs too, I don't know what's happening to them. None wants to even make a firm statement on this impasse while the students welfare you are supposed to champion is in jeopardy.

Thankfully, though long overdue and more of a middle soft ground approach, UCC SRC has started something. I hope other University SRCs would join guided by the welfare of the students to get us some results. Student voices get results!

If Government and UTAG can't reach a compromise, they should be clear with us so we can advise ourselves. It's no fun keeping us in school doing nothing and being in the dark as to when academic work would begin. We, the bargaining chips, are suffering! Anaaa meebodam?

But honestly, NUGS & USAG do not deserve the students monies we pump to them each year as dues.

We better keep those monies and use it to support the many students who struggle each academic year to pay their school fees!

By: Latif Lawrence Jorhowie

(Barrister)

LLB Student

UCC
21.02.2022 LISTEN

Communication Team Member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Kwadwo Agyei Yeboah (Nana Kay), has said it is better for Ghanaians to accept to pay the controversial E-Levy than going to IMF for a loan.

According to him, the opposition parties are not educating the public enough on the E-Levy bill.

He said only 30-40% people in the country were paying taxes to support government in its development agenda, an issue he found worrying.

According to him, the taxes being generated were not enough to push government into implementing many projects and programmes it has outlined.

There is money in this country. Between generating our own revenue as a state which is interest-free and going for loans that come with heavy interests, which one do we prefer as a nation, he questioned persons opposing the electronic transaction levy, Nana Kwadwo Agyei Yeboah (Nana Kay) exclusively told Neat FM.

He continued, "It is time that revenue generation measures were expanded to rake in more people in to help in the development plans of government."

Nana Kay noted that running to the IMF for a bailout has far more damning consequences on the nation compared to the disadvantages of the e-levy.

He noted that the electronic levy was just a smart way of getting more people to pay some direct tax to the government so that it could expand programmes it is already engaged in and also sponsor the job creating agenda for the youth as catalogued in the recent budget statement.

He said the telecommunications companies have been charging revenue on services on their networks even though they do not directly carry out development projects for the country.
Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong

21.02.2022 LISTEN

A Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong has called for Ghanas Legal System to embrace digital technologies to help deliver better Justice to Ghanaians.

Although Ghana has a robust justice system, its design in recent years has made things difficult for ordinary Ghanaians to access justice.

While there have been several reviews for access to courtrooms and lawyers to address the challenges, there remain financial, informational, and infrastructural barriers to accessing justice in the country.

It is estimated that every year, millions of Ghanaians face various ordeals and are unable to get justice through the legal system.

Delivering a lecture on the opening day of the J.B Danquah Memorial Lectures on Monday, February 21, 2022, at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong has made key proposals to effect change and make it easier for the ordinary Ghanaian to access the justice system.

According to the Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada, digital technology has come to stay and will continue to have an impact on Ghanas legal system.

In this regard, he stresses that it is time for Ghanas Legal System to embrace digital technologies to enhance the delivery of Justice to Ghanaians.

During his lecture, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong called on the General Legal Council, the Ghana Bar Association, the Attorney General, and the Minister of Justice to jointly work and commission a study for access to Justice in Ghana.

He said the commission should among other things examine the use of digital technologies to enhance access to Justice.

The commission should also consider the prospect of adopting an interest on lawyers trust accounts scheme to fund access to justice initiatives in Ghana. The GBA and the General Legal Council should revisit the current restrictions on advertising of legal services with the view of adopting a regime that better mediates the interest of access to justice, protects the integrity of the legal convention, and prevent abuse.

Finally, this lecture calls for a national technology vision to complement the governments drive to develop the digitalised economy. The realization of this vision will definitely demand close collaboration between the government, the General Legal Council, the Ghana Bar Association, and technology companies, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong said to conclude his lecture.

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong will deliver another lecture on Day 2 of this years J.B Danquah Memorial Lectures.

The lecture will focus on Legal Education and legal professional competence and how students can be trained for the digital world.

This years J.B Danquah Memorial Lectures has been organised on the theme; Digitalisation and the Future of the Ghana Legal System.

The series is the 55th edition since it was started in 1968.
Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong has reacted to the continuous absence of the DomeKwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Sarfo from Parliament. According to him, the lawmakers conduct is tantamount to holding the Governing NPP to ransom.

Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, February 21, 2022, the Assin Central MP suggested that the Gender Minister wants to be made the Deputy Majority Leader.

She said she wants to be a Deputy Majority Leader, that woman has failed in life, a whole Cabinet Minister now demanding to be made a Deputy Majority Leader before she comes.

Madam Adwoa Sarfo is said to have argued that there is supposed to be Gender Equality, and will therefore only support the government if she is given that role in Parliament.

Kennedy Agyapong is not the only NPP MP to raise the concern regarding Sarah Adwoa Sarfos continuous absence from Parliament.

New Juaben South MP, Michael Okyere Baafi has also mentioned similar concerns indicating that the Dome-Kwabenya MP is using her seat to blackmail the government.

To him, even though he has children with the Member of Parliament he will not defend her for what she is doing to the party.

Dont think I have two kids with her and therefore I will never speak the truth even at gunpoint I will speak the truth and die.

Excuse me, Parliament is not for the Apostle Kojo Sarfo. People are insulting me because I went there to campaign for her, he said.

The absence of Adwoa Sarfo comes at a time when the Majority group in Parliament is looking to use its slight numerical advantage to pass the controversial E-Levy Bill.

A Member of Parliament who absents him or herself for 15 straight working days without permission risks losing their seats.

That is the situation Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, finds herself, with sources stating that moves to declare her seat vacant will be triggered this week.

The Privileges Committee will subsequently make a determination and forward their recommendation to the Speaker. They will recommend that the seat should be declared vacant if she is deemed to have abandoned her responsibilities.

Sarah Adwoa Safo had been absent from Parliament for a while following an extension of her leave which was granted by the President.

She had become the subject of Public Debate some months ago following allegations that she was impersonated during Parliamentary proceedings on November 30, 2021 because the Majority side needed the numbers at all costs, to approve the governments 2022 Budget, which they did despite the disapproval by the Minority side.

The controversy was deepened by the fact that videos and photos of a woman believed not to be the Dome Kwabenya MP from the proceedings in Parliament went viral on social media.

In the video, the woman was seen wearing a nose mask, leaving the Chamber right after the headcount which led to the approval of the Budget Statement.

Meanwhile, Madam Adwoa Sarfo has been away from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry as well, after President Akufo-Addo directed the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, to temporarily serve as caretaker Minister in October 2021.

---happyghana.com
21.02.2022 LISTEN

Editor of the Republic Press Newspaper, Samuel Frempong has slammed four (4) Members of Parliament (MP) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for presenting a motion for an enquiry into the death of former President John Evans Atta-Mills.

According to him, it is funny members of the NPP are crying over the 10-year-old death of the former President. It is funny these NPP MPs are crying more than the bereaved family. This is a sign of their clownish behavior. We all know the former President died 10 years ago because he was battling with illness. So how is it that 10 years on these MPs say they have nothing doing and consider it highly important to investigate the death of the late President. The family already has the report on the cause of his death and that was 10 years ago so it is just insensitive to bring back this issue up in such a clownish and ridiculous manner.

Four Majority MPs led by Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh have filed a Private Members motion calling for a bi-partisan investigation into the death of the former President John Evans Atta-Mills.

Aside from the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, the remaining sponsors of the motion include Tolon MP, Habib Iddrissu; Mpraeso MP, Davis Ansah Opoku and Tema Central MP, Yves Hanson-Nortey.

The group wants Parliament to constitute a committee to unravel the unending mystery surrounding the death of late President Mills which sad event occurred on July 24, 2012.

Samuel Frempong described the motion led by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, as a forgery on his (Annoh-Dompreh) part.

After the motion was filed, Mpraeso MP, Davis Ansah Opoku popularly known as OPK issued a statement dissociating himself from it. He claimed he never signed his name to the inquiry.

Surprisingly the other names beneath the inquiry did not have the signatures there and I think it is time Parliament takes this issue seriously and find out how Annoh-Dompreh got their names on there when they claim they know nothing about it, he shared on the Happy Morning Show hosted by Samuel Eshun.

He expressed worry over the call for such an inquest as he believes it is disrespectful to the late Presidents memory and legacy.

---happyghana.com
22.02.2022 LISTEN

A Ghanaian prophet based in US, Prophet Gideon Baffour has revealed that at age 11, he was on the street selling weed and assisting robbers to rob his friends.

Speaking on Hitz 103.9 FM in Accra, with FRANKY5 on "This is Gospel show" Monitored by this reporter, he said between ages of 11 and 17, he had a gang that he used to give information about people who are well to do.

He said even though his father was a pastor at that time he was a bad boy.

As to what lead him to engage in those acts, he said it could be broken home or bad influences from friends.

According to him, he had a friend who smokes a lot called Ebo.

He noted that his friend was denied US visa twice.

He added that his friend asked him to accompany him go see a pastor for prayers but when they got there the pastor prophesied that he will become a prophet .

He narrated that he even challenged and disrespect the pastor for not prophesying about anything than becoming a prophet.

https://www.facebook.com/Hitz1039/videos/1057699458420262/
When Tunda Henry's family fled South Sudan's brutal civil war five years ago, they vowed to return after the upheaval. But as the young nation's shaky peace process struggles to make progress, he fears that day may never come.

Tuesday will mark two years since President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar formed a unity government, cementing a peace deal signed in 2018 that brought an end to a conflict that cost almost 400,000 lives.

Since then, the world's newest nation has lurched from crisis to crisis, battling flooding, hunger, interethnic violence and political malaise as the promises held out by the peace agreement fail to materialise, leaving citizens like Henry deeply disillusioned.

"I am not happy," said the father-of-five, the only person in his family to stay in South Sudan. Fear continues to dog his life, making it near impossible for him to travel to his home village from the capital Juba.

"Some people disappear on the way," he said, with rebel groups such as the National Salvation Front (NAS) -- which did not sign up to the peace deal -- still at large.

Meanwhile political bickering threatens to undo even the fragile gains made in implementing the peace process.

Machar and Kiir have been unable to agree on key provisions such as the creation of a unified army that will bring their forces under a single command.

Since independence, the world's newest nation has lurched from crisis to crisis, battling flooding, hunger, interethnic violence and political malaise. By - AFP

With less than a year left before elections are due, South Sudan risks "going back to conflict", the United Nations warned earlier this month, barely a decade after winning its hard-fought independence from Sudan in 2011.

The five-year civil war which erupted in 2013 forced millions of people to flee their homes, with Henry's family now living as refugees in Uganda.

The 40-year-old works two jobs in Juba, ferrying customers on his motorcycle to earn extra cash to supplement his teacher's salary of 35,000 South Sudanese pounds ($80) -- more than half of which is spent on rent.

"My salary could not sustain me... I have to rent a house, I have to send money to my family," he said.

'Donor fatigue'

Despite being an oil-rich nation, South Sudan's economy has effectively been held hostage by political corruption, with a UN report last September accusing the ruling elite of looting tens of millions of dollars from public coffers.

The country is ranked at the bottom of Transparency International's corruption index along with Somalia and is hugely dependent on foreign aid -- according to the United States, 75 percent of its population required humanitarian assistance last year.

Four out of five of South Sudan's 11 million people live in "absolute poverty", according to World Bank figures for 2018, and nearly two-thirds of its population suffer from severe hunger.

Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir formed a unity government two years ago. By ALEX MCBRIDE AFPFile

Foreign donors, who provide hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid each year, have refused to foot the bill for the lumbering peace process, irking the government.

"Many of the chapters are not implemented simply because of lack of funds (from) the international community," Information Minister Michael Makuei told AFP in a phone interview.

"Most of the countries did nothing... instead they decided to impose an arms embargo on us which has made (unification) of the forces difficult," Makuei said.

But international observers say they are frustrated by the lack of political will shown by the country's leadership in implementing the terms of the peace agreement.

"There is of course donor fatigue," Christian Bader, the European Union ambassador to South Sudan, told AFP.

"Some people have been disappointed. Some people have seen that the money they send out in this country has never brought the expected results," he said.

Limbo

After years of limbo, few expect a government gripped by infighting to make swift progress in time for next year's election deadline.

"I am more comfortable about extending the peace agreement for about one or two years so long (as) the government officials (get) their act together to implement the remaining provisions," said Boboya James, an analyst at the Juba-based Institute of Social Policy and Research.

The authorities need to "ensure that there is a constitution, unified army, judiciary and electoral processes put in place", he told AFP.

Until that happens, Henry has no intention of bringing his family back.

When they fled, he scarcely expected to spend half a decade away from his wife and children, the youngest of whom is just three years old.

Today, he is bracing for an even longer wait.

"Let my family in Uganda stay there," he said.
The hearing of the alleged coup plotters case continued in court on Monday, February 21.

While in court, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Attakora-Obuobisa, led the 10th Prosecution Witness (PW10), Frank Aboagye, into tendering into evidence the tools and implements the alleged coup plotters had planned to use in overthrowing the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.

These tools, implements, and machines were thoroughly identified by the witness, followed by an inspection of same by both the defense lawyers and the three-member bench.

They were subsequently admitted into evidence without any objections by the defencse lawyers.

PW10, Frank Aboagye who is an operative of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) identified 3 pairs of pliers, 3 hammers, 1 saw, 1 spanner, 4 drilling machines, 2 cables, 1 sandpaper and 28 other items described as assorted tools.

He also indemnified the court for admission as pieces of evidence; 1 revolver gun, 2 AK-47 magazines, 3 locally manufactured gun barrels, 1 electric grinding machine, 1 anvil and about a quarter sack of coal.

Narrating how some of the tools and items were retrieved from Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm's office/consulting room, PW10 further presented a chemical labelled as Halothane BP to the court.

He said Dr. Mac-Palm, upon questioning, said the chemical was just like any other normal chemical, but the team still confiscated it anyway since the team was not sure of the real nature of it.

A further search conducted in Dr. Mac-Palm's bedroom at the Citadel Hospital revealed 3 hand-smoke grenades, a small brown leather bag containing 9 live rounds of ammunition; a beretta pistol with 2 magazines; one empty, and the other one carrying six live rounds.

According to Frank Aboagye, Dr. Mac-Palm was interviewed on how the guns and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) came to be in his house.

Dr. Mac-Palm, according to Aboayge, said, though the guns were for him, he was not aware of the presence of the IEDs on his compound.

He said the guns were manufactured for him by Kafui Donya. When pressed further, according to Frank Aboagye, Dr. Mac-Palm said the IEDs were for Kafui Donya and that Kafui had manufactured them to be used in the likely event of Nkonya-Alavanyo conflict.

He noted that Kafui Donya is a native of Alavanyo.

The witness again told the court that Kafui Donya was immediately called in via telephone and was subsequently arrested upon arrival.

Kafui Donya in his interview admitted knowledge of the guns and the IEDs.

According to him, he came from Alavanyo to manufacture the guns and the IEDs for Dr. Mac-Palm. Upon further questioning, he reiterated the guns and the IEDs were all manufactured for Dr. Mac-Palm and that he did the manufacturing.

The Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe (as President), with Justices Hafsa Amaliba and Stephen Oppong, adjourned the case to Tuesday, February 22, 2022, for continuation.

In all, 10 military, police and civilians are being tried.

They include; Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo, Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu (a fleet manager), Johannes Zikpi (a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces) and Donya Kafui, aka Ezor (a blacksmith). The rest are Cprl. Seidu Abubakar, L/C Ali Solomon, Cpl. Sylvester Akanpewon and Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine, all of whom are soldiers.

While ACP Dr Agordzo and Col. Gameli are being tried for abetment of high treason, the rest are facing the charge of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason.


22.02.2022 LISTEN

President Nana Akufo-Addo is pledging his support to the newly appointed ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah.

The NCCE head who has resigned her position from April 30, 2022, will take up her new job from May 2022.

Speaking at a meeting with Madam Josephine Nkrumah at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said he will use his role as ECOWAS Chairman to ensure Madam Nkrumah succeeds

This is a job that you are going to go into to bring credit to yourself and to us, your country Ghana. So I have to wish you the very best. It comes at a time when I am also the ECOWAS Chair so we are there. If there is any problem in course of your tenure as ECOWAS ambassador you know you can always count on us to step in, he said.

The out-going NCCE Chair happens to be one of the few appointees of the erstwhile John Mahama administration who remained in office after the Akufo-Addo government took over in 2017.

Before her substantive appointment, Madam Josephine Nkrumah, acted in the role from her position as Deputy chairperson, Finance & Administration at the commission.

That was after Ms. Charlotte Osei who was the NCCE Chair then, was appointed as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission in 2015.

Ms. Nkrumah has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and French from the University of Ghana, Legon.

She was called to the Ghana Bar in February 1997.

She also holds a Master's of Law (LLM) Degree from the International Maritime Law Institute (IMO), Malta, specialising in Maritime Law.

Before joining the NCCE, she founded a Law Firm, Lumens Veritals Law.

She served as a member of the Ministry of Transport's Advisory Board and boards of other private companies.

 citinewsroom
GENEVA  The number of new coronavirus cases around the world fell 21% in the last week, marking the third consecutive week that COVID-19 cases have dropped, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

In the U.N. health agencys weekly pandemic report, WHO said there were more than 12 million new coronavirus infections last week. The number of new COVID-19 deaths fell 8% to about 67,000 worldwide, the first time that weekly deaths have fallen since early January.

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The Western Pacific was the only region that saw an increase in COVID-19 cases, with a 29% jump, while the number of infections elsewhere dropped significantly. The number of new deaths also rose in the Western Pacific and Africa while falling everywhere else. The highest number of new COVID-19 cases were seen in Russia, Germany, Brazil, the U.S. and South Korea.

WHO said omicron remains the overwhelmingly dominant variant worldwide, accounting for more than 99% of sequences shared with the worlds biggest virus database. It said delta was the only other variant of significance, which comprised fewer than 1% of shared sequences.

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WHO also reported that available vaccine evidence shows that booster vaccination substantially improves (vaccine effectiveness), against the omicron variant, but said more details are still needed on how long such protection lasts.

The agency had previously said there was no proof that boosters were necessary for healthy people and pleaded with rich countries not to offer third doses to their people before sharing them with poorer countries.

Health officials have noted that omicron causes milder disease than previous COVID-19 variants and in countries with high vaccination rates, omicron has spread widely but COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates have not increased substantially.

Scientists, however, warn that its still possible that more transmissible and deadly variants of COVID-19 could still emerge if the virus is allowed to spread uncontrolled.

WHOs Europe chief Dr. Hans Kluge says the region is now entering a plausible endgame for the virus and said there is now a singular opportunity for authorities to end the acute phase of the pandemic.

This week, Britain announced it would scrap all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the requirement for people with the illness to self-isolate, even as Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged there could be future deadly variants of the virus. Earlier this month, Sweden abandoned wide-scale testing for COVID-19 even in people with symptoms, saying that testing costs and the expense of its pandemic restrictions were no longer justifiable.

Hong Kongs leader, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that the city will test its entire population of 7.5 million people for COVID-19 three times in March as it grapples with its worst outbreak yet, driven by the highly contagious omicron variant.
Yaw Buaben Asamoa

22.02.2022 LISTEN

The communications director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa is calling for sanctions against Kennedy Agyapong over his recent criticism of colleague NPP Parliamentarian Sarah Adwoa Safo.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central on Monday blasted the Dome Kwabenya MP over her continuous absence from Parliament.

People are insulting me because of Adwoa Safo's behavior. She used my children to get me to go and campaign for her in the last elections and now she's not coming to parliament but sitting on TikTok dancing.

I went to the extent of going to Dome Kwabenya to campaign against the son of my very good friend, the former Speaker of Parliament Hon. Mike Oquaye in the last elections for Adwoa Safo to win. Don't 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, Kennedy Agyapong shared during an interview with GTV.

Speaking on the same platform on Tuesday, Yaw Buaben Asamoa accused Kennedy Agyapong of washing the dirty clothes of the party and hanging them outside.

He said the vociferous MP must be disciplined for coming out with issues being discussed indoors.

Kennedy Agyapong should be disciplined, I don't think 'He' is in a position to tell the world what we are discussing indoors, the NPP Communications Director said.

According to Mr. Buaben Asamoa, Adwoa Safos issue has become glaring because of the fine margins in parliament.

He said although the leadership of the NPP is in contact with the Dome Kwabenya MP, he is unable to confirm when she will arrive in Ghana to attend to her Parliamentary duties.
North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alluded that the cost of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos latest lavish trip abroad could have paid 7000 beneficiaries of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO).

The President early this month embarked on a 10-day trip to various assignments in France as well as Guyana.

Okudzeto Ablakwa told the press in Parliament that the Presidents 10-day trip would cost the state GHS4.9 million.

"The President took off in the ultra-luxurious LXDIO which costs the Ghanaian taxpayer $14,000 per hour. This six-nation tour we have done a conservative estimate and at the end of the tour the president would have spent a colossal amount of $777,000, the North Tongu MP shared.

In a post on his Facebook page today, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has noted that that colossal amount could have paid 7000 NABCO trainees.

Think about this: with the latest lavish presidential cruise costing the Ghanaian taxpayer some GHS4.9million; what this actually means is that at a stipend of GHS700 a month, Prez Akufo-Addo could have paid as many as 7000 NABCO trainees & perhaps avert the NABCO demonstrations, a post on the Facebook page of Okudzeto Ablakwa reads.

This follows last weeks demonstration by NABCO trainees in Accra demanding that they are paid all outstanding salary arrears.

The trainees that hit the street protested that they are owed between three to eleven months of unpaid salary.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has described the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a chop chop party.

Speaking to Asaase Radio on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the long-serving Parliamentary noted that claims by the NDC that it is a socialist party are just a cover-up.

According to the NPP MP, the NDC come to power to blow cash and has gradually managed to pollute the minds of Ghanaians that the ruling government is in power to do the same.

NDC proclaim to be a socialist party. They are just chop chop. That is why Ghanaians believe NPP is also going to do chop chop and because of the way they believe and understand governance is chop chop they inculcate that into Ghanaians and they believe, Ken Agyapong shared.

Citing an example, the Assin Central MP said, Why I say chop chop is that why on earth, you are blaming Bawumia? When this interoperability at the Bank of Ghana and the rest came, NDC gave a contract for 1.2 billion dollars and Bawumia did it for 4.5 million dollars. Ghanaians give me a break. You have forgotten so soon.

In a recommendation to the government, Kennedy Agyapong says attention should be turned to tourism to develop the country.

He said gold and other natural resources in this age can help but are not the solutions to the many challenges starring in the face of Ghanaians.

Ken Agyapong proposes that Ghana invests and promotes tourism. He stressed that through that, the country will be on the path of rapid growth and development.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, former Deputy Minister for Information has stated that neither Alan Kyeremanteng nor Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia would be viable candidates for the NPP to win the 2024 elections.

He said the NDC would win both hands down.

According to him, both of them in their current dispensations have left no impressive marks on the Ghanaian people to elicit a win for the party.

He noted that whoever the party presents will be an  an ill-fated decision" for the NPP to lose the elections easily.

He noted that Vice President Dr. Bawumia with all his economic lectures has failed in the economic management bench that shoot him to fame.

What he is noted for or his claim to fame in the past is economic management and he has been so spectacular that he is running away from the very thing he supervised, the economic management team. He has supervised the worst economic management team under the fourth republic. This will make him completely untenable for the NPP,  he said to Joy News.

Mr. Ofosu says Bawumia has peddled falsehoods which nobody now takes him serious.

According to him, in a campaign against Vice President Bawumia all you need to do is play his own voice and thats it. 

He added that the NDC is not overconfident of its win as the party recognizes the strength of its opposition, and the reality on the ground.

He added that Alan Kyeremanteng, Minister of Trade and Industrialization is a member of the economic management team which has performed poorly. He stressed that Alan is part and parcel of the catastrophic management we see.

Both leading candidates do not inspire confidence, their records are shambolic, Mr Felix Kwakye emphasised.
Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has indicated that despite calls for the government to march to the IMF for help, it is not a move that will be taken.

In the last few months, the Minority has advised that in the midst of the hardships in the country and the worrying debt/GDP ratio of the country, the Akufo-Addo government should seek IMF intervention.

This recommendation has been backed by some experts and economic analysts who believe an IMF bailout is needed to save Ghanas ailing economy from collapsing.

Speaking on the matter in an interview with Asaase Radio on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Kennedy Agyapong says he disagrees with such calls.

According to him, it is only a failed government that runs to the IMF for help. Insisting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has not failed, the Assin Central MP said enrolling on an IMF programme is not an option.

I hear some people say we should go to the IMF but any government that goes to IMF has failed and we havent failed, Kennedy Agyapong shared.

In the midst of the conversation, the Akufo-Addo government has time and again stressed that it will not go to the IMF.

Speaking at the Townhall meeting on E-Levy organised in Tamale early this month, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta indicated that there is no consideration for the government to return to IMF after exiting its last programme in the first term of President Akufo-Addo.

I can say we are not going to the IMF. Whatever we do, we are not. Consequences are dire, we are a proud nation, we have the resources, we have the capacity. We are not people of short-sight, but we have to move on, Ken Ofori-Atta said.
22.02.2022 LISTEN

The Asokwa District Court in the Ashanti Region has discharged a senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Wilberforce Aggrey, who was standing trial for his alleged role in the disappearance of his wife, Rhodaline Amoah-Darko.

He has however been rearrested as new charges have been filed against him at the High Court.

This comes after the Attorney Generals representative handling the prosecution on the matter disclosed to the Asokwa District Court that the matter has been moved to the High Court as a result of the new charges.

The first hearing at the Kumasi High Court is expected to take place on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

Before the Attorney Generals office took over the case, the police's charge sheet indicated that Dr. Wilberforce Aggrey had admitted to faking his wife's supposed kidnapping using her phone.

He has however not been able to tell the police the whereabouts of his wife, after stating that he sent her to a place closer to Volta lake to ensure her safety.

The Kumasi High Court, on 16th November 2021, denied a bail application filed by Dr. Wilberforce Aggrey's lawyers, stating that new facts emerging link him to the disappearance of his wife.

citinewsroom
Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George, has said Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu must leave office.

Throwing lights on a health projects being undertaken in his constituency while speaking on the New Day show on TV3 Monday February 21, he said I am hoping that it will not end up like the La General Hospital where sod was cut and two years on nothing. Contractor is on site, I have seen that they are doing land clearing. The Health Minister, if he survives the vote of censure or whoever succeeds him, should bear in mind that I am going to be on their neck.

Asked why the Minority is being hard on the Minister, he said We are not being too hard, we are just using the law. The health minister says he stopped thinking. If he stops thinking , in his own words he said he is not thinking. There is a reason the brain is in your head, it is to think and so if you are a minister and you are nothing you shouldnt be the minister. Parliament and governance is not a church forgiveness is for God.

All 137 members of the Minority in Parliament have signed a motion for vote of censure in the Minister of Health who is also the Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central Constituency.

The motion was submitted on Wednesday, February 16 via a memorandum to the Speaker of Parliament.

According to the motion, Mr Agyemang-Manu undertook a business transaction as Ghana's Minister of Health without prior approval of Parliament contrary to Article 81 of the 1992 Constitution.

He has also been accused of signing a procurement agreement without prior approval of the Board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

The Minority also accuses the Health Minister of dishonesty, telling the Committee of Health that he procured the Sputnik-V vaccines at an ex-factory price of $10 per dose when they were really procured at $19 and $18.5 per dose.

The Health Minister is also accused of fibbing and misrepresenting under oath, having made a $2.85 million initial payment to the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum when he told an ad hoc committee that no payment had been made.

The Minority accuses him of perjury.

The above conduct, being in direct breach of the Constitution and laws passed by this Honourable House, the Minister of Health be removed from office as Minister by a vote of Censure passed in accordance with article 82 of the Constitution.

When he appeared before the nine-member bi-partisan committee on the procurement of the Sputnik-V vaccines, Mr Agyemang-Manu said he was not himself when he took the decision because the country was in dire straits due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

3news.com
22.02.2022 LISTEN

Outspoken Ghanaian politician, Kennedy Agyapong has disclosed that although he is usually loud in the public, he mellows and begs like a kid when he is pushing for a contract.

Currently, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin Central Constituency, the leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is known for fighting for his party.

Already known as one of Ghanas most successful businessmen, Kennedy Agyapong dreams of becoming more successful.

Speaking to Asaase Radio in an interview on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the parliamentarian revealed that in private he calms down and goes to the extent of begging when he has to.

The way I run my mouth and fight for the NPP, when I want a contract, I beg like a kid. So its not rosy as we put it out there, Kennedy Agyapong shared.

At the moment, the Assin Central MP notes that he is not harbouring a dream to become President of Ghana. Instead, he says he is focused on becoming a great businessman.

My dream is to become a great businessman. Presidency is not something Im interested in  those people who want me to become president will probably be the first people Ill arrest; discipline above all else, Kennedy Agyapong added.

Tagged already as a business mogul, Kennedy Agyapong owns a number of businesses in the country that provides employment for a lot of Ghanaians.

He is the owner of KenCity Media, the mother company of Oman FM and Net2 TV.
Ningo Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George has accused the government of theft in relation to the spending of Covid funds.

According to him, the government is unable to account for the funds it received from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), funds that were received to deal with the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

Speaking on the New Day show on TV3 Monday February 21, he said How much did they spend on Covid, has this government been able to tell you how much they spent on Covid. We have asked them and they cant answer because they stole the money.

He added When the government tells you, they fed 1.8million people in Greater Accra.

Sam George told host Johnnie Hughes that The government is unable to show us a breakdown of the monies they spent. They claim they gave everybody free water and free electricity. They increased the water and electricity bills six months later. So you are paying what was free. Right now even when you go and buy meat pie you are paying Covid levy.

So the government is recouping whatever it claimed it has spent in a one per cent covid levy. Government got one billion dollars from the IMF in rapid credit support, they got another one billion dollars in special drawing budget form the IMF. They came and told us they got an 130million dollars from the World Bank.

3news.com
A Deputy Ranking Member of the communication committee of Parliament, Hon. Samuel Nartey George has condemned the GHS250 fee charged for the registration of the Ghana Card.

After the nationwide registration of the National Identification Card, there is now a mad rush for the card by Ghanaians that could not register during the exercise.

Currently, a person who wishes to register for Ghana is required to pay GHS250 to access the premium services.

Amid the complaints from unregistered Ghanaians, the Minority side of the Communication Committee of Parliament says it will champion an agenda for the National Identification Authority (NIA) to embark on another mass registration exercise.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, February 22, Sam George stressed that the charge of GHS250 for premium service is too much.

Two Hundred and Fifty Cedis is somebodys whole salary and so for you to ask someone to pay 250 cedis to just have a card, I can understand their pain, Deputy Ranking Member of the communication committee of Parliament told the media.

He continued, I am sure from tomorrow hopefully you will see the benefits of this engagement. We want to assure you that we will continue to work in your best interest from Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the NIA, Professor Ken Attafuah has been summoned to appear before parliament on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, to answer questions on challenges facing the system.
BEIJING, Feb. 21 -- The new-generation barracks of the Chinese PLA Army debuted on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau recently.

The new-generation barracks feature combat readiness and rapid deployment capabilities. They can meet multiple needs and accommodate troops of different arms at one time.

The combat training function has been strengthened in the new barracks too. With 14 specialized indoor training rooms and dozens of outdoor training grounds, they can house more than 100 training courses at the same time, so the service members can practice all the individual training subjects within the barracks.

Since 2018, the Military Facilities Construction Bureau under the PLA Logistic Support Department has selected 16 units with different roles from the whole military as pilot users. As for now, the first batch of new barracks has completed construction and come into use.

Exterior of the new-generation barracks
Repeat offenders are all over last weeks lineup of eateries forced to temporarily close by state inspectors.

Comfort-food shack Wayback Burgers (last shut Feb. 10) in Coconut Creek is one of them, and so is Mexican bakery Los Gallitos Tortilleria and Panaderia (last shut Dec. 13) in Lake Worth and Bettys Soul Food in Fort Lauderdale (last shut January 2020). Other restaurants closed by the state included Bull Top Taste in Royal Palm Beach and Yama Japanese Restaurant in Delray Beach.

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The South Florida Sun Sentinel highlights restaurant inspections in Broward and Palm Beach counties from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. We cull through hundreds of restaurant and bar inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for high-priority violations, like improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.

[ FULL DATABASE: See Florida restaurant inspection reports from the last 30 days ]

Sun Sentinel readers can browse full Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade county reports on our state inspection map, updated weekly (usually Monday) with fresh data pulled from the Florida DBPR website.

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Any restaurant that fails inspections must stay closed until it passes a follow-up state inspection. If you spotted a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR here. (But dont contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesnt inspect restaurants.)

Bettys Soul Food Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale

601 NW 22nd Road

Ordered shut: Feb. 14, reopened Feb. 15

Why: 16 violations (six high priority) include 20 rodent droppings on front counter shelf next to the dining rooms ice machine  which the operators began cleaning right away. An inspector spotted one employee forgetting to wash their hands before putting on gloves. The restaurant also was ordered to stop selling and toss its cooked chicken, beef and pork due to temperature abuse. Although they found a handful of smaller issues during their second visit, inspectors let the soul-food restaurant reopen Feb. 15.

Bull Top Taste, Royal Palm Beach

1241 N. State Road 7

Ordered shut: Feb. 17, reopened Feb. 18

Why: Six violations, one of which was high-priority: Three live cockroaches crawling on top of reach-in freezer next to the kitchen sink, and beneath a storage shelf nearby  all of which the operator later killed and sanitized. The inspector also found six dead roaches underneath the same kitchen freezer. The restaurant reopened Feb. 18 when the state discovered a single issue during their reinspection.

Yama Japanese Restaurant, Delray Beach

200 NE Second Ave., #110

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Ordered shut: Feb. 16, reopened Feb. 17

Why: Seven violations (four high priority), including 102 live flies found landing on unwashed onions and unopened packaged sauces, landing on the wall next to the dishwashing area and landing on wooden 2-by-4 boards being stored above shelving in the kitchen. The state also saw two dead roaches on the windowsill inside the kitchen, which the operators cleaned. Inspectors spotted a single issue during their second visit on Feb. 17, but reopened the Japanese restaurant.

Wayback Burgers, Coconut Creek

4690 N. State Road 7, Suite 103

Ordered shut: Feb. 17

Why: After being ordered shut last week, this burger joint racked up 12 more violations (four high priority) and a deadline extension to fix violations from the states Feb. 10 inspection. Issues from Feb. 10 included 127 flies landing on cut tomatoes, landing on bags containing onions in prep area, on clean prep tables and on box containing raw ground beef stored near the kitchen sink. The state has not yet posted a report of its follow-up inspection, and the restaurant remains shut.

Los Gallitos Tortilleria and Panaderia, Lake Worth

3485 Lake Worth Road

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Ordered shut: Feb. 14, reopened Feb. 15

Why: Eight violations (two high priority), led by three live cockroaches spotted crawling near the stove, near reach-in freezer and near the kitchen sink  all of which the operator later killed and sanitized. The state also counted 17 dead cockroaches behind speed racks in bakery area, near prep table on cook line and near the kitchen sink. The state spotted a single minor violation during its second visit Feb. 15, but let the restaurant reopen. The Mexican eatery was last ordered shut back on Dec. 13 for similar roach issues.

[ RELATED: South Florida restaurants: Now open, coming soon and closed | PHOTOS ]
Security in Mali has improved but freedom of expression has worsened, an independent UN expert said Tuesday, in the latest assessment of the coup-torn Sahel country.

Alioune Tine, a specialist on human rights in Mali for the UN, said that for the first time since 2018 he had "noted a tangible improvement in the security situation".

The estimated number of displaced people declined from 400,000 in September to 350,000 in December, he said in a video conference from Dakar.

There has also been a drop in the overall number of rights violations recorded by the UN since the end of 2021.

Tine warned that the improvements did not "obscure the serious challenges that remain", particularly the presence of jihadist groups that continue to "attack, kill and kidnap" civilians.

According to local sources, some 40 civilians were killed in mid-February by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS, affiliated to the Islamic State group) in the Tessit region, on Mali's border with Burkina Faso and Niger.

Eight Malian soldiers and "around 60" jihadists died in fighting in the same area on Friday, Bamako said.

Tine said during his visit to Mali this month, stopping in Mopti, Timbuktu and Bamako, he had heard from a swathe of residents that freedom of expression was in decline.

"All were unanimous that it was increasingly difficult to express a dissenting opinion without running the risk of being jailed or lynched on social media," he said.

As part of a proclaimed crackdown on corruption, the junta has arrested several politicians including a former prime minister, Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga.

Tine expressed "deep concern about the narrowing of civic space", warning that "self-censorship for fear of reprisals from the Malian transitional authorities and their sympathisers" was widespread.

"Real threats weigh on the activity of human rights defenders," he said.

Investigations into rights violations, including those carried out by the army, are increasingly rare, Tine warned.

Mali has been ruled by the military since disgruntled soldiers overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020.

Mali is wresting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the duration of its "transition" back to civilian rule.

Mali's West African neighbours have imposed stringent sanctions on Bamako for failing to meet its pledge to hold elections by the end of February.

On Monday, the military-dominated parliament agreed that the transition period could last up to five years.

That delay has been deemed "unacceptable" by ECOWAS.

France said earlier this month that it would withdraw its forces present in Mali after a decade-long fight against jihadists in the region.

Tine also warned of a "social time bomb... on the horizon" as jihadist groups forced the closure of schools.

The number of affected students increased from 400,000 in January 2021 to 500,000 in December of last year, according to UN figures.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned Christian leaders who only find their voice when the NDC is in government to be wary of their actions.

A former Deputy Minister for Communications under former President John Dramani Mahama Felix Kwakye Ofosu issued this warning in reaction to a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Alliance for Christian Advocacy Africa, Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong that the NDC should offer alternatives for the E-levy.

According to the NDC, some of these religious leaders only speak when NDC is in government but lose their voice when the NPP is in government.

They are avowed critic of the NDC in government and become a spokesperson for the NPP in government, he noted.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu speaking on the Citizens Show hosted by Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Accra 100.5 FM on Monday evening February 21, 2022 said If Rev Opuni Frimpong wants alternative to the E-levy, he should tell president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to cut his profligate expenditure on the private jet.

As a party, we wont allow a situation where some church leaders are seen as making excuses for President Nana Addo because he is called Nana Addo.

These church leaders should tell Nana Addo to cut the numbers of his presidential staffers at the seat of government as an alternative to the controversial E-levy.

He questioned what alternative the clergy is also offering adding that the clergy should suggest taxes on offerings as an alternative.

The clergy should also be seen offering to pay tax on offerings as an alternative to the governments quest to mobilize more revenue for development, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu noted

---Classfmonline.com
Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, Professor of Law at the California Western School of Law, San Diego, USA, has said restrictions on the advertisement of legal services undermine access to justice.

He said the ban on solicitation of clients as well as general advertisement by lawyers and law firms kept the public from being informed of the importance and availability of legal services.

Delivering the 55th J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) in Accra on Monday, February 21, 2022, Prof. Oppong urged the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the General Legal Council (GLC) to revisit the ban on advertisement of legal services and adopt a regime that would enhance access to justice.

He said though the restrictions were justified in their quest to safeguard the dignity of the legal profession, it prevented people from finding affordable legal help easily to address the issues confronting them.

Access to justice suffers where lawyers cannot directly or freely speak to the general public about the legal services that they provide or the legal options that are available in response to problems confronting the general public.

...The recognition that a lawyer is required to solve a particular problem is an important part of justice delivery. In that sense, advertising serves is an educational function. Social and other digital media can be powerful channels for such outreaches, Prof. Oppong said.

It would be sufficient to regulate advertisement that misleads the public or diminishes public confidence in the legal profession and administration of justice and any solicitation that involved coercion, duress of harassment, he added.

Prof. Oppong, therefore, urged the GBA to take advantage of advertisement and use it to engage in public education campaigns about legal rights and avenues for seeking justice.

He also urged the Government to invest in technologies that were aimed at making justice more accessible to the public.

He advocated for the establishment of a single or unified national legal portal with a supporting application (app), providing access to Ghanaian laws, judicial decisions, and relevant information on access to justice.

Funding for this national portal should come from the Government and the GBA. A potential source of funding for such investments can be the interests that accrue on funds that clients deposit with lawyers when lawyers are providing them with legal services, Prof. Oppong said.

The J. B. Danquah Memorial Lecture Series was instituted in 1968 in memory of a foundation member of the GAAS, Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah, who died in prison in February 1965.

Dr Danquah was a member of the "Big Six" who led the struggle for Ghana's independence but was arrested and imprisoned three times; first by the colonial government in 1948 and twice by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana' first President, in 1961 and 1964.

Since 1968, the lectures had been a constant feature of the Academy's activities.

This year's three-day lecture is on the theme: Digitalisation and the future of the Ghana Legal System.

GNA
The Bechem Government Hospital in the Ahafo Region has received a phototherapy machine worth $50, 000.00 US dollars from the Bechem Local Council of Churches.

Presenting the Machine to the management of the hospital, Rev. Frimpong Boadu, the chairman of the Council said, the Bechem Local Council of Churches got to know that the Bechem Government Hospital was facing logistical constraint. This logistical constraint has made residents in Bechem and its environs unable to get quality health care delivery services from the hospital.

He noted that it was against this background that the Bechem Local Council of Churches mobilised funds through fundraising ceremonies to procure the said machine. He indicated that governments efforts to retool the public sector organisations especially Bechem Government Hospital would not be done in just one day and called on all well-to-do Ghanaians to come to the aide of Bechem Government Hospital.

He emphasized that, when the hospital is resourced, it would help the staff to deliver quality services to the general public and also increase the hospital Out Patient Departments attendance.

On behalf of management of the hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Adjei Darko, the Medical Superintendent who received the machine thanked the churches as well as the chairman for Bechem Local Council of churches for the kind gesture.

He said the availability of the machine would enhance the daily operational activities of the hospital and assured the public that, it would be used for its intended purposes and also put into good use.

Kyeame Opoku Agyeman who represented the Omanhene of Behem Traditional Council, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II at the programme thanked organisers charged management of the Bechem Government Hospital to maintain the machine as and when necessary to enjoy the lifespan of the machine.
22.02.2022 LISTEN

The founder of Humanity Magazine, Mr. Yahaya Alhassan, is proposing a bipartisan support in the Parliament of Ghana aimed at finding a lasting solution to the problem of witch-camps in some communities in the country.

In the wake of the brutal murder of Madam Akua Danteh in July 2020, Mr, Alhassan had in December of last year petitioned parliament to initiate action to prosecute witch doctors and close down witch camps in the country.

In response to his letter, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban Bagbin assured Mr. Alhassan that a private members bill is currently being sponsored by the majority and minority leaders, Hon Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, respectively.

Other MPs on both sides of the aisle who are supporting the bill include Hon. Kojo Appiah-Kubi Member of Parliament for Atwima Kwawoma constituency and chairperson for gender and children, Hon. Laadi Ayii Ayamba Member of Parliament for Pusiga constituency and ranking member of the committee on gender and children and Hon. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu Kubi, Member of Parliament for Madina.

He appealed to the parliamentarians to fast track the bill into becoming a law to free innocent women from what he called captivity and prosecute witch doctors to prevent future lynching of innocent elderly and vulnerable women.

Mr. Alhassan called on the interior and defense ministers to stop the on-going criminality by arresting witch doctors and closing the witch camps in Bonyasi, Gambaga, Gnani, Kpatinga, Kukuo and Nabuli all in northern regions.

"Because it is very depressing to see how elderly women are mistreated and imprisoned in the witch-camps.

It is also embarrassing to see how important people in our society, including intellectuals, slip to this quagmire of abhorrent beliefs and lies told by witch doctors to put voiceless women into deplorable witch-camps, he added.

Mr. Alhassan called on civil societies and northern leaders to join the campaign to close the camps and the government of Ghana to provide monthly reparation/compensation to victims.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated by the United Nations and its partners worldwide. The Day focuses on the reality that science and gender equality are vital for achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, long-standing biases and gender stereotypes steer girls and women away from science-related fields.

Therefore, to achieve full and equal access to STEM education and participation in science for women and girls and further achieve gender equality and empowerment, the UN General Assembly declared 11th February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The year, the theme for the event is: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us.

In this regard, the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) Bono Chapter, in collaboration with the Optical Society of UENR (OSU) and some lecturers at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), celebrated the Day with the girls of MA Basic School at Mmredane, Sunyani.

Speaking at the event, the chairman, Dr Owusu Nyarko-Boateng, advised the junior high school girls to be serious with their science and mathematics subjects.

He further stressed that the demand for female professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is growing exponentially. Moreover, tackling some of the most significant challenges in Ghana and the world, such as improving health, combating climate change, cybercrime, and technological gaps, relies on harnessing especially talent in girls. "That means getting more girls to study STEM subjects is critical. The increased number of girls in STEM education will expand the pool of talents in technological innovation, fresh perspectives, and creativity. The chairman reminded the girls to play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation in all STEM events should be strengthened," he stated.

Several invited speakers took their turn to talk to the student on different topics. Ms Vivian Akoto- Adjepong, a PhD Computer Science candidate and a lecturer at UENR, said, among others, that one needs to have a vision and understanding of what they want to achieve and then make appropriate preparation to progress through the educational system amidst challenges effectively.

Ms Faiza Umar Bawah, a PhD Computer Science candidate and a lecturer at UENR, also said there are two keys to winning: Enthusiasm and Mental Edge. Her presentation focused on elaborating seven mental training techniques which are judgement, goal setting, visualization, positive self-talk, error management, concentration development and preparation.

Dr. Samuel Boateng and Dr Kofi Nti, both lecturers at UENR, took their turn to advise the girls to develop the right attitudes and discipline towards their academic work and life in general. He said attitude and discipline are the twin attributes that would help them study and achieve their life goals in STEM education. The speakers said artificial intelligence is driving industrialization and digitalization of businesses, "so girls are expected to champion the practical design and implementation of this technology in Ghana."

Miss Rosemond Amonoo, a representative from the Sunyani Municipal Education, asked the girls to be useful at home and take their studies seriously to avoid teenage pregnancy, leading to school dropouts.

The chairman climax the event with a word of caution to all the girls to stay focused and avoid truancy and unnecessary use of electronic devices at the early stages in their educational career.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has embarked on a day's trip to Niamey, the Capital of Niger, Mr Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament has announced.

Delivering a message from the President on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Bagbin said the President would return to Ghana in the evening of the same day.

"Mr Speaker, absence from Ghana, in accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution, I write to inform you that in my capacity as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as the President of the Republic, I will be travelling outside the country to Niamey, capital of the Republic Niger in the morning Tuesday 22nd February 2022 to lead Ghana's delegation to the launching ceremony of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) North Core Project at the invitation of his Excellency Mahammed Buzoum, President of the Republic of Niger, to be held on Tuesday 22 February 2022.

"Thereafter, I will travel to Abuja, Nigeria, to meet with His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on important ECOWAS matters.

According to the Speaker, the President would return to Ghana in the evening of the same day.

"During my absence, Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia shall in accordance of Article 68 of the Constitution, act in my stead," Mr Bagbin said.

The North Core project is a 330 kV transmission line from Birnin Kebbi (Nigeria) to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) through Zabori (Niger) and Niamey (Niger) with T-off to Malanville (Benin).

The estimated investment costs are around US$550 million for the 853km of lines and five associated substations.

GNA
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong appears to have confirmed rumors that his Baby Mama, Sarah Adwoa Safo, the MP for Dome-Kwabenya is holding the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into ransom.

According to him, the Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker is making some unwarranted and obnoxious demands including some privileges and money before she could return to Parliament for legislative business.

Speaking on Accra based Asaase radio this morning, Mr. Agyapong said all efforts to get her to return to the House proved futile including monetary sum.

He revealed that he was given a sum of GH120,000 from the Chief of Staff to deposit into Adwoa Safo's Fidelity account.

I have vowed not to insult like I will blast her today. Chief of Staff called me. I went there and she says now this is what she is saying. I swear my mothers grave, Chief of Staff gave me One hundred and twenty thousands cedis which I deposited into Adwoa Safos Fidelity Bank account. I put the money there into her Fidelity Bank Account. Ask her PA if what I am saying is not the truth, Mr Agyapong who appears to be fed with his baby Mamas antics stated.

This comes on the back of Majority Caucus attempt to get the former Deputy Majority Leader back into the Chamber to transact governments business.

Adwoa Safo has recently come under fire from some NPP members over her continuous absence in Parliament, which is adversely affecting government business, especially the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy also known as the E-levy.

Earlier, the Dome-Kwabenya was demanding the removal of Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, before she will return to Parliament, according to Mr. Agyapong.

He bemoaned the attempts by the mother of his two kids to hold the party to ransom.

He noted that Adwoa now is saying that before she comes [to Parliament]  'you have to remove Alex Markin as Deputy Majority Leader  announce it that Alex Markin has been removed' then she will take a plane and come.

One other demand she is making is that 'If you don't give me what I want, you are not going to get the E-Levy passed, and if you don't pass the E-Levy, you will go to the International Monetary Fund, so unless you give me what I want, I will never come.

In a strong statement from the firebrand MP, he warned that he will turn his back on the governing party and also make some unwarranted demands if President Akufo-Addo yields to the demands of Adwoa Safo.

Please watch some part of the interview below:

---DGN online
The Ghana Police Service has announced that three persons sustained gunshot wounds following Tuesdays attempted bullion van robbery.

The Police through the intervention of an officer on duty successfully foiled an attempted bullion van robbery at Industrial Area, Accra, today.

In a statement released via the official Facebook page of the Ghana Police Service, it has confirmed that in the midst of shooting by the robbers, three persons were hit in the crowd.

All three are currently admitted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Whiles the robbers were fleeing the scene, they fired indiscriminately into the crowd. Three people sustained various degrees of injuries and have been admitted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

The Inspector-General of Police has spoken to the medical team at the hospital and the victims and assured them of the needed support, part of the Police statement reads.

Fortunately, the armoured bullion vehicle used saved the lives of the officials and the police officer on board the vehicle even though the robbers fired into the van.

As a result, the Police have charged financial institutions to heed the administration's call for the use of such fit-for-purpose vehicles for their cash-in-transit activities.

We wish to assure the public that police has intensified efforts to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice. We will surely get them.

The Police Administration commends the Police officer whose intervention foiled the robbery incident, the Police statement concludes.
Residents of Lake Side Estates as well as Santor, East Legon Hills, and its environs have showered praises on the Lake Side Police Station Officer, Chief Inspector Samuel Darko for boosting the police visibility in the area.

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.
Hospital wars are heating up in South Florida and across the state  with private and public health systems building in new markets and expanding their existing properties.

The flurry of activity is taking big-name health systems into neighborhoods that previously seemed off limits and giving way to the biggest construction and expansion undertakings in decades.

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Across the state, Floridians can expect health care closer to their homes than ever before: more free-standing emergency departments and smaller community hospitals.

They also can expect improvements that bring more beds and better medical technology to hospitals that have been around for decades. Consider:

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In Sunrise, two hospital systems are battling to bring a new hospital to the suburb in Broward County, with both moving forward on parcels only 4 miles apart.

In South Broward, Memorial Healthcare has knocked down a Toys R Us to build a $125 million state-of-the-art cancer center, the first on the west side of the county.

In Central Florida, Orlando Health has begun the largest expansion in its 103-year history, opening hospitals in counties well outside of its home base.

Yet, as health systems invest in growth and improvements, the drawback could be the trickle-down effect: Some experts believe it is inevitable that the activity will result in higher medical costs and premiums.

The capital expenditures these health systems are making are very significant, says James Farrell, chair of the health care practice group at Shutts & Bowen law firm. You will have more choices but you will pay more for them.

Whats triggering the flurry

The reshaping of the health care landscape in Florida comes two and half years after the state Legislature repealed a requirement for a certificate of need that restricted new hospital openings and expansions. Hospitals no longer are bound by rules that require they show a need for more beds in an area to expand or build new facilities. After COVID commanded leadership attention, the focus is back on growth.

Hospitals in Florida that have the ability to expand their footprint are going to do it, said Justin Senior, chief executive officer for the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida. Thats what you are seeing.

Private and public hospital cities are becoming aggressive competitors as they chase population growth in the state.

Senior said taxpayer-funded health systems, such as Jackson Memorial and Broward Health, see their competitors going into fast-growing, higher-income neighborhoods where more residents have commercial health insurance. They realize what they could end up with is a large number of low-paying Medicaid or uninsured patients. Public hospitals are looking to meet patients where they are and serve the entire community.

Farrell, the health care attorney, says no hospital system can sit idle with outdated hospitals and technology and watch competitors buy up land, upgrade their medical campuses and forge into new areas. You just cant be standing still, thats for sure.

Jackson Memorial, Miami-Dades publicly funded health system, recently opened a hospital in Doral, one of the more affluent and fast-growing neighborhoods in the western part of the county.

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Carlos Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System, speaks during a roundtable discussion during the coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky/AP)

Carlos Migoya, CEO of Jackson, said Doral had been a health care desert and needed a hospital.

Now, Jackson is building an emergency room in Coral Gables, which would give the health system a presence in a Miami-Dade suburb with an affluent population of young professionals and senior residents. The ER will be completed in August.

We also are in the process of planning the rebuilding of our adult and pediatric emergency room at Jackson Memorial, which will be a $150 million project, Migoya said. We will break ground in 12 to 15 months and be completed in three years.

In order for people to be attracted to come here you have to have facilities that look good and have the latest technology and latest equipment, he said.

The momentum to stay competitive is so strong that it is leading to unique partnerships. Broward Health  in partnership with Memorial Healthcare  wants to open a hospital in Sunrise, giving Broward Countys two public health systems representation in a city in which their competitor, Baptist Health South Florida, also plans to build.

It would be the first time the two health systems partnered to operate a hospital together.

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Before three years ago, no one would have been able to build in Sunrise because there is not a need. The county has adequate bed capacity, said Aurelio Fernandez, CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. We think Sunrise is a big city and one of the few in Broward that doesnt have a hospital. Working together would bring about a level of care and services that are unique in this market.

[ RELATED: Baptist Health wants to open its first hospital in Broward. But Broward Health and Memorial offer a dueling proposal. ]

(Courtesy of Baptist Health South Florida)

The boom is statewide

The same hospital boom is underway in Central Florida as Orlando Health expands and moves into new areas of the region.

Instead of making patients come to us, were coming to them by growing our footprint across the state, said Erick Hawkins, chief administrative officer of Orlando Health. The health system has hospital projects underway in the Lake Mary area of Seminole County, Lake County, Polk County, and downtown Orlando.

Our expansion activities are not so much about competing with other health care systems as they are about Orlando Health having a presence where our patients live, work and play, Hawkins said. The health system wants to grow by $3 billion by 2030.

Hawkins said his future competitors wont just be traditional hospitals. Already there are tech companies and retailers that are enabled by technology and are entering health care markets around the country. I think youll see a lot more of that in the near future.

Aurelio Fernandez, president and CEO of Memorial Healthcare System, speaks during a news conference about the arrival of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Memorial Healthcare System, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Miramar, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky/AP)

Encroaching on competition

Across the state, the race to build is creating turf battles in cities previously dominated by one player, a dynamic that will give small-town residents more health care choices.

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HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital operator in Florida with 49 locations, plans to build three more hospitals in the state  in Gainesville, Fort Myers and adjacent to The Villages in Central Florida. The new hospitals bring HCA into markets occupied solely by UF Health, a system with 10 academic hospitals.

I think competition is good, said Dr. Jason Kelly, chief medical officer of HCA Healthcare East Florida Division. It forced us to raise our game and to focus on patient satisfaction and make sure we have the resources we need.

At the end of the day, Floridians benefit, Kelly said. As health care in the state gets more competitive, you cant just open an Emergency Department and hope patients show up. You have to earn a reputation for delivering excellent health care.

Well-funded providers such as Baptist Health and Cleveland Clinic believe they have brand recognition that will draw patients wherever they open. As part of their growth strategy, the health providers are banking land in Palm Beach County for future construction.

Cleveland Clinic Florida has bought 35 acres of vacant land west of Lake Worth for a potential new medical campus. The property is about 4 miles from Wellington Regional Medical Center owned by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, a national health care management organization.

Baptist Health, which already owns Boca Regional Hospital and Bethesda East and West hospitals, has land under contract in Jupiter.

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We look at markets that are growing, where there are unmet needs in the community, and we focus on that as a future site, said Ana Lopez-Blazquez, executive vice president and chief strategy & transformation officer for Baptist Health South Florida.

Building hospitals is very, very expensive, she said. You have to believe that everyone who is doing it has solid reasons for why they are doing it.

[ RELATED: Memorial plans to open a new cancer treatment center in Pembroke Pines ]

From left, Maritza Rovira-Forino, head of business development for Foresight Construction Group, and Maritza Burgos, Skanska's regional vendor diversity director in Florida and Georgia, on Monday, March 22, 2021. Foresight Construction provided subcontractor services to Skanska at the $187 million Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in downtown Orlando. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda)

New hospitals will be different

Health systems have discovered a cost-effective way to enter a market: start with a free-standing emergency room, build demand and recognition, and then add on an acute-care hospital and medical offices. That model has been used by most of the providers in Florida over the last few years.

While the approach differs, so does the type of hospital going up in suburban areas.

They are smaller than traditional hospitals built decades ago, mostly because many surgeries are being done in outpatient and in physician offices and rehabilitation and orthopedic procedures are happening at specialty hospitals.

Not every community needs a large hospital, Lopez-Blazquez said. Those 300-bed hospitals are not being built right now.

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What is being built or considered are smaller  150, 130 beds  and more in areas where growth has occurred and the population has shifted.

Costs could rise

Some industry experts predict all the new investment by health providers carries a price tag.

They warn the new hospitals could add to the higher costs that are making insurance coverage more expensive for businesses and individuals.

There also is concern that older hospitals with fewer patients could end up raising prices to cover costs.

And there are other concerns: With all this competition, there are opportunities for higher quality care, said Steven Ullman, chair of the department of health management and policy at the University of Miami. But there also is a risk that health systems do an expensive test on their new state-of-the-art equipment to recoup their costs when a simpler test would work just as well.

Others believe with more choices, people will shop around.

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When you think about how health plans have changed over the years with consumers being responsible for larger portions of the cost of their care, people are more prone to shop for health care like they might shop for a car, said Hawkins of Orlando Health. As consumerism increases, costs tend to decrease. So ultimately, health consumers will benefit medically and financially from added investments in health care.

If they build, will the nurses come?

One obvious challenge and cost for all providers will be staffing.

Coming out of a COVID crisis, hospitals are plagued by staffing shortages after many nurses left the profession or retired.

Farrell at Shutts and Bowen questions whether there will be enough nurses and technicians to support all the new beds being added throughout the state.

Hospital leaders recognize staffing is a concern.

Many are working with local nursing schools, providing training and scholarships.

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We are all getting more aggressive in recruitment, said Fernandez at Memorial Healthcare. If anything its going to be staffing, not the construction, that makes health care more expensive.

Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or twitter @cindykgoodman.
The Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has called for the arrest of the National Women's Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissiw after allegedly declaring her readiness to train vigilantes for election 2024.

In an interview with Onua FM on Monday, February 21, 22, the former Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture is reported to have said that she is willing to do everything in her power to protect ballot boxes for the opposition party in the 2024 general elections.

Dr. Hannah Bissiw is reported to have stressed, I will personally lead the training for these vigilante groups who will, in turn, serve as the 'birds eye' for the NDC to ensure that the ballots are protected in 2024.

Appalled by the comments of the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South, AFFA has issued a statement calling on the Police to arrest her immediately.

AFFA notes that it is of the considered view that the above comments by the National Women's Organizer of the NDC contravene subsection (1) of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019, (Act 999), and same must be dealt with in accordance with the law.

To the extent that Hannah Bissiw who is a former Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency is heard promoting the formation of a vigilante group which has been outlawed in Ghana is a serious matter which cannot and must not be treated lightly, part of the AFFA statement signed by its Executive Secretary Mr. D. T. Adomako has said.

The release from AFFA concludes, It is on the back of this that we invite the Ghana Police Service to initiate investigations and prosecution of this matter to serve as a deterrent to all misguided politicians. We finally call on peace-loving citizens, the clergy, and civil society organizations to add their voices in condemning irresponsible and reprehensible utterances, including coup mongering which has characterized our airwaves lately to safeguard the peace and security of this nation.

Read the full release from the Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy below:

February 22, 2022

To: All Media Houses

ARREST AND PROSECUTE HANNAH BISSIW - AFFA TO POLICE

Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has noted with bewilderment warlike comments made by Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissiw, the National Women's Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Onua 91.5 FM on Monday, February 21, 2022, Bissiw said inter alia, "I will personally lead the training for these vigilante groups who will in turn serve as the 'birds eye' for the NDC to ensure that the ballots are protected in 2024."

AFFA is of the considered view that the above comments by the National Women's Organizer of the NDC contravenes subsection (1) of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019, (Act 999), and same must be dealt with in accordance with law.

For the avoidance of doubt, section (3) of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, Act 999 states, "(1) A person shall not directly or indirectly; (a) form, organize, operate or (b) promote the formation, organization, operation or activities of a vigilante group. Section (2) further adds, "A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not less than ten years and not more than fifteen years."

To the extent that Hannah Bissiw who is a former Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency is heard promoting the formation of a vigilante group which has been outlawed in Ghana is a serious matter which CANNOT and MUST NOT be treated lightly.

It is on the back of this that we invite the Ghana Police Service to initiate investigations and prosecution of this matter to serve as a deterrent to all misguided politicians. We finally call on peace-loving citizens, the clergy and civil society organizations to add their voices in condemning irresponsible and reprehensible utterances, including coup mongering which have characterized our airwaves lately to safeguard the peace and security of this nation.

Signed.

Mr. D. T. Adomako (Sir Obama Pokuase)

Executive Secretary, AFFA
While seeking to recover Rs2,320.45 crore from former promoters of Amtek Auto Ltd, the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) has asked the Serious Fraud and Investigations Office (SFIO) to investigate the books and dealings of the company. The ministry has approached the Chandigarh bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for this. The Tribunal is scheduled to hear the matter on 23 February 2022. In December last year, the Supreme Court had set a four-week deadline for the successful resolution applicantDeccan value Investors LPto implement the resolution plan for Amtek Auto.

In its plea, MCA says it believes that the former promoters of Amtek Auto allegedly diverted Rs2,320.45 crore to personal entities from the loans secured through various banks.

The investigations by SFIO is also likely to examine if there were shortcomings in implementing the findings of the forensic audit conducted by E&Y. The transaction audit report states, "Rs2,289.92 crore was transferred from capital work in progress (CWIP) to fixed assets during the review period (1 July 2015 to 24 July 2017). Out of this Rs2,289.92 crore, balances of Rs1,045.38 crore were transferred to fixed assets on 24 July 2017, the date of commencement of insolvency proceedings."

In its plea, MCA says, "...the CWIP balance, which was at a whopping sum of Rs740.35 crore at the beginning of the review period, has drastically dropped to Rs21.41 crore at the end of the review period, due to transfer of this balance to fixed assets. The transaction auditor has observed that Rs2,282.92 crore were transferred from CWIP to fixed assets during the review period, out of which Rs1045.38 crore was transferred on the date of commencement of insolvency proceedings. These observations, prima facie, infer that the company has shown its fixed assets at an inflated value in its books of accounts to defraud its creditors, not by acquiring any tangible assets but merely by showing such a transfer of balance in its ledge. Further, transfer of an exorbitant amount of WIP balance of Rs1,045.38 crore on the date of commencement of insolvency proceedings itself infers that the company along with its directors and key management persons (KMPs) intended to get rid of the insolvency proceedings and such manipulations in the books of accounts were executed to avoid the insolvency proceedings."

MCA also seeks to interim freezing of personal properties, both movable and immovable, of respondents to make investigations by SFIO meaningful and to protect public interest. The respondents include Amtek Auto, Arvind Dham (managing director-MD), Gautam Malhotra (whole-time director-WTD), Deshpal Singh Malik (director), John Ernest Flintham (director), Vinod Kumar Uppal (chief financial officer-CFO), and Rajeev Raj Kumar (company secretary).

Amtek Auto was one of the 12 major companies identified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for bankruptcy proceedings. Amtek Auto defaulted Rs12,600 crore to financial creditors, besides another about Rs12,500 crore by its group companies, including Castex Technologies Ltd, Metalyst Forging Ltd and Amtek Ring Gear.

In September 2021, the Mumbai bench of NCLT had ordered to freeze assets, including bank accounts and lockers, owned by former promoters of Metalyst, a listed subsidiary of Amtek Auto Ltd. Amtek Auto holds a 54.24% stake in Metalyst Forging. The MCA had filed an application seeking recovery of over Rs3,454 crore in financial fraud from promoter Arvind Dham, chief financial officer (CFO) Arun Kumar Maiti and Sanjiv Bhasin of Metalyst Forging.

Read: Metalyst Forging: To Recover Rs3,454 Crore NCLT Asks Freezing of Ex-Promoters' Assets ) Noting that the Union government has taken an initiative to curtail the acts of preferential and fraudulent transactions in the best possible manner and in the public interest, against respondents' contention, the bench of acting president Bhaskara Pantula Mohan and member Narender Kumar Bhola had said, "the provisions of section 242(2)(m) of the Companies Act are independent and have wide import as evident from IL&FS orders passed by this bench and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)." (

In its plea before the Chandigarh bench of NCLT, the ministry has submitted that even at Amtek Auto, the transaction auditors had come across cases where receivable and payable balances of parties with whom business is transacted under normal course have been netted off with balances of other parties leading to a chain of assignment of transactions within and outside the group companies.

On 24 July 2017, while admitting a petition filed by Corporation Bank to initiate insolvency, the NCLT Chandigarh bench had appointed Dinkar T Venkatasubramanian as interim resolution professional (IRP) for Amtek Auto.

Interestingly the same RP was appointed to resolve all three companies led by the flagship company - Amtek Auto, Castex Technologies and Metalyst Forging.

Amtek Auto was one of India's most prominent auto-component players with a large national and global footprint that supplied machines forgings and castings to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

In addition to Amtek Auto, the flagship company, the group consisted of Castex Technologies, which had borrowings of Rs7,500 crore and Metalyst Forgings which has borrowings of Rs3,500 crore. Other group companies also had borrowings of over Rs2,000 crore. Together, the Amtek group consisted of borrowings of over Rs25,000 crore.

These companies defaulted on the payments to banks and were thus taken into IBC, and lenders appointed the same resolution professional to resolve three companies, Amtek Auto, Castex Technologies and Metalyst Forging.

Metalyst Forgings was admitted under the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) in December 2017 on a petition filed by the State Bank of India (SBI).
A surge in funding for 'unicorns' in South and Southeast Asia will help these leading early-stage companies to spend heavily to expand and capture market share. However, protracted cash burn is unsustainable and detrimental to their credit quality, says a research note.

S&P Global Ratings, in a report titled "The Rise of South and Southeast Asia Unicorns: Cash Burn Disrupts Credit Quality", says, "Rapidly evolving business profiles further compound the challenge in assessing the credit quality of early-stage companies. Expansion into new businesses and geographies often extends cash burn for unicorns and delays their pathway to profitability."

"A visible pathway to sustainable operations and positive operating cash flows is crucial in assessing the credit quality of early-stage companies," says S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Shawn Park. "Evolving regulatory frameworks, entrenched competition and persistent cash burn reduce the visibility on the sustainability of business models for such companies."

Unicorns face complex operating conditions in South and Southeast Asia, given different languages, cultures, spending power and preferences.

Furthermore, according to the report, unicorn management is likely to prioritise equity valuation over credit quality, meaning more tolerance for aggressive spending to accelerate growth.

It says, "From a credit perspective, unicorns tend to have weaker business risk profiles, reflecting their limited operating track records, negative cash flows and earnings, and high dependency on capital markets for funding."

According to Simon Wong, analyst of S&P Global Ratings, significant growth potential in South and South-East Asia provides start-ups with an opportunity to turn profitable over time.

"However, unicorns would need to increase monetisation and temper their spending on customer acquisitions and retention in order to generate positive EBITDA and operating cash flow," he says.

S&P, however, points towards improving cash-burn rates for several players, while funding sources have widened for some leading start-ups to include debt or debt-like products.

According to the agency, rapid growth in gross merchandise value in key online businesses will help start-ups scale up their businesses, resulting in an improved cost structure. "By our projections, early market leaders such as Singapore-based Grab Holdings may be profitable and cash-flow positive over the next two years," it added.
Two crucial investigations that could have significant implications on the algo scam or co-location (Colo) scam at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) that are pending conclusion and action are the key to estimating the size of the scam and profiteering from it. The first is about brokers being able to bypass the trade access point (TAP) and put in larger orders and profits and making illegal gain. The second is an expanded study by the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad (ISB, Hyderabad) to quantify the Colo scam which has been variously estimated at as much as Rs50,000 crore.

1. TAP Bypass: During the Colo investigation, Universal Stock Brokers of Delhi had written to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) about a consultant offering a service to bypass a crucial part of NSEs system to get a trading advantage. This is the TAP that connects broker servers in colocation with the NSE system, deployed to control the number of messages (trade orders) to the system. After an internal investigation, following the complaint, it was initially concluded that there was a problem, which was fixed.

However, when the income-tax (I-T) department raided brokers connected with the algo scam, they discovered email communications between the brokers and NSE where Exchange officials had allegedly informed brokers how they could bypass TAP.

SEBI, once again, asked NSE to investigate, and the Exchange appointed Arvind Sawant, retired chief justice of the Kerala High Court, to conduct a detailed enquiry in 2021. We understand that the report has been submitted to SEBI, and there could be some serious findings emanating from it. However, no show-cause notice has been issued, and Moneylife alone has reported on the existence of this investigation. We also mentioned it on page 265 of our book Absolute Power

2. Quantifying the Scam: On SEBI orders, NSE appointed ISB, Hyderabad to quantify the algo scam. In the initial report, ISB, Hyderabad looked at whether OPG Securities Pvt Ltd had profited from the algo scam and concluded that it has benefited to the tune of Rs15 crore which was disgorged in 2017 along with the imposition of a On SEBI orders, NSE appointed ISB, Hyderabad to quantify the algo scam. In the initial report, ISB, Hyderabad looked at whether OPG Securities Pvt Ltd had profited from the algo scam and concluded that it has benefited to the tune of Rs15 crore which was disgorged in 2017 along with the imposition of a penalty . This order has also been challenged by the broker, like every other order in the algo scam.

My sources say that SEBI subsequently expanded the scope of the investigation to crystallise the illegal gains and modified the terms of reference to include all the brokers, who were even remotely likely to be involved with the scam. These sources say that it requires complex data crunching which is beyond SEBIs expertise.

Strangely enough, SEBI has maintained complete silence on the expanded scope of the investigation, even as it has tacitly worked with the NSE to permit its initial public offering (IPO). Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has now told a newspaper that the Union government will also investigate whether SEBI has done enough to probe the scam.

This ought to lead her to question how and why SEBI has repeatedly asked NSE to investigate itself and why it made no effort to track potential conflict of interest between the Exchange and organisations it has funded, such as ISB Hyderabad, where NSE has funded a trading lab.

Many of the auditors appointed by SEBI have a close equation with the founding team of NSE, which exercised full control over the exchange when the Colo scam became public.

While it is perfectly possible that ISB, as an academic institution, may do an unbiased study, it was imperative for the regulator to ensure there is no cause for questions or suspicion, especially since each self-investigation by NSE has ensured a clean chit to top officials and had no hard findings on profiteering, even while conceding flaws with the system. Common sense suggests that an ongoing scam is not possible without collusion.

In 2013-14, NSE sponsored a massive NSE-ISB Trading Laboratory for research in securities trading, investment and financial markets. This covered a lecture series that finances invitations to international speakers. Chitra Ramkrishna inaugurated the trading laboratory on 10 May 2014.
[email protected] The best-laid plans of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the finance ministry and large institutional investors looking for a big, post-listing pay-off have been disrupted by a formless Himalayan yogi/siddha purush, with an email ID (), who apparently dictated the actions of Chitra Ramkrishna, former managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the NSE. Many would say: that is how karma works.

Clearly, the market regulator was clueless about how people would react to the unknown yogis role ( Latest SEBI Order against NSEs Former Management including Chitra Ramkrishna Reveals Shocking Misgovernance and Improper Equations Suppressed by Board ) in running the NSE, lobbying the government on listing and dictating promotions, increments and perks of chosen protegees, being helpfully copied in the emails.

The shock, and ridicule, this has attracted globally, has impelled the government to reactivate the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBIs) 2018 investigation into the algo scam thereby transferring primary responsibility for the investigation away from the regulator. CBI has widened the scope of its investigation in a big way and is questioning past and present employees of the NSE involved with co-location (Colo) and technology as well as SEBI officials.

The CBI now needs to ensure that the findings of the two ongoing investigations , which are key to exposing the size of the algo scam and extent of mis-governance at the NSE, are released at the earliest. The first investigation by the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, is to quantify the extent of profiteering by brokers involved in the Colo scam. The second, headed by justice (retd) Aravind Sawant, is into how select brokers, with the help of a technology consultant, were able to bypass the trade access point (TAP) and get a larger number of orders/messages to the NSEs trading system, leading to higher profits.

For the first time after the Himalayan yogi issue blew up, finance minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman has finally broken her silence on the algo scam and told a newspaper that the government is examining if SEBI took adequate action in the NSE matter. If one assumes that it is CBI that will look at SEBIs role, the agency would do well to examine the issues listed below, in addition to ongoing investigations.

Remember, Moneylife exposed the algo scam in 2015 by publishing an anonymous whistle-blowers letter. SEBI began to investigate the issue only after NSE filed a defamation case against us. Until then, it had accepted NSEs explanation and filed away its response.

 Examine why SEBI is so keen on clearing NSEs initial public offering (IPO) even though key investigations are incomplete. In August 2021, NSEs annual report declared that it would re-apply for the IPO even though all appeals and several investigations are pending. My sources say that whole-time member (WTM) Anant Barua, even while issuing the 11th February order on the Himalayan guru, had submitted a 9-page note which makes a legal case for permitting NSE to go ahead with its IPO, despite pending investigations. Persons with knowledge about the note say that he has cited case law and international precedents to argue that regulatory issues faced by market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) ought not to prevent their listing. This seems to deliberately downplay the scam and mis-governance at NSE for a decade and the role of its board of directors in delegating enormous powers to individuals without checks & balances.

 Enquire about the NSE boards silence over the appointment of Anand Subramanian, the failure to identify him as a key management person (KMP) to the regulator and various averments by board committees, during the algo scam investigations, about NSEs flawless technology.

 Role of the NSE board in creating a non-existent designation for Ravi Narain (as non-executive vice-chairman) to allow him to continue as a director on the Exchange, all its key committees and a clutch of highly profitable NSE subsidiaries. It should also examine the controversial appointment of Chitra Ramkrishna by doctoring processes and without any attempt by the appointments committee to look at any other eligible candidate. In retrospect, it is clear that she was the wrong person for the job, despite her claim to be a founding team member.

 Role of SEBI and NSE in facilitating the smooth exit of Ravi Narain, Chitra Ramkrishna and Anand Subramanian without recording details in the board agenda, notice or minutes. The interim board sent to clean up the Exchange (Ashok Chawla, Dinesh Kanabar and Mohandas Pai) is understood to be getting legal help and plans to write to the regulator clarifying its actions.

 CBI needs to examine claims that the NSE board had kept SEBI and its chairman informed about their actions and findings which are contrary to the SEBI order saying the regulator was kept in the dark. Did SEBI call for details about the resignation of Chitra Ramkrishna and Anand Subramanian or convey its displeasure about the NSE boards weak action against them, prior to the passing reference to the role of the board in the order of 11th February?

 I understand that the NSE board of directors, in 2016, had acted under legal advice of the law firm of the erstwhile Amarchand & Mangaldas with direct inputs from its two senior-most partners. CBI needs to examine why the NSE chose to record its appreciation of Chitra Ramkrishnas contribution and allow her to leave with full encashment of all monetary benefits which added up to an astounding Rs44 crore over three years.

CBI may also want to ask SEBI about how and why CBI may also want to ask SEBI about how and why NSE has had 30 broker defaults in the past two years , despite a system of risk-based supervision being put in place. Does this mean that the SEBI mandated risk-based supervision has failed? If yes, what action has SEBI initiated to prevent cumulative losses to investors of over Rs5,000 crore in these broker defaults?

 CBI needs to examine ask why SEBI has failed to use its extensive powers of search, seizure and arrest to conduct a stricter investigation and built in-house capability for it. The strangest part of the algo scam investigation was in SEBI repeatedly asking NSE to investigate itself and submit reports and ignoring the conflict of interest situations.

Why SEBI was in such a hurry to issue weak orders, Why SEBI was in such a hurry to issue weak orders, starting 30 April 2019 exonerating the top management, when investigations are far from complete. The recent revelations about governance issues, when juxtaposed with the initial orders, shows that the regulator had failed to grasp the absolute power enjoyed by successive MDs of NSE, the ease with which systems and process were bypassed and the complicit silence of its board of directors, overawed by extraordinarily high monopoly profits earned by the Exchange.

 CBI needs to examine SEBIs orders, where detailed findings on issues are diluted with a single throwaway sentence that there is no evidence of fraud or collusion by top officials  thus giving a clean chit to the top management. Remember, the first of SEBIs five orders in the algo scam were issued long before all investigations were completed.

Why SEBI has tacitly allowed the dilution of penalties and action. Why SEBI has tacitly allowed the dilution of penalties and action. In May 2021 SEBI did not object when NSE approached the securities appellate tribunal (SAT) and obtained the release of Rs6,085 crore of Colo revenue impounded and credited to an escrow account, as part of the punitive action in the Colo scam.

Why was SEBI amenable to NSE disingenuously attempting cherry-picking parts of the punitive action for compliance, while appealing the rest ( Why was SEBI amenable to NSE disingenuously attempting cherry-picking parts of the punitive action for compliance, while appealing the rest ( Can NSE Cherry-pick Its Punishment for the Algo Scam? Does SEBI Have the Power To Permit It? ) before the appellate tribunal?

CBI has been known to be ham-handed and to botch up investigations, often due to political interference. It also tends to launch sweeping investigations that do not separate the guilty from the innocent. But there is no denying that NSEs kid-glove treatment by SEBI and its attempt to ensure an IPO at any cost creates a dire need for an independent investigative agency to cut through incestuous connections between the regulator and the Exchange. The irony is that the trigger for this much-needed action was a nirankari baba who may or may not exist.
Chitra Ramkrishna, the former chief executive officer & managing director (CEO & MD) of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has resigned from the board of Reliance BP Mobility. The resignation came into effect from 19th February, eight days after an order of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), according to media reports.

She held only one directorship after stepping down from the NSE in December 2016.

She was appointed an independent director on the board of Reliance BP Mobility, part of Reliance Industries, in September 2020. She had resigned from all other boards  eight others  following the investigation launched into the co-location (Colo) scam.

The much-celebrated Ramakrishna has been in the news in recent weeks for serious governance failures at the NSE during her tenure. It is understood that after the 11th February SEBI order, Chitra had to resign from Reliance BP Mobilty as an independent director.

The media report quotes a a spokesperson of RIL who said, Ms Chitra Ramakrishna has tendered her resignation as a director on the Board of BP Mobility Limited on 19-02-2022, with immediate effect.

What is more interesting, however, is that despite the massive murky scandal surrounding her, the sleazy details of a sordid affair leaking out and the Himalayan Yogi news trolling her the world over, she waited till 19th February to resign from the directorship at Reliance BP Mobility.

In its 190-page order, SEBI has revealed about Ramkrishna sharing NSE's confidential information, including organisational structure, financial projections, business plans, agenda of the board meeting, and even ratings/performance appraisals of employees with an 'unknown person' - Chitra claimed that she was steered by a yogi dwelling in the Himalayan ranges in the appointment of Anand Subramanian as the Exchange's group operating officer (GOO) and advisor to MD, according to the SEBI order.

Further, Ms Ramkrishna gave 'frequent, arbitrary and disproportionate' increase in compensation to Mr Subramanian when there was no evidence of any performance evaluation being done for him and nor was there any evidence to satisfy the rating of A given to him for giving such high increments.

Apart from this, Ms Ramkrishna had shared certain internal confidential information including financial and business plans of NSE, dividend scenario, financial results with the yogi and even consulted him over the performance appraisals of the Exchange's employees.

SEBI has penalised NSE, Ramkrishna, and her predecessor Ravi Narain for governance lapses in the hiring of Anand Subramanian. SEBI has also slapped a fine of Rs3 crore on Ramkrishna, Rs2 crore each on NSE, Subramanian, Narain, and Rs 6 lakh on VR Narasimhan, who was the chief regulatory officer and compliance officer.
We had mentioned in Mondays closing report that Nifty and Sensex under pressure. On Tuesday, the indices opened gap down and ended with loss. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 411 stocks advanced, 1,687 declined, and 22 remained unchanged with advance decline ratio of 0.24, indicating continuous selling across broader markets.

The trend of the major indices on Tuesdays trading are given in the table below:

Russia has recognized separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk of Ukraine as independent. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said "We believe that with this decision, Russia is creating the legal basis for further military aggression against Ukraine, thus violating all possible international obligations".

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told reporters after a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday evening The United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hero Moto Corp has partnered with BPCL for EV charging infrastructure. Brent crude crossed $99 per barrel.

Marksans Pharma has received UK MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) nod for bells healthcare all-in-one oral solution used to treat influenza.

Jalan Kalrock Consortium has appointed Vipula Gunatilleka as CFO of Jet Airways for its revival. He was the CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines until Jan 2022.

Indiabulls Real Estate closed 10% higher after clarifying about the recent Enforcement Directorate searches, which did not pertain to IB Real Estate.

HDFC closed in green after witnessing a series of block deals in which 71 lakh shares changed hands worth Rs 1,730 crore.

Krsnaa Diagnostics closed in green after winning a tender from Himachal Pradesh government for providing diagnostic and laboratory services to government health institutions.

Dhani Services closed 20% down for second day in a row after the news of identity theft. It has plunged 78% from its 52-week high.

Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals closed 20% higher after Infinity Holdings Group made an open offer to buy 26% stake in the company at a price of Rs 235 per share.

DCB Bank closed 5% down on asset quality concerns as its small ticket customers comprise of self-employed professionals which were more affected by the pandemic. It has touched 52 week low of Rs 73.40 today.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing certain irregularities at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), questioned Anand Subramanian, the former group operating officer (GOO) of the bouse. Mr Subramanian was appointed as a chief strategic advisor and promoted as group chief operating officer by Chitra Ramkrishna, former managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of NSE. Mr Subramanian, who was appointed to his position, despite lack of experience and paid a hefty salary, was evasive during the enquiry, sources from CBI told IANS.

A source told the agency that Mr Subramanians statements were recorded for three consecutive days at Chennai.

His statement is over. We have asked him not to leave the country. He will be summoned again whenever we will have a need. He was evasive throughout the questioning, the CBI source says.

Mr Subramanian, who was brought to the NSE by its then CEO and MD Chitra Ramkrishna, reportedly had access to the email ID on which the emails were sent to the Himalayan yogi with whom the classified informations was shared.

Another team of the CBI searched the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) office in Mumbai, and recovered some incriminating documents, evidences and digital documents.

These are crucial documents and evidences nailing the lies of the accused involved in the case. We are in process of making a foolproof case against all the accused. These will help the prosecution in proving our case when it will go to court, the source told IANS.

Last week, CBI grilled Ravi Narain, the MD and CEO of NSE before Ms Ramkrishna. He then had became shareholder director and vice-chairman of NSE before resigning in June 2017.

Earlier, it was speculated that he had fled to London but the CBI source confirmed that Mr Narain is very much in India and his statement was recorded.

Ravi was asked to join the investigation. He responded to our summon. He was called at a Delhi office where he was grilled. He is also a suspect in the case, the source from CBI told IANS.

He was too evasive and tried to evade a lot of questions. He also requested that the lookout circular (LoC) issued against him should be closed.

Last week, Chitra Ramkrishna, the ex-MD and CEO of NSE, was grilled by the CBI in Mumbai. On 18th February, she recorded her statement with the agency.

The CBI had asked her around 50 questions. She had tried to play the victim card by claiming she did not know a lot of things. She had also claimed that she was innocent and somebody was trying to frame her.

CBI had asked her, for how long she had been sending emails to Yogi Baba, was she given any cut for sharing classified information, if yes, where did she invest the money.

The CBI had already issued an LoC against Chitra, Anand Subramanian, the former Group Operating official and Ravi Narain, the ex-NSE CEO (before Chitra).

Sources told IANS that Chitra and two others involved in the case were a flight risk and, hence, the LoCs were issued. Arrests in the case are now more likely. There was a flight risk. There were possibilities that they may flee abroad and we issued the LoC by way of taking preventive steps, sources had told IANS.

CBI has already lodged a first information report (FIR) against Ms Ramkrishna based on the 192-page order passed by SEBI. SEBI recently penalised Ms Ramkrishna for passing sensitive information about NSE to this unknown or faceless spiritual entity residing in the Himalayas.

Last Thursday, The income tax (I-T) department conducted searches at the Mumbai and Chennai residence of Ms Ramkrishna. At around 7am, about eight officials from the I-T department landed at the home of Ms Ramkrisha and her mothers house. Ms Ramkrishna stays at Chembur. Her mother stays in a separate house.

The I-T department also carried out a search operation at the residence of Mr Subramanian, who had remained a mystery for everyone outside NSE. The searches were aimed to check charges of tax evasion and financial irregularities against her and others, a media report says quoting officials. (Read: The Mysterious Anand Subramanian, Raided Today along with Chitra Ramkrishna)

During the searches, icriminating documents were recovered from the residences of Ms Ramkrishna. The I-T department scanned various transactions and digital records. They also recorded the statements of a few of her employees.

In an order issued on 11 February 2022 , SEBI barred Chitra Ramkrishna, Ravi Narain, former vice-chairman and Anand Subramanian, former group operating officer (GOO) and adviser to MD and CEO, from associating with any market infrastructure institution (MII) or any intermediary registered with SEBI. While imposing a monetary penalty of Rs3 crore on Ms Ramkrishna, the market regulator has asked NSE to forfeit her excess leave encashment of Rs1.54 crore and the deferred bonus of Rs2.83 crore. The market regulator also restricted NSE from launching any new product for six months.

Chitra Ramkrishna resigned from NSE on 2 December 2016. However, SEBI raised serious questions on how the NSE board allowed her to exit from the Exchange, despite the misconduct in appointing and sharing confidential information with an unknown person.

Read our coverage on NSE Algo Scam here https://www.moneylife.in/tags/nsealgoscam.html

You may want to read...
The following is a press release via ACLU Montana:

BILLINGS, MT - (February 21, 2022) Last Friday, the ACLU of Montana, LAMBDA Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Center for HIV Law and Policy, filed an Amicus Brief with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that an individual should not be required to register as a sex offender for engaging in consensual same-sex activity. The brief argues that the ruling made by U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen on the case of Menges v. Knudsen, should be upheld and that Randall Menges should remain off Montanas Sexual or Violent Offender Registry.

In this case, Mr. Menges was forced to join the Montana Sex Offender Registry after being convicted of having consensual sex in Idaho. Mr. Menges was charged in Idaho with crimes against nature  a criminal offense (since ruled unconstitutional) that historically had been used to criminalize sexual acts traditionally associated with same-sex intimacy. After Mr. Menges was released from a seven-year prison sentence he was placed on the sex-offender registry in Idaho and then in Montana, where he later moved. Since Mr. Menges was convicted, of these anti-LGBTQ laws, they have been found unconstitutional both here in Montana and in the United States. However, he is still being forced to register as a sex offender.
Fort Lauderdale  Two people were hospitalized after being bitten by dogs Tuesday, and an officer fired a shot at one of two dogs involved in the incident, authorities said.

Officers responded to reports of two aggressive dogs about 10:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of Northwest First Avenue near Sunrise Boulevard, according to Fort Lauderdale police.

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One officer fired a shot at one of the dogs after the dog charged aggressively at the officer, police said. Its not known whether the dog was shot.

Both dogs are in the custody of animal control.

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The victims were taken to the hospital by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. Theres no word on their conditions.
Amid all the confusion about the various causes of Texas power grid nearly failing during Winter Storm Uri, one thing is clear.

After an estimated 26 hours of legislative hearings, What I learned is its a complicated mosaic of energy sources across the state, said State Rep. Drew Darby, the Republican from San Angelo. That mosaic includes oil and natural gas, and wind and solar, which plays a role in rural economies like the area he represents.

What also became clear is that "all of the above" energy sources will be needed, especially as more and more people move in and the state economy continues to grow, raising energy demand. That was the consensus of Darby and others participating in a media call sponsored by the Advanced Power Alliance to highlight the need for more, and more diverse, energy in Texas.

State Rep. Donna Howard said it is a complex issue but an important one because Texans died in Uri. I always want to mention that because I know a lot is being done to ensure power, but a huge number of Texans died because of issues with the grid.

The Democrat said she regrets the issue has become politicized, but the ultimate goal is to ensure Texans have energy that his reliable, affordable and clean.

Texans are supportive of a competitive market, she said, but they are also laser-focused on whats happening to ensure they can turn on the heat in the winter or the air conditioning in the summer.

It is an everything and all of the above on energy, said Matt Gallagher, chief executive officer of Greenlake Energy Ventures.

Gallagher noted that the grid survived its recent test with Winter Storm Landon, showing that the grid is resilient.

But it is also reliant on oil and gas for two-thirds of its fuel source, he pointed out. Last year, issues with oil and gas production, whether it was frozen equipment, frozen roads preventing crews from reaching equipment or power outages that prevented natural gas from being processed or moved through pipelines to power generators, contributed to the problems. A close look has been taken at how to get better, Gallagher said, and the industry will continue to improve its operations.

With natural gas 40 percent of the crude and gas power generators rely on, If we supply 40 percent of the energy, we need to be accountable, he said.

Caitlin Smith, senior director for regulatory, public affairs and ESG at Jupiter Power, said the recent winter storm showed that everyone  industry, legislators, regulators, power generators and renewable energy  could work together to ensure the grid kept operating and make improvements. Like Darby and Gallagher, she said traditional oil and gas will be needed, but so will renewables like wind and solar and even emerging technology like batteries.

Embracing a diverse portfolio of energy sources is not only good for Texas in terms of reliability and cost, said Howard, but good for job creation.

Darby concluded that not only is there a need to ensure that power can get to where it is needed, but there needs to be a framework to encourage developers to bring more power generation to Texas.
Two months after being arrested and spending nearly two weeks in a juvenile detention center, charges were dropped against 13-year-old Nia Whims.

Whims, a seventh-grader, was accused of using Instagram to make a written threat to kill a teacher and a 12-year-old classmate, and blow up their school. After Pembroke Pines police investigated further, they discovered the 12-year-old girl impersonated Whims by creating fake Instagram and email accounts in her name. Now, charges have been filed against the 12-year-old.

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But the big question is how a justice system designed to protect children failed to protect a child who consistently maintained her innocence.

The identity theft was part of ongoing bullying issue the school didnt address, according to Whims and her mother, Lezlie-Ann Davis.

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Someone is bullying you, said Jaime Aird, the familys criminal attorney, and then you use the school and you use the police to continue the bullying.

I can only imagine what that family is going through.

The family says its traumatized.

Its not just frustrating, it goes deeper, Davis said. Its emotional.

Whims is undergoing counseling because of the experience, including the part where someone in the juvenile detention center threaten to stab her over a piece of chocolate. A lawsuit was filed Feb. 15 on behalf of Whims and her mother against Renaissance Charter School and Meta, the parent company of Instagram. The Pembroke Pines police also will be added as defendants, according to Marwan Porter, the familys civil attorney.

Police admit Whims didnt send the threatening messages, but they say its inaccurate to classify it as a wrongful arrest. The arrest was justified, police say, because Whims and Davis chose to exercise their rights and did not cooperate with investigators, according to Capt. Adam Feiner, spokesman for the Pembroke Pines police.

Porter said there was no justification for putting his client in handcuffs.

Had they done a proper investigation this wouldnt have happened, he said.

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Police might have felt pressure to make an arrest because the case involved violent threats against a school and students, according to Phillip Sweeting, a retired deputy chief for the Boca Raton Police Department who was not involved in the case.

Outwardly theyre not under pressure, he said, but internally they probably are for various reasons, even for political reasons to some extent.

How it happened

On Nov. 17, Davis withdrew Whims from Renaissance because she said a group of students, including the 12-year-old, was bullying Whims. On Nov. 18, the Instagram threats were sent, saying violent actions would be carried out at the school the next day. On Nov. 19, Renaissance went on a partial shutdown (code yellow) while Pembroke Pines police went to the school and investigated the threat.

After making sure the school was secured and there was no imminent threat, police interviewed the 12-year-old. They also consulted a school administrator who said Whims had multiple disciplinary issues, according to the police report. Davis denied that characterization; she said her daughters only issues were because of her responses to the bullying.

Police went to Whims house that afternoon and she denied sending the threatening messages. Davis admits she didnt support her daughter 100% initially, and says she feels badly about that.

Regardless, after Whims denied involvement, their attorney at the time told Whims and Davis, via telephone, not to answer any more questions.

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Upon leaving the house, police took an iPad Whims admitted using. They also handcuffed and arrested Whims.

Whims spent so much time in the detention center, her current attorneys say, because she was detained six days before Thanksgiving, and when a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation, a normal requirement, the county was short-staffed.

Police dont think they erred by making the arrest. They said it was justified based on their investigation and Whims lack of cooperation.

Attorney Marwan Porter, 13-year-old Nia Whims, and Whims' mother, Lezlie-Ann Jones at a news conference. Whims is the 13-year-old who was impersonated on social media by a classmate at Renaissance Charter School in Pembroke Pines. Whims was arrested and spent almost two weeks in a juvenile detention center before having the charges dropped. (Chris Perkins/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Black and blue

Minorities are sometimes reluctant to cooperate with police, thinking it could make their situation worse.

Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University who isnt involved in the case, said the girl and her mother, who are Black, could have done more.

Non-cooperation does not equal guilt, he said. But if they had nothing to hide, one possibility would have been to try to work with the police.

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However, Jarvis said that aspect of the case is filled with nuance. He said its possible Whims and Davis had a negative perception of police. Sweeting said its possible police had a negative perception of Whims and Davis.

Whatever the case, criminal attorney Aird said police seemed determined to arrest the 13-year-old.

Say, for example, she had cooperated and done everything they asked her, and they never found anything, they would have still arrested her, he said. They would have said, You deleted the messages.

Theres nothing I see they could have done that could have prevented this arrest from happening.

Civil attorney Porter, who wondered whether this would have happened to a white girl at a private school, thinks there was a racial aspect, whether intentional or unintentional, at all levels.

Pembroke Pines police say a major reason for the arrest was Whims and Davis invoking their right to remain silent, saying if they had fully cooperated additional evidence may have been identified before either subpoenas were presented or search warrants were applied for.

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Under pressure

The police reaction to make an arrest in situations involving violent school threats could be a result of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy and other acts or threats that have killed or injured children, Sweeting said.

And kids who have been bullied are considered prime candidates for carrying out such acts.

About 20% of kids between 12 and 18 years old report being bullied, according to Dr. Kasi Patterson, a licensed clinical psychologist at Behavioral Health Associates of Broward.

I think there is an increase in cyber-bullying that Ive noticed in my experience, he said.

Patterson said kids who are bullied can have feelings of isolation, despair, exclusion, and rejection, which could lead to anxiety and depression. He said he hasnt noticed a gender difference in bullying.

Patterson declined to say what Renaissance should have done in this situation. But he thinks dealing with bullying requires creating a zero tolerance atmosphere for bullies, and responding to victims with care and compassion.

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Police say they acted lawfully at the time they arrested Whims.

Police officers were operating under exigent circumstances and in accordance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, Feiner said, adding the arrest was based upon available evidence, witness statements and the recommendation from the Broward State Attorneys office, who worked in consultation with investigating officers.

Police said theyre no longer operating under exigent circumstances because theres no threat, and the 12-year-old has been charged. Sweeting suspects police are saying that to justify hasty actions.

They used exigent circumstances, that excuse, on the 13-year-old because I cant arrest you from your house without a warrant, Sweeting said.

Whether police should have investigated Whims claims of innocence after her arrest is a point of contention.

Police didnt obtain a subpoena or search warrant to determine the IP address where the threats originated until December.

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The subpoena should have been obtained sooner, according to attorney Bruce Raticoff, who isnt involved in the case.

Its very simple, Raticoff said. This was a flawed, incomplete, short-sighted police investigation.

They have the ability to subpoena records, they have the ability to get IP addresses and see the locations of those IP addresses. So, it seems to me itd be a very simple thing to get the IP address and see if it came from the 13-year-old girl.

Sweeting said police initially did the right thing by checking with the Broward State Attorney Office before making an arrest. He said if theres no arrest and the teenager had committed a crime, it could be a bad situation for all involved.

Probably the prosecutors themselves were under, quote, political pressure, especially with schools, to get the bad guy off the street, he said.

Responsibility

Finding which entity could have or should have acted to stop Whims bullying, identity theft, arrest and detention is difficult.

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The teacher passes it on to the police department, Aird said. The police department passes it on to the courts, to the State Attorney Office, the State Attorney Office passes it off to the judge, the judge then passes it off to a psychiatrist to do an evaluation.

Porter said one goal of the lawsuit is policy change  not just for Whims sake.

Its a bigger issue than just her, he said.

Aird said Whims has been traumatized by everything facet of the situation.

She was arrested over something she never did, he said.

It was a very sad, sad case.

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Chris Perkins can be reached at chperkins@sunsentinel.com.
Kantar Boosts Australian Offer

Kantar has announced senior appointments to strengthen its team in Australia. Straford Rodrigues returns from NA as Head of Media and Marketing Effectiveness; Lee Catlin joins as Senior Director, CX; and Head of Creative Irene Joshy has moved back to Melbourne from Singapore.



Rodrigues will be based in Sydney and brings experience in research, media and analytics from roles in the UK, US, Singapore and Australia. Catlin, also in Sydney, is an expert in human-centred design and behavioural economics; while Joshy, who joined the Group in June 2021, brings global experience in academia, social anthropology, semiotics, strategic planning, insights and advertising.



Kantar's ANZ MD Insights Jon Foged comments: 'Straford Rodrigues brings to Kantar a unique mix of media, analytics and team leadership experience, coupled with a proven track record of delivering commercial success. Leveraging his experiences in the US, he is leading our clients to embed a total marketing ROI within their business.



'Customer experience is a highly relevant and challenging business issue for our clients, and one with considerable opportunity when combined with a brand lens. The addition of Lee Catlin coupled with our Head of CX Maree Taylor delivers a CX powerhouse to support clients to understand how their brand promise delivers to the customer experience and if the customer experience reflects the brand promise.



'I am also thrilled to have Irene with us on the ground in Australia. She has already had a significant impact on growing our clients' businesses with informed powerful strategies through the lens of culture and consumer insights and into early-stage creative development. Irene is hugely client centric, tenacious, has a strong willingness to support both our people and clients, and brings a high dose of energy to our business.'



Group home page: www.kantar.com .




Wellington Office for Perceptive

Auckland, NZ-based customer intelligence agency Perceptive is to open an office in the country's capital, Wellington, and has appointed former NielsenIQ manager Roman Konopka there as Research Director.



Perceptive provides research and data-driven marketing strategies to clients across New Zealand, Australia and other global markets, and has enjoyed 'a significant year of growth' with increasing demand from clients in both public and private sectors.



Konopka brings more than ten years' experience in research and data analysis, and will play a key role across the business in Wellington, both growing new areas and managing established clients Dairy NZ, Masterpet and NZ Herald. He joins from NielsenIQ where he worked as a Senior Research Manager.



Perceptive's Head of Research Rachael Weaver comments: 'We've some of the best talent in New Zealand working with us, and I am looking forward to welcoming Roman onboard in Wellington and continuing the trajectory our team is on. From securing a place on the 'All of Government panel' last year to a partnership with Business Desk on their latest Public Sector Campaign, the momentum for work in Wellington is already heating up and we're excited to be part of it all'.



Perceptive will be co-located in the city with marcoms agency Clemenger Group, whose CEO Strahan Wallis enthuses: 'We are thrilled to offer market-leading data and research capabilities in Wellington and have Roman's wealth of experience available to clients. The addition of insight and research services rounds out a comprehensive offer in Wellington. Clients can now access digital transformation and consulting services via Levo, corporate PR and government relations via GRC Partners and full-service advertising and behaviour change communications at ClemengerBBDO'.



Web site: www.perceptive.co.nz .




Community

Murfreesboro City Council discusses public safety worker pay

The Murfreesboro City Council discussed at its workshop last Wednesday how it can address the speed at which city public safety employees reach midpoint pay for recruitment and retention.

Budget Director Erin Tucker reviewed the preliminary budget for FY23, going over what the pay plan and Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), could look like for city personnel next year.

Remember, our pay plan is built at about 2.5% between each step with an expectation or intention of adding a 1.5% COLA each year, said Tucker, who pointed out that the citys part-time wages have not been raised in the last few years.

She said sticking with these percentages would likely result in a projected budget increase of just over $3 million. If the COLA were bumped up to 2.5%, this increase would be closer to $3.8 million. Tucker is also predicting an increase in health insurance based on the higher claims that have come through recently.

If part-time employees are to be included, she estimates an additional $500,000 to $700,000 budget increase.

City Manager Craig Tindall said transitioning employees who currently work a 37.5-hour work week to the traditional 40-hour work week is also an eventual goal.

Mayor Shane McFarland said several smaller cities in the state have a higher midpoint pay than Murfreesboro based on a salary market survey the city previously agreed to conduct. He noticed that the citys starting salary for most positions was on par if not greater than those of other cities, but the midpoint was lower.

Were competitive on the low end, but by the time theyre trained, its much more competitive for them to bounce somewhere else, said Councilman Shawn Wright. So, weve gotta catch that mid to top range up.

Councilman Rick LaLance and Employee Services Director Randolph Wilkerson contacted other municipalities to determine the starting pay, pension availability and healthcare to be able to have a apples-to-apples comparison.

The two received responses from Clarksville, Franklin, Knoxville, Mt. Juliet, Nashville and Smyrna. All but Smyrna offer a pension plan and only Franklin and Nashville offer a higher starting pay for firefighters, according to LaLance.

McFarland recalls the city making step adjustments in the past, but it led to midpoint employees being left out on the benefits starting and maximum employees received within this option. He said the ultimate goal would be to get employees to the midpoint level of pay as quick as we can. He said the way to do this would be to increase the steps.

The survey shows five job positions, including communications supervisor, firefighter medic, multimedia producer, public works inspector and transportation operations supervisor that warranted adjustment.

The firefighter role received the most discussion among the council, and it is recommended that the step for the firefighter medic position be adjusted by 6%.

Last year, just under 30 firefighters resigned or retired as stated during the workshop. So far, three have resigned this year in addition to one retirement.

Vice-Mayor Madelyn Scales Harris said the city should just do the right thing to pay the men and women in this field for the excellent job they do to protect residents in need.

We need to set our own guidelines and try to reward and keep the people we have as much as possible, said Harris at her first city meeting following a major surgical procedure.

Further discussions on this topic will continue through the budget process.

The city council also voted to establish a board of directors to manage the Community Investment Trust from the sale of the Murfreesboro Electric Department as well as a community board to recommend how to distribute a percentage of dollars to local non-profit organizations.

City Attorney Adam Tucker said if the trust drops below $10 million, it will automatically terminate, and the remaining money will go back to the city.

The city council also voted to unanimously approve the recommended allocation of $24.1 million received from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Grant Coordinator Karen Lampert said a $10 million allowance is being made available for lost public sector revenue for government services.

Her breakdown of funds recommends $2 million for premium pay reimbursement, $2 million for outside strategic partnerships, $9 million for stormwater improvements on top of the $10 million allowance for revenue loss.

A $1.1 million cut will go toward indirect costs for grant monitoring and management.

Future projects and contracts under these categories will be presented to the city council for approval.
As controversial laws that could stifle important conversations in classrooms race through Floridas legislature, opponents are questioning the laws constitutionality.

Two of the laws  known as Dont Say Gay and the Stop W.O.K.E. Act  would prohibit public schools from introducing certain ideologies in the classroom, such as the concept of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as the countrys history of enslaving people based on race. Another proposed law would ban books and instructional materials that explore these topics.

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The proposed laws would give parents the ability to sue school districts that introduce ideologies parents dont want their child learning in school.

Clay Calvert, a law professor at the University of Florida, and Caroline Mala Corbin, a law professor at the University of Miami, answer some of the top questions about what these new laws could mean for the future of Floridas public education.

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Heres what they had to say about the laws.

[ RELATED: Lawmakers ramp up bills that would affect LGBTQ+ students ]

Will these new laws make it easier for parents to sue schools?

It might be easier to sue, but that doesnt mean it will be easier to win in court.

Corbin explained there are serious constitutional concerns when it comes to these laws. To her, they appear to very clearly violate the free speech and equal protection clauses of the Constitution.

Its a question that has not been definitively answered, she said. Its possible courts could apply a more rigorous level of scrutiny to these cases, and the state would have a harder time showing the laws are constitutional, she said.

Either way, she suspects any potential suits will get appealed up to Floridas Supreme Court, she said.

Even if the bills were to become law, it does not imply that it is forever law, she said. State statutes can be litigated up to the Supreme Court.

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Votantes divididos por el proyecto de ley No digas gay en la Legislatura de Florida ]

The Supreme Court has recognized that localities have a great deal of discretion over their curriculum and what is appropriate for students to hear, she said. In the past, the Supreme Court determined that banning certain books violates free speech if its motivated by hostility to an unpopular idea, she said.

Restricting certain discussions about gender identity or race could violate free speech in the same way.

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It may become a free speech problem if the state is targeting an idea or viewpoint not for legitimate pedagogical reasons, but because of hostility to an idea or group, she said. To completely eliminate an entire topic of discussion, even if it is age appropriate, really signals hostility to an idea.

And if laws are motivated by animus toward a certain group of people, that would violate the equal protection clause, she said. This targeting of truthful but unpopular views and ideas is exactly what the free speech clause is meant to protect, she said.

Why is it nicknamed Dont Say Gay?

The official name of House Bill 1557 and the Senate companion bill 1834 is Parental Rights in Education. Sponsors say the purpose of the bill is to put parents in control of their childs education in school. In Florida, the state sets public school curriculum.

But that isnt all the bill does.

It specifically prohibits 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.

[ RELATED: Dont Say Gay bill draws protest and rally from LGBTQ advocates ]

If that were to strike you as vague, you wouldnt be alone: The bill does not define what it means for a school district to encourage conversations or which grades are included in primary grade levels, and does not offer any context on what age appropriate might mean.

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Opponents were quick to nickname it Dont Say Gay and argued that today, being LGBTQ+ isnt illegal or inappropriate.

That vagueness could cause problems when it comes to enforcing the law, Calvert said.

The bill gives parents the ability to sue school districts that violate the law.

The problem with vague laws is they can be enforced unfairly or unequally, he said. What may be age appropriate in one educators mind may not be appropriate in another.

Can teachers still talk about gender or sexual orientation in class?

Technically, yes.

But experts say that because of the bills vague terms, teachers would likely err on the side of caution to avoid a lawsuit.

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Corbin argued thats by design. It is the states attempt to censor ideas it disapproves of or viewpoints it does not like, she said.

The mere existence of the prohibition is enough to chill speech, she said. Adding the additional worry about parents bringing suit could only exacerbate that chilling effect for educators over what they could teach, she said.

Theres no doubt in my mind that this law will chill discussions in the classroom, Corbin said. Out of fear of a lawsuit, or demotion or termination, the teacher will probably try to steer the class away from any discussion that might touch upon sexual orientation or gender identity.

What if students want to discuss their identity, racial or otherwise, with their class?

That would be permitted. But if a teacher were to shut down the discussion, even if theyre not sure theyre allowed to discuss it in class, that could be a violation of the students First Amendment right to freedom of speech, Calvert said.

I think the danger is eventually parents might want to say, You cant compel my child to do this assignment because that conflicts with my political beliefs, he said. How far do you go down the slippery slope of allowing parents to keep opting out of the curriculum?

That mindset could apply to discussions of race in the classroom, or assignments and readings about the countrys history of racism, which the state is also seeking to prohibit with the Stop W.O.K.E. Act. Gov. Ron DeSantis uses woke as an acronym for Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees.

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[ RELATED: Dont Say Gay bill draws Senate support amid battle over whats taught in schools ]

It would gut the curriculum and result in a fractured educational system, where teachers would have to teach multiple sets of lesson plans to accommodate different students, Calvert said.

The big problem is of state-level control of the school curriculum dictated by lawmakers in Tallahassee rather than allowing for local-level decisions by trained educators who likely have a better sense of who their students are and what their needs may be, he said.

The big picture is that this is part of a culture war battle between what conservatives view as a progressive, woke agenda to indoctrinate their students, he said. Theres a difference between teaching something like critical race theory and making kids espouse it and affirm it as fact.

Where do these proposals stand?

The so-called Dont Say Gay bill passed through its last House committee on Thursday afternoon. It now goes to a vote on the House floor, where it is expected to pass.

Earlier on Thursday, the Broward County School District sent a letter opposing the bill to legislators, writing that it would harm students.

House Bill 7, the law banning critical race theory in schools, also known as the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, is up for a vote on the House floor on Tuesday.

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The Senate Rules Committee will vote on HB 1467/SB 1300 Wednesday morning. The proposed law would appoint a state-trained reviewer in each school district to look over curriculum and textbooks, and establish procedures for anyone to object to material they find offensive, whether they have a child in the school system or not. It will have to pass a vote on the Senate floor before it heads to the governors desk.

Brooke Baitinger can be reached at: bbaitinger@sunsentinel.com, 954-422-0857 or on Twitter: @bybbaitinger
Reverend Terry Garrett, in his 64th year, Surrendered his Soul Tuesday from Tulsa. His Sacred Farewell, 10:00 AM, April 30, 2022, Worship Community Center, and until then, he will rest in Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Alabama. biglowfunerals.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to sign documents, including a decree recognizing two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, with leaders of the self-proclaimed republics Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin seen in the background, in Moscow, Russia, in this picture released Feb. 21, 2022.
Florida voters are split over the Republican proposal to limit discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in the states schools.

A University of Florida poll released Tuesday showed voters are divided  49% strongly or somewhat disapproved of the legislation and 40% somewhat or strongly approved.

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The overall number doesnt tell the complete picture: there is a deep partisan divide.

[ RELATED: Poll shows most Florida voters oppose state move to ban abortions after 15th week of pregnancy ]

The Dont Say Gay bill is among several social issues  including banning abortions after 15 weeks and limiting discussions of race in schools and employer training  that the Republicans who control Florida government are advancing in this years state legislative session.

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Under the measure, dubbed Dont Say Gay by people in the LGBTQ community and many Democrats, a school district may not encourage 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.

Parents could sue a school district for what they claim are violations.

Among Democrats, 63% disapprove and 26% approve. Among Republicans, 38% disapprove and 54% approve. Among no party affiliation/independent/minor party voters 45% disapprove and 40% approve.

[ RELATED: Can Democrats beat DeSantis next fall? A look at the odds, and what it would take. ]

Disapproval among women is stronger than disapproval among men. And men are more supportive of the idea than women.

Women: 53% disapprove, 38% approve. Men: 45% disapprove; 43% approve.

The vague nature of the wording has prompted alarm from LGBTQ activists and Democrats in the Florida Legislature, and condemnation from President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is a married gay man and father.

A White House statement said the legislation is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most  LGBTQI+ students, who are already vulnerable to bullying and violence just for being themselves.

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Votantes divididos por el proyecto de ley No digas gay en la Legislatura de Florida ]

A sponsor of the legislation, State Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, said last week restricting sex- and gender-related instruction in younger grade levels is appropriate, adding that at those ages school lessons should be focused on reading, math and other basic academic subjects.

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Republicans said the Parental Rights in Education proposal (HB 1557 and SB 1834) isnt aimed at being discriminatory but seeks to prevent instruction that younger students arent ready to receive.

But Democrats argued the bill is overly vague and that the provision requiring instruction on sex and gender to be age appropriate could be applied to any grade level.

[ RELATED: These Democrats want to take on Ron DeSantis. Each has pluses, minuses. ]

The fine print

The results come from a University of North Florida survey of 685 Florida registered voters conducted by live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones from Feb. 7-20. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The sample sizes for subgroups  such as Democrats and Republicans or gender  are smaller, so the margin of error is higher.

Pollster ratings from FiveThirtyEight.com give UNF an A/B rating based on the historical accuracy and methodology of its polls.

Information from the News Service of Florida is included in this report.

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Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., testifies before the House Rules Committee at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Dec. 14, 2021.
PLEASANT HILL  A second arrest has been made as a result of a December search at a Pleasant Hill residence.

Officers from the Pike County Sheriffs Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department and West Central Illinois Drug Task Force served a search warrant Dec. 18 at a residence in the 100 block of Thomas Street. They reported finding methamphetamine, meth-related paraphernalia and controlled substances.
Energy legislation approved in Illinois during the summer opened the door for a Kansas wind-powered transmission line to carry electricity across the southern part of the state.

But those plans are drawing some concerns.

Invenergy Transmission is running advertisements promoting the Grain Belt Express transmission project.

Grain Belt Express will generate $1.2 billion in economic benefit for our state, 2,200 local jobs during construction and $33 million in new revenue for area communities, the advertisement says. Affordable, reliable, clean energy and at no cost to Illinois consumers. Built the right way.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, has expressed concerns about the project, which is set to go across west-central Illinois. He said it was approved as part of a sweeping energy overhaul.

For the first time, the state of Illinois has granted a private company eminent domain over private property, Halbrook said. And I think this is unprecedented ... weve never seen this before.

Halbrook said the impact on farmers could be a loss of property and increased costs from litigation.

And this is just one of the implications of the new green deal that hit Illinois, Halbrook said. It is going to cost our property owners tons of cash just to try to avoid this situation and I dont know where this is ultimately going to land.

The 800-mile project from wind farms in Kansas has a 200-mile primary route and an alternative route proposed for Illinois.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.
Keep calm San Antonio. The popular and highly-anticipated Immersive Van Gogh exhibition is still coming, but we have to wait a little longer. Lighthouse Immersive, the producers behind the touring attraction, pushed back the date again. However, the company finally announced its venue in the Alamo City.

The new Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio will open at 221 Burleson in Dignowity Hill, a few blocks from the San Antonio Museum of Art, on Thursday, May 26, and will run through September 5. The exhibition was originally scheduled to begin on November 18 but was delayed to start on Mother's Day before the new date was announced on President's Day.

Nina Westervelt

"We sincerely apologize for the delay," said Corey Ross, producer at Lighthouse Immersive, in a news release. "A proper venue for these unique immersive experiences needs to satisfy a long list of criteria, and locating an optimal space in San Antonio has presented some challenges. With the help of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, however, we have finally found a venue that suits all of our needs and we are on track to open on May 26. We would like to extend our gratitude to our patrons for their patience and to the Tobin Center for getting us situated."

According to the news release, the new Lighthouse ArtSpace will transform the former industrial space into a gallery to showcase the animated projections of Vincent Van Gogh's work that will be set to a musical score featuring both contemporary and classical music.

Nina Westervelt

Nina Westervelt

Organizers stated the venue's high ceilings allow Van Gogh's art to feature a towering element over guests. Lighthouse Immersive's Global Creative Director David Korins, best known for his work on the musicals Hamilton and Dear Even Hansen, will outfit the venue with interactive elements that will provide audiences with a richer understanding of Van Gogh, the news release noted.

Ticketholders for dates prior to May 26 will be contacted by Lighthouse Immersive over email with a set of tickets for an alternative date. If the new date is not optimal, ticketholders can easily reschedule. If they are unable to attend, they will be instructed on how to receive a full refund.

Lighthouse Immersive has opened 16 Lighthouse ArtSpaces across North America. The Lone Star State already has two Lighthouse ArtSpace venues in Dallas and Houston, where more than 200,000 visitors have already experienced Immersive Van Gogh, and some have had a chance to experience the new Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibition.
San Antonio bars and restaurants have a few more weeks to shake up their National Margarita Day celebrations, but one burger place is a freebie frontrunner with their newly-announced deal. Hopdoddy Burger Bar is offering free sample-size tequila cocktails to celebrate the food and beverage holiday.

Hopdoddy is marking National Margarita Day on Tuesday, February 22 by giving out 4-ounce margs to customers. There's no catch or purchase necessary, patrons just need to be 21 or up,

The complimentary margarita is small (just an ounce higher than TSA's limits on carry on liquids) but is packed with Monte Alban Silver Tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and agave. The drinks will be served on the rocks.

If customers like the sampling, the larger version of the drink, called the Doble Fina margarita, is on the menu for $9.75.

San Antonio is home to two Hopdoddy locations. One is in the La Cantera area at 17623 La Cantera Parkway and the other is near Stone Oak at 1301 N Loop 1604 West.

Taste of Ohana: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue shares 'ohana' with New Braunfels location

Rosario's and The Good Kind Southtown, two San Antonio-owned restaurants, are also gearing up for the fun holiday. While freebies don't seem to be on the menu for either of the bars at the restaurants, margarita madness is on the mind. The Good Kind is making their lineup of margs the star of the show for the night.

Rosey's Fish & Chips, a local food truck, will be on site to supplement The Good Kind's menu of bites.

Rosario's is offering different drink deals depending on which location guests visit. Southtown strollers will get $1 off specialty margaritas and $5 house margaritas (frozen or on the rocks) during the 3 to 6 p.m. happy hour. The Rosarios at 9715 San Pedro will serve happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $6.25 house margaritas and a $6.75 swirl option.

Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails at Hotel Contessa is also celebrating the occasion. The downtown restaurant will host a margarita happy hour starting at 4 p.m. with four "unique twists" on the traditional drink: Fire in the Sky, Knocking on Dessert's Door, Misty Step, and an Oaxaca Old Fashioned. All are $8 and available in the restaurant bar's lounge.

The margarita fun will continue with programming throughout the week to include a marg-making class on Wednesday, February 23 at 6 p.m. for $45 a person with a 20% discount toward food at Ambler. The following day, Ambler will host a Casamigos Tequila Dinner at 6 p.m. The five-course meal will feature Casamigos tequila and mezcal. Seating will is limited to 50 guests and tickets are $125 a person.

Other Margarita Day drink deals across town include:

Burleson Beer Yard

The Hay's District tenant will be serving $5 margaritas from 3 p.m. to midnight, with tequila specials and live music from Jevonchi. Find it at 1009 Avenue B.

La Gloria

La Gloria is offering $13 Patron margaritas, $11 Jimador shakers, and $9 Jimador cups. There will be live music from from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Find it at 100 E. Grayson Street and 21819 I-10.

Ocho at Hotel Havana

The swanky bar and restaurant overhanging the Riverwalk will have $9 margaritas with Pueblo Viejo tequila, naranja orange liqueur, lime and Agave. Located at 1015 Navarro St.

Tiago's Cabo Grille

Far Northside eatery Tiago's has a plethora of deals this National Margarita Day. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy $2 small frozen margaritas with Jose Cuervo and $5 Tiago's Gold Margartas all day long. Happy hour will run from 2 to 6:30 p.m., with a selection of over 30 margaritas to choose from. The latest amongst them being the new Dragon Fruit Marg. Find it at 17711 I-10 West #101.

Rusty Taco

San Antonio's newest taco stop will be selling margaritas for $2.22 on Tuesday. Have it frozen or on the rocks with fresh lime juice. 17026 Bulverde Road.

Taco Cabana

Taco Cabana will have margaritas for $2 all day long. Choose from flavors like mangonada, strawberry, and classic lime.
While Texas barbecue is king around these parts, there's enough love in the San Antonio ohana to go around for L&L Hawaiian's plate lunches and warm service. One bite of the tender chicken lathered in sauce or a scoop of L&L's perfectly chilled and creamy macaroni salad will have Austin Highway feeling like a bit of paradise.

Mardi Party: 10 Mardi Gras events to check out in San Antonio

Sarah Yee, sole franchise owner of the Austin Highway restaurant and an upcoming location in New Braunfels, is known as "Auntie" as a sign of respect. As I chatted with Auntie Sarah on a chilly February morning, the warmth in her hospitality and conversation emphasized the familial experience inside L&L. If you didn't already know, you might be shocked to learn L&L is part of an international chain. It certainly doesn't feel like one. Yee's inviting presence makes San Antonio's sole L&L feel like an escape.

Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com

We met about an hour before L&L opened. As the time neared the 11 a.m. start time, customers started arriving to be the first to dine in that day. There wasn't a special promotion or freebie, they just love the food that much. Yee welcomed each of them in as if they were family with an "Aloha." Some were returning customers she knew, others were first-timers like me. She loved on each of them the same.

Raised by a Guamese mother and Hawaiian father, Yee says she grew up with Spam musubi in her lunch bags the way most kids get ham and cheese sandwiches.

"I've got Pacific Islander blood flowing through these veins," she says, beaming with pride. "We grew up on this food."

Yee eventually moved to Denver where she worked on the corporate side of the fast food world. When she visited family in San Antonio, she noticed a lack of Hawaiian fare.

"It dawned on me that there just isn't our kind of food," she recalls. "I called up the L&L corporate office and I said, 'Why don't we have L&L out here?' Fast forward, here I am."

Yee opened the restaurant in 2014 and eight years in to being a San Antonio restaurant owner, her L&L has become a go-to for tropical food. The New Braunfels location celebrated a grand opening on Saturday, February 19. Yee is planning on opening an L&L Hawaiian on the far Westside next.

Yee says she's never wanted to go toe-to-toe with Texas barbecue, she just wanted to introduce San Antonio to something new. Excited by my new experience, I posted some of the savory Hawaiian 'cue I tried to my social media accounts that day. I don't think I've ever got as many responses to food before. The slew of reactions and comments varied in excitement, but were all in the same vein of "I love that place."

By the looks of it, San Antonio foodies didn't expect a tropical vs. Texas barbecue showdown and appreciate that it stands in its uniqueness.

Still magical: San Antonio's The Magic Time Machine at 50

L&L serves a menu of Hawaiian comfort food, or plate lunches, including barbecue, Spam musubi, chicken katsu, grilled seafood and more. Yee says the offerings are authentic to the meals found in the islands.

"Here's a way to get to Hawaii, to at least experience the culture and the food without having to navigate through the airport," she adds. "More than the food though, we're also serving the spirit of Aloha. It's an opportunity for your tastebuds to try some exciting new tastes."

Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com

Yee describes Hawaiian cuisine as a "melting pot" of backgrounds. She points to musubi, the Spam-topped block of rice. The canned meat was introduced by Americans to the Pacific as part of G.I. rations during World War II, she says. Yee adds that during the 19th century, migrant workers from Philippines, China, Korea, and Japan fueled their work in the pineapple and sugar plantations with plate lunches from home. The sharing of foods influenced some of Hawaii's cuisine.

"It is truly something unique. I really recommend that if you haven't tried it, you give it a chance," Yee says. "And you're not going to just try Hawaiian food, you're going to try a fusion of taste from many, many different countries with love and the spirit of aloha. If you ever want to go to paradise come to Austin Highway and we'll train you on the cuisine here and you'll be a pro by the time you land."

My taste buds definitely took a trip. Keep reading for a few takeaways.

Madalyn Mendoza/MySA

What's on the menu at L&L Hawaiian?

L&L offers barbecue (served in plates or bowls), chicken katsu, kalua pork and cabbage, Spam musubi, loco moco, and noodles. I tried the barbecue, chicken kastu, kalua pork and cabbage, musubi, rice, and macaroni salad.

Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com

How good is L&L Hawaiian?

I had to excuse myself from the saucy mess I was making as I dug into the barbecue. The taste sent me into a ravenous attack on the juicy mix of protein. It's lathered in a soy sauce-based marinade with traditional Hawaiian seasonings. I told Yee that macaroni salads are my highlight of any cookout and she insisted that I tried L&L's. Her confidence wasn't misguided. It was perfectly chilled and creamy and not at all soggy.

The kalua pork, which Yee joked was the Hawaiian equivalent of barbacoa, combined with the cabbage for a crunchy-savory mix. The Panko-breaded and deep-fried tender katsu chicken made for fun dipping into the piquant sauce. The servings are generous, just the way you'd expect to be served at home. I was thrilled to have leftovers.

I washed it down with a Lilikoi Passion-flavored Hawaiian Sun drink (another first). The sweet and tart drink complemented the barbecue and rounded out the tropical experience.

More to chew on

Yee says L&L's proximity to Fort Sam Houston makes it a go-to lunch spot for people working on base. She says there are times when the entire dining room is filled with people in uniform. She offers a 10% off discount for all military members and their dependents.

Prices for "Hawaii's Favorite Plates," which includes the barbecue and Kalua pork plates, range from $12 to $14.79.

Must trys: the BBQ Mix plate and macaroni salad.

The San Antonio location is at 1302 Austin Highway. The upcoming New Braunfels restaurant is at 156 Texas 46.
Newly elected Lake County School Board Kristi Burns is sworn in by County Judge James Baxley on Nov. 22, 2016. With her are her husband, Mark Carlson, and their children Xander, Rowan, Wyatt and Anya. Burns won a second term in 2020 but resigned this year, citing the divisiveness of school board meetings. (Jason Ruiter / Orlando Sentinel)

Its starting.

Across Florida, dedicated school board members and teachers are leaving. They cant abide the constant harassment from uninformed, disruptive parents and bullying state legislators. Their departures will be Floridas loss.

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In 2020, Lake County School Board member Kristi Burns won a second, four-year term with 65% of the vote. Yet last week, Burns said that shes done, effective May 1, not halfway through that term.

Burns had no issue with her board colleagues, though she disagreed with some of them on COVID-19 policies. But members of the public assailed her during debates about masks. Meetings, Burns told the Orlando Sentinel, became two sides just screaming at each other.

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In 2016, during her first campaign, Burns ran on a platform of increasing recess time. A year later, the Legislature mandated daily recess.

Randy Schultz is a Sun Sentinel columnist. (Mike Slaughter / Sun Sentinel/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Burns was a traditional candidate. She had children in the system. She talked about local issues. The nonpartisan race mostly stayed clear of politics.

All that has changed. Blame the pandemic. But also blame the hate-filled campaign against public education by right-wing Republicans and a few left-wing Democrats. Unceasing vitriol under the label of parental rights is driving out people on whom public education depends.

And who will replace them? Perhaps Dawn Peters. Shes running for the school board in Pinellas County. Peters suggested that antifa was behind the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Closer to home, Angelique Contreras is challenging Seat 4 Palm Beach County School Board incumbent Erica Whitfield. Contreras, who opposed the districts mask mandate, attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection.

Then theres Bailey LaShells, whos running against Seat 3 incumbent Karen Brill. LaShells campaign paperwork refers to her as Fionas Mom. Fiona LaShells, a second-grader, has appeared at board meetings to say that Superintendent Mike Burke sucks and to hope that the board members go to jail.

Empowered by demagogic legislators, a Pinellas County mother accused Dunedin High School teacher Brandt Robinson of Marxist indoctrination of our youth based on how he discussed race with American History students. In Seminole County, a parent complained that BrainPop, the animated education series, amounted to Critical Race Theory.

Review boards upheld Robinson and the use of BrainPop. But just as the pandemic made many of us think twice about actions that had been reflexive, mindless criticism has made many teachers think twice and more to avoid placing themselves in the middle of a controversy.

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Stress from the last two years explains why Florida might be short 9,000 fulltime teachers by the end of the year. Palm Beach County last week considered a plan under which high-school graduates could serve as substitute teachers.

Tallahassee could try to address that teacher shortage, perhaps with some of the money now allocated for special-interest tax breaks. But Republican legislators would rather harass than help.

So we get a bill that would all but end discussions of race. We get bills that would put cameras in classrooms to monitor teachers. We get bills that would create term limits for school board members and limit their pay. We get a bill that would require schools to out students who disclosed their sexual orientation.

All this comes under the label of parents rights. Schools need involved parents. But they need informed parents, not those who disrupt meetings based on imagined grievances and never mention responsibility when they talk about rights.

In other words, schools need parents much like the school board members who are departing. Almost none of them ran to seek higher office. They have focused on children and their welfare.

Efforts by DeSantis and fellow Republicans to sanitize history, Burns said, do not reflect fundamental American values. Those arent the only values under siege.

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As chairman of the Palm Beach County School Board through the pandemic, Frank Barbieri has walked point for his colleagues against the mobs. Rude and vicious behavior, Barbieri said, has somehow become acceptable as an exercise of ones freedom of speech  a freedom which should be cherished, not abused.

This brain drain from education in Florida is bad enough. Worse is that so many Florida legislators are happy about it.

Contact Randy Schultz at randy@bocamag.com.
Update at 2:30 p.m.: A Boerne Police Department officer discharged his gun as an individual crashed into a police vehicle on Monday, February 21.

At about 1:27 p.m., Boerne Police received information about a suicidal subject who fled the Fredericksburg-area and was last seen heading towards Boerne on FM 1376, according to a press release.

Police were informed that Brandon Cruz, 41, had family members take a gun away from him before he drove off, but the family was unsure if he had any more weapons.

Kendall County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies attempted to stop Cruz in the 800 block of FM 1376, but Cruz was traveling over 100 mph. At that time, KCSO relayed to the Boerne Police Department about Cruz entering the city. Boerne Police and a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted to stop Cruz again, but were unsuccessful.

Cruz continued down School Street to Johns Road, where officers lost sight of him. Officers searched for Cruz's vehicle. An unknown citizen flagged down a DPS trooper and shortly after, found Cruz sitting in his vehicle.

The trooper began to order Cruz out of the vehicle, he proceeded to rev up his engine and back up into the Boerne Police vehicle.

Corporal Cheyenne Weber, an 11-year veteran of the Boerne Police Department, discharged his weapon while standing outside of the police vehicle striking and killing Cruz. No police were injured during. Next of kin was notified.

Weber has been placed on administrative duty per policy pending the investigation of the Texas Rangers.

Original Post Below:

A wellness check in Boerne turned into fatal shooting on Monday, February 21, when Boerne police officers responded to a welfare check for a suicidal individual that resulted in an officer-involved shooting. The incident occurred at the Carrington Apartments on the 800 block of Johns Road.

First responders immediately performed life-saving measures, but the individual was deceased at the scene. No officers were injured, according to a press release.

Officials did not provide any additional information as of Monday, but details may be released pending notification of next of kin.

Know this person?: New Braunfels PD search for man accused of taking disturbing images at H-E-B

In accordance with police department policy, the officer involved has been placed on administrative duty pending the investigation by the Texas Rangers.

Correction: The story previously identified Corporal Cheyenne Weber as a female. The post has been updated to reflect his correct pronouns.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The First Lady of the United States Jill Biden is coming to San Antonio this week, arriving on Wednesday, February 23 morning at Joint Base San Antonio Kelly Field.

According to a news release, Biden will attend a tour and listening session at the Mays Cancer Center focused on cancer health disparities in the Latino community as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative.
A local organization is holding on to prayers in hope of finding missing San Antonio girl Lina Sadar Khil, who was last seen in her apartment playground on December 20. The Islamic Center of San Antonio increased its reward for information leading to her return home to $250,000.

"Everyone please join us in praying for Lina's safe return to her family," the organization wrote on its Facebook post on Sunday, February 20.

In addition to the center, San Antonio Crime Stoppers said it will give a guaranteed $50,000 reward, for this case only, for information resulting in the arrest or indictment of a suspect accused of any involvement in Lina's disappearance. Lina's family are refugees from Afghanistan who arrived in San Antonio in 2019.

Courtesy of SAPD

Lina was last seen at a playground at her family's apartment complex on the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road. She was wearing a red dress, black jacket, and black shoes. Her mother told police she left Lina playing at the playground for a short time in the early evening hours. When she returned, her daughter was gone. Police said other adults and children were around when her mother left.

The FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team searched a creek at the 5700 block of Babcock Road on January 5 but weren't able to find anything conclusive, according to a news release.

On February 13, a volunteer group came up empty when searching for Lina along a San Antonio greenbelt. Nonprofit the Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach said it was a "bittersweet ending" in the search.

San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus tweeted Saturday the department was still focused on finding Lina.

"There's been no pause in our efforts," McManus tweeted. "SAPD continues to work with the FBI to find Lina Sardar Khil who went missing on Dec 20. The investigation is ongoing. Pls (please) report any info no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Call SAPD Missing Persons Section on 210 207-7660."
Interestingly, a writer at openDemocracy noticed that last week, the Russian parliament gave Putin the green light to recognize Ukraines breakaway areas of Donbass and Luhansk. Despite that development, and the West supposedly having clever Russia experts, I dont see any evidence that our military-intel apparatus or our Russia watchers gamed out this possibility. Mark Ames, who watches this beat much more carefully than I do, confirms this take:

Lot of that frustration stems from the sense that the much-promised WW2-style invasion of Ukraine that so many thinktankers and OSINTwerps have been panting over may not happen after all  Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) February 21, 2022

To put it more bluntly, its as if the US was trying to goad Russia into a bar fight using typical macho aggression (chest-poking, insults, standing way too close). But instead of delivering the sought-after punch, Russia poured its beer on the Wests crotch.

As best I can tell, here is how the big pieces hang together, at a 50,000 level. The US is very mad at Russia for having turned what supposed to be a big setback in Ukraine into a victory by managing to wrest Crimea from the West.1 Those still suffering from TDS, most of all Hillbots, are even madder at Russia because Trump cant possibly have won in 2016, those clever dastardly Russians must have poisoned our precious bodily fluids body politic. Oh, and interfered in 2020 too.

Trump made some friendly noises at Russia. But as Brookings pointed out, Trumps talk didnt match his actions. He imposed quite a few new sanctions.

In April 2021, Russia increased its troop concentration near the Ukraine border.2 Mind you, it normally had a fair number of military personnel there under ordinary circumstances. Russia made no demands. The West got all wound up about a possible invasion despite the lack of Russian form here and any particular reason to want to own Ukraine. The US imposed a bunch of new sanctions mid-April for alleged sins like 2020 election interference, the Solar Winds cyber hacking, Crimea (still!) and the poisoning of Alexander Navalny. These appear to have been in the works and not related to the martial moves. Russia reduced its troop concentration to its old normal at the start of May.

In November, Russia was widely reported in the West as increasing its troop concentrations again. The better informed commentators pointed out that the definition of near the border seemed to include bases 150 miles away, and even if there was an increase from recent levels, it was below the April peak, which got much less media play than this one did.

The Russians offered draft treaties setting forth what they wanted. The big demand was no NATO in Ukraine. That might not seem reasonable until you think through how the US would react if Russia started to arm Mexico and sent in lots of advisers.

The US refused to provide a written reply, yet accused Russia of not being willing to negotiate.

The war drumming from the West got louder. Macron tried de-escalating with a speech to the EU Parliament, a meeting with Putin, and a proposal, with Germanys support, to revive the Minsk Accords, or at least the Minsk process. If you read the outline of Minsk I and Minsk II (2014-2015), it wasnt even a real deal as much as a de-escalation, presumably to at least put a pause on hostilities and potentially open the door to wider-ranging talks. But the US never supported the deal and so it foundered. And these points, from the summary in Wikipedia, are presumably why:

Decentralisation of power, including through the adoption of the Ukrainian law On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

To ensure the permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian border and verification by the OSCE with the creation of security zones in the border regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation

To withdraw illegal armed groups and military equipment as well as fighters and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine.

What I must confess I had not worked out (and I suspect all but the most interested US readers are in the same boat) is that calling Donbass and Luhansk separatist areas does not quite do the situation justice. Separatist evokes a considerable independence movement, like in Quebec, the Basque, or more recently Catalunya.

But Donbass and Luhansk have gone further by setting up, or at least trying to set up, actual republics. Wikipedia calls them self proclaimed breakaway states. This occurred in 2014, at the time of the Maidan regime change.

Of course Russia has been meddling, via providing arms, no doubt advisers and more recently, letting residents of the wannabe-breakaway regions get Russia passports.

Now lets look at the recent timeline.

The leaders of France and Germany tried to push Ukraine to comply with the Russian spin of the Minsk Agreements during their recent visits to Kyiv, sources in the Ukrainian government and foreign emissaries told the Kyiv Independent.https://t.co/qS2ZdMqMzh  The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 15, 2022

The appeal from the lower house of the Russian Parliament to Putin to recognize the separatist regions came on the 16th. It sounds as if they were reading the intel from the France-Germany-Ukraine discussions more attentively than Western leaders.

Then on the 17th:

Kremlin [menacing military buildup]: This will stop if no Ukraine in NATO.

NATO/Zelensky: Whoa, this is serious. Tens of thousands will die if this gets worse. So heres our response: Ukraine can enter NATO. Also, Minsk peace deal is dead. Now go get your fuckin shinebox.  Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) February 18, 2022

Doubt Zelensky wouldve made that declaration yesterday  calling Minsk peace process essentially dead  without first clearing it with US/NATO.  Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) February 18, 2022

Im not sure this interpretation is correct, but it suggests that at least the separatists saw the Zelensky repudiation of Minsk as an escalation of hostilities:

Breaking news  Ukraine is trying to break through the front line. Zelensky said they never should have signed Minsk. . Both republics LNR and DNR ordered a general evacuation of the entire population to Russia.

This is confirmed https://t.co/6H8kXpEJQt  Simona Mangiante Papadopoulos (@realSimonaMP) February 18, 2022

Weirdly, on the 20th, the Wall Street Journal and others published the story: Biden Accepts in Principle a Meeting With Putin Proposed by Frances Macron. Maybe Macron still hoped the Minsk revival was not dead? Or the Putin-Biden meeting was on its own track and not yet registering new events?

What happened today was wholly foreseeable. The Russians warned for years that their patience would eventually run out over Ukraines failure to implement Minsk. Biden, Macron & Scholz should have made clear to Zelensky the risks he was running. They chose instead to indulge him.  George Szamuely (@GeorgeSzamuely) February 21, 2022

Yet the Western press is braying that Russia repudiated the Minsk Protocol when it was simply taking a strategic path opened up by Zelensky trashing it.

In fact, this remark from Lavrov provides further support for the idea that Zelensky rejecting the revival of the Minsk Protocol was the trigger for the Russian recognition of the separatist regions, that theyd be willing to trade that (as in accepting Minsk means accepting Ukraine sovereignty over those regions, although Minsk also called for more regional autonomy and non-retaliation).

Lavrov earlier today on Biden  give him 2-3 days to make Zelensky abide by Minsk https://t.co/uTUzwty7zI  Cara TXZEAL (@Cara_TXZEAL) February 21, 2022

Frankly, Lavrov is likely just making deadly clear what the trigger was, since a US reversal is inconceivable at this point.3 If anyone at State were paying attention, hes trolling them.

Some Twitterati also contend that implementing Minsk would serve to keep Ukraine out of NATO, since it would become a federation and would not be eligible to join (as in Minsk contained a poison pill). This is over my pay grade, so I would welcome informed input:

My guess, several world powers are putting a lot of pressure on Ukraine to accept the Minsk agreement. The agreement would transform Ukraine into a federation and make it impossible for them to join NATO/EU in the future. So Zelensky makes it clear that they will not accept it. https://t.co/oeMvvYG39d  AndreiVlah (@AndreiVlah) February 19, 2022

The Saker argues in a provocative piece that the US has reacted just as Russia expected, to Russias advantage. Im not sure Id be that triumphalist, but as in the Middle East, Russia again has played what looked to be a weak hand extremely well. Key parts (emphasis original):

Let me make this clear: this recognition should NOT, repeat, NOT, be seen in isolation. It is just ONE PHASE in a PROCESS which began at least a year ago, or more, and there is much more to come. Next, that must be repeated again, this is NOT about the LDNR, the Donbass or even the Ukraine, this is about a new security architecture on Europe and, therefore, on our entire planet. This means that Russia expected exactly the reaction she eventually got (western politicians are fantastically predictable, being both ignorant, stupid and arrogant) and that gave her a legal basis to take the current action(call it R2P, or moral duty, or genocide prevention or whatever else you wish). Next, I want to mention four specific threats made by Putin today (note, since the PR folks at the Kremlin are still working at their usual snails pace, I will have to make them by memory, please keep that in mind): Those responsible for the massacre in Odessa will be punished by Russia.

Putin is demanding an immediate cessation of the shelling and shooting along the LOC.

Russia will physically prevent the Ukraine from US/NATO deploying offensive weapons to threaten Russia.

Russia will show Banderastan how to organize a *real* decommunization (after indicating that the Ukraine was created by the CPSU). Unless the Ukies get it  and they probably wont  I fully expect Russia to openly extend here military umbrella over the LDNR. That does not mean that she will have to move troops in, though that now is also a possibility, but that any future Ukie ground operation will be countered by the full might of the Russian military. Officially this time. The Ukros along the LOC have heard it from Putins own mouth: we got a crosshairs on each one of you. While I wouldnt put *anything* beyond the Ukros, I believe that todays clear threat will have a strong deterrent effect, whether the Ukies admit it (not gonna happen) or not.

Finally, to the issue of sanctions, which the Saker discusses and our Nick Corbishley is posting on in more detail.

First, the West made clear they were going to impose them no matter what, so any deterrent value was nil.

Second, the US has shot its sanctions wad. Russia has become more of an autarky despite or more accurately because the West has kept pounding it. All the US has left is Nord Stream 2. Russia can sell any surplus gas to China initially and diversify a bit more if it wants to later. In the meantime, sanctions would amount to the US cutting off Europes nose to try to spite Russias face.

Mark Ames comment on a long speech Putin gave after the Donbass/Luhansk recognition (I tried listening but the simultaneous translation was painful):

Angloid mainstreamers too conformist to respond to the meat of Putins speechthe litany of grievanceswith anything more than virtuous sneering. Its clear VVP assumes the only thing our political elites understand is the language of violence. So here we are.  Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) February 21, 2022

Now with that long-winded intro, to the alert openDemocracy piece that recognized that the Russian parliamentary vote was significant, even though it went of the rails on some key points, like assuming there would be no follow through. However, it argues that Russia has created facts on the ground that make the breakaway regions de facto parts of Russia.

By Dmitry Sidorov, who works for Takie dela and has also published with Russkaya Planeta, Colta, Kommersant and other independent Russian media outlets. Originally published at openDemocracy

This is a Kremlin propaganda stunt against the backdrop of the crisis in Donbas, Ukrainian political commentator Vitaly Portnikov said, when I asked why there are moves in Russia to potentially recognise the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine this week.

If the Kremlin really wanted to recognise the independence of the territories, it would have been done completely differently. Putin would have suggested this, or at least Dmitry Medvedev he added.

As an apparent invasion deadline came and went on Wednesday, the lower house of Russian parliament voted on Tuesday to send president Vladimir Putin an appeal to recognise the independence of the Luhansk Peoples Republic and Donetsk Peoples Republic  the pro-Russian separatist entities set up in eastern Ukraine after the countrys Euromaidan revolution in 2014. The push for recognition came from the Russian Communist Party. It was supported by 351 out of 450 parliamentary deputies.

Shortly after, firing resumed in the Donbas region, with a school in Ukrainian-controlled territory hit by shelling. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the situation near the border of Russia can ignite at any moment, referring to provocative actions by the Ukrainian military. On Tuesday, Putin referred to the situation in Donbas as genocide, provoking fears of further Russian military action.

To understand what Russias recognition of the so-called Peoples Republics could turn into, openDemocracy spoke to the Communist Party officials behind the initiative, as well as Ukrainian and Russian political commentators.

The Communists Proposal

I find it funny when our political opponents and certain media say that the Communist Party is opportunist, said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the Russian parliamentary committee on international affairs. The issue [of Donbas status] remains unresolved, and we have always proposed this kind of solution.

As fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in the summer of 2014, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov called on the Russian authorities to recognise the independence of the Peoples Republics to protect them from the central Ukrainian authorities. The Russian authorities, another Communist parliamentarian, Nikolay Osadchii, told me, were about to recognise [the separatist territories]  but at the last moment everything changed.

Numerous reports have tied Russia to military intervention in eastern Ukraine, but it does not consider itself a party to the conflict. Ukraine, the US and the EU, meanwhile, regarded the independence referendums held in eastern Ukraine in 2014 as illegitimate. Russia treated the results with respect, but did not recognise them, though later recognised parliamentary elections held in the Peoples Republics. At the time, separatist leaders asked directly to become part of the Russian Federation.

Yuri Afonov, another Communist Party MP, told openDemocracy he believed that recognition could prevent a military adventure by Ukrainian armed forces, citing the fact that more than 700,000 people living in the Peoples Republics now hold Russian passports.

Indeed, the Communist Party has lobbied to reduce the cost of applying for Russian citizenship for residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as a simplified application process. Afonov further remarked that the Communists have been building integration ties with the [separatist territories] for several years. According to official statements, the party has sent 93 humanitarian convoys to the Donbas since 2014.

On Tuesday, parliamentary deputies from the Communists, the ruling United Russia party, the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and Just Russia voted for the petition to recognise the two Peoples Republics, which was drawn up by the Communists. Sixteen deputies from a new centre-Right party, New People, voted against.

The Communist Partys initiative to recognise the territories does not say anything about the further integration of these entities into the Russian Federation, but economic, political and military ties are already in place. The Russian rouble is the official currency in the republics, residents with Russian passports voted in last years parliamentary elections in Russia, and a Russian presidential decree in November 2021 significantly simplified trade between Russia and the republics

It was quite obvious: without recognising the republics according to the models of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it would be impossible to stop this conflict, says Yuri Afonin, Communist Party MP. Novikov adds that the two breakaway territories in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, were recognised by Russia according to the same scheme as the Communist Party has proposed over Donbas: the process began, in part, via Russian parliamentary initiatives.

Against the backdrop of an unprecedented Russian military build-up, and measures to prepare for a military escalation inside Ukraine, this week Putin himself commented on the initiative to recognise the separatist territories.

We must do everything to solve the problems of Donbas, but we should do this first of all, based on the as yet unrealised opportunities for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, he said, referring to the deadlocked ceasefire and reintegration process.

While the Russian governments reaction to the Communists proposal has been extremely diplomatic, said Communist MP Nikolay Osadchy, he believes it could still happen.

We understand that these kind of matters are often decided overnight, he said.

Abandoning the Minsk Agreements

The Communists initiative is probably a PR move, said Alexey Tokarev, a senior researcher at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Its meant to say: we are here, we do not quarrel with the [Kremlin], we did not listen to you on domestic policy issues, but we can offer a loyal initiative on foreign policy issues, Tokarev explained, referring to the Communist Partys relative success at Septembers parliamentary elections. The only possible scenario for Russian recognition would emerge, he believes, if there was a large-scale offensive by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Vitaly Portnikov, speaking to openDemocracy, agreed with Tokarev, calling the Communist Party ordinary stupid puppets. If the Russian authorities did go ahead with recognition, Portnikov believes, the issue would be closed. Russia would have abandoned the Minsk Agreements. It would no longer be able to reproach Ukraine for violating them.

He called the possible recognition a gift for Ukraine in the sense that it would lead to a deterioration in Russias position in the international arena, following the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the annexation of Crimea.

Likewise, Portnikov believes that the Kremlin will not agree to the recognition of the separarist territories: following a ceasefire, the Minsk Agreements foresee the reintegration of these territories back into Ukraine via a special autonomous status in the countrys constitution. Recognition of their independence, therefore, would remove the Kremlins most important lever for putting pressure on Kyiv.

With the help of constant shelling of Ukrainian territory from the Donbas, Russia maintains political instability in Ukraine, maintains a feeling of constant war inside Ukraine, he said.
(Natural News) A four-story rogue wave that turned up in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Canada in 2020 is the most extreme example of such phenomenon ever reported, according to scientists who described it as a once in a millennium incident.

Rogue waves, also called freak or killer waves, are large waves that occur in the open ocean apparently from nowhere.

The rogue wave was spotted on Nov. 17, 2020, around 4.3 miles off the coast of Ucluelet on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, by an oceanic buoy belonging to Canadian-based research company MarineLabs.

In a new study published online Feb. 2 in Scientific Reports, scientists said the Ucluelet wave was around 58 feet tall. It formed in a sea state of around 19.5 feet, making it just under three times as large as neighboring waves, which is the most extreme size difference ever recognized.

Proportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded, lead author Johannes Gemmrich, an oceanographer at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, said in a statement. Only a few rogue waves in high sea states have been observed directly, and nothing of this magnitude. The probability of such an event occurring is once in 1,300 years.

Rogue waves are massive walls of water in the open ocean

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), rogue waves are massive walls of water that form and disappear in the open ocean. They are different from tsunamis, which are caused by disturbed water from underwater earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions and do not become enormous until they approach the coast.

A rogue wave is scientifically described as being at least twice as tall as the surrounding sea state  the average height of the waves for a given region at a given time.

NOAA researchers believe rogue waves are formed when smaller waves combine into larger ones, either due to high surface winds or changes in ocean currents brought by storms. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms behind the unusual crests are still something of a mystery, according to the statement.

The first officially recognized rogue wave is called the Draupner wave, which happened in Norway in 1995, although scientists have suspected the existence of rogue waves long ago.

Stories of sailors being caught out or even killed by unusually huge waves have long filled maritime folklore, but until that 1995 report, scientists have never noticed them. Scientists have examined only a handful of rogue waves since then, but they believe that one forms every two days somewhere in the worlds oceans.

Draupner wave estimated to be 84 feet high

The Ucluelet wave is not the largest rogue wave ever recorded. The Draupner wave, for example, was estimated to be 84 feet high. However, the sea state during the Draupner wave was around 39 feet, making the rogue wave just over twice as tall as surrounding waves.

Rogue waves are normally ignored. However, if a ship or oil rig were to be caught in one of these freakishly huge crests, the result could be disastrous.

The unpredictability of rogue waves, and the sheer power of these walls of water can make them incredibly dangerous to marine operations and the public, said MarineLabs CEO Scott Beatty.

But researchers hope that grids of monitoring buoys, such as the 26 MarineLabs buoys strategically positioned along North American coastlines, could disclose more about these oceanic anomalies.

The potential of predicting rogue waves remains an open question, but our data is helping to better understand when, where and how rogue waves form, and the risks that they pose, Beatty added.

Researchers commonly use buoys to help determine the heights of large waves.

For this study, the MarineLabs buoy recorded data in 20-minute bursts every 30 minutes. Researchers then examined the data until May 21, 2021 to verify its results.

Most observations are at a single buoy, a single location, and so the wave passes through. And we know at this moment it was this high, but we dont know how long. That is the big science question, Gemmrich said.

Other important questions researchers are hoping to answer include figuring out how rogue waves are formed so that they can better predict when they will occur.

Advanced buoy technology might be a good starting point.

We are aiming to improve safety and decision-making for marine operations and coastal communities through widespread measurement of the worlds coastlines, Beatty said. Capturing this once-in-a-millennium wave, right in our backyard, is a thrilling indicator of the power of coastal intelligence to transform marine safety.

More related stories:

Scientists have warned that a 400 foot tsunami could hit the East Coast if an asteroid hit the Atlantic Ocean.

Study: Asteroid hitting the North Atlantic will unleash 400-feet high tsunami to the East Coast.

Humans are making oceans noisier, hurting all marine life.

Undersea earthquakes hit 2 of the worlds major oceans.

Watch the video below to know more about massive waves surge and blue waves.

This video is from the ZGoldenReport channel on Brighteon.com.

Find more stories about the worlds oceans at OceanHealthNews.com.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com

TheSun.co.uk
(Natural News) The nations top public health agency has casually admitted that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) nasal swabs are being used to sequence peoples genomes, and not necessarily to test for covid.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many of the cotton swab sticks that are being jammed up peoples nasal cavities and processed with a fraudulent PCR test are later collected and used by scientists to conduct research on peoples gene profiles. (Related: These same nasal swabs also punctured some peoples brain membranes, causing them to leak spinal fluid.)

Remember that COVID-19 nose swab test you took? What happened to the swab? If it was processed with a PCR test, theres a 10 percent chance that it ended up in a lab for genomic sequencing analysis, the CDC announced on Twitter, along with the following video:

Following major backlash, the CDC tweeted a follow-up claiming that it is actually sequencing variants

This announcement by the CDC generated widespread outrage as people called out the fake federal agency that is actually a private corporation for exploiting the plandemic to collect human DNA.

Well, this is a concerning development, wrote one person on Twitter. Was the intent provided upfront in a disclosure? I would not have agreed to releasing my DNA!

Sounds illegal to me! wrote another.

Translation  We now own your DNA, said someone else. Do you trust us?

These and many other responses flooded the CDCs Twitter account to the point that the agency tweeted a follow-up statement claiming that it somehow misspoke about what it said in the original tweet.

Our @CDC_AMD @WIRED video tweet led to some confusion, the CDC wrote in that second tweet.

To clarify: CDC and our partners conduct genome sequencing analysis of the virus that causes COVID-19. Sequencing of the virus helps identify and monitor the spread and impact of variants.

This attempt at damage control did not exactly work, however, as people everywhere expressed skepticism about what is truly going on at the CDC with peoples covid test results.

And everyone is worried about Putin, one of them joked about how the real threat is right here in the United States, not halfway across the world.

I thought this was just a conspiracy theory? said someone else.

It has been speculated for quite some time now that the true purpose of all this testing is to give China or whomever direct access to the DNA of Americans and everyone else who at some point has gotten swabbed, either nasally or anally.

Most recently, the Biden regimes at-home testing kits were exposed for being funded by a blacklisted Chinese company tied to the communist Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Short version: Uncle Sam just harvested DNA samples from a lot of people, wrote someone at The Gateway Pundit about the scandal. Im sure Big Brother is totally honest and above board, and would never do anything nefarious with that information  like frame people.

Each and every participating physician should be tried and made to pay damages and prison time for EVERY injury due to their cowardice and greed, suggested someone else.

Another wrote that she read the package inserts of the tests early on and knew immediately that something was seriously wrong when it was revealed that they are not accurate, nor are they capable of testing for any actual disease.

How can they track variants when they have failed to provide a purified, isolated, complete RNA strand of Covid-19? asked another making a very important point about how this has all been a sham from the start.

The latest news about the Fauci Flu can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Internal medicine physician Dr. Carrie Madej told Dr. Steve Hotze that the gene-modifying Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines contain nanoparticles and graphene oxide that essentially make humans part synthetic and part organic.

Madej made the statement during the the February 14 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report on Brighteon.TV.

In essence, its like putting your smartphone inside your body permanently so that forever theres a two-way communication going on. You become part synthetic and part organic. And this is an example of what they call a cyborg. This is the beginning of that, said Madej, who received her medical degree from Kansas City University College of Biosciences in 2001. (Related: Dr. Carrie Madej reveals to Health Ranger that Covid vaccines contain exotic nanotech for tracking and bio-control)

And if you look at these world leaders, World Economic Forum, they claim that by 2030, they expect almost every human to have this technology inside of them. And they would be considered cyborgs. And at that moment, they could connect all humans like a cell phone to the Cloud which is the 5G. Thats why they need a big bandwidth. Thats the reason for the 5G  not for anything to be faster, it doesnt do that.

Madej, who completed her traditional internship at The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia, said Big Pharma companies like Moderna and Pfizer are putting hydrogel inside the COVID injections and they call it a different name so that people dont know what theyre using.

Its called nanolipid particles. So a nanolipid particle is technically a hydrogel. And that was very created so that you wouldnt know what theyre doing. But if people start looking up that keyword hydrogel and looking at biosensors  theres a company called Profuse  youll see everything that hydrogels can do, Madej explained.

Hydrogel is the opposite of water. It actually sucks the water out of anything around it. Madej said that it can reproduce on its own or make more of itself aside from disassembling or reassembling itself.

Hydrogel in COVID vaccines can form toxins in the body

Madej also said that hydrogels can be used for a drug delivery system as a biosensor, and it can hold nanobots  little tiny microscopic robots that can have a multitude of functions. She added it can hold graphene oxide and magnetic particles and it can also be stimulated to form toxins or medicines in the body.

I was told by genetic and nanotech engineers that this is a sign of a superconducting material. This is how they would know where the electronic components were in a substance. If you let it out for hours, you could see almost like a self-assembly going on with the synthetic parts, Madej said.

And also sometimes there was a sticky material like a gelatinous material inside. I can say that every time I looked at them, this was not uniform, it was different. It appeared as though the ingredients changed over time.

Aside from seeing graphene oxide, Madej added she also saw organism-like structures which are very analogous to water parasites like hydra vulgaris, which she found in more than one vial from different manufacturers.

The Georgia-based doctor revealed that after doing data research on hydra vulgaris, she found that scientists were very interested in the organism because they believe it is immortal. It supposedly contains the immortality gene, which they are hoping to use and put into the human genome.

Perhaps one or two shots isnt going to completely change you. I dont know how many shots it will take. The manufacturers dont know either. Theyre experimenting on us. But if you go ahead and you continue to take these shots and booster after booster, well, at some point, yes, youre not going to be totally human anymore, Madej said.

The genetic changes that will happen and the amount of synthetic substance inside of you can be so great that [there will be] more of that than [there] is [of] a natural, organic human.

More related stories:

Pfizers COVID-19 vaccines contain nanotechnology to track people, scientists say.

Doctor use Bluetooth applications to detect MAC address network signals in people vaccinated for covid.

Scientists continue to discover strange objects in COVID-19 vaccines.

Technological parasitism: Covid vaccines appear to contain self-assembling nano-octopus microparticles.

Watch the full Feb. 14 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report below. Catch new episodes of the program every Monday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More stories like this can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

CarrieMadej.com
(Natural News) Following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus crackdown on citizens in Ottawa protesting COVID-19 restrictions, Republican Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM) compared Trudeaus actions to an authoritarian regime like Venezuela and said she plans to introduce legislation to grant asylum to Canadian freedom protesters.

(Article by Ari Hoffman republished from ThePostMillenial.com)

Justin Trudeaus heavy-handed crackdown against peaceful protesters in Canada is not the action of a Western Democracy, but that of an authoritarian regime like Venezuela 1/3 https://t.co/vT74lCgOZh  Rep. Yvette Herrell (@RepHerrell) February 19, 2022

In a Twitter thread, Harrell wrote Saturday: Justin Trudeaus heavy-handed crackdown against peaceful protesters in Canada is not the action of a Western Democracy, but that of an authoritarian regime like Venezuela. She also shared a Tucker Carlson segment describing Trudeaus actions against the protesters.

Just as we provide asylum for political prisoners, we should do the same for truckers who have been subjected to violence, had their property confiscated, and their bank accounts frozen by a government that is quickly becoming the embarrassment of the free world. 2/3  Rep. Yvette Herrell (@RepHerrell) February 19, 2022

Just as we provide asylum for political prisoners, we should do the same for truckers who have been subjected to violence, had their property confiscated, and their bank accounts frozen by a government that is quickly becoming the embarrassment of the free world, Herrell commented in another tweet.

I am introducing legislation that would temporarily grant asylum to innocent Canadian protesters who are being persecuted by their own government. We cannot be silent as our neighbors to the north are treated so badly, she vowed.

Law enforcement in Ottawa had turned physical towards the Freedom Convoy protesters Saturday, using batons against the demonstators and even injuring a Rebel News reporter during the melee. The chaotic scene over the weekend followed the trampling of an elderly woman by mounted police Friday.

Canada is now a Police State. Trudeaus goons trample a woman with a horse. pic.twitter.com/JYrSZzO5us  Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) February 20, 2022

Earlier in the week, Trudeau had invoked the Emergencies Act to clamp down on the pro-freedom protests, despite the weeks-long Freedom Convoy being largely peaceful since its conception. Premiers of four provinces have since voiced opposition to Trudeaus move attempting to quell the demonstrations.

Herrells announcement came on the heels of a poll released by Rasmussen Reports that found a majority of Americans support the freedom protesters and believe that a similar movement south of the border would be a good idea.

Rasmussen Reports found that 59 percent of respondents support the Freedom Convoy, including 42 percent who strongly support its existence.

Read more at: ThePostMillenial.com
(Natural News) Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has confirmed that a manager of global development who was caught on camera appearing to admit to explicit sexting with a child, is out of his job  but not without first trying to kill the story about the scandal.

(Article by Isa Cox republished from WesternJournal.com)

Jeren A. Miles was featured in a video posted last week by an amateur group called PCI Predator Catchers. In the video, he was questioned about his texts with an individual he thought was a 13-year-old boy.

Miles quickly deleted his social media presence after the video went viral. On Friday, an executive from Meta confirmed to Tech Crunch that Miles is no longer employed at Meta.

The company did not state whether Miles resigned or was fired, but it is clear that Meta tried to talk Tech Crunch out of covering the story, according to journalist Ingrid Lunden.

The seriousness of these allegations cannot be overstated. The individual is no longer employed with the company. We are actively investigating this situation and cannot provide further comment at this time, read a statement from the company provided to Tech Crunch by Drew Pusateri, Facebooks manager of policy communications.

Ill point out that Pusateri also tried to talk me out of the newsworthiness of this story over the phone before sending over the statement, noting that other outlets were not covering it, Lunden wrote, cheekily thanking him for the advice.

Clearly, this tactic didnt work, and while the media coverage has most certainly been underwhelming, Meta is still feeling the heat.

As independent journalist Andy Ngo reported last week, the live stream featuring Miles alleged admissions was uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 16, in which Miles appeared to admit to having sent graphic, sexual text messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old whom he had planned to meet at a hotel in Columbus, Ohio.

The hotel was where he was interrogated by the Predator Catchers group.

This is so wild. Facebook/Metas Manager of Community Development, Jeren A. Miles, was allegedly caught in an amateur child sex sting. YouTube channel Predator Catchers Indianapolis live-streamed their interrogation of him. Read my breaking report:https://t.co/V0iePnkwKRpic.twitter.com/D1aw1BDdeP  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) February 17, 2022

The original YouTube video has over 100,000 views and Tech Crunch notes went viral on other platforms such as Reddit. Ngos clip of the interview on Twitter had over 1 million views as of Saturday afternoon, although he also reported on Twitter that some Reddit moderators were trying to suppress the video.

Breaking update: Jeren Andrew Miles, the Facebook executive allegedly caught in a YouTube child sex sting, has been fired by Meta. https://t.co/6h2fNDVwLP  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) February 18, 2022

According to Lunden, it is unclear if Miles will face any legal repercussions over the video. She noted that the video does not depict Miles caught in any sex act, nor admitting to any specific sex act, nor admitting to intending to carry out any sex act.

Yet the professional and personal backlash has clearly been fierce. Miles, an LGBT activist, has also been scrubbed from the organization Equality California, according to Ngo.

This is so wild. Facebook/Metas Manager of Community Development, Jeren A. Miles, was allegedly caught in an amateur child sex sting. YouTube channel Predator Catchers Indianapolis live-streamed their interrogation of him. Read my breaking report:https://t.co/V0iePnkwKRpic.twitter.com/D1aw1BDdeP  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) February 17, 2022

.@Reddit moderators have been trying to censor this story. An account was banned for sharing the original live stream video and other postings are labeled as misleading or questionable. https://t.co/V0iePnkwKRpic.twitter.com/xEWdKXBwmo  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) February 18, 2022

In a statement, Predator Catchers Indianapolis told Ngo that We have sent over evidence to the police departments in Ohio and California. We hope they open up an investigation.

However the case works out, we do know there are certainly several people who hope that nothing more becomes of this scandal  Metas PR department, which seems to have behaved like total amateurs when it actually tried to talk Tech Crunch out of covering this story.

It makes matters far worse when you consider that this isnt even the first time the company has done damage control over an underaged sex scandal: In 2017, then-head of computer vision for Facebooks virtual reality subsidiary Oculus, Dov Katz, was ousted after he was arrested in a sting operation in which he allegedly solicited a police officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl.

And thats to say nothing of the longstanding accusations that the company hasnt done enough to prevent the use of its platform for human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

Now, as Lunden noted, Metas PR team members certainly have their work cut out for them.

Throwing all professionalism to the wind and trying to kill a damaging story was a really bad move.

Read more at: WesternJournal.com
(Natural News) An unnamed servicemember of the United States military has been granted approval to remain unvaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) under a religious exemption.

The first victory of its kind, the female Air Force officer was given the green light to protect her immune system from covid injection destruction by U.S. District Judge Tillman E. Self III in Georgia, who ruled that the Air Force infringed on the officers First Amendment rights when its internal review process rejected her initial filing.

Last year, the officer successfully completed a religion-based waiver for the shot only to have it get immediately rejected. She followed up with an appeal. (Related: Injuries and deaths are soaring in the military due to covid jab mandates.)

Self described the Air Forces procedure to accept only a very low number of religion-based Fauci Flu shot exemptions as illusory and insincere, setting a precedent for other military servicemembers who are facing similar discrimination.

The officer argued in her lawsuit that she cannot get injected for the Wuhan Flu due to her Christian faith, which prohibits the murder of unborn babies. Fauci Flu shots, after all, contain ingredients derived from aborted human fetal tissue, and this is a grave evil.

The suit also contained details about how the officer already has natural immunity against the China Flu after having tested positive for it back in 2020. The officer later got an antibodies test done that showed she still had some in her system.

The officer also agreed to take regular [coronavirus] tests when working in-person on the base, wear a mask, socially distance and work remotely as appropriate.

The Air Force just granted more than 3,000 exemptions from covid shots for medical or nonreligious reasons

Selfs decision came just over a week after more than 3,000 servicemember in the Air Force were granted exemptions from the shots for medical or nonreligious reasons, which is a first for the military branch.

It seems illogical to think, let alone argue, that plaintiffs religious-based refusal to take a [coronavirus] vaccine would seriously impede military function when the Air Force has at least 3,300 other service members still on duty who are just as unvaccinated as her, Selfs order reads.

The only difference is that plaintiff is unvaccinated because she followed her religion and the others were granted either a medical or administrative exemption from receiving a [coronavirus] vaccine.

It turns out that Self is a four-year Army veteran himself who does not approve of the way that the Air Force, in this case, is treating servicemembers who seek an exemption for religious reasons.

With such a marked record disfavoring religious accommodation requests, the court easily finds that the Air Forces process to protect religious rights is both illusory and insincere, he further wrote. In short, its just theater.

The lawsuit was filed on January 6 on behalf of the officer from Robins Air Force base in Macon, Ga. At that time, the military branch had not yet allowed any religion-based exemptions. It was not until February 8 that the branch approved its first nine cases.

According to internal military data, the Air Force has rejected 3,665 religion-based requests thus far and is still considering 3,2888 others. In a statement, the Air Force revealed that it has discharged 142 active-duty servicemembers for refusing to take the shots.

The Department of the Air Force is aware of the preliminary injunction and will abide by the courts order until the matter is legally resolved, announced Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek following Selfs decision. The Air Force has no other comments about this ongoing litigation.

The latest news about the Fauci Flu can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Former Pfizer employee turned whistleblower Karen Kingston said the purpose of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is to be a tool for genetic editing.

The purpose of the vaccine was not to provide immunity, and theyve been clear about that. And by they, I mean the CDC, the FDA [and] the NIH. They said this does not provide immunity. So if you look at the patents, its very clear the purpose of the injections is for genetic editing, Kingston told host Michele Swinick during the February 11 episode of Everything Home on Brighteon.TV.

But whether or not the vaccines or the inoculations are going to be successful at genetic editing is dependent on various different factors, including whether or not you die quickly. (Related: Karen Kingston: Pfizer vaccine approval part of a conspiracy to harm children  Brighteon.TV.)

Kingston revealed that aside from doing transfection, the intention of the jab is to create a new species that is not 100 percent human. She added that the vaccines other intention is to inject artificial intelligence, as well as computer systems into the human body.

The former Pfizer biotech analyst talked about Twist Bioscience, which she said can actually manufacture the viral strains for a person and the double helix of a DNA or (sometimes) RNA. She also showed a Twist Bioscience ad that shows how a client can order a new virus, which can be a weaponized virus or genetic species.

Made-to-order genes

Kingston added that Twist Bioscience, which is also working with Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific and other big biotech companies, has received a $30 million grant at the end of last year from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to open a research facility in Beijing, China.

Thats how you order genes, your customized, weaponized genes, to create viruses, vaccines or new species. So what we were exposed to the chimeric species like fruits, vegetables, fish and our livestock has all been genetically modified. But if you want to make a virus, you can make an Ebola, HIV, dengue, coronavirus if you want, explained Kingston, who noted that the Department of Defense and the Department of State is involved in research and propaganda work compelled by a desire to merge humans with machines.

This has got to stop. So I just want to show thats literally how easy it is to order genes now. Its cheap and fast, and this company has a major manufacturing facility in China. The Chinese Communist Party is one of the biggest clients through the universities there.

The whistleblower mentioned that a transfection is needed so that the introduction of the genetic material into a persons cells can be successful.

She noted people should be concerned about the genetic changes happening to their bodies and their immune system, aside from developing strange diseases like cat leukemia and pneumonia from mycobacterium avium complex.

Kingston also pointed out the other intention of the COVID-19 vaccine technology is hybridization that was known with the use of luciferase in the Pfizer inoculations. She mentioned Melissa McAfee, the whistleblower who worked in manufacturing at Pfizer, who showed images displaying blue hue on the vials.

The biotech analyst explained that by having thousands of lines of genetic sequences coming from anything in the wild or in the lab, scientists from Big Pharma can put cells from non-human species into the vaccine and inject them into a persons body to allow a successful genetic integration.

Humanity betrayed into taking COVID vaccines

Kingston also lamented that the American people and the global population were betrayed into taking the COVID vaccines.

The Americans were deeply betrayed. They were lied to and manipulated by leaders in our government and leaders in our military. Thats been my message from day one. This has been the greatest lie ever told the American people and the greatest betrayal of humanity, she said.

So a lot of times people who are in power, they have ill intentions for a group of people. They dont tell you what their intentions are; they lie to the public to create trust with you. Thats what sociopaths do. So these people were excellent at lying.

The former Pfizer employee also reminded the viewers that they could no longer trust their leaders who are pathologically lying to the American people and global population for decades now. She went on to say that people should trust their own eyes, intelligence, gut and connection with God to truly know what is happening around them.

Kingston said that the COVID-19 pandemic was not just a well-orchestrated plan. It was a well-orchestrated mind game to convince people to have themselves and their children injected with an experimental chimeric weaponized virus.

More related stories:

Pfizer CEO pushes for more boosters just as studies show vaccines actually make people MORE likely to catch Omicron after 90 days.

Karen Kingston and Dr. Eric Nepute denounce COVID vaccinations for kids  Brighteon.TV.

Pfizer admits in confidential document that COVID-19 vaccine causes Vaccine-Associated Enhanced Disease (same thing as Antibody Dependent Enhancement).

Former Pfizer VP Mike Yeadon declares covid vaccines are toxic by design  theyre weapons to reduce global population.

Watch the full February 11 episode of Everything Home show below. Catch new episodes of the program every Friday from 7-8 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Follow BigPharmaNews.com to know more about COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

WorldViewWeekend.com
(Natural News) Former intelligence officer Jeffrey Prather told his viewers that his initial assessment of an actual war between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine failing to materialize was correct.

Ive said it all along that third-generation kinetic war is irrelevant in fourth- and fifth-generation war now. The Biden administration sending paratroopers by commercial flights over to Poland and saying they still think that war is [going to] happen is simply another distraction that is happening, Prather said during the Feb. 18 edition of his Brighteon.TV program Prather Point.

At the same time, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has increased his standing in the world by making [President Joe] Biden look even more foolish  if that is even possible.

Prather continued: This was a dangle; this was a distraction. Third-generation warfare involving troops and tanks are no longer the norm in the battlefield of the future.

According to Prather, Putin need not command his soldiers to attack in order to have an edge over the United States. Putin already took the friendship pipeline from Ukraine under [former President Barack] Obama and, therefore, he got over 50 percent control of the natural gas resources in Europe. So he has a stranglehold. There is no need for him to do a kinetic third-generation [war].

The former intelligence officer continued that engaging in a full-scale conflict with Russia would be to the detriment of Bidens handlers. The last thing [the Biden] regime wants is a war where they might be toppled and lose power. It is simply a distraction to try and build some credibility and gravitas with the Biden administration because they are failing at everything else. The puppeteers behind them are running out of puppets, said Prather. (Related: Alex Newman: War advances Deep State objective of one world government.)

Mercenaries likely behind false flag attacks in Ukraine

There have been reports of bombings [and] artillery attacks there [in Ukraine.] There was an attack at a kindergarten, [but this is] not confirmed. There could be false flags, and this is on the front lines of Ukraines Donbas and Luhansk regions in the east. But there are no reports of deaths as of yet, the Prather Point host said.

However, Prather expressed skepticism over these reports. He explained: [The reason] why I am so skeptical of this is because PMCs  private military companies, contractors or mercenaries  especially from the Wagner group have been redeployed from Africa to the Ukrainian front. The Biden administration and Western officials are claiming that mercenaries linked to Russian spies have increased their presence in Ukraine.

Prather cited an article from British outlet iNews about the Wagner PMCs involvement in Ukraine. Brunel University London intelligence and security studies lecturer Dr. Dan Lomas told the outlet that the PMC had been present in eastern Ukraine since 2014 to assist Russian-backed separatists.

According to Lomas, the increase of mercenaries from the Wagner group in Ukraine could fit into the narrative of Moscow pulling out troops in the contested areas  with mercenaries taking their place. It allows the Russian government to muddy the waters and say [the mercenaries] are not officially linked to Russia itself. Where Russia wants to extend their influence, youll see Wagner [mercenaries] on the ground.

The article mentioned that the Wagner PMC is made up of individuals who have served in the Russian armed forces and Russian intelligence agencies, such as the Federal Security Service and the Main Intelligence Directorate. These individuals have also been contracted by foreign governments and groups involved in various conflicts worldwide, such as Syria and Libya.

Thats interesting because the U.S. government has been involved [likewise] in Syria and Libya, Prather commented.

More related stories:

Russia warns Ukraine of full-scale conflict along the countrys eastern border.

Biden and his war hawks clamor for war with Russia; Ukraine tells him to STOP WARMONGERING and calm down.

Dr. Carole Lieberman: Biden repeating a doomed history with decision to send US military to Ukraine  Brighteon.TV.

Watch the full Feb. 18 episode of Prather Point below. Prather Point with Jeffrey Prather airs every Friday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

FalseFlag.news has more about the deceptive warfare going on between the U.S. and Russia.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

iNews.co.uk
(Natural News) British children ages five to 11 can get their Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine beginning April purportedly to help protect the very small number of children who could become seriously ill with the disease. Young children will be offered the shots on a non-urgent basis in England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set to follow.

This decision is a complete turnaround for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), U.K.s independent vaccine advisory committee, which previously refused to recommend children to get the jab over justified fears of myocarditis linked to the Pfizer vaccines.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the choice will be up to the parents if they want to take up the offer to help increase their childrens protection against future waves of COVID-19 as the country learns to live with the virus

For this age group, the children will be offered two 10-microgram doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with a 12-week interval between doses.

JCVI earlier admitted that the virus does not pose a threat to most children. (Related: Dr. Robert Malone: COVID vaccines are permanently damaging children.)

With over 1.2 million adverse reactions, including 2,000 deaths reported to the Yellow Card Scheme as of February 2, questions have been raised on how the JCVI suddenly came to the conclusion that vaccination benefits outweigh the risks. The Yellow Card Scheme is the system for recording adverse incidents with medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom.

JCVI approves vaccination despite dangerous adverse effects

Some side effects of the Pfizer vaccine for kids include pain at the vaccination site, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and decreased appetites.

There are also plenty of adverse effects such as myocarditis, cardiac arrests, anaphylaxis and immunodeficiency. Of the many adverse effects recorded, one of the most concerning is the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. This is a condition where different body parts become severely inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. Little is known about it, including its cause and risk factors.

Wei Shen Lim from the JCVI said theyre offering the vaccine to five to 11-year-olds to future-proof their defenses against a future wave of infection, and he suggested that parents consider their children getting the vaccine during the school holidays to minimize disruption to their education.

Because COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials only started in the summer of 2020, long-term effects have not been established, and pharmaceutical companies are betting on vaccines rarely causing long-term effects.

The U.S. has already given the vaccine to eight million children in the same age group, and it has been used widely in other countries despite the listed risks. Children aged five to 11 who have other medical conditions that could put them at a greater risk for COVID are also already eligible for the vaccine. (Related: Vaccine expert: Giving COVID-19 vaccines to children is an unforgivable sin because they destroy childrens innate immune systems.)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is slated to outline his governments long-term strategy for living with COVID on February 21. While the country has already scrapped most of its restrictive measures, such as mandatory face masks and vaccine passports, it will have to discuss further the other measures, including legal requirements for infected individuals to isolate. These measures are expected to be lifted within weeks.

More related stories:

Fauci using American children as DUMPING GROUNDS for toxic vaccines: Children under four to receive THREE covid jabs, as other nations stop vaccinating kids.

FDA used critically flawed risk-benefit analysis to approve covid vaccines for children.

Doctor makes shocking admission about safety of coronavirus vaccines for young children.

VACCINE PREDATORS: Fauci thinks it is a good idea for schools to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Shocking whistleblower recordings show children getting jabbed with poorly mixed COVID vaccines.

Watch the video below to learn more about why Americas Frontline Doctors are not on board getting children vaccinated.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyExpose.uk

USNews.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Freedom is not white supremacist. Freedom is not a function of white supremacy. Freedom is the natural condition of mankind, and our rights to it were granted by God. Every person on this earth is entitled to liberty, justice and self-determination. But for columnist Taylor Dysart and the Washington Post, calls for freedom from Canadian truckers are an entitlement that exposes their white supremacy.

(Article by Libby Emmons republished from ThePostMillennial.com)

The conflation of basic rights and freedoms with abhorrent concepts like white supremacy paves a path for tyranny and authoritarianism under the guise of anti-racism.

Dysart is a PhD student at an Ivy League university, so she is likely familiar with the concept of unpacking, so lets unpack her claims. Dysart blasts the primarily [w]hite supporters of the Freedom Convoy, who she says argue that pandemic mandates infringe upon their constitutional rights to freedom.

By linking the protesters demand for their rights to white supremacy, Dysart intends to show that the claim for rights to be free from tyranny is functionally racist. The notion of freedom, Dysart goes on to say, was historically and remains intertwined with [w]hiteness, as historian Tyler Stovall has argued.

Stovalls book White Freedom: The Racial History of an Idea was inspired, he told the California Commonwealth Club, by the fact that the US Capitol was built with slave labor, and that when their labor was finally honored under the George W. Bush administration, the memorial to those enslaved builders was called Emancipation Hall. Stovall said it should have been called Slave Hall, instead.

The book traces the complex relationship between freedom and race from the eighteenth century to today, revealing how being free has meant being white.

Dysart applies Stovalls theories, written specifically about America and France, to Canada, where there have been long struggles between the Indigenous population and the white settlers. But its a long stretch between those struggles and the demands of the Freedom Convoy, which has gained much support in the Indigenous communities of Canada.

Canadas Indigenous population also doesnt want the government to take their rights to self-determination or to make their own medical decisions.

Indigenous protesters joined the truckers in Ottawa to state their opposition to the federal government telling them what to do. And after decades of interference from the government, with Canadas residential school system specifically, about which Dysart goes into detail, its no wonder that Indigenous Canadians are opposed to government mandates.

An Indigenous man gives a speech at Parliament Hill: We are here in peace and in love with each other, and its been well maintained for everybody. Footage by @PuffinsPicturespic.twitter.com/aPV8PBLsfh  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 7, 2022

MUST WATCH: Indigenous drummers join the Freedom Convoy! Listen to them talk about the importance of freedom. pic.twitter.com/L2QjRomD8w  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 29, 2022

Indigenous drummers took the stage at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Footage by @PuffinsPicturespic.twitter.com/T8VUg4cB2Q  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 8, 2022

Indigenous drummers lead the growing crowd at Parliament Hill in a round of O Canada. They also performed the Travelling Song to keep those who traveled to Ottawa safe. Footage by @PuffinsPicturespic.twitter.com/NS2zugmfLv  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 29, 2022

Dysart uses the coronavirus crisis as a means to say that the freedom protesters demands for freedom and self-determination are rooted in whiteness.

She writes that the belief that ones entitlement to freedom is a key component of [w]hite supremacy. This explains why the Freedom Convoy members see themselves as entitled to freedom, no matter the public health consequences to those around them.

The protests against mandates, against infringements on personal freedoms and liberties, captured the hearts of many Canadians. Indigenous clan mothers blessed the protests, Indigenous drum circles formed, black Canadians defended their rights in the face of the tyrant Justin Trudeau, and Sikhs came out to Parliament Hill to make their voices heard and their faces seen. Given the broad support from many Canadian communities, there is no justification for calling this a white protest. Trudeau is the one who has imposed restrictions on freedoms, and refused to allow the peoples representatives to debate the issue.

Trudeau has gone so far as to invoke the Emergencies Act in response to the protesters demands for their rights. And hes done so, specifically because of their ideology of liberty and freedom for all. In his justification, the Trudeau government said that the protests have become a rallying point for anti-government and anti-authority, anti-vaccination conspiracy theory and white supremacist groups throughout Canada and other Western countries.

Trudeau, like Dysart, uses the idea that the protesters are white supremacist, which they are provably not, as the basis for cracking down on those who oppose his ultimate authority. The opposition of his tyranny is really what he doesnt like, and in an effort to uphold his own power he condemns the people who oppose him in whatever terms he feels will sway support in his favor. Dysart parrots the talking points of a prime minister who wore blackface on more occasions that he can remember. But Trudeau is like any leader who feels the support of his people waning, grasps even more tightly to his power. That is what supremacy looks like.

In its formal explanation for why the Emergencies Act was invoked, the Canadian Govt. explicitly claims the emergency derives from the perceived ideological composition of the protesters. Trudeau purports to be confronting enemies of civilization on behalf of the entire West pic.twitter.com/HzN6tQSgia  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) February 17, 2022

Freedom, regardless of Dysart or Stovalls desire to paint it with the brush of whiteness, is the yearning and right of all mankind. That freedom was claimed by Europeans in the New World does not taint what freedom is. Freedom was also claimed by enslaved people in America, as it was their God-given, natural right. Freedom was claimed by the Indigenous people of Canada, as it was their God-given, natural right. And freedom has been claimed by many millions of people who have come to Canada and America in order to live in nations that respect that right.

This hasnt stopped Dysart, or Trudeau, from claiming that the protesters are racist white people. It is a convenient tool, to label people who are opposed to you as racist. It makes it easy to discount their views, and for others to discount them as well. During the past few years of this pandemic, which has inspired so many authoritarian acts by governments who have bypassed citizens rights to representation, rights laid out in founding documents, and natural rights to freedom of movement, to medical liberty, those who have demanded their rights and freedoms have been labeled as racist fascists by their oppressors.

This is a tactic, not truth, and its one that Dysart, in her exploration of freedom as a racist concept, wields fully as a means to back tyrannical governments against their people.

Dysarts next claim is that freedom itself is intertwined with [w]hiteness. But, oddly, instead of saying that freedom should be the goal for societies worldwide, Dysart uses her idea that freedom equals whiteness to discount freedom itself, as though it is tainted by whiteness.

Dysart writes that Canadas history of freedom, then, was founded in the unfreedom of Indigenous people. Moreover, she takes issue with the protesters apparent ignorance of this background. This dynamic has been unnoticed and misconstrued by organizers, attendees and supporters of the Freedom Convoy, she writes, going further to say that the protesters claim that Canada itself is a free nation is false. They are advancing a settler colonial genealogy that deploy the language of freedom and unity while engaging in actions that are harmful and violent.

The protesters in Ottawa have not been violent. They have been joined by many Canadians of all races, both at Parliament Hill, online, and in print, who advocate for their rights, who refuse the tyranny of restrictions and mandates that have been imposed by federal and provincial leaders, and who demand the freedom that is rightfully their own.

Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com
(Natural News) Has the United States turned the corner on the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? At least one computer model suggests that if America doesnt get another highly transmissible variant, then almost three-quarters of Americans are likely immune to the omicron variant.

However, there are still seven million people with a suppressed immune system that may be susceptible to it.

Almost half of the qualified people in the U.S. have taken booster shots against COVID-19. Moreover, about 80 million people have had confirmed infections, with even more unconfirmed cases. A computer simulation by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that 73 percent of Americans are now immune to omicron, and it could increase to 80 percent by mid-March.

We have changed. We have been exposed to this virus and we know how to deal with it. I am optimistic even if we have a surge in summer. Cases will go up, but hospitalizations and deaths will not, said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.

However, there are still tens of millions of unvaccinated or unexposed people who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

Nearly three percent of adults in the U.S. are on immunosuppressive drugs to treat cancer or autoimmune diseases or to prevent the body from rejecting transplants or stem cells. Thats equivalent to seven million people, and it doesnt involve those with HIV and 450 other genetic diseases. (Related: Omicron variant of COVID threatens post-lockdown economic recovery.)

Big Pharma still wants to make money from omicron

Moderna hints that an omicron-specific booster shot may be ready by August. However, it is still gathering clinical data to decide if that would bring more protection than a fourth dose of the current shot. Preclinical data in monkeys indicates that an omicron-specific shot might not give stronger protection than the existing shots.

We believe a booster will be needed. I dont know yet if it is going to be the existing vaccine, omicron-only, or bivalent: Omicron and existing vaccine, two mRNA in one dose, said Stephane Bancel, Modernas chief executive officer.

Moderna also wishes to have a pan-vaccine ready by August 2023 that would shield against COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses. The company plans to broaden its commercial activities in Europe in hopes of improving sales there.

Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech said their omicron-specific vaccine has been postponed by several weeks due to slower than expected data gathering.

If the wave ends, that does not mean it cant begin again. I really dont see the situation as dramatic anymore, BioNTechs CEO Ugur Sahin said, referring to how fast they can develop and modify mRNA vaccines.

Alvea has tried its vaccine against the omicron subvariant BA.2 in animals and wants to start clinical trials in March. It is a DNA vaccine, which is reported to be stable at room temperature for more than three months. The company believes if it gets approval, it will be targeting low- and middle-income countries. The vaccine uses DNA to provide the codes for viral antigens.

Because our vaccine is extremely simple  just plasmid DNA in a common buffer, the manufacturing process is much more straightforward than for mRNA or viral vector vaccines. In fact, plasmid manufacturing is commonly the first of many steps used to produce mRNA or other vaccines, whereas in our case, its the only step. And we estimate that there is sufficient fill/finish capacity around the world to support that part of the process, a company spokesperson said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the omicron sub-variant BA.2 has now been detected in 57 countries. The WHO added that in some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced omicron cases.

More related articles:

WHO using COVID omicron variant to push for global pandemic treaty.

Omicron outbreaks, lockdowns continue to affect US supply chain, prices of goods.

Was Omicron engineered by WHITE HATS as a self-spreading ANTIDOTE to end the covid pandemic?

Vaccine DAMAGE now ubiquitous in Denmark as Omicron hospitalizations occur primarily in fully vaccinated.

Watch the video below to know more about the COVID omicron variant.

This video is from the Red Hat Wall channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources:

BioSpace.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Proving once again that the establishment Deep State is an incestuous pool of corruption, Federal Election Commission records have revealed that Joe Bidens campaign used the same corrupt tech firm Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign used to spy on Trump Tower and the Trump White House.

According to a Feb. 11 court filing by special counsel John Durham, who has been tasked to investigate the origins of the hoax that Donald Trump colluded with Mother Russia to steal the election from Clinton, her campaign utilized Neustar Information Services and one of its principals, Rodney Joffe, to digitally spy on the then-GOP presidential nominee and later president.

After last weeks bombshell court filing by Durham showed that a tech executive exploited his access to computer data at the White House to find derogatory information about President Donald Trump, the former president and his allies said it was proof that Trump was under surveillance while he was in office. And while the liberal mainstream media were quick to decry that claim as unfounded, the facts show that claim to be spot on, the New American reported.

Now, the Washington Free Beacon reported that the same firm was used by Bidens campaign as well, leading some to speculate that Joffe, who was named in Durhams filing as working with indicted Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, may have still been spying on Trump during the 2020 election cycle.

The Free Beacon added: According to Durham, Neustars chief technology officer, Rodney Joffe, accessed sensitive web traffic data that the company maintained on behalf of the White House executive office in order to collect derogatory information about Donald Trump. Joffe allegedly provided the information to Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, who in turn gave it to the CIA during a meeting in February 2017. Durham charged Sussmann in September with lying to the FBI about his investigation of Trump. The Biden campaigns payments raise questions about whether Joffe continued snooping on Trump in the most recent election.

FEC records have also shown that executives and staffers at Neustar contributed more than $17,900 to Bidens campaign, again demonstrating the incestuous D.C. swamp relationship Trump promised to drain.

Durhams filing says that Sussmann and other Clinton campaign attorneys paid Neustar to infiltrate servers that were in Trump Tower, and later in the White House, in order to create an inference and narrative to link Trump to Russia.

According to Fox News, The indictment against Sussman says he told then-FBI General Counsel James Baker in September 2016, less than two months before the 2016 presidential election, that he was not doing work for any client when he requested and held a meeting in which he presented purported data and white papers that allegedly demonstrated a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank, which has ties to the Kremlin.

Clinton, of course, has denied any wrongdoing like she always does.

Trump and Fox are desperately spinning up a fake scandal to distract from his real ones. So its a day that ends in Y, she said. The more his misdeeds are exposed, the more they lie.

Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani claimed in an interview with Newsmax TV this week that he has proof Clinton spied on the Trump campaign in my bedroom and added that the former president has known about the spying for years.

I cant tell you exactly how, but I know how [Trump] knew about it back then, he said.

Theres a lot more to come out, he continued. They may think its gobbledygook, but its gobbledygook supported by about 1,000 pieces of evidence, none of which have been revealed yet. I happen to have it in my bedroom, or my den, actually. Ive had it there for years.

Clinton needs to be indicted, and Biden too, given he was aware of what was happening while he was Obamas VP.

Sources include:

TheNewAmerican.com

FreeBeacon.com

USAFeatures.news
(Natural News) Canada is descending into a fully authoritarian regime under the China-loving dictator wannabe Justin Trudeau, as more evidence of the leaders tyranny emerged in a shocking video on Friday.

After Trudeau invoked rarely-used emergency powers mostly reserved for wartime earlier in the week, he has moved rapidly to crack down on Freedom Convoy protestors, arresting their leadership, freezing bank accounts, and threatening jail time.

That now includes sending in armed police on horseback to trample demonstrators who were simply trying to exercise their democratic right to protest what they see as an absurd COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers who spend most of their days alone in the cab of their tractor-trailer rigs.

You can clearly see that the officers have completely disregarded the safety and lives of demonstrators in their quest to break up the demonstration, leaving at least two people trampled in their wake as protesters scream at them to stop, as a line of riot police watch:

Ottawa Police Horses Trample Protestors Increasing Tensions Between Protestors and Police Credit: https://t.co/54dcfpPRvY pic.twitter.com/yAbVsAQcsn  The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) February 18, 2022

Trudeau is receiving no small amount of criticism, both from abroad and at home, over his tyrannical actions.

We are writing to you as representative pastors of Christian congregations from across the nation and as law-abiding citizens who respect the God-defined role of civil government and uphold the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the highest law of our land, which recognizes the supremacy of God over all human legislation, says a letter to Trudeau, which was signed by 29 clergymen and remains open for other Canadians to sign, that was published last week.

The Ottawa protest has presented your government with a wonderful opportunity to meet with and speak to ordinary Canadians lawfully and peaceably requiring the restoration of their constitutional rights, they wrote.

However, in response to their singing, praying, dancing, candy floss, bouncy castles, speeches about the Constitution and outpourings of patriotic love for the country, your government has not only refused to meet with these citizens to hear their concerns, you have insulted, denigrated and lied about them, further dividing a hurting and broken nation, the clergy letter continued.

Canadian lawmakers including Conservative MP Dane Lloyd have also ripped Trudeau for his authoritarianism.

Ive never seen such shameful remarks coming from this Prime Minister  my great grandfather flew over 30 missions over Nazi Germany. My great-great uncles body lies at the bottom of the English Channel, Lloyd railed.

There are members of this body who are descendants of victims of the Holocaust. For the Prime Minister to accuse any colleagues in this House of standing with the swastika is shameful  Im giving the Prime Minister an opportunity. Im calling upon him to unreservedly apologize for this shameful remark, he demanded.

The Desert Review described the scene in Parliament on Friday:

A defiant and unrepentant Trudeau next spoke and entirely ignored Danes rebuke. Angry shouts and pandemonium erupted and drowned out the Prime Ministers timid comments.

Dane Lloyd regained the floor and boldly repeated his demands. The speaker was forced to request order so Trudeau could again be heard. Once again, as Trudeau began speaking, the jeers and angry shouts resumed. Finally, his voice drowned out, Trudeau sat down.

Dane once again spoke to an attentive Parliament near the edge of their seats.

Mr. Speaker, the lack of an apology from that Prime Minister speaks volumes. Ive given this Prime Minister an opportunity to retract a shameful remark where he would accuse any honorable member of this House to stand with a swastika, and as Ive said before we have colleagues who are the descendants of victims of the Holocaust  Im giving the Prime Minister one more chance. Will he apologize to ALL members of this House? Lloyd said.

After Trudeau ignored his demand and spoke timidly, the outlet said Lloyd rose once more and blasted the prime minister.

The fact is, I dont know how any member of the Government Caucus can stand by this Prime Minister  when he accuses honorable members of the House of standing with a swastika! Im calling on ALL members of the Liberal Caucus to denounce the Prime Minister. Ive given him two chances to apologize  he has refused to apologize. Mr. Prime Minister  APOLOGIZE!

Canadas democracy is literally teetering on the edge of collapse, but at least some of the countrys citizens are refusing to let it go without a fight.

Sources include:

TheDesertReview.com

FoxNews.com
(Natural News) Arizona Representative Andy Biggs discussed his two important House bills that would put an end to unlawful mandates and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during a recent episode of The New American with host Christian Gomez.

Biggs bills are the No Mandates Act (HR 6395) and Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration or NOSHA Act (HR 5813), which he introduced in November last year.

Biggs explained that his proposed No Mandates Act would prohibit the federal government from issuing any Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates and stop the government from requiring vaccine passports or any other proof of vaccination.

It does attack this issue on two fronts. Number one, it says there could be no vaccine mandates. So thats an important part, just saying you cant mandate this. And the second thing is saying, you cant require a vaccine passport type of thing, Biggs said.

You have got to basically stand down here. This is an individual choice. And its a real simple bill. I think its a page and a half, actually. But it covers all of the pertinent information thats necessary to turn this into a meaningful law, which would restrict the demons of the COVID era, which are the medical bureaucrats.

NOSHA Act to abolish OSHA

Biggs proposed NOSHA Act, on the other hand, would abolish OSHA.

That bill is even shorter than the other one. It just eliminates the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Heres the thing: OSHA is basically outmoded. Its outdated, whether you agree or disagree. But the folks that advocated for OSHA, they felt like there should be some federal oversight into the states and an ability to regulate workplace environment, Biggs explained.

Well, the reality is, most states have some kind of rubric now to watch over those issues. Thats not a federal issue. Theres no constitutional authority for it, nor is there any moral authority for it. The states are the ones that interact with their citizenry, and theyre the ones that should be held accountable for whatever side they take on this. We should not be doing it in the federal arena, and thats why I introduced the legislation.

Gomez asked Biggs whether Congress should still be pushing to pass his bills despite the threat of a Joe Biden veto.

Im a big believer that you should never let the threat of a no vote or defeat prevent you from introducing and passing good legislation. So if the Senate says, Well, youre not going to get 60 votes in the Senate. I say so what, lets pass the best legislation. We can get it over to the Senate and let the Senate reveal themselves to be not principled or not having the same principles and values of that particular legislation, Biggs explained.

And in this case, if it were to get to President Biden and he were to veto it, then he has to own that. And so does everybody else in his party. And then there should be accountability and there would be accountability.

Lockdown policies are ill-founded as pandemic instrument

Gomez pointed out that researchers from Johns Hopkins University released last month a literature review and meta-analysis study of the effects of lockdowns and COVID-19 mortality. They concluded that the mandated lockdowns in response to the first wave of COVID-19 in the United States and in Europe only reduced the mortality rate by 0.2 percent.

The researchers wrote in the report: In consequence, lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic instrument. We find little to no evidence that mandated lockdowns in Europe and the United States had a noticeable effect on COVID-19 mortality rates.

Biggs thinks the country is now witnessing a breakdown of the Democrats narrative in terms of lockdowns and other strict policies. (Related: Lockdowns BACKFIRE: Areas with most aggressive covid lockdowns saw highest infection numbers.)

We were talking about this from a freedom perspective, two years ago. We intuitively understood that theres a whole lot of secondary and tertiary ramifications to this type of lockdown and taking away of freedom. So, for me, its rewarding to know that there are finally some folks out there that agree with us, Biggs said.

But you still have some of the authoritarian Democrats who are hanging on and clinging on to this. So like in L.A., for instance, they say even though California is going to get rid of this mask mandate, L.A. is going to say, Well, you still have to wear masks in the city. So you still see the people who are doing this for control are still out there, but I think little by little people are waking up.

More related stories:

Prediction: 2021 election results mean GOP could comfortably take back House and Senate in 2022.

The HighWire: European nations are scrapping COVID mandates.

After failing with its mask mandate, OSHA now says it needs to protect workers against climate change.
(Natural News) Rebel News director Ezra Levant tweeted this morning with video evidence that a female reporter from the conservative news outlet on the ground in Ottawa was assaulted by Trudeaus police. Video evidence shows Alexa Lavoie wailing in pain after she reports being beaten by police clubs and shot in the leg with a tear gas canister at point-blank range. The firing of the canister at close range was caught by photographers.

(Article by John-Henry Westen republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

2. Alexa says she was specifically targeted by a cop who saw her camera. She says he came up to her and beat her and pushed her down. She says he tried to knock the phone out of her hands, to stop her from filming.  Ezra Levant ?? (@ezralevant) February 19, 2022

Levant reports, Alexa says she was specifically targeted by a cop who saw her camera. She says he came up to her and beat her and pushed her down. She says he tried to knock the phone out of her hands, to stop her from filming.

1. I just spoke with Alexa Lavoie, our brave reporter who was just assaulted by Trudeaus police. She tells me a cop hit her three times with a club and then shot a tear gas canister at her leg from point-blank range. Trudeau has instructed his police to attack journalists. pic.twitter.com/cCzOavctrz  Ezra Levant ?? (@ezralevant) February 19, 2022

Rebel News is suing the Ottawa police on behalf of their reporter.

Meanwhile, Ottawa police on their Twitter feed have been providing a misleading narrative regarding their actions. For instance, they have suggested that a bicycle was thrown at one of the horses in order to injure the horse and that those trampled were not injured and walked away.

We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd. Anyone who fell got up and walked away. Were unaware of any injuries. A bicycle was thrown at the horse further down the line and caused the horse to trip. The horse was uninjured. pic.twitter.com/tgfsl6uxT7  Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 19, 2022

In fact, it was the walker of a woman trampled by the horses that can clearly be seen in footage. Moreover, footage of the trampling and follow-up of the ambulance pick-up of the victims says otherwise.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
. :  FSRU            
(Natural News) As we approach day 673 of 14 days to slow the spread, it seems the left is finally coming around to the position that most conservatives have held for the past two years.

(Article by Linnea Lueken republished from AmericanThinker.com)

Following a few weeks of tentative support for less draconian mask mandates from mainstream media outlets and a massive Freedom Convoy of truck drivers in Canada who have simply had enough, blue states like New York, California, Virginia, and Massachusetts are beginning to ditch the mask mandates.

While they should be encouraged to continue ending the mask mandates (especially in schools) along with coerced vaccinations, it would be wise to note that the inspiration is not based on some new scientific discovery that the masks dont work.

They have no intention of giving up this position permanently. CNNs Wolf Blitzer spoke with the outlets medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen, where she called for the end of mask mandates in order to preserve the ability of public health authorities to reinstitute mandates in the future the next time a new variant is discovered.

Health officials have irreparably damaged their reputations and positions of public trust. Just because they backpedal now does not mean that anyone should start trusting them again. They did not suddenly become political pawns during the coronavirus situation. The mask of apolitical scientist was just removed, revealing what they always were: unaccountable leftist partisans.

Their policies already have had an irreversible negative impact on children in schools, setting many kids back and even causing speech developmental problems in young kids. Data have always shown that children are the least at risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Actions by our governments and school administrators have always been politically motivated, and they cannot be let off the hook for that.

Homeschooling has jumped from 5.4 percent to 11.1 percent, and this is a very good start. Just as we should no longer put our full faith and trust in the experts in government departments of health, we should also remain skeptical of public schools and their motives. The pandemic gave parents a unique opportunity to see what schools are teaching their kids, and what they found was segregationist-style racial politics and extreme liberal sex and gender theory.

To prevent this from happening again, there are a few steps the average person can take.

First is to hold your representatives accountable. Boot out those who supported the draconian mandates. Put pressure on even those who have already relented to continue rolling back their overreach.

Second is to ask candidates running for office in 2022 and beyond tough questions about where they stand on issues like masking and coerced vaccination, and what they plan on doing about it.

Read more at: AmericanThinker.com
(Natural News) New York-based family physician Dr. Vladimir Zev Zelenko told ReFounding America host Dr. Peter Breggin that humanity is on the verge of global enslavement by the globalists.

What were seeing is the coming together of global dominance under the control of a small group of sociopaths. So its not surprising whats happening. And we are letting it happen. And this has been in the works for four decades so we are in the very verge of global enslavement unless people wake up and reach a higher level of consciousness and choose freedom they have gotten over sociopathic and corrupt governments, Zelenko said during the February 16 episode of ReFounding America on Brighteon.TV. (Related: Peoples Court to prosecute WEF-controlled globalists who used the pandemic to commit crimes against humanity.)

Zelenko also said that the World Health Organization (WHO), which he also calls the World Homicide Organization, is working in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), and both are subservient to the World Economic Forum, which was founded by its executive chairman Klaus Schwab.

Schwab, who according to Zelenko is the Hitler of the present time, is the one dictating the orders in these organizations.

Schwab, China seek world domination

Zelenko noted that all the leaders supporting these tyrannical globalist initiatives are students of the Klaus Schwab Global Leadership School Class of 1992, the first class that graduated.

According to Zelenko, graduates of the said class include Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau of Canada, Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, Scott Morrison of Australia and President Emmanuel Macron of France, among others.

These people are prostitutes that sell themselves, sell their people out. They dont serve the interests of their own constituents. They are serving the interests of the World Economic Forum and the powers behind the World Economic Forum. And so these are what you call global predators. The stated goal of the World Economic Forum by 2030 is that America will no longer be dominant. And a few global powers, which you can call global predators, will have governance over the world, said the doctor who developed the now famous Zelenko Protocol that has saved countless lives worldwide from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Breggin said China is behind all the people in Schwabs school for global predators. He added that the Chinese virtually control the WHO and the UN.

So I think that this will eventually go down to world domination by a communist empire, the Chinese communist empire, which will be very difficult to dislodge over hundreds or thousands of years. Thats the potential end of this game for the time being as I see it, warned Breggin.

Zelenko pointed out that Chinas communist philosophy is based on a godless society.

And so what were seeing is the result of a global decline of humanitys consciousness where weve started worshipping the god of science, the god of technology, the god of money, the god of power, every god except our Creator. And so the end result of that is a slippery slope to idol worship, paganism and child sacrifice, Zelenko said.

And as you know the famous psychoanalyst Carl Jung said that the moral decline of a society begins with the degradation of the individual.

More related stories:

Dr. Vladimir Zelenko urges people to stand up against government tyranny.

BardsFM: Elites seek control of Fourth Industrial Revolution, evolution of transhumanism  Brighteon.TV.

The ruling elites and the governments they control have shown conclusively that they are against us, the people.

The Stew Peters Show: Vladimir Zelenkos life-saving, effective COVID-19 protocols demonized in favor of vaccines  Brighteon.TV.

Watch the full Feb. 16 episode of ReFounding America below. You can catch ReFounding America with Peter Breggin every Wednesday at 6-7 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Read more stories like this at Conspiracy.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

WEForum.org

VladimirZelenkoMD.com
(Natural News) New York-based physician Dr. Vladimir Zev Zelenko warned that anyone with immunodeficiency can die from a common illness like cold.

If someone has an immune deficiency, then yeah, they can die from a cold. And theyre gonna die in a moment, Zelenko said in a video posted February 17 on Brighteon.com.

In 2020, Zelenko gained the attention of then-president Donald Trump with his simple protocol against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) using cheap, proven and widely available drugs that include hydroxychloroquine. He was able to successfully treat more than 350 patients with only one requiring hospitalization.

His approach is to identify high-risk COVID patients and start treatment immediately. However, so-called public health experts were not convinced and questioned Zelenkos protocol.

Two years later, amidst the continued suppression of early treatments, Zelenko talked about a newly discovered adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccines: the vaccine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or VAIDS. (Related: As covid injections spread autoimmune disease and VAIDS, media pivots to incoming AIDS vaccine that will only accelerate the vaccine genocide.)

He shared that Israel, one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, may have put its citizens in danger. There are 30 peer-reviewed papers that I know of that have documented how these vaccines destroy your innate immune system. They damage your T cell function and damage natural killer cell function, and they suppress tumor suppressor genes.

What is VAIDS?

The medical field has been baffled by the massive numbers of people showing AIDS-like symptoms over the past few weeks, most of which happen following mass vaccinations. The rising cases of VAIDS, along with the pharmaceutical companies plans of injecting more mRNA bioweapons to the population, supposedly to counter the deadly COVID-19 virus, has become a topic of concern.

Even though mainstream media paint these vaccines as something that protects people from the virus, many believe that the COVID-19 vaccines are giving people VAIDS.

COVID vaccines are not traditional in the sense that they cause cells to reproduce one portion of the virus, called the spike protein. It then induces the body to create more of them, causing the vaccine to train the immune system to recognize only parts of the virus. Variants that differ, even slightly, can escape the narrow spectrum of antibodies created by the vaccines.

VAIDS cases are now exploding everywhere, spreading faster and killing people along the way. The COVID-19 vaccines, which had been rolled out starting December 2020, attack white blood cells that were supposed to help people fight off infections.

Modernas mRNA vaccine, because of its strength, destroys white blood cells and gives people a new type of autoimmune deficiency disorder that is much worse than AIDS. Unlike AIDS, which could stay dormant for a few years, VAIDS takes only six months to a year before it can eat through a persons healthy white blood cells.

With Israels vaccination rate, including boosters, it is especially dangerous. Americas Frontline Doctors said the vaccine shots have created vaccine addicts whose bodies will be reliant on the shots and wont be able to ward off diseases. (Related: Covid vaccines cause AIDS: proof.)

Doctors are calling this phenomenon immune erosion or acquired immune deficiency, accounting for elevated incidence of myocarditis and other post-vaccine illnesses that either affects the vaccinated more rapidly, resulting in death or more slowly, resulting in chronic illness, the AFLDS said.

More related stories:

Cases of vaccine-induced VAIDS on the rise due to mass covid vaccination.

Evidence shows COVID vaccines cause serious damage to the immune system.

The fully vaccinated may already be suffering from jab-induced AIDS, government data suggests.

Media pushing HIV variant narrative as cover story for vaccine-induced immune system collapse.

UK government data proves COVID-19 vaccines continue to damage immune systems over time, creating vaccine-induced AIDS.

Watch the video below of Dr. Zev Zelenko discussing VAIDS.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

ClarkCountyToday.com

AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Attorney Thomas Renz has released a new 35-page unclassified document from the Department of Defense (DoD) called Senior Leaders Brief COVID-19 that shows how the United States is being put at serious risk due to the Biden regimes Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate.

Page 6 of the document, which addresses national security, highlights how the American military is being weakened by the removal of unvaccinated servicemen who refuse to modify their DNA and immune systems with Big Pharma poisons.

Renz received this document, dated January 12, 2022, from a whistleblower. The section in question contains specific details about the number of military servicemen and civilian/contractors who have either had or rejected the jab mandate.

After reviewing these details, Renz asked if the Biden regime is trying to purge the 25 percent of active military servicemen who have turned down the injection? Is the regime also planning to purge the 71 percent of civilians and contractors who are also choosing to leave their immune systems alone?

What will that do to Americas national security? Renz asked. And who benefits from a weakened American military? How could this possibly be in the best interest of the safety and security of the United States? Why would you weaken our military while beating the war-drums against Russia?

Dont let the tyrannizers destroy our military

Renz also uncovered smoking gun evidence showing that Fauci Flu shots have created a massive uptick in serious injuries in the military.

The Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, or DMED for short, shows that pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, strokes and many other health conditions are skyrocketing following the mass injection of servicemen with the Big Pharma cocktails.

We are sympathetic to our military members forced into this vaccine mandate, Renz said.

Theres enough evidence now that these jabs are ineffective and unsafe. Im calling on the American people to stand for our military heroes and push back against this tyrannical vaccine mandate. Share this information with your local Congressman. Its vital to national security.

On February 18, Renz appeared and spoke at Clay Clarks ReAwaken America Tour in Canton, Ohio. He revealed all of this and more from the whistleblower, and encouraged attendees to speak up about it. You can watch ReAwaken America Tour events at ThriveTimeShow.com.

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, recently got the chance to speak with Renz about what he believes will happen moving forward.

According to Renz, prosecutions are coming, but it is going to take some time to see it all culminate into something substantial.

You can watch the Brighteon Conversations episode below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report on Brighteon.com.

Thomas Renz is an American hero, wrote a Brighteon viewer, impressed by Renzs resolve and determination to see justice served.

He needs to go down in the history books as the one attorney who took the lead and stood up to those who planned, financed (with our tax payer dollars) and executed the COVID holocaust.

Another pointed out that Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum (WEF)  the guy who infamously called for a Great Reset to emerge out of the plandemic  comes from a family line of Nazis.

He was involved in the Nazi Nuclear Weapons Program of WW2, this person added. The World Economic Forum, headed by Klaus Schwab, is the main driver of the covid plandemic.

He is to be known as Anal Swab from now on, please, joked someone else.

All this crap will continue until we actually bring criminal charges against the FDA, CDC, NIH, pharmaceutical industry and Fauci, along with the MSM for pushing false information, suggested another.

More related news about the COVID vaccine genocide can be found at Genocide.news.

Sources include:

Renz-Law.com

NaturalNews.com

ThriveTimeShow.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Not only is China-loving Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a dictator wannabe, but hes also a self-loathing anti-white racist, as evidenced by details buried in his evoking the Emergencies Act earlier this week to crush the Freedom Convoy protest.

According to Summit News:

The Canadian governments Emergency Measures Regulations: SOR/2022-21 order bans people from taking part in a public assembly that may reasonably be expected to lead to a breach of the peace.

However, the law does not apply to any person in a class of persons whose presence in Canada, as determined by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration or the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, is in the national interest.

The exempted class includes refugees, immigrants, those seeking asylum, Indians, and others who are protected temporary residents.

The vast majority of Canadian citizens are white, however, so these rules do not apply to them: They are still required to check their liberties and freedoms with Trudeau, who has given them his thumbs down.

That said, some are openly questioning if Trudeaus order really does just apply to white people.

Why are members of First Nations, refugees and temporary residents exempted from the prohibition to participate in a public assembly that may reasonably be expected to lead to a breach of the peace as part of the Emergencies Act regulations? Peoples Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier tweeted.

Why are members of First Nations, refugees and temporary residents exempted from the prohibition to participate in a public assembly that may reasonably be expected to lead to a breach of the peace as part of the Emergencies Act regulations? https://t.co/pP2iDKz9wE pic.twitter.com/LPr8aWhVyh  Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) February 17, 2022

It appears as though the Canadian government views native Canadians as second-class citizens who should have fewer rights than foreigners, Summit News Paul Joseph Watson wrote, adding: How can such brazen discrimination based on skin color and nationality be in any way legal?

Answer: When Trudeau declares it legal, apparently.

The prime ministers authoritarian ways have come increasingly under fire by Canadian civil liberties groups, clergy and opposition lawmakers as his government continues its crackdown on Freedom Convoy truckers protesting his insane COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The rainy streets of Toronto, Canadas largest city, are eerily quiet, with police cruisers blocking intersections and helicopters circling overhead. This does not feel like the safe and stable country I grew up in, former Canadian Broadcasting Corporation producer, writer and podcaster Tara Henley noted in a column for The Daily Mail this week.

On Monday, the Prime Minister invoked the Emergencies Act, which became law in 1988 and has never been used  and it is not yet clear what hell do with these powers, she continued, adding that Trudeaus action has poured gasoline on what was already a raging fire.

I fear that Canadians are headed for the sort of volatile, drawn-out, intractable conflict that tears societies apart, Henley continued, adding a comparison to the U.S.: The same type of take no prisoners, merciless discourse that has transformed America into an endless political battlefield, where opponents can never agree and seemingly nothing is ever resolved.

She also noted that invoking the Emergencies Act is widely known among Canadians as being a nuclear option and was last invoked by Trudeaus father, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, in 1970, when it was then known as the War Measures Act.

Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, does not believe Trudeau has met the standard for invoking the authority.

We should not be normalizing the use of emergency acts to deal with localized, specific challenges that can be addressed through law, she told Henley.

The Canadian House of Commons also erupted this week after Trudeau replied to a Jewish member of Parliament by accusing members of the opposition Conservative Party of standing with people who wave swastikas.

Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman first quoted Trudeau from a 2015 speech, saying, If Canadians are going to trust their government, their government needs to trust Canadians, then questioned why the PM characterized members of the Freedom Convoy as very often misogynistic, racist, women-haters, science-deniers, the fringe.

After accusing him of fanning the flames of an unjustified national emergency, Lantsman, the first Jewish woman to be elected as a Conservative MP last October, demanded to know  When did the prime minister lose his way?

Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas, they can stand with people who wave the Confederate flag, Trudeau said in response. We will choose to stand with Canadians who deserve to be able to get to their jobs, to be able to get their lives back. These illegal protests need to stop, and they will.

That led to outrage from other members of Parliament, as Fox News reported:

The other side of the chamber erupted in response, prompting Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota to interrupt in an attempt to restore order. He also admonished all  including the Right Honourable prime minister  to avoid inflammatory language in the House.

Canada is collapsing into a police state, and the countrys citizens are understandably getting more concerned.

Sources include:

Summit.news

FoxNews.com
A cross-country winter storm named Oaklee will spread snow and ice from sections of the West to the Southern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast through the end of the week.

Winter Storm Nancy will track over the northern tier of the United States early this week, and Oaklee will be close behind it. See this website for additional information about the storm, as mentioned in a report in Weather.

Because Oaklee's Arctic air is more extensive than Nancy's, it will leave a snowy and ice mark further south. Oaklee will start the week by bringing snow from the high country of California to the southern and central Rockies.

Rain showers may dampen lower elevations from California to southern Arizona. Winds will howl over the Southwest, possibly contributing to some blown dust in areas where rain isn't falling.

The storm will have made landfall in the central United States by Wednesday. Traveling from northern Texas to the mid-Mississippi Valley might be impacted by icy or snowy conditions.

As the upper-level system from this storm lags, snow will remain throughout the central and southern Rockies.

Freezing rain or sleet could move from northern and central Texas into the Ozarks and Ohio Valley on Thursday. Snow is anticipated to accumulate over the Midwest and into the Great Lakes.

The winter mix of snow and ice will spread throughout the Northeast by late Thursday or Thursday night. All of these places are predicted to have hazardous travel conditions.

On Friday, the Northeast will be free of this icy mess.

The Northeast prediction is challenging since it depends on the trajectory of the second storm's low-pressure core and how persistent and where the cold air lingers. For the time being, the snowiest areas are predicted to include northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and much of New England.

The area from southern Missouri into parts of the Ohio Valley, upstate New York, and much of New England now has the best probability of receiving multi-inch snowfall totals from this storm.

Icing might slicken roads in northern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, the Ozarks, and the Ohio Valley. This week's two winter storms might bring floods and severe thunderstorms from near the Ohio River to the South.

Winter Storm Risks

Overexertion during winter storms increases the risk of automobile accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks. Blizzards and other winter storms can bring cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and powerful winds.

Pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings about ice storms and other winter storms. Keep an ear out for emergency announcements and information. Become a member of your community's warning system.

Emergency notifications are also provided through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio.

Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems

For most recent weather news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!






Two severe "danger to civilization" flood warnings have been released in Shropshire and Worcestershire after Storm Franklin moved a day of flooding, power cut affliction, and trip chaos on Monday. Feb. 21.

Parts of the historic village of Ironbridge were being cleared as the river Severn hovered to engulf flood defenses.

In Bewdley in Worcestershire, residers were disclosed to anticipate flooding from Tuesday morning, Feb. 22.

Another storm came to Britain

According to a published composition by the UK administration, the Environment Agency has put out a harsh flood caution for Beales Corner in Bewdley, Worcestershire due to extremely high aqueduct situations on the River Severn that are threatening to over-top temporary floodwalls.

Properties in Beales Corner are at an actual high threat of flooding as the brisk-flowing water from the River Severn is anticipated to engulf the area on Tuesday with a climax anticipated on Wednesday.

Crews from the Environment Agency have been operating throughout the weekend to place temporary alluvion walls at Beales Corner.

Even so, there's still a high threat that water situations will surpass the barricade.

In Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, the primary bridge became closed and stores flooded after the River Wharfe overflowed its banks.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said that they are privy to a small variety of flooded residences in Tadcaster and are operating carefully with the emergency offerings and different businesses to hold the network safe, as per The Guardian.

Train operators entreated humans on Monday to keep away from the journey if feasible as intense disruption have been anticipated to be halted through gale-pressure winds and heavy rain.

Read more: Flash Flood: 200 Evacuated as Floodwaters Sweep Through Turkey's Black Sea Region

Roads are being shut down and air journeys are rolled back due to high winds

According to the Independent, the storm also caused chaos for travelers, with eventful roads closed and train agencies canceled.

The National Rail advised guests not to travel as it said there was a disadvantaged schedule, haste restrictions were in position on some routes, and disturbance was anticipated.

A stretch of the M6 was closed on Monday after a lorry broke down into a bridge and burst into flames overnight as Storm Franklin hit.

The driver managed to escape and was carried off to a sanitarium for an assessment, according to authorities.

Airlines had called off 122 flights to and from the UK in the morning, according to data from observers Cerium.

The British Airways apologized to guests who had faced further long delays for luggage at Heathrow as well as flight dislocation in the last several days.

It said it was unfit to operate the medium demanded to discharge cases because of the high winds.

Gary Bywater, Area Duty Manager, and the Worcestershire Environment Agency said that Faced with a significant threat of flooding at the Bewdley Beers Corner, they prompt people to stay watchful and pay close attention.

Heavy rains affecting already moist areas can cause serious floods along the Severn for several days.

Also Read: China Flooding Season: Flash-Flood Warning Raised as 4 Rivers Exceed Dangerous Levels
Nearly 10% of Florida manatees had died during the first nine months of 2021 - this is more than double the five-year average of manatee deaths.

Being moved from the endangered species list in 2017 to threatened, this event had put significant threat to the migratory species, congregating mainly in the waters of Florida, where water quality issues were reported to have disrupted the primary food sources they mainly rely on. Moreover, threats from boat strikes, habitat loss and toxic algae blooms are big factors, including massive deaths from simple starvation.

According to NewsBreak, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials help stave off this starvation by "throwing off" 3000 pounds of lettuce a day into the sea, and officials say the feeding program had helped significantly so far.

The sea cows' "salad bar"

Florida Manatees mostly feed on seagrass found in the northern Indian River Lagoon and Banana River, rivers which served as their winter homes for a long time.

The unprecedented decline in seagrass ecosystem smothered by pollutants, along with toxic blooms intensified by climate change, made the end of 2021 "one of the worst years for manatees ever", Environment America reported.

WUSF Public Media had recorded more than half of the deaths in the Indian River Lagoon and some 20% of the manatee population has been wiped out on Florida's east coast.

To date, more than 50,000 pounds of donated lettuce have been fed to the starving manatees to keep them alive this winter, a program directed by FWC. Over 350 manatees are currently coming to a temporary field response station in Cape Canaveral to get their daily servings of romaine and butter lettuce.

"We are exposing large amount of animals to this food source and we are making a difference," Ron Mezich of the FWC told CNN. "The lettuce has nutrients and digestible carbohydrates the sea cows need," he added.

Also read: 170 Wild Elephants to be Auctioned in Namibia Due to Uncontrollable Growing Population





Restoring manatee's endangered status

Experts say that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) neglected scientifically documented warning signs that manatees were in trouble at the time it downlisted the animal from endangered to threatened.

"If you don't believe it's a serious issue and it's going to be a short-term problem, you're not going to put the scientific effort into it, or the political effort, or the management practices into place to prevent those declines in the future," said Pat Rose, an aquatic biologist who has spent 40 years with Save the Manatee Club.

To ensure that 2022 will be a better year for the dying creatures, it is critical that their habitat will be protected and a recovery plan will be administered by the agency itself. USFWS acknowledged the concerns and noted that the animal could be reclassified again as endangered, should conditions change.

"Especially in the wake of several major die-offs," wrote peer-reviewer John Reynolds, senior scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory, "it seems possible, and perhaps even likely, that life history parameters of Florida manatees may change for the worse in the near future."

Also read: Demand for Chinese Traditional Medicine Fuels Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Africa






A truly innovative type of dinosaur with forearms that will make the Tyrannosaurus rex appear as Popeye in comparison, was reportedly discovered by evolutionary biologists in Argentina.

The Newly Discovered 'Armless' Dinosaur

The dinosaur, dubbed Guemesia ochoai as well as determined from a solitary cranium, is considered to be a member of the abelisaurids, a family of relatively small apex predators that previously roamed Africa, Europe, India, and Latin America prior to actually becoming endangered species approximately 66 million years ago.

Guemesia ochoai's skull which is also about 70 million years old is the last specimen of its type in the world discovered in northwest Argentina. Its braincase is unusually small in comparison to other abelisaurids.

In addition, it's among the smallest-brained abelisaurids ever discovered, 70% the proportion of the famed Carnotaurus species, that also managed to reside at South America's southernmost tip and was previously highlighted in Jurassic World.

If the limbs of the freshly found creature were anything like those of its Western pacific ancestors, they might well have performed poorly futilely across its large torso. Abelisaurids couldn't flex their upper limbs, much everyone else hold something among both their fingertips, because they lacked ossified wrist joints and movable flexion or extension and the said species even lacked rudimentary claws.

Science Daily warned the public and other experts to not be fooled by it as despite the fact that the Northern Hemisphere's T. rex limbs were broader and much more formidable, Abelisaurids could still drag off the wild animals considerably bigger than themselves. Their powerful mouths and blade-like fangs efficiently compensated for their short forearms.

With only a cranium, it's difficult to determine anything whatsoever concerning G. ochoai was compared toward other abelisaurids, but a media report from the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom connects it to Carnotaurus sastrei, seen beneath, but with a relatively small skull and therefore no spikes.

According to evolutionary biologist Anjali Goswami of the National Museum of Scotland in the United Kingdom in her interview with Science Alert, the mysterious creature is rather odd for its sort.

Furthermore, it demonstrates that the creatures that lived in this location were significantly separate and distinct from those that lived in plenty of other regions of Argentina, confirming the concept of multiple regions in South America's Cretaceous."

Also read: Dinosaur Potentially Died from Fatal Cough due to a Respiratory Infection





New Species Found By Paleontologists In Argentina

The study backs up other latest findings that Abelisaurids were more diversified in South America than previously supposed. It appears that abelisaurids were equipped to make adjustments to distinct confined environments when the southern supercontinent, Gondwana, commenced to divided off.

It's still unknown why they acquired such little limbs. Analysts believe these are fossilized appendages, or worthless remains from predecessors who profited from their existence in the past.

Almost majority of the abelisaurid specimens discovered in Argentina thus far have come from Patagonia, and they possess numerous morphological features, particularly absurdly short limbs. The earliest to be discovered in the northwest, has distinct characteristics that may imply life in a tropical temperature.

Its cranium, for example, had a pattern of tiny pores that could have permitted the dinosaur to calm itself apart by increasing the blood flow to the top layer of the epidermis and expelling high temperatures. A component like this might be less beneficial even farther south.

The scientists explain that all throughout the Late Cretaceous, South America was split into northeastern and southwestern kingdoms by a marine barrier that worked as a filtration system for certain species.

"The substantial morphological distinctions displayed by Guemesia in comparison to other abelisaurids may represent more evidence of the species composition uniqueness of northern Argentina all through the end Cretaceous," experts further discussed.

Argentina is comparatively undiscovered in comparison toward other fossil-rich regions around the earth, therefore this is unlikely to be the final abelisaurid form of life discovered.

Also read: In World's First Discovery, Dinosaur Found Inside Stomach of Fossilized Crocodile




The base of the Greenland Ice Sheet is melting at an alarming rate due to great amounts of meltwater falling from the surface. When the meltwater begins to fall, energy changes to heat in a process similar to the hydroelectric power which large dams produce.

How Meltwater Affect Glacier Movement and Quantity of Ice

(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that melting water plunging a half-mile or more down to the ice bed is the most significant source of heat beneath the second-largest ice sheet in the world, resulting in a phenomenally high rate of melting.

Greenland's Ice Sheet's dynamic behavior is difficult to anticipate due to a lack of direct measurements. The Greenland Ice Sheet is presently the world's most significant contributor to rising sea levels, due to both melting and release of ice, as per Phys.org.

Researchers from Aberystwyth University have completed a seven-year study on Store Glacier, one of the largest outlets from the Greenland Ice Sheet. The findings are being published in the journal Nature Communications.

For the first time, researchers from Cambridge University have discovered how heat is generated when meltwater from above is transmitted to the ice's core through massive breaches in the ice.

Temperatures rise and sunshine increases daily, forming thousands of meltwater lakes and streams on the Greenland Ice Sheet every summer.

Lakes swiftly drain to the bottom of the ice sheet through cracks and huge breaks in the ice. Because of the constant flow of water from streams and rivers, it is common for surface-to-bed connections to remain open.

Professor Poul Christoffersen of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute has been investigating these meltwater lakes as part of the EU-funded RESPONDER project to learn how and why they drain so quickly and what effect they have on the ice sheet's overall behavior as global temperatures rise.

Also Read: Study Shows Glaciers in Northern Hemisphere Continue to Melt at an Alarming Rate

Estimating Basal Melt Rates

The researchers look at friction, geothermal energy, latent heat that is released when water freezes as well as the heat losses into the ice above when they examine basal melting of ice sheets and glaciers, said Christoffersen.

Until now, researchers hadn't taken into account the heat generated by the melting water itself while it was being drained.

The water that accumulates on the surface has a lot of gravitational energy stored in it, and when it falls, that energy has to go somewhere. Phase-sensitive radio-echo sounding, developed at the British Antarctic Survey and previously utilized on floating ice sheets in Antarctica, was used to estimate basal melt rates.

As original author Dr. Tun Jan Young explained that scientists weren't convinced that the approach would also operate on a fast-flowing glacier in Greenland. Tun Jan Young had erected the radar system on Store Glacier as part of his Ph.D. at Cambridge.

Due to the rapid ice deformation and the high volume of meltwater present throughout the summer, the work is more difficult than it would be in Antarctica, according to Scitech Daily.

Greenland Ice Sheet Produces Hydroelectric Power

A team of researchers estimated that Store Glacier lost an average of 82 million cubic meters of meltwater per day in the summer of 2014.

Power generated by falling water during peak melt seasons was estimated to be comparable to the power generated by China's Three Gorges Dam. It is estimated that during the height of summer, the Greenland Ice Sheet produces more hydroelectric power than all ten of the world's largest hydroelectric power stations put together.

This type of hydropower may easily double or quadruple, given what researchers are observing at high latitudes in terms of climate change, and they are still not even factoring these numbers when they assess the impact of the ice sheet to sea level rise, said Christoffersen.

The radar system reported high basal melt rates, so the researchers used temperature measurements from sensors implanted in a nearby borehole to corroborate the findings. Even though the ice sheet's melting point should be -0.40 degrees Celsius, they discovered water temperatures as high as +0.88 degrees Celsius near the base.

Related Article: Freshwater Ice That Melts Into Three Different Shapes Depending on Water Temperature Discovered

For more news, updates about global warming and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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.
MBABANE  Senator Sylvia Mthethwa has submitted that a tax holiday of about two years is necessary for small medium enterprises (SMEs).

This she stated during yesterdays sitting in Senate, when the Trading Licences Order (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was tabled for debate. The Bill was tabled by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo and further debated by several senators in the House. The minister, in his first reading of the Bill at Senate, stated that there were requirements that were no longer necessary in order to get a trading licence. He stated that there were conditions that were delaying the process of obtaining the licence such as advertising and hearings.

EmaSwati will benefit greatly as this Bill will ensure that business people, especially young entrepreneurs are able to start businesses. This will also solve the issue of unemployment as it will make starting a business easier, he said.

Reduced

Khumalo further submitted that the Bill also reduced the relevance of a health certificate for certain businesses. He stated that there were businesses that did not require health certificates and this Bill would ensure that this was addressed and only the relevant businesses would be obligated to obtain one, such as eateries. Have you ever considered providing a tax holiday for upcoming SMEs and young entrepreneurs to ensure their businesses succeed? They should be given the opportunity not to pay tax for at least two years, stated Mthethwa. She further questioned whether there would be a plan which looked at incentivising young people who embarked on a journey of starting a business. Registering your business for a tender is very expensive and some advertise tenders yet they are already aware of which companies they are going to award the tenders to. There needs to be a way of reducing the cost of registering, submitted the senator.

She further stated that the Bill should consider expanding the offices of where to register and decried the fact that Mbabane was the sole destination currently. About 70 per cent of young people are sitting at home. What percentage of the youth sitting at home will be absorbed by the ministry? Where do we leave this country if the culture of business is not cultivated in the youth? questioned Mthethwa. The minister responded that most of the answers to the questions Mthethwa had posed would be included in the proposed Citizens Economic Empowerment Bill, which has been tabled. This Bill will seek to address what the country is doing in terms of incentives, he said. The minister further said they were looking into expanding the offices where entrepreneurs could process their trading licences, instead of it just being Mbabane.

Senator Isaac Magagula in his submission to the debate, said change was good and there was a need for it to be looked at in-depth and analysed. He wondered how the ministry would be able to get rid of the shenanigans of those who were conducting questionable operations in their businesses. We have to look at the reason and purpose of the initial requirements which have since been removed. Without these requirements, what is there to replace them? questioned Magagula.

Requirement

This he stated because the proposed Bill would remove the requirement of a hearing when registering for a trading licence, as well as advertising of the licence. However, the health report which is put together with the assistance of the Ministry of Health would not be scrapped off but would no longer be a prerequisite. Magagula further questioned whether the removal of the hearing process would affect the work of Eswatini Commercial Amadoda and questioned where they would be placed and whether the requirements being referred to would only apply to the urban area.

Minister Khumalo when responding to Magagula, stated that they would not tamper with the work of Commercial Amadoda but would instead request them to be a bit faster in their procedure. He further stated that the requirements which were removed were thoroughly assessed before being abolished and in the assessment it was evident that they only benefitted a few and delayed a great percentage. Another senator who debated the Bill was Princess Ntfombiyenkosi, who said the health report prerequisite was vital in order to ensure the products of the businesses adhered to environmental laws and this still needed to be assessed before a company was granted a trading licence. In his submission during the debate, Senator Prince Mshengu stated that what the Bill aimed to achieve was commendable as it would help in ease of doing business and made getting a trading licence much easier for entrepreneurs.

The youth will hopefully now venture into more businesses once the amendments have been made and the law is enacted, said the prince.

Hindrance

He stated that the biggest hindrance with the health report was the speed at which it was issued. The prince questioned if this Bill would result in the process of getting a trading licence being faster. Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli, in his submission during the debate, also questioned whether the process of getting the trading licence would now be shorter. In response, Minister Khumalo stated that they were aiming for a 24-hour turnaround time in the processing of the trading licence. Prince Magudvulela, who was the first senator to debate the Bill, said it was a good initiative to make the process of starting a business in the country much simpler. He, however, questioned whether this would tamper with the regulators processes in cases where companies wanted to independently supply electricity. The minister responded to the senators question by stating that the amendments were mostly for businesses that were not regulated. However, we do take in to consideration that at some point we need to look into businesses where regulators are part of the process, stated Khumalo.
A massive great white shark stole 100-pound tuna from a Hawaii fisherman. A great white shark approached the boat of Nick Morris - the fisherman - while he was fishing 15 miles off Honolulu County for yellowfin tuna.

It took the shark only seconds to rip the tuna from Morris' line and dragged it 30 to 40 feet below the surface.

Morris revealed the red mark on his hand where the fishing line was dragged from his hand in an interview with KHON2.

At first glance, Moris noticed that "the whole [fish] was gone" and the line had been "chopped from the top."

South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the North Atlantic and Northeastern Pacific are typical habitats for great whites. They are extremely rare close to Hawaii.

Observers are baffled as to why these fish from Mexico and California occasionally make their way to the waters of Hawaii. They may be drawn to Hawaii's humpback whale breeding season between November and April since great whites are known to feast on whale carcasses during this time.

The shark reappeared along the 27-foot fishing boat five minutes after taking the catch. Morris estimated the shark's length to be between 17 and 19 feet, according to the broadcaster.

Also Read: 57-Year-Old Man Killed by 14ft Great White Shark While Swimming in Australia

How Big Can a Great White Shark Grow?

Great white sharks have been observed to grow up to 20 feet long, however this is quite uncommon. Between 15 and 16 feet is the usual length of an adult great white shark, as per Newsweek.

Morris was initially concerned the shark was a whale shark due to its enormous size. As the world's largest and longest fish, this one may measure up to 39 feet in length.

"I seen big sharks but not that big, like two weeks ago, we had a 12-foot shark eat one of our fish next to the boat, but it's normal," Morris told KHON2. "It was wide. I was telling my friend whatever happens, do not fall in because he just ate a 100-pound ahi no problem at all, and he still came back he probably wants more."

This was Morris' second experience with a great white despite fishing for decades.

Animals Great White Prey on

Carl Meyer, a member of the shark research team at the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, saw a video of Morris' encounter with the sharks on KHON2.

The great white's slightly pointed snout, a common feature of the species, Meyer told KHON2. While whale sharks can only eat shrimp, fish and plankton, the great white's teeth are designed to take down larger prey like tuna. The ease with which the great white grabbed the fish was also a giveaway, Meyer added.

Due to of their rapid decline, great white sharks are classified as a vulnerable species. Its fins and teeth are sought after for sport fishing as trophies, but the species is also targeted for its meat.

Related Article: Onlookers Captured Video of Great White Shark Attacking a Seal Near Cape Cod

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The UniteCT program has suspended new rent and electric assistance applications and re-certifications, according to an announcement on the programs website.

The program, which aims to provide rental assistance to those who were financially impacted by COVID-19, is giving landlords and tenants who already have case numbers until March 31 to complete their applications. The state stopped accepting new applications Feb. 15.

Cases that are not completed by March 31 will be withdrawn from the case review process, the notice reads.

Department of Housing spokesperson Aaron Turner directed those seeking more details to the UniteCT website for further information, instructions and links to the local UniteCT Resource Center.

The state Department of Housing had been prioritizing cases involving active eviction cases for those who earn less than 50 percent of the area median income, Turner said previously.

Applicants have been seeing delays that can last months, renters and advocates said.

Each tenant case has its own set of variables and issues, which we address in an appropriate timeframe whenever possible, Turner said in an emailed statement. The department declined a request for an interview.

The federally funded UniteCT program has been experiencing delays in getting money to tenants in recent months as the state Department of Housing reduced the number of staffers dedicated to the program.

Some staff were temporary workers, and others were department staff. At the height of the program in the fall, there were 250 people working on the program, and applications were being processed on an average of 15 days.

That was reduced this winter to 162 as of early last month, Turner said previously.

Pamela Heller, a staff attorney at the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, said shes received an increasing amount of calls from people who have waited for months for assistance. Some are re-certifying their applications, meaning theyve applied for and received some money, but not the full amount allowed under the program.

UniteCT allows up to $15,000 in rental assistance for qualifying tenants who have suffered financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was going nowhere, Heller said. Its a constant theme.

A 51-year-old West Hartford resident, who did not want to be identified, said she first received funding in April, reapplied for funding in November and hasnt gotten money.

The last of her information was submitted in December, Turner said.

The woman said she hasnt been assigned a new case worker after UniteCT reduced its staffing. The woman said she cant make rent because shes been unable to return to work after contracting COVID-19.

A Hartford resident, who declined to be named, has found himself in a similar situation. He applied for a re-certification in October, and funds still havent come through.

He said its been tough to get answers about the reason for the delays from the Department of Housing. Hes had fewer hours to work since the pandemic began, partially because hes been worried about contracting the illness since he developed symptoms of a heart condition.

If hes evicted, he doesnt know where hell go. His mother lives in South Carolina, and his dads house is already crowded, he said.

Im getting a lot of these calls from folks who just have never gotten assistance, but they applied back as long as October and are just desperate basically, Heller said. Theyre almost wanting their landlord to start an eviction so that they might be able to get help.

Re-certifications are not a priority with the UniteCT, according to U.S. Treasury required priorities, Turner said.

Heller said those applying for re-certification or applying for the program for the first time who are not undergoing eviction are worried the program will run out of money before theyre able to get assistance.

The total budget for rental assistance was about $400.6 million.

The most pressing problem, said Cecil Thomas, a staff attorney at Greater Hartford Legal Aid, is for those who may be facing eviction.

With case clients that are in evictions, speed is of the essence, Thomas said. The eviction process is designed to move quickly.  That is concerning either for tenants who are facing eviction or who are waiting on payments.
MANZINI  Public transport operators are ready to seek the amendment of their proposed bus fare hike if the 30 cents fuel charge is approved.

This follows that the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, in his budget speech, said the establishment of a Roads Agency Fund was a sustainable and permanent solution to the national roads crisis. He said the objective of this fund was to tender out all roads maintenance to the private sector. Rijkenberg said government envisaged it to be funded by the savings from shutting down government departments currently responsible for road maintenance, the road toll charges at the border crossings, additional funds from the fiscus and an additional 30 cents fuel tax that he intended to table with the Fuel Tax Bill. The proposed 30 cents fuel tax per litre shall be an addition to the already existing 35 cents fuel levy, which resulted in the collection of E1.4 billion in the past year.

Amendment

In light of this, Swaziland Local Transport Associations (SLTAs) Sabelo Dlamini said this could force them to seek an amendment of the already proposed bus fare hikes. He said this was because they were already operating at a loss and with the proposed levy; their businesses were bound to collapse as they were still reeling from the repercussions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the political unrest wherein their operations ceased. He said the unfortunate thing was that all the costs were being transferred to the consumer, whose salary was still stagnant. Dlamini said players in the transport industry should be part of the road agency in order to advocate for the betterment of the infrastructure as they were paying loads of money. Where is the 35 cents collected currently going to as it should address the road challenges? We are just being taxed to the bone, he said.

Meanwhile, Swaziland Consumer Forum (SWACOF) Chairman Mandla Ntshakala, said the biggest challenge for consumers was that increments and taxes were implemented without salaries. We are still seeking government to subsidise us on transport. Also, the current 35 cents collected as fuel tax has to deal with the maintenance of the roads, not to expect more as salaries are stagnant, Ntshakala said.

Consumers

He said consumers were already struggling with basic commodities and should this increase be implemented, it would increase costs of commodities. On the other hand, the minister of finance said increments ranging between five and 10 cents were bound to be effected by the proposed fuel levy. However, Rijkenberg said the money that they were set to spend in the increment of consumables was far lower than the benefits of the proposed pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) new tax brackets. He said the road network shall also be improved as the road agency shall have focus on it. Also, University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Economics Lecturer Sanele Sibiya, said the proposed fuel levy, which would increase petroleum products by 30 cents, would in turn corrode the E500 which was said to be going into the pockets of low income earners. Sibiya said the proposed fuel levy would be transferred to the price of commodities which was a view also supported by Thembinkosi Dube, who said the buying power that was being proposed would be used in the procurement of basic goods and services..
Newburyport, MA (01950)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 51F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Rain showers early with clearing later at night. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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LONHLUPHEKO  A 43-year-old soldier, who is a son to the late KaLanga Chief, Mlimi Maziya, was on Sunday night shot dead by an unknown man, who was travelling with others in a grey Honda Fit at Lonhlupheko area.

The killing happened near Gugulethu Bar situated next to the T-junction from Manzini-Simunye and Siteki at around 11pm. Bheki Maziya was an army officer based at the Mbuluzi Army Barracks. At the scene of crime, bloodstains were found next to the Pharmacy verandah where the deceased leaned and died after the shooting.

Bullet

Two bullet holes were also spotted. According to eyewitnesses found at the scene, Maziya was enjoying alcoholic beverages with friends on the day of the incident. One resident said the sedan parked about 50 metres away from where Maziya and friends were enjoying their alcoholic beverages and doors were opened but only one man, who could not be identified, alighted and went straight to where they were seated. The eyewitness alleged that the man started to open fire when he was 20 metres away from the group and aimed at the soldier.

Seeing that they were also vulnerable to be caught in the crossfire, the friends tried to run away, but they were also shot. Four of the friends were shot in their legs. They were five of them and Bheki died on the spot after the shooter aimed at his chest and the bullet ended his life. The others tried to escape, but one who was seated closer to Bheki was shot in the head and the three others in their legs. The man ran back to his getaway Honda Fit and they sped off, alleged the eyewitness.

organised

A car was organised and whisked them to the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital and the man who was shot in the head was transferred on the same night to the RFM due to the bullet that was lodged in his head. The others were admitted and I gathered that one of them was discharged, said the eyewitness. Adding, the eyewitness alleged that about six police vans from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) from Siteki Police Station came to the scene and marked the scene with a red tape while some were busy combing the area for clues and evidence. The eyewitness alleged that six bullet shells were collected by the police at the scene. The workers at the pharmacy cleaned the blood that had stained the wall where the deceased leaned and fell during the shooting. Two bullets hit the wall, said the eyewitness.

When the KaLanga Umphakatsi was visited, a family member confirmed the shooting and said the incident could be due to family disputes. This incident happened unexpectedly, but we knew that Bheki was one of the family members who were wanted dead by some of our enemies. It is so saddening that he had to die like this, said the family member. Phindile Maziya, a sister to the deceased, said the matter had not yet been reported to the army head office and asked that the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tengetile Khumalo be contacted. Chief Jozane Maziya was called, but his mobile phone rang unanswered. UEDF PRO, Khumalo, did not respond to countless calls made yesterday, same with Whatsapp messages sent to her. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni asked that the army PRO be contacted on this matter.
MANZINI - On the second week of the ongoing Junior Certificate (JC) examinations, three schools have experienced arson attacks.

Nkiliji, Mcozini and Malindza High schools were invaded by unknown men, who petrol-bombed some of the buildings and left them with spray-painted messages suggesting that they would soon return. This happened yesterday morning. Johannes Mhlongo, the security guard at Nkiliji High School, said it was at around 1am when he went out of his guardhouse at the school to make his rounds after the rain had stopped. I was met by three men wearing balaclavas, who seemed to be heading towards the guardhouse. One was carrying a revolver. I quickly rushed inside, Mhlongo narrated. He said the men hit the window and door, ordering him to come outside lest they killed him. In fear of being harmed, the security guard said he came out.

Escorted

Mhlongo said they escorted him to the front of the gate, where they left him. He said they went to the administration block housing the deputys office, staffroom, secretarys office and another office which was used by some teachers. He mentioned that they broke some windows and threw a petrol bomb inside the block. A teacher, who resides in one of the teachers quarters, raised the alarm and the man carrying a gun fired two shots in the air and hurled insults, warning her to keep quiet, Mhlongo recounted. However, the security guard shared that the flammable liquid the men were using ran out, and it was then that they stopped burning the structures. He said they immediately burnt the 20-litre container that was carrying the liquid. Mhlongo relayed that they used spray paint to write a message that read, Sitobuya. The message was removed immediately after the matter was reported to authorities.

Disappeared

He said the men then accosted him to open the gate for them, which he did. Thereafter, Mhlongo said they ran to the nearest bush, where they disappeared. He elaborated that due to a power cut and that they were wearing balaclavas, he could not identify their faces. The security guard said it was then that the police were called, who came to the scene. The head teacher could not be drawn for comment as his phone rang unanswered for the better part of the day. Nonetheless, Manzini Acting Regional Educational Officer Sizwe Kunene confirmed that the two schools had been subject to arson attacks by unknown men.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Mcozini High School yesterday, teachers were found in a meeting. An impeccable source shared that five men wearing balaclavas stormed the school and headed to the head teachers office. It is situated in an administration block that was torched by unknown arsonists last year. Since the arson attack at the school, only the head teachers office was renovated. According to an impeccable source, he was alarmed by a bang within the school premises. He said he soon learnt that it was five men who were wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons, he said thereafter, he saw a huge flame coming from the head teachers office. At the sight of the flame, the source said he saw the men quickly running outside the gate. He said he quickly went to put out the fire before it consumed most of the items which were already in flames.

The source said there were burning papers on the head teachers desk, and he promptly put out the flames. After this, he said he called the police. He revealed that there were messages insinuating that the attackers would be back and that there was no school. He said the messages were removed before learners could come to school to prevent any disturbances. A teacher, who commented on condition of anonymity, shared that they were all living in fear. She said they were teaching while looking over their shoulders. The head teacher of the school, who asked not to be named, confirmed the arson attack, but did not wish to elaborate.

Meanwhile, at Malindza High School, the damages are estimated to be in the region of E100 000, which include books and furniture. According to the schools Head teacher, Thulasizwe Zwane, the incident happened around 4am. Zwane said he was at home in Bhunya when he was informed about the incident by the schools chairperson. Among the items that were burnt were SiSwati books, desks, chairs, electricity wiring and the wall including shattered window panes. The head teacher said he received a call at around 4:30am after an attempt by the schools security guard to reach him failed as his mobile phone was off due to a power blackout at his home in Bhunya. He said the security guard told him that at the time of the bombing of the staffroom, he had left the guardhouse to do a routine patrol around the schools premises.

The head teacher said he then called the police at that instance. Zwane said police officers called to advise him to close the gates in the morning and not allow pupils inside as they would tamper with the evidence. However, Form III pupils wrote their Agriculture Paper I at 9am and further sat for their Science Paper I later on in the day. The head teacher said he dispersed the other pupils due to the fact that the matter was still being discussed in hushed tones along the schools corridors. Zwane said police, after inspection of the scene, said sniffer dogs also found two traces of safety boots. Lessons will resume today. It was a good decision to let the pupils go bearing in mind that they would be disturbed by the whole incident, he said.

The head teacher said the arson incident was happening for the first time since the unrest erupted last year and said the office of the Acting Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO), Richard Dlamini, was informed about the incident. I think the pupils need counseling and I will not single out those sitting for their exams, but all of them. They need someone who can talk to them and try to psychologically calm their anxiety and fear, Zwane said. In random interviews conducted among the dispersed pupils, a Form IV pupil confided that there was a pupil who was expelled at the school in 2020 due to unruliness and this did not go down well with him hence he had been the ringleader in the rioting of pupils at his new school. He is still aggrieved and it is unfortunate that our head teacher is new and is not the one who expelled him. During the unrest last year, he led pupils from his school to disturb us in joining them, but police stopped them, alleged the pupil.

Another pupil echoed his sentiments, mentioning that he was well-known for his unbecoming behaviour. I know him and he is still angry because he was expelled for inciting other pupils to riot and we are told that he is continuing with his unruliness at his new school, claimed the pupil. The Head teacher, Zwane, said he was not aware of the matter as he was new at the school. I assumed my position last year and I am not aware of the said pupil, he said. The Acting REO, Dlamini, confirmed the matter. I am still to visit the school and ascertain what happened. It is unfortunate that the incident happens at a time when pupils are busy writing their exams. We hope the situation normalise, he said.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incidents. When asked on the likelihood that the unknown arsonists could be the same considering the use of graffiti, Mnguni said she could not pre-empt anything. However, she assured that the police were investigating the matter. Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary (PS) Bheki Gama said people who burnt schools did not wish to see children succeed. We condemn these acts, especially now when external examinations are ongoing. These attacks are perpetrated by cowards, fools who do not understand the value of education, Gama said.
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 73F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low near 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Monticellos former Lincoln Elementary School building no longer houses students, but the district may keep it as a hedge for future space needs.
Im frustrated on all sides. I have a lot of friends who are teachers in the district, so Im very torn. I think parents have been left in the dark for the most part, and now all were hearing is animosity.
Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons).
"I remember being in the mass spectrometer lab in the Natural History Building when the landline phone rang  no caller ID back then  and the person told me I had been chosen to receive the F.W. Clarke Award of the Geochemical Society. At first, I thought it was a prank."
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
The 7th edition of CC Forum in Bahrain will bring together global investment funds, family offices, VC capital firms, HNWs and brightest startups to discuss the ways of investing in sustainability.

Titled Investment in Sustainable Development, the forum will take place from March 21 to 24, 2022, back-to-back with Formula One Bahrain.

The event follows CC Forums highly successful in-person editions in Cote-d-Azur (July 2021), Dubai (April 2021), Monte-Carlo under the High Patronage and in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco (September 2020) and London (October 2019) which received a royal greeting by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

CC Forum addresses such issues as Climate Change, Clean Energy, Government Strategies, Impact Investment, Preservation of the Ocean, Emerging Technologies, Healthcare and Education, Philanthropy and Social Inclusion.

The main purpose and goal of the 7th edition is highlighting the green initiatives and investment opportunities of the Kingdom of Bahrain aligned with Vision 2030.

CC Forums previous participants included among others Prince Albert II of Monaco, Ban Ki Moon, Stanley Johnson, Placido Domingo, Nouriel Roubini, Tim Draper, Dame Jane Goodall, Princess Charlene of Monaco, HSH Prince Michael of Liechtenstein, Sheikh Awadh Magrin bin Sultan, HH Sheikha Noora Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikha Hend Al Quessimi, Gunter Pauli, Michael Flatley, David Arkless and Julian Lennon.

CC Forum Middle East also abounds in a rich networking and cultural programme ranging from welcoming drinks and yacht receptions to networking dinners and satellite events. It will culminate in CC Forums traditional VIP Investors Gala & Awards Giving Ceremony on 22nd March with the participation of the greatest living musicians, the previous editions having featured the performances by Maestro Placido Domingo, Maxim Vengerov and Evgeny Kissin.

The highlight of CC Forum Middle East will be the first public appearance of the unique Porrima eco-yacht which runs exclusively on renewable energy - solar, wind and hydrogen.

The forum will take place at Four Seasons Hotel. The Gala and the Awards Ceremony will be held at Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain.-- TradeArabia News Service
A new collection of scientific articles published today shines a light on the differences between men and women when it comes to heart health.

Experts from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai led the project, which resulted in an anthology of 14 scientific articles that review the past decade of research on women's cardiovascular health. The collection of articles-;called a compendium in medical circles-;was published by Circulation Research, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association and its Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences.

The articles were written by thought leaders across cardiac subspecialties and summarize current knowledge regarding differences between the sexes in cardiovascular risks and outcomes. The articles also identify critical scientific gaps and future research priorities.

The timing is right for this review and call to action-;not only because of where the science is now, but because COVID-19 has starkly reminded us that sex differences can profoundly impact health outcomes. One important point the compendium highlights is how females and males differ in many aspects of fundamental biology." Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, MMSc, the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women's Cardiovascular Health and Population Science, professor of Cardiology, and senior editor of the compendium

The structure of two of the heart's four major valves-;the tricuspid and mitral valves-;is different in women than in men, as are the heart's electrical pathways, anatomy of arteries and veins, and even the cellular composition of male and female hearts, the experts say.

"This sets the stage for important differences in risk factors, including elevated blood pressure, symptoms such as chest pain, and outcomes like heart failure," said Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, director of Hypertension Research in the Smidt Heart Institute's Department of Cardiology and co-editor of the collection of articles. "But despite what the research findings make clear, sex-specific indicators of heart disease risk are rarely taken into account."

Featured research also covers sex-specific differences in:

 Genetic origins of certain cardiovascular traits

 Symptoms of various types of heart failure, heart disease, stroke and arterial disease

 Risks to heart health caused by cancer and cancer treatment

 Effectiveness of cardiovascular treatments

 Impact of immune disorders on heart health

 Pregnancy and reproductive risk factors for cardiovascular disease

 Biomarkers for cardiovascular disease
Climate change has a major role in the shifting of range and seasonality of several diseases, the most prominent of which includes Lyme disease. In fact, Lyme was initially a summer disease; however, since 1990, warmer climates have shortened winters and, as a result, extended the duration of Lyme disease in New England.

High altitudes and latitudes were previously less susceptible to disease risk; however, wetter and warmer conditions in these places have started alluring ticks and mosquitoes. The 2021 Lancet Countdown report highlighted a 39% increase in malaria transmission in certain highland areas of the world since 1950. Furthermore, an increase in Vibrio bacterial infections has been observed in several high-altitude regions between 2011 to 2021.

Study: Climate change hastens disease spread across the globe. Image Credit: Kwangmoozaa / Shutterstock.com

The risk of disease depends upon public health measures, emergency preparedness, as well as the availability of response plans in the event of a localized outbreak. However, as the environment becomes more inviting for disease transmission, the management of risks becomes more difficult.

A new feature by science writer Amy McDermott published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America highlights the change in disease spread with climate change across the globe.

Mountains and diseases

The geographic boundaries of diseases are sensitive to climate changes. Tick vectors, mosquito vectors, and vectors of most other diseases are cold-blooded arthropods whose internal temperatures are able to track environmental changes quickly. Several physiological traits, such as the duration for which the vectors are alive, their infectiousness, and biting, are temperature sensitive.

In 2014, Pascual and his co-authors determined that malaria outbreaks increased in the alpine mountain communities as a result of warming at high altitudes. In 2010, medical entomologist Philip Armstrong identified the movement of southerly mosquito species farther north as compared to their historical ranges.

Furthermore, researchers have suggested that the fungal disease Valley fever, which was previously endemic to the Southwest United States and dry regions of Central and South America, will likely climb north this century. This fungus is capable of infecting human lungs, subsequently leading to flu-like symptoms, joint pain, and meningitis.

A high incidence of Valley fever cases was observed in areas with mean temperatures over 51.3 F (10.7 C) and less than 600 millimeters (mm) of precipitation per year. Gorris, a postdoctoral Earth system scientist, stated that under severe climate warning scenarios, the fungus could reach as far north as the U.S.Canadian border towards the end of this century.

Concerns regarding the change in the disease course with climate

Jeremy Cohen, a postdoctoral wildlife ecologist at Yale University, has used several statistical models to predict temperature changes, as well as host and parasite traits, on the prevalence of diseases. One model suggests that in cool areas, a dramatic increase in disease risk can be observed due to climate change.

Comparatively, in temperate areas, only a muted risk is observed, while in tropical areas, the risk of disease might decrease with climate change. This can be attributed to the fact that the warming of already hot regions could exceed the survival temperature maxima of parasites. Mosquito-borne diseases also have been shown to decline in the hottest parts of the tropics, as mosquitos have a specific thermal temperature range that allows for their survival and ability to transmit diseases.

Two-thirds of human diseases are reported to come from wildlife, including those due to infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Ebola and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in addition to Lyme disease. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that promote disease outbreaks. However, certain studies do not agree with the fact that change in disease outbreaks is a result of climate change.

Field crews at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station track the diversity and abundance of disease-carrying mosquitoes using traps baited with a yeasthay infusion mixed with water. They also use traps that attract the mosquitoes using dry ice and light. Image credit: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

High and low-tech solutions to manage disease outbreaks

Technological solutions have been found to mitigate disease spread in certain cases. Recently, the introduction of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the United States do not bite and carry a gene that is lethal to the mosquito offspring. This method is quite beneficial, as it can deliver control measures to mosquito breeding grounds that might be overlooked in conventional spraying.

However, researchers must be aware of where mosquito populations are located and how they are connected to improve the efficacy of this method. Furthermore, modified males need to be robust enough to compete with wild-type males for breeding.

Public health preparation appears to be the best solution, as stated by epidemiologist Jan Semenza. The affected patient must be immediately isolated and treated to prevent the spread of a disease, as the elimination of a mosquito or tick population is otherwise difficult to achieve.
In a recent study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers evaluated the temporal spread and geographic distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) genomic variants.

Study: Worldwide SARS-CoV-2 haplotype distribution in early pandemic. Image Credit: Fit Ztudio/Shutterstock

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted all nations across the globe, causing unprecedented morbidity and mortality. Since the release of the first SARS-COV-2 genetic sequence on January 5, 2020, the deleterious effects of its genetic clades due to the presence of several mutations have been reported.

Understanding the genetic aspects and regional spread of SARS-COV-2 could aid in the development of more efficient and targeted vaccines. Thus, the researchers of the present study investigated the temporal occurrence and geographical localization of the multiple mutated SARS-COV-2 variants.

About the study

The study explored The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) databases between December 2019 and September 2020, from which 77,648 viral genomes were identified.

Data including their geographical distribution, sampling date, and length of the genetic sequences were obtained. Only 75,401 genomes with sequences exceeding 29,000 nucleotides were analyzed. Fifty-three variants present in greater than 1,000 genetic sequences were classified into clades, and their haplotypes were counted. Only nations with variants exceeding 50 sequences were chosen for the analysis.

Results and discussion

Using the earliest SARS-CoV-2 sequence identified in Wuhan as a reference, the authors observed 26,539 mutations of several types such as missense (57%), synonymous (28%), insertions/deletions (7%), and stop variants (2%), from which 4% and 3% were present in the 3and 5 untranslated regions, (UTR) giving rise to five to nine mutant variants. These variants with similar geographical spread were grouped into four genetic clades.

A majority (58%) of the sequences were obtained from Europe, especially from the United Kingdom, followed by Oceania, North America, and the least in Asia. Most mutated variants were observed in France and Italy, whereas most unmutated variants were present in China, followed by the USA, Northern Europe, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and India.

Geographical distribution of the minimum number of variants per sequence. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263705.g001

The most frequently reported and highly infectious p.Asp614Gly mutant variant with a missense mutation in its S glycoprotein was observed in combination with other three variants: the p. Pro4715Leu, the c.-25C>T, and the p.Phe924Phe situated in the 5 untranslated region (UTR) on the ORF1ab gene. These variants were grouped into the first clade, observed in 55,582 (74%) genetic sequences.

Reported earliest by the UK in European countries in January 2020, they were also observed in Italy (93%), northern (73%) and southern parts (77%) of America, Oceania (73%), Africa (77%). This genetic clade produced two subclades, IA and IB observed majorly in Oceania and North America, respectively.

Frequency and geographical distribution of sub-clades 1A and B. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263705.g002

The second clade comprising two variants was present in North America, Spain, Asia (China, Thailand, and Kazakistan), Australia, and Africa (Nigeria and Ghana). The third and fourth clades were majorly observed in Europe. Singaporean and Australian genetic sequences comprised of five and six variants, respectively, whereas Kazakistan and Spain demonstrated the presence of four variants in their genetic sequences.

The four genetic clades constituted the center of 1213 haplotypes. The first, second, and third haplotypes were most commonly observed in South America and Europe, mainly spreading to North America, Africa, and Europe.

Several genetic variants were localized to specific countries, for example, the 313 genetic variants localized in Japan and the variants 29829 and 18877 restricted to Saudi Arabia. The p.Asn501Tyr genetic variant was observed in USA and Brazil in early April and had spread to Australia by June 2020.

Conclusion

Based on the present study results, the authors concluded that multiple SARS-CoV-2 mutated variants exist globally, majorly grouped into four clades with specific geographical localization, representative of the spatial and temporal spread of the mutant strains.

Another observation pointed out by the researchers was that synergistic and simultaneous action of genetic mutations could confer significant clinical advantages to the viral variants in terms of high viral transmission rates and infectivity by enhanced binding to the angiotensinogen conversion enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on human cells.

The study findings highlight the stronghold of the highly infective SARS-CoV-2 virus across the globe. Therefore, strategies and vaccines formulated to target these genetic mutations could improve the standard of care of COVID-19 patients. However, future studies with more uniform geographical representation across nations and correlations between the genetic variability and the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are required to devise more efficient therapeutic policies.
If you get nervous, you might feel it in your gut. If you eat chili, your gut might revolt, but your friend can eat anything and feel great. You can pop ibuprofen like candy with no ill effects, but your friend's belly might bleed and she might get no pain relief. Why is this? The quick answer is because we're all different. The next questions are how different exactly, and what do these differences mean for health and disease? Answering these is much more difficult, but the UNC School of Medicine lab of Scott Magness, PhD, is revealing some interesting scientific answers.

For the first time, the Magness lab used entire human GI tracts from three organ donors to show how cell types differ across all regions of the intestines, to shed light on cellular functions, and to show gene expression differences between these cells and between individuals.

This work, published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, opens the door to exploring the many facets of gut health in a much more precise manner at greater resolution than ever before.

Our lab showed it's possible to learn about each cell type's function in important processes, such as nutrient absorption, protection from parasites, and the production of mucus and hormones that regulate eating behavior and gut motility. We also learned how the gut lining might interact with the environment through receptors and sensors, and how drugs could interact with different cell types." Scott Magness, associate professor, Joint UNC-NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering and senior author of the paper

The sensitive gut

Think of a typical pharmaceutical commercial voiceover when the voice actor pleasantly recites possible side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal bleeding, and other unpleasant collateral damage. Well, the Magness lab is attempting to understand why those side effects happen, down to the level of individual cells, their functions, their locations, and their genes.

For this research, the Magness lab focused on the epithelium: the single-cell thick layer separating the inside of the intestines and colon from everything else. Like other cell populations and the microbiota, the epithelium is incredibly important to human health, and for years scientists have been exploring it. But until now, researchers could only take tiny biopsies the size of grains of rice from a few parts of the digestive tract, usually from the colon or limited regions of the small intestine.

"Such exploration would be like looking at the United States from space but only investigating what's going on in Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and California," Magness said. "To really learn about the country, we'd want to see everything."

Magness leaned on co-first authors, postdoctoral fellow Joseph Burclaff, PhD, and graduate student, Jarrett Bliton, both trainees in the Magness lab.

"Not only do we want to identify where the cells are located, but we want to know exactly which cell types do what, and why," Burclaff said. "So, staying with the map analogy, we don't want to just say, 'oh, there's North Carolina'. We want to know where to get the best barbecue. We want a ground level view to know as much as possible."

In the past, researchers would mash up those rice-sized biopsies to identify all epithelial cell types and learn some general features of these cells. Magness's approach was to sample thousands of individual cells from every part of the lower digestive tract (small intestine and colon) to create an atlas and then study the potential roles of these cells through the genes that each cell expresses. Knowing all of this would deepen scientific knowledge about the gut epithelium and hopefully encourage other scientists to explore each cell's function in biology, in disease, and in the unfortunate scenario of pharmaceutical side effects.

To do such a deep individual cell dive, Magness needed two things: better technology and the entire digestive tracts of humans.

The biology of data

UNC-Chapel Hill acquired state-of-the-art RNA sequencing technology several years ago for the creation of the Advanced Analytics Core Facility through the UNC Center for Gastrointestinal Disease and Biology, which developed the scientific and intellectual heft  research faculty, staff, postdocs, and students  to use state-of-the-art equipment.

The Magness Group acquired human digestive tracts through a research agreement with organ donor services at HonorBridge. When intestines are harvested for transplant and if they are not claimed by higher-priority groups, HonorBridge staff coordinates with the Magness Group to donate the transplant-grade organs for research.

Six to eight hours after harvest, the Magness lab receives intact intestinal tracts, each about 15 to 30 feet long. They remove the epithelial layer, which is one long connected piece of tissue despite being only one cell thick. Then the researchers use enzymes to break down the epithelium into individual cells. For this study, they repeated this for organs from three separate donors.

Using sequencing technology to characterize gene expression, the Magness group first extracts RNA from each cell while keeping each cell separate, and then they run single-cell sequencing, which takes a snapshot of which genes each intestinal cell is expressing and how much.

"The picture we get from each cell is a mosaic of all the different types of genes the cells make and this complement of genes creates a 'signature' to tell us what kind of cell it is and potentially what it is doing," Magness said. "Is it a stem cell or a mucous cell or a hormone-producing cell or an immune-signaling cell?

Burclaff added, "We were able to see the differences in cell types throughout the entire digestive tracts, and we can see different gene expression levels in the same cell types from three different people. We can see the different sets of genes turned on or off in individual cells. This is how, for instance, we might begin to understand why some people form toxicity to certain foods or drugs and some people don't."

A major problem with this kind of research is the sheer amount of data produced. The single cell sequencing picks up about 11,000 'reads', or individual samples of gene products in just one cell, and in many thousands of individual cells, each with different combinations of the 20,000-plus human genes that are turned on or off. This creates almost 140,000,000 data points for all the 12,590 cells in the study that have to be put into a visualizable format so that scientists can make sense of the vast amount of information.

"The human brain can only comprehend two dimensions, three is challenging," Magness said. "Add time, and it's even trickier to comprehend what a single cell is up to. The amount of data our experiments produced was basically millions of dimensions all at once."

Bliton devised computational techniques to filter the data to produce a manageable data set that included cell populations from all portions of the GI tract. Then, based on what Magness and other researchers had already learned of each cell type, Bliton could computationally identify each cell type from each region. He then plotted these data in a manner that humans can understand and interpret.

Reining in the immense data allowed the scientists to learn a lot about each cell type. Consider the tuft cell, discovered 40 years ago and so named because they look as if they have tufts of hair on their surface. Turns out these tuft cells express similar genes as those on taste buds on the tongue. Other researchers discovered that these tuft cells sensed worm infections and sent signals to the immune system to begin waging war. The Magness lab showed that tuft cells exhibit a set of genes thought to be important for sensing and "tasting" other kinds of intestinal content so it can signal the immune system if need be. This would represent a much broader function than sensing if there's a parasite in your gut or not.

"Not only did we describe every single cell type and every single gene they express individually, but we also looked at potential functions," Burclaff said. "If you look at intestinal mucus, which is a complex mixture that protects the cells, we show which cells express various mucin proteins, how much, and in which regions of the digestive tract. We looked at where specific enzymes that digest food are expressed. We looked at cells with anti-inflammatory gene expression and synapse genes where the gut is probably connected to nerves so it can talk to the rest of the body. We looked at aquaporins, proteins involved in transferring water through the intestinal membrane."

What the Magness group found was a whole new level of variation in potential functions that had not previously been appreciated through mashing up biopsy samples.

The researchers explored all epithelial receptors  the cell surface proteins used to communicate with other cells and molecules and with the environment of the gut. Magness and colleagues could see which receptors were expressed the most and in which cell types, painting a new picture of how cells might interact with gut contents such as nutrients, microbes, toxins, and drugs.

"As far as we know, we're the first to do this kind of analysis across the length of the human gut from three full donors," Bliton said. "We can look at each cell type and predict which pharmaceuticals might affect which cell type individually."

For instance, there's a class of drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease; they're designed to hit specific targets, certain immune cells that trigger inflammation. But the Magness lab learned that some epithelial cells express the same genes as those in the immune cells that are intended to be the target. This finding indicates there could be "off-target" effects in epithelial cells that are not intended and could lead to side-effects.

"This was not known," Burclaff said. "Lots of drugs have bad GI side effects. And it could be because the drugs are affecting individual cells along the entire length of the GI tract. We show where these receptors are most expressed and in which cell types."

This kind of knowledge is just one outcome from the Magness lab's initial study.

"We want the scientific, medical, and pharmaceutical community to use what we've found," Magness said. "We adopted an analytic approach to methodically address each cell type, produce easy-to-read and accessible spreadsheets for most scientists, and show several examples of what we can be discovered with this kind of high resolution, precision approach."
The experiences children have at a young age help form their identity and relationships with the natural world-;and where they grow up impacts that environmental identity and sense of place, according to South Dakota State University associate professor Carie Green.

She is examining how family, culture and geographical location shape the way in which children form their environmental identities through a five-year National Science Foundation CAREER grant she received in 2018 while at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Green, who is the Profilet and DeJong Family Endowed Director of Early Childhood Education for the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development, came to SDSU in fall 2021.

"We have the romanticized notion that if we send kids outdoors, the world will be a better place," said Green, who studied children's early place connections while earning her doctorate in 2011 at the University of Wyoming. Her 2018 book, "Children's Environmental Identity Development," outlines a model of environmental identity development which considers not only how the natural environment affects the growth and development of young children but also how children shape and influence natural settings.

She has conducted subsequent studies suggesting children's relationships with nature are more complex. "What I started to see is vast differences in how children were connecting (to nature) depending on their background, culture and experiences," Green said. Her NSF study is the first of its kind to explore-;from the children's point of view-;how they learn to regulate their emotions when exploring nature.

Specifically, she is comparing children living in two different regions in Alaska-;Fairbanks, which has about 100,000 people, and an isolated village with around 700 inhabitants, a majority of whom are Alaskan Native, that is near the Bering Sea.

It is important that we pay attention to these early formative years where they begin to orient themselves toward the environment." Carie Green, Associate Professor, South Dakota State University

What she learns will provide insight on how early childhood educators can encourage deeper connections with place and an awareness about how their actions affect all life.

Tracking development

First, Green used a family survey to understand the different experiences that rural and nonrural children had when in the wilderness. She also had the children draw pictures and describe them to learn about their favorite outdoor activities.

One of the unique aspects of the study involves the children taking turns using a wearable camera that records their interactions with their classmates, teachers and even family members during a nature tour. She and her research team observe each cohort of 20 children first as 4- and 5-year-olds and then as 7- and 8-year-olds in the fall and spring to track their development. Detailed information on the project is available at https://www.sdstate.edu/eidproject.

The initial observations of the Bering Sea cohort took place in fall 2019; however, the spring 20202 visit was unfortunately canceled due to COVID. The research team is scheduled to revisit the village children in fall 2022 and spring 2023 when the children are in the second grade. The only way to get to the village is airplane or dogsled in the wintertime or boat in the summertime.

"Overall, there was more fear demonstrated with the Fairbanks children in comparison with the Bering Sea Cohort," Green said. During their nature explorations, several students negotiated their fear by staying close to their classmates or using self-talk, while another youngster howled like a wolf, negotiating the fear by making himself feel bigger and tougher.

"Though the children growing up in the Bering Sea village are not immune to video games, most are outdoors from the time they can walk and their families depend largely on the environment for survival," she said.

Based on observing the Bering Sea group as preschoolers, Green noticed how attune the children are to their environment. During the outing, a Native Alaskan child standing on the rocks next to the coast talked about seeing a moose on the edge of a bluff about a mile away, even identifying it as a female cow, she recalled. The parent also saw the moose and confirmed the child's observation.

"I've looked at the video 20 times and never been able to spot the moose. This depth of discernment is amazing to me," Green said. She attributes this not only to the hours they spend outdoors but also to the importance of moose to the community. "Everyone plays a role during (the fall) moose season, with the men predominantly doing the hunting and the women preparing the meat. This is part of their livelihood, of who they are."

Furthermore, she noted, "Though they (the children) may not know the scientific name for a bird, for instance, they are so aware of timing and seasons. These kids can teach us some really powerful lessons."

Learning from Indigenous cultures

Encouraging children to become good environmental stewards may require adjusting "what we value and think are meaningful experiences for kids" and integrating Indigenous cultural understanding into early childhood education standards, Green said.

"How children begin to inform how they live in a place, how they see place and their connection with the land teaches us how to connect with each other in deeper ways and makes us aware of how our actions impact not only the environment but also each other," she continued.

"We can all learn from how Indigenous people connect with their places and early childhood is the prime place to do that," Green said. "This is an opportunity to listen to the people whose voices are often marginalized. We have to work together as humans to make the right choices because we see global warming and all sorts of things happening that will take a united collective effort."

As a researcher and teacher, she concluded, "I can begin by encouraging my students in early childhood education to pay attention to ways of knowing with which they may not be familiar."
COVID-19 has sent nearly 900,000 Americans to the hospital in the past two years. A new study shows that the ZIP codes they came from had a lot to do with how sick they were when they got to the hospital, and how much care they needed once they were there.

But those differences disappeared by the time their stays were donewhether they left the hospital alive or dead.

The new findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, show the importance of social and economic inequality in the way the pandemic is playing outincluding how early in their illness people seek or get access to care.

Even after the researchers took into account the underlying health of each person they studied, the social vulnerability index, or SVI, of their home ZIP code still made a difference. SVI combines multiple factors to create a score based on such things as a local areas average income, education level and household density to the percentage of households led by single parents or where English is not the primary language.

The findings could help policymakers target less-privileged areas with more services to prevent and respond to COVID-19 cases; SVI has already been used by the state of Michigan and other states to prioritize COVID vaccination outreach.

The study also shows the role of hospitals in equalizing outcomes for people from unequal backgrounds.

The research team behind the study, from the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado, used data from more than 2,300 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 38 hospitals across Michigan from March to December 2020.

People who lived in the most underprivileged ZIP codes were more likely to have severe symptoms such as low blood oxygen levels when admitted, and to need support for failing lungs and other organs through technologies such as ventilators and dialysis once they were in a hospital bed.

But they were no more likely to die than those from more-privileged areas, and no less likely to go back to their own homes instead of a nursing home.

Outcomes at hospital discharge appear equitable for these patients, but the question is, What leads to the initial disparities in seriousness of illness that they arrive with?' said Renuka Tipirneni, lead author of the new study and an assistant professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine, U-Ms academic medical center.

Are people not getting access to testing or treatment early in their illness? Are there other individual patient-level social risks such as ongoing difficulties with transportation, housing or sick leave at work? Did they delay seeking care because of lack of access?

Tipirneni and colleagues, including Vineet Chopra, the Robert W. Schrier Chair of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, used data from a statewide database called Mi-COVID19 Initiative. Funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan through its Collaborative Quality Initiative effort, it pools anonymous data on people hospitalized with COVID-19.

The study follows up on work that Tipirneni and colleagues published just over a year ago, showing SVI at the county level had much to do with COVID-19 case rates and death rates. But the new analysis of individual patient data and ZIP code-level SVI is much more indicative of the hyper-local conditions that can shape a persons access to and use of care.

Once theyre getting that care, there are equal outcomes, which is encouraging. This analysis zooms in on individual patients, and zooms out on whats influencing their outcomes in their neighborhood. Renuka Tipirneni, lead author of the new study and assistant professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine

She notes that more disadvantaged (higher SVI) areas are found across the state and nation, from very rural areas to the centers of cities. In fact, anyone can use this CDC tool to find the SVI of any ZIP codethe numbers range from 0 (lowest level of social vulnerability) to 1 (highest level).

In the new study, the researchers divided SVI into four quartiles, and looked at differences in percentages of patients who experienced each type of severe symptom, treatment option and outcome by quartile. Differences of several percentage points emerged for most measures, even after factoring out individual patients underlying health status.

One of the things that policymakers, public health authorities and health systems might want to focus on as a result of the new study is how they make information available to people about when and how they should seek care for worsening COVID-19 symptoms, and when to prioritize seeking that care over anything else, the researchers say.

Making information available in multiple languages, and ensuring that outpatient treatment and transportation to appointments are available during the times people need it no matter what their schedule, are two specific things that could make a difference, they say.

High, or worse, SVI has also been shown to correlate with low COVID-19 vaccination rates, so once data from 2021 are available through Mi-COVID19, the team will look at how care and outcomes for people with severe COVID-19 changed once vaccines were available.

The team is also using the Social Determinants of Health Database created by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to explore how other factors not included in the standard SVI measure interact with COVID-19 risks and outcomes.

In addition to Tipirneni and Chopra, the studys authors are Monita Karmakar, Megan OMalley and Hallie Prescott. Tipirneni and Prescott are current members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, to which Chopra also belonged while at U-M before becoming chair of medicine at the University of Colorado.

Several CQIs were involved in data collection and analysis, including the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Collaborative, Michigan Value Collaborative, Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative and Michigan Social Health Interventions to Eliminate Disparities.
New research published in the journal Cell assesses the viromes of 18 different species of game animals across China to predict potential pathogens similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could infect human populations.

Cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections were first identified in animal handlers in the Hubei provinces in China, while similar virus strains were detected in civets, raccoon dogs, and pangolins which were among popular game animals and used for human consumption and global trading. However, there is no significant data about these game animals despite their close contact with human populations and their potential to infect humans with a variety of pathogens.

Study: Virome characterization of game animals in China reveals a spectrum of emerging pathogens. Image Credit: kajornyot wildlife photography / Shutterstock

About the study

The present study conducted a systematic meta-transcriptomic investigation of 18 game animal species to assess the diversity and potential of vertebrae-associated pathogens in these animals to infect human populations.

A total of 3,111 game animals samples were collected from June 2017 to December 2021 at natural habitats of the animals, zoos, and artificial breeding sites in 20 Chinese provinces. Samples were obtained from mammalian species including Hystrix brachyura, Myocastor coypus, Rhizomys pruinosus, Marmota himalayana, Cynomys ludovicianus, Spermophilus dauricus, Callosciurus erythraeus, Sciurus vulgaris, Manis javanica, Manis pentadactyla, Paguma larvata, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Arctonyx collaris, Meles leucurus, Melogale moschata, Vulpes lagopus, Erinaceus amurensis, and Oryctolagus cuniculus. Nasal, pharyngeal, anal, and fecal swabs from live animals and tissue samples from deceased animals were collected.

Marmota himalayana Image Credit: ErezFri / Shutterstock

Sample library construction and ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction was performed by classifying the samples based on species, health condition, location, and feeding condition. RNA extraction was followed by the removal of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) using deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) and host ribosomal RNA to facilitate the preparation of a meta-transcriptome library of each pool. The sequencing reads in each library were quality controlled as per set parameters, while the remaining reads were arranged de novo and compared to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant (nr) protein database. The top blast hit in each library was recognized as a probable virus hit, and information about the taxonomic lineage was obtained.

Viral presence on the RNA samples was verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested RT-PCR. The resulting PCR products were sequenced and compared against the original template.

The relative abundance of a species of virus in each library was estimated based on the number of mapped reads per million total reads (RPM) using reads trimmed as per quality control. These were first mapped to separate ribosomal RNA-related reads, while the unmapped reads were later mapped to verify viral genomes.

Paguma larvata. Image Credit: Ibenk_88 / Shutterstock

Results

The study results showed samples from 18 species belonging to five mammalian orders, namely, Pholidota, Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, Carnivora, and Lagomorpha. Fecal and respiratory specimens collected from the selected species yielded over 3 trillion nucleotide bases that helped in virus discovery and its characterization. A total of 13 viral families, including 102 vertebrate-related viral species and 16 species of viral DNA, were detected via meta-transcriptomic sequencing and verified using RT-PCR. Viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae, Astroviridae, and Parvovirdae were the most common and had a higher abundance and prevalence as compared to the other viral species.

Notably, coronaviruses were detected in Asian badgers, bamboo rats, and civets; however, SARS-CoV- or SARS-CoV-2-related viruses were not found in any of the animal species examined in this study. Over 80% of nucleotide sequence identities were detected between viruses found in the animal species and known disease-causing viruses, namely Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus, Human parainfluenza virus 2, Orthohepevirus A, Norwalk virus, Mammalian orthoreovirus, and Rotavirus A and C.

Out of the 102 vertebrae-related viruses detected in this study, 21 viruses that were believed to pose significant infection risk were examined for epidemiological patterns as perceived zoonotic potential and/or probability of crossing species barriers and infecting other animal species. A tendency of the high-risk viruses to form geographic clusters was observed in the Chinese province as noted in the Miniopterus bat coronavirus in the Hunan province, Influenza B virus in Zhejiang province, Bovine respirovirus 3 in Hebei province, and Mammalian orthorubulavirus 5 in Yunnan province.

A high prevalence of particular viruses and the presence of signature markers of cross-species transmission across different libraries in the same or different species were observed in several viruses. Also, the highest number of pathogens with a greater risk of zoonotic infection were found in civets, followed by porcupines, coypus, bamboo rats, Malayan pangolins, and raccoon dogs.

Conclusion

The study findings showed that game animals could pose as crucial hosts for viruses and result in related diseases in humans as well as domestic animals. Furthermore, the ability of such animal hosts to carry pathogenic viruses may promote chains of viral transmission and the emergence of new viral variants.
Iesha White is so fed up with the U.S. response to covid-19 that she's seriously considering moving to Europe.

"I'm that disgusted. The lack of care for each other, to me, it's too much," said White, 30, of Los Angeles. She has multiple sclerosis and takes a medicine that suppresses her immune system. "As a Black disabled person, I feel like nobody gives a [expletive] about me or my safety."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a strict definition of who is considered moderately or severely immunocompromised, such as cancer patients undergoing active treatment and organ transplant recipients. Still, millions of other people are living with chronic illnesses or disabilities that also make them especially susceptible to the disease. Though vulnerability differs based on each person and their health condition  and can depend on circumstances  catching covid is a risk they cannot take.

As a result, these Americans who are at high risk  and the loved ones who fear passing along the virus to them  are speaking out about being left behind as the rest of society drops pandemic safeguards such as masking and physical distancing.

Their fears were amplified this month as several Democratic governors, including the leaders of California and New York  places that were out front in implementing mask mandates early on  moved to lift such safety requirements. To many people, the step signaled that "normal" life was returning. But for people considered immunocompromised or who face high risks from covid because of other conditions, it upped the level of anxiety.

"I know my normal is never going to be normal," said Chris Neblett, 44, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, a kidney transplant recipient who takes immunosuppressive drugs to prevent his body from rejecting his transplanted organ. "I'm still going to be wearing a mask in public. I'm still probably going to go to the grocery store late at night or early in the morning to avoid other people."

He is especially concerned because his wife and young daughter recently tested positive for covid.

Even though he's fully vaccinated, he's not sure he is protected from the virus's worst outcomes. Neblett participates in a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study tracking transplant recipients' immune response to the vaccine, so he knows his body produced only a low amount of antibodies after the third dose and is waiting on the results of the fourth. For now, he's isolating himself from his wife and two kids for 10 days by staying in his second garage.

"I told my wife when covid first happened, I have to make it to the vaccine," he said. But learning the vaccine hasn't triggered an adequate immune-system response so far is crushing. "Your world really changes. You start wondering, 'Am I going to be a statistic? Am I going to be a number to people that don't seem to care?'"

Scientists estimate that almost 3% of Americans meet the strict definition of having weakened immune systems, but researchers acknowledge that many more chronically ill and disabled Americans could be severely affected if they catch covid.

By summer 2021, scientific evidence indicated that immunocompromised people would likely benefit from a third shot, but it took federal agencies time to update their guidance. Even then, only certain groups of immunocompromised people were eligible, leaving others out.

In October, the CDC again quietly revised its vaccine guidance to allow immunocompromised people to receive a fourth covid vaccine dose, though a recent KHN story revealed that pharmacists unaware of this change were still turning away eligible people in January.

People with weakened immune systems or other high-risk conditions argue that now is the time, as the omicron surge subsides, to double down on policies that protect vulnerable Americans like them.

"The pandemic isn't over," said Matthew Cortland, a senior fellow working on disability and health care for Data for Progress, who is chronically ill and immunocompromised. "There is no reason to believe that another variant won't emerge.  Now is the time, as this omicron wave begins to recede, to pursue policies and interventions that protect chronically ill, disabled, and immunocompromised people so that we aren't left behind."

Several people interviewed by KHN who are part of this community said that, instead, the opposite is taking place, pointing to a January comment by CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky that implied it was "encouraging news" that the majority of people dying of covid were already sick.

"The overwhelming number of deaths, over 75%, occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities, so really these are people who were unwell to begin with," said Walensky, when discussing a study during a television interview that showed the level of protection vaccinated people had against severe illness from covid. "And yes, really encouraging news in the context of omicron."

Although the CDC later said Walensky's remarks were taken out of context, Kendall Ciesemier, a 29-year-old multimedia producer living in Brooklyn, New York, said she was disturbed by the comments.

Walensky's statement "sent shock waves through the disability community and the chronic illness community," said Ciesemier, who has had two liver transplants.

"It was saying the quiet part out loud," she added, noting that though it was likely a gaffe, the strong reaction to it "stemmed from this holistic feeling that these communities have not been prioritized during the pandemic and it feels like our lives are acceptable losses."

When asked by a KHN reporter at the Feb. 9 White House covid press briefing what she wanted to convey to people who feel they are being left behind, Walensky didn't offer a clear answer.

"We, of course, have to make recommendations that are, you know, relevant for New York City and rural Montana," she said, adding that they have to be "relevant for the public, but also for the public who is immunocompromised and disabled. And so, that  all of those considerations are taken into account as we work on our guidance."

Although the CDC currently recommends that vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors if they are in a place with high or substantial covid transmission  which includes most of the U.S.  federal officials have indicated this guidance may be updated soon.

"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," said Walensky during a Feb. 16 White House covid briefing, when discussing whether CDC's covid prevention policies would be altered soon.

But there's no mask break in sight for Dennis Boen, a 67-year-old retiree who has had three kidney transplants. Because his community of Wooster, Ohio, already lacks a mask mandate and few residents voluntarily wear masks, he hasn't felt comfortable returning to many of the social events that he enjoys.

"I quit going to my Rotary Club that I've been a part of for decades," Boen said. "I went once in the summer to a picnic outside and it was like the people who didn't believe [in covid] or didn't care weren't wearing masks and they weren't giving me any space. Therefore, it was just easier to not go."

Charis Hill, a 35-year-old disability activist in Sacramento, California, has postponed two surgeries, a hysterectomy, and an umbilical hernia repair for over a year because Hill didn't feel safe. Delaying has meant Hill has had to take additional medications and eat only certain foods. The surgeries are scheduled for March 21, but now that California's mask mandate has lifted, Hill is thinking about delaying the procedures again.

"I feel disposable. As if my life doesn't have value," said Hill, who is living with axial spondyloarthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, and takes immune-suppressing medication. "I am tired of constantly being told that I should just stay home and let the rest of the world move on."
In a recent study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers investigated the effect of genetic variability based on accessory gene deletions on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and the clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Study: Consecutive deletions in a unique Uruguayan SARS-CoV-2 lineage evidence the genetic variability potential of accessory genes. Image Credit: Naeblys / Shutterstock.com

SARS-CoV-2 has a large genomic constitution encompassing single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) and 12 open reading frames (ORFs) encoding for 26 proteins of structural, non-structural, and accessory types. The increased plasticity and resiliency of accessory proteins enhance the susceptibility of the accessory genes to undergo conformational changes such as insertions and deletions.

The deletions have given rise to mutant accessory variants that enhance viral ability to escape the protective immune mechanisms of the host, thereby increasing viral transmission. Nucleotide alterations lead to amino acid (aa) replacements in the viral molecule. In addition to these configurational substitutions, the insertions and deletions generate mutant variants that lead to the emergence of new viral strains with improved viral infectivity and diversified clinical manifestations.

The ORF7a gene belongs to the N.7 lineage, derived from the B.1.1.33 lineage prevalent in the early COVID-19 phase in Brazil. ORFs encode transmembrane proteins localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi network. After fusion of ORF7a and ORF7b variants into the OFR7ab strain, the viral cells attach to monocytes and reduce their antigen-binding ability along with an overproduction of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines.

Previous studies have established that recurring deletions in the terminal region of the spike (S) viral protein and ORFs of accessory genes contribute to immune evasion and confer resistance to the virus against host antibodies. However, the data is underestimated. Hence, the authors of the current study assessed how genetic variability led to deletions in the ORF7ab mutant variant affects the structure, pathogenicity, and clinical severity of COVID-19.

About the study

In the present study, 51 patients infected with COVID-19 between July 2020 to October 2020 were screened. Thirteen samples comprising oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from these patients, from which RNA was extracted to synthesize complementary DNA (cDNA) via real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

A genomic library was prepared, after which about 500 genomic variants were sequenced and mapped. In addition, the newly sequenced genomes of N.7 lineage were added to the Uruguayan genomes. cDNA was analyzed for the presence of genetic alterations such as single (12 nucleotides variant or ORF7a) deletion and double (12 nucleotides and 68 nucleotides fused variant or ORF7ab) deletions.

A: ORF7a amplicon for the wildtype and 12+68 variants. Artic primers annotations are visualized by blue arrows. B: Chromatogram peaks after capillary electrophoresis, wildtype, and 12+68 variants. C: Zoomed diagram details nucleotide sequence of the double deletion obtained by Sanger sequencing. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263563.g001

Results and discussion

Out of the 13 samples, nine genomic samples showed ORF7a deletions, whereas four samples showed both deletions. The mutant ORF7ab variant contained alterations in the stop codon sequence. The novel frame-shifting 68 nucleotide deletion was located 44 nucleotides away within the terminating domain of the ORF7A variant. All N.7 lineage mutations with deletions showed aa substitutions in R36Q and L37F genomes. The ORF7a variant has four aa deletions in positions 80 to 83 that fuses with the ORF7B variant with deletions in 23 aa at post-96 positions in the 138-codon sequence.

The researchers also evaluated the relationship between viral genomic deletions and the clinical presentation of COVID-19. Patients with deletions exhibited several clinical signs and symptoms along with two deaths, whereas patients with double deletions were either asymptomatic or had mild infections but fully recovered from COVID-19 post-treatment.

Conclusion

In the present study, the generation of the fused ORF7ab variant due to consecutive gene deletions gave rise to a mutant protein that could mimic normal transmembrane proteins and thus escape host immune mechanisms. The emergence of such a mutant could significantly enhance the transmission of COVID-19. The clinical correlation between genetic variability and gene deletions indicated that single-gene deletion was deleterious, whereas double gene mutation had a protective action concerning disease severity and recovery.

According to the team, this was the first case of consecutive gene deletions in SARS-CoV-2. However, future studies with larger sample sizes, genomic analysis of novel strains such as Zeta (P.2) strains and Gamma (P.1) derived from the same B.1.1.28 lineage and fitness analysis to determine the individual effects of the novel 68 nucleotide variant on the clinical course of COVID-19 must be carried out to devise genomic strategies to combat COVID-19.
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers examined whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected white-tailed deer could be the new animal reservoir with the potential to spillback new SARS-CoV-2 variants into humans.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started by spillover from bats to humans in late 2019. Since then, several animal species have become prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. Over a million white-tailed deer live across counties of Pennsylvania (PA), United States; several of them became SARS-CoV-2-infected, raising concern that a new animal reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 is under formation from which new variants may spillback into humans.

About the study

In the present study, researchers used quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swab samples of 93 white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania during fall-winter 2021.

The samples were collected within hours of the animals death, placed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and stored in commercial refrigerators in field offices. These samples were transferred to the University of Pennsylvania within one week of collection and kept at -80C until ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction. The researchers used Chi-squared tests to test for differences in proportions of SARS-CoV-2-positive deer samples by gender, age, and source of deer (volunteer-collected, veterinary technician-collected, hunter-harvested, road-killed, etc.).

The researchers collected human samples following the research protocol reviewed by the University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board. They collected samples from COVID-19-hospitalized subjects, asymptomatic subjects, and symptomatic subjects.

Study findings

Of 93 deer samples, 18 (19.3%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%, and these deer were present in 10 out of 31 Pennsylvania counties surveyed from 2 October 2021 to 27 December 2021. Of 66 volunteer-collected and 27 veterinary technicians-collected deer samples, there were 11 and seven SARS-CoV-2-positives, indicating no difference in the proportion of positives between the two groups.

With a prevalence estimate of 35% in females vs. 7.5% in male deer, the prevalence estimate was higher in female deer; however, there is no data indicating disease symptoms in the study animals. Although, authors noted that deer sampled as road-killed were significantly more likely to be SARS-CoV-2-positive than hunter-harvested 11/66, road-killed 6/13, and other 1/14.

Eight out of 93 samples showed the lowest cycle of threshold (C t ) values in the RT-qPCR, indicating the highest viral RNA levels, thus were subjected to viral whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Subsequently, the authors retrieved seven high-quality genome sequences from deer.

The non-viral genomic sequence reads of deer and human samples were analyzed in parallel. While all deer samples had genomic reads mapped to the deer genome, reads from human samples mapped to the human genome, thus confirming that deer contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection via spillover from human hosts.

The two Alpha sequences sampled from deer in adjoining counties in northeastern PA differed by 45 substitutions, indicating that they were introduced independently into deer and then diversified during transmission within deer. In addition, these deer-derived Alpha genomes appeared, particularly divergent in contrast to the human Alpha genomes sequenced previously in the same region.

Regarding the Delta variants, two deer genomes were assigned to the AY.103 clade and differed only by seven substitutions. Two other deer SARS-CoV-2 genomes fell under the uncommon AY.88 Delta lineage, with only 0.14% of human-derived PA Delta genomes being AY.88; additionally, the last Delta sample belonged to the AY.5 lineage.

Taken together, these findings support at least four independent spillovers of SARS-CoV-2 from humans into deer, two of alpha, and two of the delta, although the mechanism of transmission from humans to deer remains incomprehensible.

Conclusions

The WGS data showed selective persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in white-tailed deer, although this variant had been replaced by the Delta variant in humans long back. Moreover, deer-derived Alpha isolates were significantly divergent from those in humans showing a distinct evolutionary trajectory in deer. However, there is no scientific evidence explaining how SARS-CoV-2 is evolving in new directions in the deer species.

*Important notice



medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Bahrain's real estate sector witnessed solid growth in 2021 with the transactions value surging to BD1 billion ($2.62 billion), up 46 per cent over the previous year, underpinned by landmark government initiatives and an improving outlook, according to global real estate advisor Savills.

Various government initiatives introduced throughout the course of 2021 have helped drive an increase in property transaction values in Bahrain and generated optimism in local market sentiment across the residential sector, stated Savills in its Q4 2021 update on the Bahrain market.

To maintain this strong growth momentum, the government revealed a four-year National Real Estate Plan 2021-2024 in March 2021 to promote investments into the sector, develop innovative real estate enterprises, and preserve all the stakeholders rights, thereby creating a secure and transparent real estate sector.

In October, the government had announced a new national economic growth and fiscal balance plan. The multi-year, five-pillar plan is one of the largest economic reform programmes for the Kingdom and aims to improve Bahrains long-term competitiveness, it stated.

Swapnil Pillai, Associate Director Research, Middle East, said: "Offshoots of a gradual recovery in the market were already visible as the Q4 2021 Savills residential capital value index remained stable. This is the second consecutive quarter where prices across the residential sector remained unchanged across apartments and villas."

"However, on an annual comparison, prices remain on average, 1.6% and 4.2% lower across apartments and villas, respectively, compared to Q4 2020, creating room for increased investments," stated Pillai.

According to him, the residential rental index for Q4 2021 remained relatively stable on a quarterly basis; however, similar to capital values, on an annual comparison, rental values across apartments were 5% more affordable.

The decline in prices was more prominent across the mid-end (3.5% y-o-y) and high-end (1.4% y-o-y) segment, whilst they remained stable across the low-end segment, he added.

On the future outlook, Hashim Kadhem, Head of Professional Services, Bahrain, said: "Looking ahead, we anticipate the high-end sale market will continue to witness delays in absorption with developers unwilling to revise their pricing strategies."

"However, they are still offering extensive incentives with many developers also partnering with banks to offer attractive mortgage products," he stated.

In the commercial segment, Savills said the uncertainty in the office sector in Bahrain was reflected by an average y-o-y drop in office sales prices of nearly 2.9%.

In the rental market, mid-end offices experienced an average y-o-y decrease of 13.3% due to the dual effects of tenants who either sought cheaper, low-end alternatives, or relocated to higher-end office developments that offered competitive rates, stated the property expert.

Kadhem said: "Going forward, a deeper analysis of office space thats required will occur. International tenants are likely to adopt hybrid working practices, leading to downsizing of existing spaces and take-up of smaller spaces."

"Also, there will be an increased focus on the repurposing of older stock that does not meet the Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) requirements of tenants," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
In a recent study posted to the Research Square* preprint server, researchers estimated the impact of antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health on the motor developments of the newborn during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.

Ever since SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019, the rate of prenatal and postnatal depression and stress in pregnant women has increased. In addition, various studies have reported that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic adversely impacts maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Further, poor motor development in kids with motor deficits arising in infancy and early childhood has been correlated with the poor mental health of mothers during pregnancy and following delivery. However, very little information is available on the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on maternal mental health and associated motor deficits in neonates.

Study: Prenatal and postpartum maternal mental health and neonatal motor outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Image Credit: Buritora / Shutterstock

About the study

In the present prospective cohort study, Canadian researchers analyzed the association between prenatal and postnatal depression and stress in mothers and infant motor outcomes within two months of birth during the COVID-19 pandemic through an online survey. Eligible participants were multiple or singleton pregnant women who can read and write English, with an internet connection, aged 18 to 55 years, and at any stage of gestation.

About 1,185 eligible pregnant subjects residing in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, India, United States (US), and several other nations of Europe, Asia, and South America were enrolled for the study via Amazon Mechanical Turk, Prolific, social media adverts from May 2020 to March 2021. Every subject submitted a written informed consent form online before enrolling.

The online questionnaire was procured through Qualtrics at two timestamps: 1) any time during the gestation and 2) within two months of delivery. During the initial time point, data on the subject's age, gender, residing country, occupation, education, and mental and physical health were collected using the survey form. The second time, the information procured by the questionnaire was about the mental health of mothers following delivery and characteristics of neonates such as their birth weight, gestational age, and motor developments.

The participants self-reported depression and stress levels using the Edinburgh Perinatal/Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), respectively. Mothers reported the newborns' fine and gross motor ability using the interRAI 03 Developmental Domains questionnaire.

Results

The results show that of the 1,185 eligible subjects, 117 completed the online prospective survey questionnaire at both timestamps. The Wilcoxon signed ranked test indicates that the perceived depression and stress levels were lower during the postnatal period relative to the prenatal.

Mothers experiencing depression throughout pregnancy and following delivery were a strong negative predictor of the newborn's fine and gross motor ability within the initial two months of life. Although high prenatal and postnatal maternal stress negatively impacted the newborn's motor outcomes, neither prenatal nor postnatal maternal stress reached statistically significant values to foretold the infant's motor function at least in zero to two months old neonates.

According to cluster analysis, the low birth weight and premature babies born to mothers who reported heightened depression symptoms during and after pregnancy had the worst motor outcomes. In contrast, lower gestational age and birth weight infants belonging to mothers who did not experience high depressive symptoms perinatally did not demonstrate impaired motor outcomes.

Further, the normal birth weight and term babies born to mothers who reported elevated symptoms of depression during pregnancy and after delivery was also associated with impairment of motor functions. These observations suggest that the combination of birth factors, such as early delivery and low birth weight, and perinatal depression of mothers link the neonates to high risks of abnormal development.

Conclusions

According to the authors, this is the first study examining the impact of maternal mental health on the motor development of babies during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study findings show that while antenatal and postnatal depression in mothers predicted the motor outcomes of newborns during the initial two months of life, stress observed in mothers during and after gestation did not forecast the motor ability of infants during this period. Further, low birth weight and premature infants of mothers who reported high depressive symptoms during and following the gestational period were potentially associated with an increased risk of poor motor outcomes.

The correlation of perinatal depression in mothers with poor motor development of infants demonstrated in the present study was in line with the previous reports. Since the impact of the poor relationship between depressed mothers and newborns on the impaired motor development of the babies was not evaluated in the current study, this has to be explored in future research.

Although previous studies have reported the negative impact of perinatal maternal stress on the motor outcomes of neonates, the present study did not find this correlation. This observation might be because the trimester period was not an important covariate in the current study, and hence it may have failed to capture the high pregnancy-related stress during the later stages of gestation that are associated with the worse motor outcomes of infants.

Further, the present study only evaluated the newborns for zero to two months of age, which could be too early to detect the impact of maternal stress on their motor development. Thus, further investigations evaluating the influence of perceived perinatal stress on the motor outcomes of the babies for longer durations are warranted.

*Important notice

Preprints with Research Square publish preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The poll workers volunteered to help with the local primary elections on Tuesday.
Jeffersonville Police Chief Kenny Kavanaugh said people who come to Jeffersonville and commit crimes will be pursued.
Tom May is a freelance writer and educator, and a columnist for the News and Tribune. Reach him at tgmay001@gmail.com
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a global initiative led by the UAE and the US, has announced a new target to raise investment commitments from $4 billion, pledged upon its launch in 2021, to $8 billion.



AIM for Climate said it is aiming to achieve this goal by the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.



The ambitious investment goal was announced at AIM for Climates first Ministerial Meeting, held at Expo 2020 Dubai, where government partners discussed the initiatives priorities and plans for COP27.



At the meeting, AIM for Climate welcomed the newest partners Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, the European Commission, Guyana, Mozambique, and Turkey to its coalition, announced AIM for Climate Ideations, a new cooperation opportunity for partners, and 2022 focal areas for innovation sprints to be launched at COP27.



Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: Agriculture and food systems offer immense opportunities for global climate action. By catalysing innovation in climate-smart agriculture, we can reduce harmful emissions and sequester carbon in the sector, sustainably increase productivity to feed a growing global population, and support farmers on the frontlines in building resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change.



While AIM for Climate has had a notable start at COP26, we are raising the bar to mobilize even greater investments and coordinated support to drive global food systems transformation. By working together and drawing on the diverse knowledge and experience of countries and actors across the value chain, we can enable a quantum leap in agricultural innovation and address our shared climate challenges.



US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack added: AIM for Climate government partners today demonstrated their strong commitment to work together to close the investment gap in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, needed to address the twin challenges of global hunger and the climate crisis.



We are proud of the wide range of AIM for Climate partners working to deliver impactful solutions for all people. AIM for Climate seeks to expand its network even farther with new participants from across the globe. The United States looks forward to welcoming all AIM for Climate partners to Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2023 for the AIM for Climate Summit to review our progress and chart out the important work ahead.



At the ministerial meeting, AIM for Climate co-leads, the UAE and the US, launched AIM for Climate Ideations to offer partners opportunities to host events and activities throughout the year in support of advancing the initiatives objectives. These ideations will revolve around insight sharing, innovation collaboration, institutional capacity building, coordination, or demonstration and deployment.



Representing $200 million of increased investments from non-government partners, AIM for Climate features nine innovation sprints, with the newest addition of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. AIM for Climate encourages anyone interested in learning more to get in touch with the innovation sprint points of contact noted on the website.



AIM for Climate is currently accepting innovation sprint proposals for 2022 and has identified four focal areas for innovation sprints to be launched at COP27: smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, methane reduction, emerging technologies, and agroecological research. Learn more about the 2022 AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint Focal Areas here.



Launched at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), AIM for Climate galvanizes support and investments for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to enable solutions at the intersection of global hunger and the climate crisis.  TradeArabia News Service


(Newser)  Neil Cavuto's six-week absence from his Fox Business Network show hadn't been explained to viewers. "I did get COVID again," he said on Monday's Cavuto Coast to Coast, Deadline reports. He'd tested positive last fall, but this time, he said he was dealing with "a far, far more serious strand ... what doctors call COVID pneumonia." Cavuto, whose last appearance on TV was Jan. 10, said he was in intensive care "for quite a while, and it really was touch-and-go," adding, "This was scary."

Dismissing what he called "that grassy knoll theory" about his illness, Cavuto said the problem wasn't the coronavirus vaccine but his "very compromised immune system." His health issues include cancer and multiple sclerosis, he said. "I'm among the vulnerable 3 percenters or so of the population that cannot sustain the full benefits of a vaccine," Cavuto said. "In other words, it simply doesn't last."

The host, who's had the shots, again endorsed the coronavirus vaccine, per CNN. "Doctors say had I not been vaccinated at all, I wouldn't be here. It provided some defense, but that is still better than no defense," he said. He also thanked his network for keeping his illness private. "I wasn't really hiding anything," Cavuto said. "I just felt I wasn't the story." (Read more Neil Cavuto stories.)
(Newser)  The US stands with Ukraine in condemning Russia's recognition of two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine as independent states, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday after a day of fast-movingand alarmingdevelopments in the crisis. The Kremlin's "recognition of the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics' as "independent" requires a swift and firm response, and we will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners," Blinken tweeted. He said Vladimir Putin's move was a "complete rejection of Russia's commitments" under the Minsk accords that were intended to end the separatist conflict, the Washington Post reports.

"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 states borders," Blinken said. "Russias decision is yet another example of President Putins flagrant disrespect for international law and norms." Hours after he confirmed the recognition in a speech that described Ukraine as an American colony with no history as a real country, Putin signed a decree to send Russian troops to the two territories as "peacekeepers." In a statement, the White House said President Biden had spoken to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to "reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Biden told Zelensky that the US would "respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine," the statement said. The White House said Biden had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss a coordinated response. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the recognition of the breakaway as a "very dark sign," the BBC reports. Liz Truss, the UK's foreign secretary, said Britain will coordinate with the EU to "deliver swift sanctions against Putin's regime and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine." (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  A man was arrested in Boston on Monday morning and accused of trying to get into the Franklin Park Zoo's tiger enclosure. Zoo workers say they saw Matthew Abraham, 24, in an area that is not open to the public behind the Tiger Tales exhibit around 8:45am, WCVB reports. "When first seen by staff and approached, he climbed over a gate and quickly exited the area," zoo officials say. Zoo security detained him. He was evaluated by Boston Emergency Medical Services and deemed mentally competent, and after he declined any additional medical care, Massachusetts State Police arrested him. The zoo says Abraham also broke into the zoo, which was not open at the time, by climbing over a gate, NBC Boston reports. He allegedly climbed over multiple barriers and ignored signs telling him to stay out of the area near the enclosure.

Abraham, who faces charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct, was released on bail, and later gave interviews to multiple outlets. The Worcester State University biology student insists he was not trying to get inside the enclosure and was 20 yards away when approached by zoo staff; he tells NBC Boston it would be "reckless" to enter a tiger enclosure. "To get in and have a tiger eat me alive? No," he said. But he also told WCVB, "They say it's something called the eye of the tiger. They say the eye of the tiger is the most dangerous thing you'll ever see in your whole life." Asked if he was trying to get close enough to the tiger to look into its eye, he said, "Yes. They say that the soul is visible through the eye." He says the tiger growled at him from behind a fence. (Read more weird crimes stories.)
(Newser)  Colombia's Constitutional Court issued an order Monday decriminalizing abortion, making the country fourth in Latin America to do so. Under the ruling, abortions will be allowed up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in Colombia, a widely Roman Catholic country, the AP reports. The decision was announced in a press release by the court following a debate among the justices. Before the ruling, Colombia allowed abortions only when a womans life was in danger, a fetus had malformations, or a pregnancy resulted from rape.

Colombias court decision was called historic by activists in the country. Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina, Uruguay, and Cuba also allow abortions without restrictions. Latin America is also a region where some countries prohibit the termination of pregnancy without exception, including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

(Read more Colombia stories.)
(Newser)  Russian President Vladimir Putin got the world's attention with his speech Monday. He announced that Russian troops are being deployed to Luhansk and Donetsk for "peacekeeping operations" while laying out his grievances concerning Ukraine. The address was met with widespread condemnation around the world, per the New York Times, as well as in the US. Reaction came from:

A Washington Post editorial : "This is the way the postwar world ends, and the post-Cold War world, too: not yet with a bang, and not with anything close to a whimper, but with a rant. ... Rebutting Mr. Putin's arguments is almost beside the pointit's doubtful even he believes his wild accusations about Ukraine as a future platform for NATO aggression."

: "This is the way the postwar world ends, and the post-Cold War world, too: not yet with a bang, and not with anything close to a whimper, but with a rant. ... Rebutting Mr. Putin's arguments is almost beside the pointit's doubtful even he believes his wild accusations about Ukraine as a future platform for NATO aggression." Lithuania : "Putin just put Kafka and Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator's imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross. What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come."Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, per the New York Times

: "Putin just put Kafka and Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator's imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross. What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come."Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, per the New York Times Tom Nichols, writing in the Atlantic : "The speech was, in many places, simply unhinged. ... Putin has now affirmed that he refuses to accept the outcome of the Cold War and that he will fight to dismantle the European system of peace and security constructed by the international community after its end. This is Vladimir Putin's forever war."

: "The speech was, in many places, simply unhinged. ... Putin has now affirmed that he refuses to accept the outcome of the Cold War and that he will fight to dismantle the European system of peace and security constructed by the international community after its end. This is Vladimir Putin's forever war." Shaun Walker, writing in the Guardian : "It seems likely that Putin has much more in mind than simply taking a nibble out of Ukraine's east and taking formal responsibility for territories he already de facto controlled. Putin's 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."

: "It seems likely that Putin has much more in mind than simply taking a nibble out of Ukraine's east and taking formal responsibility for territories he already de facto controlled. Putin's 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." Ukraine: "We are on our own land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone."President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a televised response to Putin

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  As police pulled a man from his car and arrested him outside a McDonald's in Utah on Monday afternoon, they saw a gun emerge from the backseat. An officer was able to push it away just as it went off. The alleged shooter? The man's 4-year-old son, whom police say was directed by his father to shoot at police, KSL reports. The incident began when the man went through the fast food franchise's drive-thru and became angry when his order wasn't correct. Police say he brandished a gun at employees, who told him to pull around the side of the restaurant so they could bring him the right food. Instead, they called police. Police say the man wouldn't get out of his car when they arrived on the scene, but they eventually pulled him out and then the gun appeared as they were taking him into custody.

The Salt Lake County sheriff says the officer who respondedwho received a minor arm injury from the gun's "blast," but not from the bullet, which hit an awningis a hero, especially because he quickly shouted "Kid! Kid! Kid!" so no officers would return fire. Witnesses say they heard the father instructing the boy to shoot, ABC 4 reports. The boy's 3-year-old sister was also in the backseat; they were released to relatives. The Division of Child and Family Services is investigating, KUTV reports. The father faces charges of felony child abuse and threatening the use of a dangerous weapon, Fox 13 reports. "This campaign against police officers, this needs to stop," the sheriff says. "We're here to protect and serve, and this is getting out of hand." (Read more Utah stories.)
(Newser)  Type 2/22/22 into Google's search engine today and your screen will be showered with virtual confetti including some in the shape of the numeral 2, and a sign reading "Happy Twosday 2 You!" Yes, it's Feb. 22, 2022, which, when written as 2/22/22, is not just a palindrome date (the numerals read the same backward and forward) but a date in which all the numerals are the same. That means it won't occur quite like this again for 11 years, on March 3, 2033 (3/3/33), Thrillist reports. This month, we get a whopping 10 palindromic dates, which started with Groundhog Day on 2/2/22, then re-started on 2/20/22 and will stretch every day from then until the final day of February.

Not only that, but 2/22/22 falls on a Tuesday. If you're looking to celebrate, a good time to do so might be at 10:22pm, which will be 22:22 on 2/22/22; or, if you prefer, you can pick 2:22am or 2:22pm. (And here's a list of food deals you can order on the special day if you are planning a celebration; it involves things that cost $2.22, are 22% off, are 2 for the price of 1 ... you get the idea.) For more reading on "Twosday," the New York Post talks to astrologers about the significance of the date; the Washington Post talks to quite a few people who are pretty excited about it (and one numerologist who is not); and the Conversation has a piece on why numbers like this have long fascinated people. (Read more strange stuff stories.)
(Newser)  Jaida Benjamin, the actor who portrays Kelly in Netflix's Family Reunion, has been reported missing. The 27-year-old was last seen around 6:30pm Saturday in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, wearing a purple crop top, pink jogging shorts, and white sneakers, according to the LAPD, which does not suspect foul play at this time. Benjamin's mother put out a plea for information on Instagram. "Never thought I'd ever have to make this type of post," she wrote, per Deadline. "My baby is missing please help me find her. I can't breathe." The actor is described as 5'3, 115 pounds, with black hair in dreadlocks and black eyes, according to a flyer shared Monday by Benjamin's aunt, per the Hollywood Reporter. (Another actor reported missing in Los Angeles was found dead.)
(Newser)  Shortly before the holidays, Meghan McCain decided to spend some of the free time she has now that she's no longer on The View watching a little TV and writing about it. The focus of the column she ended up penning for the Daily Mail was on And Just Like That, the Sex and the City reboot that she blasted for its "wokeness," noting that it left her feeling "disappointed and depressed" after just two episodes. Her biggest beef: that the show airing on HBO Max is "dedicated to microaggressions" and has mistakenly (in her view) added characters such as a queer, nonbinary co-host on a podcast that Carrie (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) appears in. "Because it's so boring and un-evolved to be a straight white woman," McCain eye-rolls in her critique, adding that she feels the diverse characters who were introduced almost seem as if "they were written into the script to satisfy the PC censors."

She concludes: "Wokeness kills everything and I am disappointed to tell you that And Just Like That is another victim of Hollywood trying to placate a specific audience and not the original one." Over the weekend, Andy Cohen welcomed several of the actors from the show onto his Sirius XM program, and they broached McCain's commentsand, not surprisingly, disagreed with her take, per People. "I disagree," Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda in the series, said right off the bat. "Because people know [the show] so well, they've sort of enshrined it in nostalgia. But this is a show that has always pushed every kind of boundary." Most important, she said, was to keep the characters "out of their comfort zones. ... We don't want to see them comfortable."

Kristin Davis, the show's Charlotte, added that while viewers may not "know how to think about" the reboot, "it gives so much possibility, and we are living in a different time, and it brings all of that in in a way that I found very organic." Nicole Ari Parker, who plays newcomer Lisa, was more blunt. "Comments like that always say more about the person saying them," she noted, adding that for McCain, "maybe it is too much for you. For these characters in New York City, it's not." McCain hasn't been the only one to raise an eyebrow at And Just Like That's format, however. HuffPost points out the show has been "widely polarizing," and that even a New York Times review says its updating "for an era of diversity is painful." Watch more of the actors' comments here. (Read more Meghan McCain stories.)
(Newser)  Russias UN ambassador has accused the United States and its Western allies of egging Ukraine toward an armed provocation. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night, Vassily Nebenzia accused Ukraine of sharply increasing shelling in residential areas of the separatist Luhansk and Donetsk regions and in Russian towns and villages near the border. He said Ukraine has concentrated a 120,000-strong military contingent along the contact line with pro-Russian separatists in the east and subversive groups have penetrated or tried to penetrate the territory known as the Donbas to sabotage critical infrastructure. 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.

Nebenzia said thats why President Vladimir Putin announced earlier Monday that Russia will recognize Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states and is putting Russian troops into the two states as peacekeepers. 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. Nebenzia said Russia was open to diplomacy but wouldn't allow a new bloodbath in the Donbas, urging the United States and other Western nations to not worsen the situation. More from the emergency meeting here.

(Read more Ukraine stories.)
Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Kuwait, has officially launched a new supermarket in the Khairan area, within the Ahmadi Governorate.

The opening sees Carrefour introduce its ninth store in the country and reaffirms the brands ongoing expansion strategy which aims to support, grow, and help the communities it serves prosper.

It also highlights Majid Al Futtaims commitment to helping drive economic growth across the Mena region through job creation and economic diversification.

The new store has an area of 2,000 sq m and offers 15,000 high-quality local and imported products. Thanks to its convenient location, the store will provide greater accessibility to customers from neighboring areas.

Ahmed Mohamed, Country Manager of Carrefour Kuwait at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: Today we celebrate another chapter of our story, one that showcases Carrefours dedication to connecting with its customers to deliver a stellar service. Our new store will provide accessibility, and efficiency in terms of reach and product availability. We are proud to be serving our customers and establishing the infrastructure to meet growing demand.

Carrefour continues to provide exceptional value to its loyal customers through "MyCLUB", the loyalty programme from Carrefour. The programme provides customers with targeted promotions based on their shopping behavior, in addition to exclusive discounts and Cash Back offers that allow users to redeem up to 11% of the value of their purchases. -- TradeArabia News Service
(Newser)  Dr. Paul Farmer, a US physician, humanitarian, and author renowned for providing health care to millions of impoverished people worldwide, and who co-founded the global nonprofit Partners in Health, has died. He was 62. The Boston-based organization confirmed Farmer's death on Monday, calling it "devastating" and noting he unexpectedly passed away in his sleep from an acute cardiac event while in Rwanda, where he'd been teaching, per the AP. Farmer was a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of the division of global health equity at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He wrote extensively on health, human rights, and social inequality, according to Partners in Health.

Partners in Health, founded in 1987, said its mission is "to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care." The organization began its work in Cange, a rural village in Haiti's central plateau, and later expanded its operations to regions including Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder traveled with Farmer for a month as the doctor treated prisoners and impoverished people in Haiti, Moscow, and Paris. "He couldn't obviously go and cure the whole world all by himself, but he could, with [the] help of his friends, give proof of possibility," Kidder says. One of Kidder's 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.

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 naysayers, who think it's somehow OK for some people to get health care and others not," Kidder said. "It just drove him nuts." Michelle Karshan, vice president of a nonprofit prison health care system in Haiti who worked closely with Farmer, said he was determined, innovative, and always knew how to get around obstacles and bureaucracy. "He didn't take no for an answer," she said. "He didn't think anybody was too poor or too illiterate to be entitled to receive health care."

She noted that when the World Health Organization resisted giving HIV medication to people who were illiterate in Haiti for fear they wouldn't know when or how to take it, Farmer set up his own program and created a chart that relied on the sun's position. He also hired people known as "accompaniers" who'd hike through Haiti's rough mountainous terrain to make sure patients had water and food and were taking their medications. "I'm so sad for all the people who are not going to have him in their lives. He was there for everybody," Karshan said. Farmer is survived by his Haitian wife, Didi Bertrand Farmer, and their three children.

(Read more Paul Farmer stories.)
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(Newser)  Three liberal members of San Francisco's city school board were booted last week, and while some say not to read too much into one local vote, others are concerned that the special election could be a "bellwether" of sorts for nationwide politics. In that latter camp is Michael Bloomberg, who, in an op-ed on, well, Bloomberg, frets about "a wipeout in November, up and down the ballot" for the Democratic Party unless it shifts to a more moderate path that can appeal to swing voters. The former New York City mayor and presidential candidate writes that the "political earthquake" that took place in California should serve as a "dire warning" to Dems, "because the same fault line stretches across the country and the tremors are only increasing." Bloomberg outlines the three main factors he saw that led to the San Francisco oustersfactors he believes could play a role in other parts of the US.

First, he notes Dems have to prioritize getting kids into (and keeping them in) schools, which didn't seem to be a priority in San Francisco, "even when it was clear that doing so was safe" during the pandemic. Bloomberg also blasts that city's board for becoming mired in political correctnessit focused on changing controversial school names instead of reopening schoolsand for nixing merit-based admission to one of its area high schools. "Lowering standards in the name of fairness only exacerbates injustice and inequality," he writes. "Voters understand this, and they will keep casting their ballots for candidates who do, too." In short, Bloomberg is still pulling for Democrats to stay strong so they're able to "[beat] back the Republican Party's dangerous turn toward authoritarianism." That won't happen, though, if there's not an "immediate course correction," he notes. Read his piece in its entirety here. (Read more Michael Bloomberg stories.)
(Newser)  A century and a half after it was removed from Easter Island, a giant moai is about to head home. The 1,500-pound moai statue housed at Chile's National Museum of Natural History since 1878 will next week begin a five-day journey back to Easter Island, a Chilean territory, concluding a yearslong repatriation campaign. The Indigenous Rapa Nui have been fighting for years to retrieve moaisometimes called Easter Island headstaken from the Pacific island, including one housed at the British Museum since 1869. This monolith, one of hundreds carved centuries ago in honor of the Rapa Nui's ancestors, was taken by the Chilean navy in 1870, then deposited at the museum in 1878, per AFP.

"For the first time, a moai will return to the island from the mainland," Minister of Culture Consuelo Valdes said, per Reuters. The return "is profoundly significant as a gesture towards our Indigenous peoples," added museum curator Cristian Becker, per AFP. A museum statement noted that "for the Rapa Nui, their ancestors, funerary objects, and ceremonial materials may be as alive as members of their communities themselves." Rapa Nui community members on Monday held a traditional ceremony to honor the statue at the national museum in Santiago, which still holds two smaller moai, ahead of the departure in a week's time. It had been delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is essential that the moai return to my homeland," said Rapa Nui rep Veronica Tuqui. "For [the community] and for me, this day is very much awaited." The moai is to be taken by truck to the port city of Valparaiso, then loaded onto a boat for a five-day journey covering some 2,300 miles, per AFP and Reuters. It will then be kept at the Padre Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. Talks on the return of the British Museum's Hoa Hakananai'a continue. So far, the museum hasn't given any indication that it will hand over the moai, but it says it's working "to develop mutually beneficial projects with artists, scholars, and other community members in Rapa Nui." (Read more Easter Island stories.)
(Newser)  You'd think a person would be tripping over their words with six different languages bouncing around in their head. Not so for journalist Philip Crowther, who showed the world Monday just how eloquent he could be while covering the Russia-Ukraine crisis in English, Luxembourgish, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German. A video Crowther shared on Twitter, showing him speaking all six languages with news organizations around the world from Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, has been viewed some 10.3 million times in a little over 24 hours. The video has been reshared on YouTube, where Crowtheran AP international affiliate correspondentpreviously posted a video showing his multilanguage coverage of President Biden's inauguration.

On Twitter, Wall Street Journal news editor Anthony DeRosa pointed out there were at least three marriage proposals in the comments on Crowther's most recent video. "Ha! That's why I do this thing I do," Crowther joked, adding he is "actually happily married." Now based in Washington, DC, he was born in Luxembourg to a British father and German mother, which explains some of his language prowess, per the Huffington Post. He previously told KTRK that he picked up French in school in Luxembourg, then learned Spanish and Portuguese in college. He holds a bachelor's degree in Hispanic studies from King's College London, as well as a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism from University of the Arts London, per NDTV. (Read more viral video stories.)
(Newser)  Do Russia's actions in Ukraine constitute an invasion? The answer is important because it will determine the severity of response from the US and other nations. Earlier Tuesday, an EU official described Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops to two self-described republics this way: "I wouldn't say that [it is] a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil." And the White House position? The word "invasion" is now in use, notes the Washington Post, something Politico describes as a "rhetorical shift."

The term: "We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine," White House national security official Jonathan Finer told CNN. "I think 'latest' is important here," Finer added. "An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. But Russia has been invading Ukraine since 2014," he said, referring to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

"We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine," White House national security official Jonathan Finer told CNN. "I think 'latest' is important here," Finer added. "An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. But Russia has been invading Ukraine since 2014," he said, referring to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Did not misspeak: When pressed on the point, Finer responded: "I don't know how much more clear I can be. ... This is the beginning of an invasion. ... I mean, again, I guess for the third or fourth time, I am calling it an invasion."

When pressed on the point, Finer responded: "I don't know how much more clear I can be. ... This is the beginning of an invasion. ... I mean, again, I guess for the third or fourth time, I am calling it an invasion." The shift: Previously, White House officials avoided the word because President Biden has said an invasion would trigger a full slate of severe sanctions on Moscow, notes the AP. So far, those penalties haven't been unleashed. Why the change? "The White House decided to begin referring to Russia's actions as an 'invasion' because of the situation on the ground," per the AP, citing an anonymous US official. Biden himself was to speak later Tuesday.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden says Russia is being hit with heavy sanctions for moves on Ukraine the US considers a "flagrant violation of international law." The president said a "first tranche" of sanctions will include "full blocking" of two major financial institutions and sanctions on Russian debt, as well as sanctions on the country's elite and their family members, the Washington Post reports. "That means weve cut off Russias government from Western finance, Biden said, per the AP. "It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either." The EU has also moved to place sanctions on Russia and Germany has suspended approval of a major pipeline project.

Biden said Russia's actionsincluding the deployment of troops to two rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine that Moscow recognized as independent states Mondayare the beginning of an invasion. "Who in the Lords name does Putin think gives them the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belong to his neighbors? the president said said. "This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community." He said that while the US "has no intention of fighting Russia," he has authorized "defensive moves" including the deployment of American troops already in Russia to the Baltic states bordering Russia.

In remarks that the Guardian describes as a "dry explanation" with "explosive consequences," Vladimir Putin confirmed Tuesday that Russia will support the territorial claims of Donetsk and Luhansk, the territories it recognized Monday. The claims go far beyond the line of control between pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian forces, suggesting Russia plans to move forces further into Ukraine. Putin declined to say whether he would send troops into more Ukrainian territory. He said "difficult questions" could be resolved with negotiations between the "current Kyiv government" and leaders of the rebel-held territories, though Kyiv has no history of direct negotiations with the separatist leaders. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
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Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 32F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 32F. Winds light and variable.
Alaska_news

Attorneys seek new trial in Sophie Sergie murder conviction

Robin Wood for the News-Miner Steven Harris Downs is flanked by state troopers as he enters a Fairbanks courtroom Aug. 14, 2019, for arraignment. Robin Wood for the News-Miner News-Miner screenshot This image of Sophie Sergie was taken April 25, 1993, on Murphy Dome in Fairbanks. It was shown in court Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, during the trial of Steven Downs, who convicted of her death. The court granted prior permission to use this screenshot for this purpose. Liv Clifford/News-Miner Alaska Native Womens Resource Center operations manager Martha Bravo, center, and program specialist Janelle Chapin, far right, hold a vigil with other supporters Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, outside Rabinowitz Courthouse. Liv Clifford/News-Miner Supporters and trial watchers hold a vigil Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, outside Rabinowitz Courthouse in honor of Sophie Sergie, who was murdered in April 29, 1993, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Attorneys for Steven Downs, the Maine man convicted of killing 20-year-old Sophie Sergie in 1993, filed a motion for a new trial, alleging that misconduct by prosecutors compromised the defendants right to a fair trial.

The motion, filed last week by lead defense attorney Jim Howaniec, presents grounds for an acquittal, or alternatively, a new trial in Fairbanks Superior Court.

There are four grounds that we cited as to why we should have, at the very least, a new trial, Howaniec said. We think the motion pretty much speaks for itself.

In the motion, the defense accused the state of engaging in misconduct, arguing that prosecutors improperly presented witnesses with the intent of misleading the jury during the trial, which included testimony from Downs college girlfriend Kate Lee.

Ms. Lee testified that Steven owned a gun at the time of the murder in 1993, the motion reads. The state presented this and other misleading testimony from Ms. Lee, even though she had previously testified, under oath, that she was recanting such testimony.

The motion further claims that certain privileged phone calls between Downs and his attorneys were illegally monitored by the state.

Less than 12 hours after engaging in a highly confidential discussion of trial strategy with Downs at the Fairbanks Correctional Center, Howaniec and defense attorney Jesse Archer received an unusual email from Assistant Attorney General Christopher Darnall. The email alerted the attorneys that the Alaska Department of Corrections records phone calls made by in-custody inmates.

The timing of this odd email raised very serious concerns that phone calls between Mr. Downs and his attorneys were being illegally monitored by the State, the motion states. This was a warning that had not been made by the State during the prior three years since Steven was arrested.

Howaniec previously motioned for a judgment of acquittal after the state rested its case during week three of the trial. Judge Thomas Temple denied the motion.

Downs, 47, of Auburn, Maine, was convicted of sexual assault and murder in the death of Sergie, of Pitkas Point, who was found raped, stabbed and shot in a dormitory bathtub at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on April 26, 1993. Downs had been a student at the time of Sergies death and lived in the upper-campus dormitory where her body was discovered.

He was arrested in 2019 and extradited to Alaska after a family member submitted DNA to a genealogy website that reportedly matched DNA from the crime scene.

A DNA sample provided by Downs confirmed that his genetic profile matched the semen found inside Sergie. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained his innocence throughout the case.

Under Alaska state law, the defense must file a motion for a new trial within five days of the jurys verdict, which was read on Feb. 10, Howaniec explained.

Downs faces a maximum sentence of 99 years in prison. He will be held without bail until his sentencing hearing in September.
Marhaba France Expo Special Edition is set to return to Dubai on March 10 and 11 with a delegation of 60 exhibitors from across the most iconic regions of France.

The two-day event, taking place at the Expo 2020s Pavillon France and the Raffles Hotel Dubai, will host 130 travel professionals from the Middle East, and exceptionally for this edition, travel professionals from India, Israel and Russia.

By bringing together travel agents from these markets, the event aims to encourage business across the travel sector. The attendees will have the opportunity to interact with French tourism boards, unmissable French tourist attractions, high-end shopping facilities, hotels, palaces, DMCs, transportation companies and amusement parks, said a statement from Atout France.

Karim Mekachera, Regional Director Middle East & Turkey of Atout France, commented: Expo 2020 showed us how important it is to bridge links between France, the Middle East and beyond to create great business opportunities. By working together with my homologues from Atout France India, Israel and Russia offices, we aim to create an international space where our French partners will network with an outstanding sample of travel professionals from twelve different countries at once.

Beside 2,500 scheduled business meetings on the Marhaba platform, Atout France will host two special evenings on March 10 and 11 with industry professionals, with Ambassador of France to the UAE Xavier Chatel and the CEO of Atout France Caroline Leboucher set to be in attendance. - TradeArabia News Service
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cassation Court has upheld the sentence issued against a Bahraini man who was tried for disfiguring his ex-wifes face by a chemical compound.

The defendant, divorced from his wife, was initially sentenced to two years in prison, but the Appeals Court increased it to five years which was upheld by Cassation Court.

He reportedly poured acid on the victims face following disagreements, causing permanent wounds in her face which were deemed as 15% disability.

The incident happened while the woman was at the defendants family house.

I was sitting at his family house and he requested me to go with him to the kitchen to show him to use the cooker.

He locked the door when I entered and he asked me about the nature of my relationship with one of the men.

I denied knowing him and he tried to kiss me, the woman told prosecutors.

I refused, and I sat down. I cried and I screamed for help. However, he attacked me and attempted to strangle me.

I pushed him and he poured an agent on my face.

I touched my face and I was shocked to find my skin was melting.

I discovered that he poured acid on my face, she added. The defendant said, however, that he was holding a glass and it fell by mistake from his hand.

He was charged with causing 15% disability to the woman.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) plans to boost its efforts to attract more regional and international tourists to Bahrain through an integrated programme of activities that includes organising international events throughout 2022 and promoting tourism in Bahrain to the regional and international markets.

This initiative is part of the Kingdom of Bahrains 2022- 2026 tourism strategy launched last November as one of the projects that fall under the Kingdoms Economic Recovery Plan.

BTEA has inked 49 tourism marketing agreements with tourism organisations throughout the world, through which it will launch promotional campaigns in 16 countries, including nine tourist markets that Bahrain will access for the first time.

The UAE, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine are among the countries covered by the agreements.

This is in addition to the markets in which the authority is primarily active, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UK, India, Russia, Germany and France.

BTEA Chief Executive Officer Dr Nasser Qaedi said that attracting more tourists from outside Bahrain is a top priority for the authority as part of its efforts to revitalise the tourism sector, owing to the economic and social importance of international tourists.

Our efforts to attract international tourists include extending their stay in Bahrain by providing a comprehensive calendar of events for individuals and groups, Dr Qaedi said.

Dr Qaedi stated that BTEA is eager to work with all partners inside and outside of Bahrain to achieve the programmes objectives, particularly because the revitalisation of international tourism would have a positive impact on the national economy, resulting in more job opportunities and increased tourism investment projects that will, in turn, lead to increasing the tourism contribution to the GDP.

BTEA is eager to maximise the tourism sectors benefit from this programme and increase tourism establishments revenues, while also encouraging everyone in the tourism industry, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, tour operators, to participate in this programme by continuing to develop in their respective fields, as well as the continuous improvement of tourism services, Dr Qaedi added.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Director-General of Traffic, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa, announced yesterday that the Seven External Service Centres processed more than 280,000 applications that required in-person attendance in 2021.

He said that the directorate also provided a host of e-traffic services last year.

He said that the centres had contributed to reducing the waiting periods and speeding up the processing of applications.

He said that the e-services have been witnessing ongoing development through e-platforms, Bahrain.bh and e-Traffic app
Prince Hisahito of Japan has been accused of plagiarism in an essay that had made headlines because of the award it brought to its author.

The Japanese Imperial Household responded the following day with a press release saying that the description of [the Princes] reference list was inadequate and that Hisahito would review said list to check if more sources needed to be added, aside from the one pointed out by the magazine.

The essay in question was about the Ogasawara Islands and was based on memories of a trip the Prince took to the place with his mother, Princess Kiko when he was a child.

The essay even brought him a prize, which he received in a virtual ceremony in March 2021. The school he attended at the time, Ochanomizu University Junior High School, took part in the Kita-Kyushus 12th Childrens Nonfiction Literature Award.

The Princes essay took second place and was selected for the honour among 97 other writings. Kita-Kyushu is a city in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan, and every year is responsible for awarding the prizes.

On 15 February, the Imperial Household was approached by The Asahi Shimbun, a magazine devoted to Asian and Japanese topics, concerning the fact that certain parts of the essay  very closely resembled a source that was not mentioned, according to the filing. ...continue reading
Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

In regard to Australia's hype of a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel pointing a laser at an Australian patrol aircraft, here comes the truth. It was the villain - Australia - sued its victims. An Australian defense plane made dangerous moves toward a Chinese naval vessel, but Australia turned around and blamed China. However, such a move is consistent with Australia's "character."

On Monday, the spokesman of China's Ministry of National Defense said that the Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft operated near the Chinese vessel flotilla with a minimal distance of only four kilometers. The Chinese vessels were sailing normally in international waters, which conform to the relevant international laws and international practices. Against this backdrop, the fact that an Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft came within only four kilometers from Chinese ships for surveillance was highly provocative.

Worse still, the Australian plane also dropped sonobuoys around Chinese ships. Such a move means it was preparing to detect if there were Chinese submarine activities and possibly force PLA submarines, if there were any, to surface. This went far beyond the scope of "unprofessional," and became a practice of military hostility. Such a malicious and provocative behavior could easily lead to a misunderstanding and misjudgment, threatening the vessels, the aircraft and the safety of the personnel on both sides.

In the face of such malicious provocations, China maintained safe, standard and professional actions throughout the process, and did not take the initiative to announce the ugly actions of the Australian patrol aircraft to the international community. Instead, China chose to keep a low profile and remain restraint. This is China's goodwill toward regional stability as a responsible major country. However, Australia has been slandering China without telling the full story. Australia has played the trick of a thief crying to stop a thief to the utmost.

The key information China released was missing from the statement of the Australian defense department or from the remarks of Prime Minister Scott Morrison or Defense Minister Peter Dutton.

They just repeatedly claimed that "a Chinese navy ship fired a laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft" and that the Australian government "would always stand up to China's coercion, bullying and intimidation." These remarks show their persecutory delusions.

Morrison, in particular, seemed extremely frantic. He spoke out on the matter for two days in a row, each time more vehemently, demanding a "full investigation" from Beijing. He also put forward an inconceivable hypothesis that if an Australian frigate points a laser at a Chinese surveillance aircraft in the Taiwan Straits, "Could you imagine their reaction to that in Beijing?"

This provocative analogy was in fact a sensational campaign stunt designed to play the "anti-China card" with the opposition Labor Party, and to compete with his opponent Dutton over who is better at political hype as the general election is approaching, completely disregarding the truth, let alone justice.

Australia has shown such a high profile without much self-awareness in recent years, as if it is no longer a good US lackey if it does not do so. Australia established an AUKUS alliance with the US and the UK last year, preparing to build and deploy a fleet of nuclear submarines with long-range capability. It also touted that Australia must be prepared to "send off, yet again, our warriors to fight." Its warships have also frequently swaggered in the South China Sea from time to time, and they claimed to attempt to break into waters within 12 nautical miles around Chinese islands and reefs. Australia's military ambitions are expanding like never before. As a result, the farce of bullying others by flaunting his powerful connections often appears.

It is now clear that Australia's claim that its patrol plane was fired at with laser light by a Chinese naval vessel is nothing but a fault-finding farce directed and performed by Australia itself. Of course, this is not Australia's own creation. The US had been embarrassed by China several times in this regard. Australia even copied the US on how to find fault with China. Australia deserves its title as an "anti-China vanguard of the US." Meanwhile, it showed the international community who is the destabilizing factor in the region.

As for Morrison's so-called "intimidation" from the Chinese side, what he needs to do now is not to seize the microphone of the media, but to tell his defense minister that only by following the rules can there be safety.
The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will showcase the quaint region of Murcia in Spain until February 23 during the Murcia Week with events aimed at highlighting the regions many offerings and commercial prospects.



Bringing to life Murcias business, lifestyle, cultural, tourism, and gastronomic potential at Dubai Expo 2020, the showcase will see the participation of forty companies from sectors as diverse as footwear and agricultural technology, water conservation and heritage.



Over the three days, visitors can experience an array of cultural and gastronomic experiences and performances including food tastings, flamenco shows by Carlos Pinana and 'showcooking' by Jose Miguel Cremades, from Grupo Cangreja, and Juan Guillamon, from Alma Mater restaurant.



The event will be attended by Valle Miguelez  Regional Minister of Industry and Spokesman at Region of Murcia and the Spanish Ambassador - Inigo de Palacio, as well as other Murcia authorities.



We cannot think of a better place to showcase Murcia than Dubai Expo 2020 where the world is gathering in one place even in the face of the challenges to travel, that we are facing today. This is the chance to take our beautiful region and all it has to offer and put it on the world stage, at a time when such events are almost unheard of elsewhere in the world, said Valle Miguelez, Regional Minister of Industry and Spokesman at Region of Murcia



Being the main producer of bluefin tuna in the entire European Union and a leader in exports to Japan, a country that consumes half of the bluefin tuna in the world, Murcia will host a special exhibition on February 22, to demonstrate its high-quality Bluefin Tuna.



Bluefin Tuna is one of the regions most important exports with 70 percent of the produce by the Region of Murcia destined for Japan because of its high-quality meat. Last year alone more than 5,200 tons of bluefin tuna were produced for a value of 64.2 million euros, which reflects the weight that this product has within the aquaculture activity that closed 2020 with a total production of 8,524 tons and more than 83 million euros.



Aquaculture presents a format that is totally necessary and complementary to the traditional fishing model, which allows sourcing fish in a way that is profitable and safe for our health and the environment.



"This is a unique showcase for our business network, which can publicize the work of the industries, products and technology we offer in the region, and also showing to the International community that we are an ideal destination to invest in. Many of the businesses we are bringing are SMEs who would greatly benefit from this visibility and access to this international commercial hub, said Miguelez.



The programme of the events has been prepared alongside the Regional Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Environment, as well as the Institute of Tourism of the Region of Murcia.  TradeArabia News Service




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WASHINGTON  Jeff Liberty was among the thousands of African descent who participated in the American Revolution.

Some entered as slaves and left free men. Liberty was one of them.

Before enlisting in 1781, he had been enslaved by Bell Hill Road resident Jonathan Farrand.

The story is he served in the American Revolution and, in exchange, his owner freed Jeff and he took the last name Liberty, said Stephen Bartkus, Gunn Historical Museums curator.

Liberty  who historians estimate was in his mid-50s when he enlisted  was a private in the 2nd Company of the Continental Armys 4th Connecticut Regiment.

The 2nd Company was an all-Black company, consisting of 48 privates and noncommissioned officers, that formed in October 1780.

Liberty served with the regiment from June to October 1781, during which time it performed garrison duty along New Yorks Hudson River, according to Glenn A. Knoblocks African American Historic Burial Grounds and Gravesites of New England.

After the war, Liberty lived the rest of his life as a free man in Washington.

Liberty married a woman named Phyllis and had two daughters  Bathsheba and Henrietta  who were born in 1781 and 1785. Theirs was one of the towns two free Black households listed in the 1790 U.S. Census, according to Knoblock.

Details of his post-war life are uncertain, but Liberty lived in an area in Washington referred to as under the hill, according to the Gunn Historical Museum.

Liberty died in May 1797 at the estimated age of 72 and was buried in Washingtons Old Judea Cemetery.

His grave remained unmarked until 2019, when the Sons of the American Revolution located his burial site and erected a gravestone.

According to Knoblock, other suspected former slaves who fought in the war and were buried in the Old Judea Cemetery include men named Cummy, Galloway, Jem, Tony, Peter, Robin and Tite.

Although its unclear when Libertys wife and daughters died, records show his daughter Bathsheba was still living in Washington in 1850.

According to Census records, she worked for and lived with the Mitchell family in the mid-1800s. In his last will and testament, Abner Mitchell ordered his heirs to maintain Bathsheba Liberty  during her natural life.

According to the 1860 Census, Bathsheba was one of only three Blacks living in Washington that year. The other two were a 12-year-old girl named Louisa Freeman, who lived with the family of Jerome Kinney, and a 57-year-old laborer named Joseph Gregory, who lived with the family of Elisha Barlow.

This story is part of a series of pieces on historical Black residents from the Danbury area in honor of Black History Month.
OTTAWA, UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, Feb. 22, 2022 /CNW/ - Schools are often the cornerstone of First Nations communities, offering students a safe place to learn and grow, and providing a gathering place for community events and cultural activities.

Working in partnership, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) are pleased to formally share the co-developed improvements to the School Space Accommodation Standards which came into effect in April 2021. These updates increase on-reserve school sizes and include space to support full-day kindergarten, language and culture rooms, knowledge keeper offices, counselling rooms, and outdoor learning spaces. First Nations will have greater flexibility to design new and renovated schools that can better accommodate students' needs and reflect the unique culture and traditions of their communities.

The updated standards apply to all new schools and major renovation projects that are funded by Indigenous Services Canada. The existing funding allocation procedures (e.g., the First Nation Infrastructure Investment Plan) and available level of funding will continue to apply for major capital school infrastructure projects and renovations. First Nations are encouraged to review their infrastructure needs, update their community-level First Nation Infrastructure Investment Plan and submit it to their regional ISC office.

Quotes

"I commend the work of AFN Regional Chief Cameron and the entire AFN education committee for their work in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada. As new schools are built and existing schools are renovated, the updated School Space Accommodation Standards will ensure that students in First Nations communities have access to the supports they need to learn and grow, while also providing First Nations with greater flexibility to design schools that best meet their needs."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Indigenous Services

"These new standards, designed by First Nations for First Nations place our people as global leaders in Indigenous-led school building standards. As a result of First Nations leadership and collaborative efforts with the federal government, First Nations now have the opportunity to lead the design of the spaces most compatible with our ways of learning. These new standards are an important step toward our continued advocacy to ensure appropriate and sustained investments to address long-standing concerns with access to safe schools and to build new schools on-reserve. Inherent and treaty right to Education and asserting First Nations jurisdiction are our top priorities."

Regional Chief Bobby Cameron, Saskatchewan

Chair, Chiefs Committee on Education

Assembly of First Nations

Quick facts

The Government of Canada has committed $2.34 billion up to 20242025 in First Nations school facilities, which includes $860.5 million from Budget 2021.

has committed up to 20242025 in First Nations school facilities, which includes from Budget 2021. Since late 2015 and as of September 30, 2021 , Indigenous Services Canada has invested more than $1.28 billion to support 209 school-related infrastructure projects, 150 of which are complete.

, Indigenous Services Canada has invested more than to support 209 school-related infrastructure projects, 150 of which are complete. While work remains in progress, in total these investments will result in the construction of 64 new schools (40 currently complete) and renovations or upgrades to 94 existing schools (76 currently complete), benefiting 33,000 students.

Associated links

Assembly of First Nations

Investing in school facilities

School Space Accommodation Standards

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You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

For further information: media may contact: Alison Murphy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected]
UW CEAS Celebrates National Engineers Week Feb. 21-25

The University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) is celebrating National Engineers Week Feb. 21-25 by collaborating with professional groups to teach Wyoming elementary-age children about the profession.

Since 2015, the CEAS, the Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, the Wyoming Engineering Society and DiscoverE have collaborated on a free program that brings professional and college-level engineers into third grade classrooms. The program raises awareness about the field of engineering, and Wyoming students will be treated to a hands-on engineering activity.

The goal is to inspire problem-solving and innovative thinking among students to encourage participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The theme of this years National Engineers Week celebration is Reimagining the Possible.

One of the most important goals of this office is to inspire the next generation of engineers. Wyomings professional engineers give so much of their time, and their efforts definitely make a difference in students lives, says Cindy Jones, CEAS K-12 outreach coordinator. This program would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of UW alumni Andy and Kim Krieger and Union Telephone of Wyoming. The CEAS wishes to extend our sincerest appreciation for supporting this important outreach effort.

During National Engineers Week, 3,123 of Wyomings 6,883 third graders -- approximately 45 percent -- are participating in various activities led by professional engineers and college-level engineers. Last week, Gov. Mark Gordon read the state of Wyomings Professional Engineers Week proclamation.

Im thrilled that the governor, through this proclamation, highlights the positive impact that engineering has on the state of Wyoming, says Cameron Wright, CEAS dean. Our own Cindy Jones has tirelessly worked to reach out to so many Wyoming third graders; her work is quite impressive.

Towns in Wyoming with third graders scheduled to participate in National Engineers Week activities are: Baggs, Bar Nunn, Big Piney, Buffalo, Burns, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Cowley, Douglas, Gillette, Green River, Guernsey, Kaycee, Lander, Laramie, Meeteetse, Moorcroft, Mountain View, Pine Bluffs, Pinedale, Powell, Ranchester, Rawlins, Riverton, Rock Springs, Saratoga, Sheridan, Shoshoni, Sundance, Ten Sleep, Thermopolis, Urie and Worland.

Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951 -- and carried on by DiscoverE, an organization that supports engineers and STEM -- National Engineers Week is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.

For more information about National Engineers Week, visit www.discovere.org.

To learn more about UW CEAS, visit www.uwyo.edu/ceas/.
The Company has Signed a Commercial Agreement with President Chain Store Corporation, which is a large Asian Food Production Company that Manages and Operates all 7-Eleven Locations in Taiwan

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /CNW/ - Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. ("JustKitchen" or the "Company") (TSXV: JK) (OTCQB: JKHCF) (FRA: 68Z) an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development of delivery-only food brands, is pleased to announce that is has entered into a commercial arrangement (the "Agreement") with President Chain Store Corporation ("7-Eleven Taiwan"), which is a large food production company with operations across Asia that manages and operates all 7-Eleven convenience stores in Taiwan, Republic of China ("Taiwan").1 Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, JustKitchen will work to create fresh meal collaborations with 7-Eleven Taiwan. The Company will also be adding Foodomo, a food delivery business acquired by 7-Eleven Taiwan in 2021, to its roster of third-party service providers.

The Company will initially embark on a pilot project (the "Pilot") to provide Just Kitchen branded meals for sale at a select 7-Eleven Taiwan location in the Neihu District of Taipei. As part of the Pilot, JustKitchen has agreed to also develop a virtual brand that will be offered on 7-Eleven Taiwan's online presence across all its delivery service platforms named "Purchase Famous Cuisines Easily, Just Love Gourmet". The Purchase Famous Cuisines Easily, Just Love Gourmet platform was created to offer consumers a line of quality food products at fair prices and is exclusive to 7-Eleven.2 The Pilot with JustKitchen follows other successful collaborations for Purchase Famous Cuisines Easily, Just Love Gourmet in Taiwan.3 The global 7-Eleven brand is prominent in Taiwan, with over 6,400 convenience store locations currently in operation.4

"Entering into a commercial arrangement with 7-Eleven Taiwan is a significant development for JustKitchen and, in our view, it brings together two strong operators for the benefit of the end consumer. The Agreement formalizes a great opportunity for us to work with a great partner and yet another a recognizable brand that is well known by people around the world," said Jason Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JustKitchen. "Offering Just Kitchen branded meals within 7-Eleven stores and creating a new delivery-only menu to offer fresh food items on the Purchase Famous Cuisines Easily, Just Love Gourmet platform is also a new challenge because the size and scope of this opportunity for JustKitchen that our team has openly accepted and will strive to execute to both 7-Evelen Taiwan's and the end customers' satisfaction," added Mr. Chen.

ABOUT JUSTKITCHEN

JustKitchen is primarily an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development and marketing of proprietary and franchised delivery-only food brands for customers. The Company currently operates in Taiwan and Hong Kong with plans to expand operations to other Asian countries. JustKitchen uniquely utilizes a hub-and-spoke operating model, which features advanced food preparation taking place at larger hub kitchens and final meal preparation taking place at smaller spoke kitchens located in areas with higher population densities. The Company combines this operating model with online and mobile application-based food ordering fulfilled by third-party delivery companies, to minimize capital investments and operating expenses and reach more customers in underserved markets. The Company's other business, JustMarket, is an e-commerce grocery delivery platform that allows customers to purchase groceries for delivery or add select grocery items to meals ordered through JustKitchen.

For more information about the Company, please visit investors.justkitchen.com. JustKitchen's final prospectus, financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, among other documents, are all available on the Company's profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.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 release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Just Kitchen Holdings Corp.

Suite 1430, 800 West Pender Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6C 2V6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur including but not limited to the Company's comments regarding working to create fresh meal collaborations with 7-Eleven Taiwan; adding Foodomo, a food delivery business acquired by 7-Eleven Taiwan in 2021, to its roster of third-party service providers; initially embarking on a pilot project to provide branded meals for sale at a select 7-Eleven Taiwan location in the Neihu District of Taipei; and agreeing to develop a virtual brand that will potentially be offered on 7-Eleven Taiwan's online delivery service platform named Purchase Famous Cuisines Easily, Just Love Gourmet. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks, including those risk factors identified in the Company's prospectus dated March 26, 2021, and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Endnotes

"President Chain Store Corporation", Wikipedia, last edited December 7 th, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Eleven#Taiwan "7-Select", 7-Eleven Canada Incorporated, 2022, https://7-eleven.ca/menu/7-select "7-Eleven's Own Brand 7-SELECT x Top One Pot, Enjoy the tastes of Taiwan in the comfort of your own home", 7-Eleven, Taiwan News, December 11 th 2020, https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4075540 "I visited 7-Eleven in Taiwan and it's way cooler than convenience stores in the U.S.", Martha Sorren , Insider, March 7 th, 2020, https://www.insider.com/tour-of-7-eleven-in-taiwan-better-than-us#7-eleven-is-one-of-the-many-major-convenience-store-chains-in-taiwan-1

SOURCE Just Kitchen Holdings Corp.

For further information: Nick Kuzyk, Investor Relations, Toll-Free: 1-855-JST-KCHN (1-855-578-5246), Email: [email protected]
"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 checkout [1] ," 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."

__________________________________________ 1 2021 Klarna survey of 1060 Canadian consumers ages 18-66+, fielded August 2021, conducted by the research agency Dynata.

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 .

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

[email protected]

(614) 687-9357

Mint:

Laura Trubkin Steuer

[email protected]

SOURCE Klarna
Adopt Love at PetSmart Locations Across Canada February 28  March 6, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON, Feb. 22, 2022 /CNW/ -- As Canadians look forward to spring, there is no better way to brighten the winter months than welcoming new love. PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week takes place February 28  March 6, 2022.

During these special weeks, PetSmart Charities of Canada invites hundreds of local animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into PetSmart stores across the country.

Since 1999, more than 350 thousand pets have been adopted through PetSmart Charities of Canada. Over the past decade, there has been a steady increase in the save rate in animals shelters across Canada. Still, it's estimated that one hundred thousand pets find themselves in shelters each year, in need of loving homes to do what they do best  love people.

The bond between pets and people continues to influence health and wellness. Today, nearly 60% of Canadian homes include pets, and 88% of pet parents consider them important members of the family. The benefits of adopting pets include:

Pets give unconditional love and companionship.

Interacting with pets reduces feelings of stress and isolation.

Giving a home to a pet in need lends purpose in life during significant changes such as retirement.

Caring for pets teaches values such as responsibility and compassion to children and youth.

Playing with pets increases movement and activity and can encourage pet parents to spend more time outdoors during colder months.

"Pets love us like no one else," said Aimee Gilbreath, President of PetSmart Charities of Canada. "And even though Canadians are more in love with their pets than ever, shelters across the country are still full, and many struggle with staffing shortages. National Adoption Week is a great time to connect with our animal welfare partners who'll help you make the perfect match. Think of it as your way of giving back  and there is no better return on that investment!"

Maze was one such kitten in need of a home and people to love. CARMA (Cat Rescue Maritimes) in Fredericton, New Brunswick was contacted about a kitten who was born with a deformity that left her without a tail, unsteady on her feet and unable to use a litter box. But that didn't stop CARMA from getting Maze the love and care she needed to live a happy, full life. Maze found her home with two loving parents who had previously fostered two adult cats and five kittens for CARMA, and with special needs cats of their own, they were the perfect fit.

Those who aren't ready to adopt a pet can still help pets in need by making a financial donation online at PetSmartCharities.ca.

PetSmart Charities of Canada's National Adoption Week Details

February 28  March 6: Hundreds of animal welfare organizations will bring a host of adoptable shelter pets, including cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and various small pets into nearly every PetSmart store across Canada.

Locations: Nearly every PetSmart location across Canada. Visit PetSmart.ca to find a store near you.

About PetSmart Charities of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada helps thousands of pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $25 million since its inception in 1999. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more visit www.PetSmartCharities.ca .

Find PetSmart Canada & PetSmart Charities of Canada on:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada

Instagram: www.instagram.com/PetSmartCanada

About PetSmart Canada

In Canada, PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. PetSmart employs approximately 4,800 associates and operates almost 150 pet stores in Canada, as well as 10 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. The retailer provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding at PetSmart Doggie Day Camp and pet adoption. PetSmart and PetSmart Charities of Canada work with more than 200 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 340,000 adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization.

SOURCE PetSmart Canada

For further information: Media Contact: Diane Meehl. 602-363-7352, [email protected]
Karnataka's Additional DGP Pratap Reddy on Tuesday said that all the accused have been identified and the work is underway to arrest the suspects in connection with the murder of 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Shivamogga.

A day after Bajrang Dal activist Harsha was murdered in Shivamogga district, Karnatakas Additional DGP Pratap Reddy on Tuesday said that all the accused have been identified and the work is underway to arrest the suspects. Speaking to reporters, Additional DGP Pratap Reddy said, All accused have been identified. Teams are outside as well as inside the Shivamogga district. So, work is going on and we are on the verge of completing the detection and arresting the accused persons.

On the outbreak of violence in the district following the murder of Harsha, Reddy said, All accused have been identified. Teams are outside as well as inside the Shivamogga district. So, work is going on and we are on the verge of completing the detection and arresting the accused persons.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, Theres calm in ShivamoggaKS Eshwarappa didnt lead the procession (for taking the body of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha to his home). He was in procession as local MLA. Action will be taken against whoever damaged property.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Karnatakas Shivamogga, said Araga Jnanendra on Monday.
Sources said this will be followed up by a Note Verbale from India's Permanent Mission in Geneva. The Enforcement Directorate(ED) had last week attached Rs 1.77 crore of Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case.

India on Monday rejected as baseless & unwarranted allegations of judicial harassment of journalist Rana Ayyub, saying that the country upholds the rule of law and no one is above the law. Reacting strongly, the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva said in a tweet that India expects Special Rapporteurs of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to be objective and accurately informed and advancing a misleading narrative only tarnishes @UNGeneva s reputation.

Allegations of so-called judicial harassment are baseless & unwarranted. India upholds the rule of law, but is equally clear that no one is above the law. We expect SRs to be objective & accurately informed. Advancing a misleading narrative only tarnishes @UNGeneva s reputation, it said. Sources said this will be followed up by a Note Verbale from Indias Permanent Mission in Geneva. They will also take it up with the UN Office in Geneva, the sources added. Earlier, UN Geneva had said in a tweet that sectarian attacks online against journalist should be thoroughly investigated.

Relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks online against journalist @RanaAyyub must be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the #Indian authorities and the judicial harassment against her brought to an end at once, stress @UN_SPExperts, it said in a tweet.

The Enforcement Directorate had last week attached Rs 1.77 crore of Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case. According to an ED official, Ayyub allegedly utilized the parts of donations meant for three campaigns for personal expenses. She allegedly didnt utilize donations meant for three campaigns for the right purpose. Parts of donations were allegedly used for personal expenses, the official said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians on Monday. Responding to the move, the US imposed sanctions on the two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians on Monday. Earlier in the day, Putin held a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz and stated that he will be signing a decree recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.

According to the statement released by Kremlin, both the Western leaders voiced their dissatisfaction on hearing Putins decision. Russian President Vladimir Putin had phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Vladimir Putin briefed them on the results of the extended meeting of the Russian Security Council, which considered the current situation around Donbas in the context of the State Dumas decision on the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics, the statement says.

US has imposed sanctions on the two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) 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 Peoples Republics. Taking to Twitter, Biden said, I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on the next steps.

UN chief Antonio Guterres criticised the move by Russia and said that its decision to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk 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. 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).
NEW HAVEN  Civil rights groundbreaker Constance Baker Motley long has been recognized in New Haven, where she grew up, but has not been as visible in national history books  even though she made history herself, and helped build the reputations of others including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

That soon could change if a roomful of people Tuesday in the Dixwell Community Q House, including U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, have anything to say about it.

DeLauro, who has introduced a bill that posthumously would award Motley the Congressional Gold Medal, said its about time Motley gets the recognition she deserves.

She made the case for Motley, who spent time in the old Q House as a youth, at a Black History Month press conference in the Q Houses new Toni N. & Wendell C. Harp Historical Museum. Motley, who died in 2005, would have turned 100 last year.

She blazed a trail for all of us, DeLauro said. For women? Yes! For African-American women? Yes!

Joining DeLauro were Mayor Justin Elicker; Greater New Haven NAACP President Dori Dumas; Dixwell Alder Jeanette L. Morrison, D-22; CUNY Lehman College assistant professor Gary Ford Jr., who wrote a biography of Motley, Constance Baker Motley: One Womans Fight for Civil Rights and Equal Justice; and Judge of Probate Clifton Graves Jr.

Motley, the ninth of 12 children of an immigrant couple from Nevis in the West Indies, graduated with honors from James Hillhouse High School and went to Fiske University and New York University and was the first Black woman to attend Columbia Law School, DeLauro said.

She went on to be the only female lawyer working with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund team led by Thurgood Marshall  who later became the first African-American member of the U.S. Supreme Court  representing the Freedom Riders and doing work to get King and other civil rights leaders out of jail at key points in history.

She later became a law clerk to Marshall, and wrote the briefs for Brown v. Board Education, the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case that toppled public school segregation in America. The court ruled that state laws establishing separate public schools for students of different races were unconstitutional.

Motley was the first African-American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, and the first to serve as a federal judge. Throughout her career, she argued 10 major civil rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and won nine of them, DeLauro said.

She was elected as the first female Manhattan borough president in New York City and appointed to the Southern District of New York bench in 1966.

DeLauro said she doesnt anticipate any issues getting the bill through Congress. It needs 268 votes in the House of Representatives and 67 in the Senate, she said.

We need to get it done  and we will, DeLauro said.

Elicker said the new Q House underscores something that I think is important to all of us in that it ensures that people have a chance to lead. Motley did that, but Im sure she didnt do that alone, he said.

Morrison said she was thrilled to be able to stand here, to stand on the shoulders of someone who was so phenomenal, and said she was able to do so because of the fight, because of what Judge Constance Baker Motley stood for.

She told DeLauro, you just tell us everything that we need to do to support the bid to honor Motley. She said that we need to have a replica of the gold medal awarded to Motley in this building.

Dumas said she was proud and pleased to stand here and honor the life and legacy of Constance Baker Motley, who as the only woman on the national NAACPs legal team at that time was the only woman in the room for key battles in national civil rights history.

Motley showed us that power that law has to effect change, Dumas said. Im grateful for her work and how she was deeply immersed in African-American history, she said. A congressional medal is indeed fitting ... so lets get this done. Lets push this forward.

Ford called Motley his role model, and said he felt joy ... at the end of a very long battle to get Judge Motley the recognition that she deserved. He pointed out that many of the people Motley represented have been honored, including King, who she got out of jail a number of times.

Growing up in Norwalk and New Canaan, Ford said he met Motley as a child and realized that, when looking at history books, not all the important names were in the books. Motleys was the most prominent one he noticed was not included, he said.

Ford also read a statement from Motleys namesake and niece, Constance Royster, who couldnt attend but wrote, we are thrilled that the Congressional Gold Medal press conference is taking place in Judge Motleys home town.

Graves, New Havens first African-American probate judge, thanked DeLauro for her efforts and her passion, and said Motley spent her life making the law respectable.

DeLauro said her job now is to go out and get co-sponsors, with a goal to get enough votes to pass the legislation in both the House and the Senate, although she said, I dont expect there to be any great difficult in order to do that.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
North Haven Police / Contributed Photo

NORTH HAVEN  Police said they arrested a Hamden man accused of stealing from a Stop and Shop in North Haven this weekend.

North Haven Police officers were called to a Stop and Shop Sunday for a report of a physical altercation in the store. Police discovered a person, later identified as 31-year-old Alahn Cole of Hamden, was attempting to flee the store after they were suspected of stealing merchandise, the police department said on its Facebook page Tuesday.
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RIDGEFIELD  The Board of Selectmen want to amend the states building, fire and demolition code to increase penalties for violators of up to $10,000.

The request follows a controversial razing of a structure on New Street last fall, which occurred without the proper permits.

Penalties call for any person found in violation of the states building, fire and demolition code to be fined no more than $500 serve no more than a year in jail or both.

The proposal sets the minimum fine at $1,000 with a maximum fine of $10,000, and maintains the clause relative to jail time.

In 2020, the town established a demolition delay ordinance which states that no person, firm, corporation or other entity shall demolish any building or structure without first obtaining a permit from the building department.

Any person failing to abide by the provisions of the ordinance shall be fined the maximum amount of $500 pursuant to state statutes.

We cannot fine anything for a greater amount than what Connecticut state statutes allow, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said, and a lot of people dont understand that.

In September, CV Building Concepts owner Rich Szentkuti razed a house at 8 New St., in Ridgefield, which he owns in addition to 10 New St., the site of a garage.

Ridgefields building department accepted a demolition permit application from CV Building for review on Sept. 15, but the house was demolished on Sept. 25, before the end of the towns 30-day ordinance.

From that day, when its accepted by us, thats when the 30 days start, building official Jason Celestino said in an earlier interview.

When Szentkuti appeared in December in state Superior Court in Danbury, the prosecutor suggested he make a $1,000 donation to a local organization in lieu of paying the fine. Celestino suggested the Ridgefield Historical Society, but board members declined the donation.

Marconi submitted his proposal to state Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D-Ridgefield, for consideration in Hartford. The bill is being reviewed by the Planning and Development and Public Safety committees, which will determine if it should go to a public hearing, she said.

The best chance we have of getting it out of committee and onto  the floor for a vote is with a public hearing, Berger-Girvalo said. This was a law put in place for safety first and foremost.  The punishment needs to fit the crime.

Marconi agreed.

What were trying to achieve is to have the consequence of an action carry a stiffer penalty. The current amount has probably been there for 30 years, and times have changed, he said. The $500 people will pay in a heartbeat.

The Building Department has since issued permits to CV Building to begin construction of two single-family houses at 8 New Street. The property was split into two lots  now 6 and 8 New Street  via a special permit application approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The garage at 10 New Street still stands, according to Celestino, but Szentkuti plans to erect a single-family home on that property, as well. The department received the demolition permit for the garage in December, but a building permit has yet to be issued.

CORRECTION: An original version of this article incorrectly stated who proposed the amendment. This article has been corrected to reflect that the Board of Selectmen decided to propose the amendment.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly in the morning. High around 60F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed March 26 for its national convention. The development comes weeks after the party anno...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed March 26 for its national convention.

The development comes weeks after the party announced that the national convention would hold on February 26.

Speaking on Monday at a media briefing in Abuja, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, said zonal congresses would now be held on March 12.

The zonal congresses would be held alongside preparations for the partys convention.

After deliberations and agreement with the national caretaker committee, we have agreed and approved that the activities of the national convention commence from the 24th of February and terminate on the 26th of March, Akpanudoedehe said.

The convention activities will commence on February 24 and terminate at Eagle Square on 26th of March. In between the convention, we have agreed to have zonal congresses.

The development comes days after Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, had said although there were no plans by the APC to postpone the convention, the date wasnt sacrosanct.

That is the decision of the party and there is nothing wrong even if it doesnt hold. What is important is that we must have our convention, he had said.

We have said its 26th. If for any reason tomorrow, its not doable in the opinion of the party, we will move. But that does not mean that there is any intention to move.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday extended the detention of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, by 14 days. The cour...

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday extended the detention of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, by 14 days.

The court granted permission to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to hold the embattled Kyari for the period to enable the agency to complete its investigation into the hard drug trafficking allegations against him.

Justice Zainab Abubakar issued the order for Kyaris further detention while ruling in an ex-parte application argued by the NDLEA counsel, Mr Mike Kassa.

The NDLEA had, in the application, pleaded for more time to detain Kyari on the ground that the hard drug trafficking allegations against the suspect were complex and may require the agency travelling outside the shore of the country to make some clarifications.

The counsel asked the court to grant the detention extension in the interest of justice and to be fair to the suspect too through diligent investigation.

In a short ruling, Justice Abubakar ordered that Abba Kyari be detained for another 14 days.

The judge however ordered that the 14 days further detention should start counting from February 22.

Details later.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Mond...





The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday.





This formalizes the existing partnership between the agencies for the fight against corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria.





NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim and EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa met at the commissions headquarters in Abuja.





Bawa said the document would serve as a guide on what the agencies would be doing from time to time.





NYSC has been part of us from the beginning. We have always had the opportunity of welcoming corps members to help us where we have gaps in our staff, he said.





The police officer said though the sensitivity of EFCC tasks required trained officers, corps members contribute to its successes.





Bawa, however, hinted that the One Million Man March suspended due to COVID-19 would be re-planned.





The DG said NYSC/EFCC Community Development Service (CDS) has been sensitizing for the EFCC and the fight against corruption.





Corps members are ever willing as they continue to put in their best in that regard, he added.





Shuaibu charged the EFCC to apprehend fraudsters extorting Nigerians through the social media to influence their posting, redeployment or relocation.
Femi Adesina has said the continued presence of long queues at filling stations should not be an opportunity for some Nigerians to critici...

Femi Adesina has said the continued presence of long queues at filling stations should not be an opportunity for some Nigerians to criticize the Nigerian government.

The media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily.

Adesina said this is the only major fuel scarcity since the inception of the Buhari administration and should not be blown out of proportion.

He said: Each time this issue of the fuel scarcity comes up, there is also a word that comes to my mind; that word is called SNAFU, and its an acronym for Situation Normal All Filed Ups.

What happened is a SNAFU in the petrol supply chain in the country.

In the life of this administration which will be seven years in May, it is only one major fuel scarcity we have had.

Now, there is a SNAFU, and some people are crying out as if heavens have fallen; no. We should always consider the past and the present in this country. More than any other administration, this one (Buharis) has restored normalcy in petroleum supply for years.

It is regrettable that Nigerians have had to stay hours on end at petrol stations. My driver also goes to queue up for hours before he gets fuel. Some people have had their car engines damaged, very regrettable.

But then, we should not forget that it is not a routine or regular occurrence in the country and if there was an oversight, there is already a structure that can deal with that and we have been told that its going to be looked at.
Former Nigerias President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has recalled his private meeting with the deadly Boko Haram in 2011. The retired Gene...

Former Nigerias President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has recalled his private meeting with the deadly Boko Haram in 2011.

The retired General warns that Nigeria must address the challenge of 15 million out-of-school children or face more problems in future.

Obasanjo spoke virtually on Monday at the 2022 Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) annual lecture.

His speech was on the theme Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping across Nigeria.

Obasanjo, MMF Board of Trustees Chairman, noted that with Nigerias population of 215 million, 15 million out-of-school kids pose a serious problem.

I believe it is not too late to start and say to ourselves we do not want the Boko Haram of 2030 or 2035, NAN quoted him saying.

But if we dont do anything about those 15 million out-of-school children, we are already in more trouble with Boko Haram of the future.

We, the society, must be willing to give them education and employment or they extract it from the society unwillingly, Obasanjo noted.

Obasanjo said during his trip to Maiduguri in 2011, Boko Haram said they were interested in Sharia and complained that their followers had no job.

The sect leadership further narrated their efforts to earn legitimate income to help their followers.

The former leader said they decried how the government started chasing and gunning them down.

What I feared at that time seems to have been happening because in 2011, Boko Haram had not much of external connection.

My fear was: could we be able to get them away from Al-Qaeda and other international terror organizations? We seem not to have been able to do that.

Today, Boko Haram and those who have come to work with them are making the matter much worse than it was 11 years ago, he asserted.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 57F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Driving down Tchoupitoulas Street, its hard not to contemplate the historic roads relationship to the Mississippi River.

Roughly hugging the contours of the river  and echoing the crescent after which New Orleans nickname was derived  the very origin of the streets mouthful of a name, while open to debate, speaks to its riverine roots.

Some say it means mudfish people. Others say it translates to something more along the lines of fish-hole road. Others have different theories.

In his Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children:  and Other Streets of New Orleans, author John Chase sites scholar Dr. William A. Reed as theorizing its a compound of three Choctaw words  hatcha, pit and itoula  which would together translate to Those Who Reside at the River.

This is a sound analogy, and it is the nearest approximation of the origin of (Tchoupitoulas) that may ever be known, Chase wrote.

The point is, Tchoupitoulas and the Mississippi River have long been geographical cousins, and thats reflected in many of the buildings located along it that are dedicated to river commerce.

Which brings us to a question posed recently by reader Kimberly Lackey about the origin of the very peculiar building with a distinctly midcentury vibe at Tchoupitoulas and Jackson Avenue.

Peculiar is a good word for the brown brick building, which resembles some sort of a terraced bunker, dominated by four distinct circular levels stepping their way up from street level and connecting the building to a pedestrian bridge that leads over the roadway and to the rivers edge.

A floodwall blocks the view of the river, but if it wasnt there, youd see the pedestrian bridge leads to a circular, glass-enclosed structure located at the waters edge.

So who was it built for?

Well, for us.

To be more specific: for the traveling public.

The back story

Designed by Lynn Mitchell of the local architectural firm of Stoffle Mitchell Associates and built by Landis Construction, the two buildings together form the old Jackson Avenue ferry terminal. Completed in 1981, the complex was built as part of a $30 million modernization project by the Mississippi River Bridge Authority to build six new ferry terminals and buy three new ferryboats.

In addition to the Jackson Avenue terminal  which cost $1.5 million  the project also included the $1.1 million Gretna ferry terminal on the rivers west bank, which is where passengers and motorists departing the Jackson Avenue terminal would be deposited. (And vice-versa, of course.)

The other four terminals built as part of the project were corresponding facilities at Canal Street and in Algiers, along with similarly paired terminals in Chalmette and lower Algiers. The vessels purchased as part of the project were the Sen. Alvin T. Stumpf, the Capt. Neville Levy and the pedestrian-only Col. Frank X. Armiger.

Still, the question remains: Why is the Jackson Avenue building so curiously designed?

A really good reason

Turns out, its more about function than form, for reasons of the buildings busy and incommodious site, art columnist Roger Green wrote in the Jan. 10, 1981, edition of The Times-Picayune/The States-Item.

Before the terminal was built, pedestrians had to cross busy Tchoupitoulas Street on foot, only to be faced by a set of active railroad tracks. That arrangement presented obvious challenges to both convenience and safety.

To solve those problems, Mitchell faced a design challenge: to dream up a structure with a limited footprint that could get people up and over both the floodwall and the tracks.

Striking was the word Green used to describe Mitchells solution, with an exterior arrangement of four staggered pillboxes enclosing the diagonally rising escalator inside.

Green continued: The pillboxes are lined with horizontal window strips, which provide ample and dramatic interior light. Materials used on the exterior are stucco and brick, combined with large stretches of cyclone fencing. Imaginatively used, these commonplace materials provide the elegant sense of lightness and transparency cited above.

Busy, until it wasn't

For nearly three decades, it served its intended purpose, with tens of thousands of passengers  pedestrians and motorists alike  using it regularly to cross the river. In 1998, annual ridership was pegged by the state at 84,896 vehicles and 139,624 pedestrians.

But just a decade later, in the 12-month period from May 2008 to April 2009, vehicular ridership had plummeted nearly 60%, to a reported 35,391 vehicles; and pedestrian ridership dropped nearly 70%, to 43,744 passengers.

Given those dwindling numbers, residents and politicians by September 2009 lined up behind an ultimately successful proposal to shutter the Jackson Avenue terminal and to have the Gretna ferry land instead at Canal Street, the thinking being that the direct connection would lure tourists from downtown New Orleans to the west bank city.

The old Gretna-to-Jackson-Avenue route would be resurrected temporarily from time to time for such events as the Gretna Heritage Festival or filming of the Sylvester Stallone film Bullet to the Head (working title: Head Shot), producers of which paid $10,000 to film in both the Jackson Avenue terminal building and on board the ferry.

For the most part, though, the old terminal building sits idle.

Shuttered state

In 2013, the state Department of Transportation and Development  by then the buildings owner  decided to auction it off, along with the pedestrian bridge and the terminals sister building on the river side of Tchoupitoulas. The minimum bid was set at $1.65 million.

It got no takers.

So, in February 2016, the state gave the facility away, deeding it to the Port of New Orleans, which still owns it.

Today, it remains shuttered, peppered with graffiti and surrounded by construction fencing, an unused but distinctly designed reminder of Tchoupitoulas Streets unseverable connection to the river.

Sources: The Times-Picayune archive; "Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children:  and Other Streets of New Orleans

Thanks to reader Kimberly Lackey for suggesting todays topic. Do you know of a New Orleans building worth profiling in this column, or just curious about one? Contact Mike Scott at moviegoermike@gmail.com.
You might notice a different look to the packaging for some bags of Kingsford charcoal.

Its artwork by New Orleans artist Brandan "BMike" Odums, and its part of a larger initiative with other local ties meant to promote and preserve the Black cultural connection to barbecue around the U.S.

Last year, Kingsford started its Preserve the Pit initiative, which offers fellowships to Black barbecue pros. The program comes with mentoring, networking and business development grants.

In its first year, one of the fellowships went to Gerald Vinnett Jr., creator of the Destrehan-based catering and barbecue events business Big Papis Smokehouse.

The program is aimed at giving participants hands-on training, forging relationships in the industry and building up finances for their businesses.

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Mentorship is a key to the program. One of the mentors Kingsford tapped to guide the program is New Orleans-based pit master and barbecue educator Howard Conyers, whose work has focused on the Black cultural tradition in barbecue.

This year, Kingsford plans to award six fellowships and 10 small business grants, with applications open through March 1. The company said it will assess applications on criteria including their connection to barbecue, contributions to the legacy of the Black barbecue community and commitments to fueling its future.

Applications and program details are available online at PreserveThePit.com.

Odums art piece is called Pass It On." The special bags featuring it are distrubuted through Walmart locations around the country. The work has also been installed as a mural at the acclaimed Payne's BBQ in Memphis, Tenn. A portion of the sales from the charcoal bags will help fund the Preserve the Pit program.
Think way back to that first week of January, when the year was young, hopes were fresh and a long Carnival season was ahead. The potential for all the king cake youd eat was in front of you.

Now, were down to the final handful of days before Mardi Gras. Were approaching last call for king cake.

For some, that means the pressure is really on. For others, it may mean relief from temptation around the corner. In either case, every one counts from here on in.

Below, Im rounding up my own king cake highlights from this Carnival season to help you pick the next standout and, frankly, to relive some of the glory thats already come this season.

Traditional still reigns at Manny Randazzo, Hi-Do

For all the king cake convolutions out there now, often the cravings snap back to their original form: a brioche ring with cinnamon and vanilla. This is king cake to dunk in your afternoon coffee or toss in the bag you bring to parade parties, unconcerned about any elaborate toppings getting smushed.

Thats why I still go back, again and again, for the plain king cake ($18) at Hi-Do Bakery (429 Terry Parkway, Terrytown 504-366-6555), with piles of sugar and a mellow, perfectly baked dough. These are also stocked in Mid-City at the multi-vendor King Cake Hub (4800 Canal St., 504-518-2953).

And I dont think Ive seen any king cake disappear as fast as a Manny Randazzo (3515 N. Hullen St., Metairie, 504-456-1476) king cake ($18, medium). Lifer king cake aficionados seem to detect when one has entered an office or home or parade route pop-up tent. They flock; it vanishes.

Ridges of crunch at La Petite Sophie Patisserie

9047 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, (504) 667-3472

The traditional king cake at this tiny River Ridge bakery catches the eye. But it was the crackly crunching sound it made when I cut my first slice that really let me know this was a special cake. The ridges of this ring catch the icing and look like some delicate filigree. Bite in, and the texture matches the appearance, with a crisp outer layer, dense but giving interior and a gentle trace of cinnamon. You can get these sliced and filled with cream and strawberries, but I savored the plain bite by bite. Whole cakes are $25.

Over the moon at Gracious Bakery + Cafe

4930 Prytania St., (504) 300-8135; 2854 St. Charles Ave., (504) 301-9949; 1000 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway, (504) 321-6233

Each year, Gracious comes up with some eye-popping king cake flavors. Whats most impressive to me about this local brand is the way these elaborate, beautifully rendered cakes start from a foundation of just really good traditional king cake. My favorite from this years line up was a tribute to moon pies, the classic parade snack (and parade throw). Theres the rich dark chocolate, the sticky marshmallow topping cascading down, the crumbled graham crackers and a riot of tasty little random sprinkles and stars to add to the party. These are specialty cakes ($27), but I like that theyre stocked like the regular cakes, with no pre-order required.

Hail the queen at Levee Baking Co.

3138 Magazine St., (504) 354-8708

This is the first Carnival since Levee Baking Co. opened its own bakery cafe, though it already had a strong following from its pop-up days. Regulars were ready again for Levee's queen cake, the house rendition of the French galette de rois (or, perhaps, galette de reine). Im a fan, too. The furrowed surface gleams like burnished woodwork over a wavy-soft interior filled with pecan citrus frangipane. Inside, a small ceramic piece takes the place of the usual plastic baby. This is a cake you need to order in advance, and its a pricey one ($35 for the large). For an end of Carnival indulgence its worth the effort and cost.

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Espresso yourself at Coffee Science

410 N. Broad St., (504) 220-0878

Nothing goes with king cake like a cup of coffee (until Mardi Gras morning, of course, when the classic pairings are beer, bloodies or whatever someone hands you). What happens when you put coffee in the king cake? Coffee Science, an exquisite cafe in Mid-City, decided to find out this year. The result is a tall-standing cake with the mellow, chocolaty, toasty flavor of espresso rippling through. It even packs a caffeinated kick. Served by the slice in the shop, you can also call ahead to order a whole cake ($27).

Confection perfection at Willa Jean

611 OKeefe Ave., (504) 509-7334

A glistening glaze of hard, candied caramel crunch is the marquee ingredient for Willa Jeans annual addition to the ranks for specialty king cakes. The rest of the cake is exceptionally well made, standing as tall as Bundt cake and well cooked from top to bottom, with a trickle of cinnamon and fluffy cream cheese icing in artful petal shapes on top. Willa Jean requires 48-hour advance notice to order whole cakes, and charges a whopping $36. I picked up a few slices at the bakery counter for $7 each. Not exactly a steal, though Id line up for another taste in a heartbeat if my Carnival path crosses Willa Jeans door.

Ooh-la-la for ooey gooey at Bywater Bakery

3624 Dauphine St., (504) 336-3336

Bywater Bakery makes a rainbow of different king cakes (including boudin, crawfish and spinach/artichoke when what you really want is lunch). I have a penchant for the bouille king cake, filled with a custard based on bayou countrys bouille pie. But my go-to is still the Carnival king cake that isnt filled but rather slathered within with "ooey gooey" butter, a mix of cream cheese, butter and brown and powdered sugars. It's closer to a cinnamon-filled king cake than a stuffed one. Yet that butter still brings an X factor of flavor.

Contender emerges, but Dong Phuong still the one

By this point, the famous king cake ($17) from Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery (14207 Chef Menteur Highway, 504-254-0214) in New Orleans East is its own phenomenon, sought after, much discussed, voraciously devoured. With its scalloped curls of dough and crisp, croissant-like layers, it occupies its own niche in the king cake realm.

This year, it also saw some competition within that realm. Caludas, which makes a vast assortment of king cakes and sells them at outlets all across town, debuted its dragon claw king cake ($25), sold only at the King Cake Hub.

In shape and style, this is clearly based on the Dong Phuong original. It is very good, and hits many of the same notes. However, the edge still goes to Dong Phuong, for the crisper texture and that subtle tang in its cream cheese icing.

The dragons claw is a good stand in if its easier for you to get your hands on, which at this late stage of the king cake game is a significant factor.

+4 Former Sucre in Metairie to reopen as Viet-French bakery Chez Pierre The end for once-prominent New Orleans dessert company Sucre came abruptly. The company shut down one Monday last June, informing employees of

+21 For a neighborhood bakery revival in New Orleans, king cake makes all the difference Mayhew Bakery opened in Faubourg St. John just three months ago. But baker Kelly Mayhew has been building a following for years, starting with
Since his reviews debuted in 1982, Gambits parade critic, writing under the name Rex Duke, has been the source of praise and scorn because of his annual ratings of parades. But he was not Carnivals first parade reviewer. That distinction goes to a man named Jimmy Clark.

In 1966, when he was just 17, Clark started compiling meticulously organized parade critique sheets. He used a 10-point scale to rate the parades on their organization, with a top score if the parade moves perfectly as a unit, no breaks and no long delays.

His rankings also reflected the quality of the krewes bands, float design, theme, doubloon design and speed.

In 1973 he approached the Times-Picayune to publish his reviews but was turned down because editors were afraid that advertisers who were also krewe members might be offended by an unflattering critique.

The now-defunct East Bank Guide and West Bank Guide newspapers took a chance on Clarks proposal in 1974, and even supplied a nom de plume: Marty McGraw.

They paid me something like $75 for the entire season, which didnt even pay for my gas, Clark later recalled. He kept a breakneck pace during the three years he wrote for the newspaper, sometimes taking in up to four parades in one night. After the parades ended, Clark raced home to meet his morning deadline.

Still, the East and West Bank Guides found that not everyone was a fan of the idea. Response to his ratings has been strong, either loving or hating his critiques, explained the newspaper, which defended his hire, with the goal of improving Carnival overall.

Figaro took notice of the popularity with a 1974 cover story featuring a photo of Clark in costume, boldly titled, Mister Mardi Gras: This Mild-Mannered Fellow Knows More About Carnival Than Any Person Alive."

"Clark has high standards, Figaro wrote. He follows it all, spotting innovations (or flaws) which might escape others. As unofficial Chief Judge of Mardi Gras, he feels it is his job to see that the krewes hold up their end of the Carnival bargain.

In 1976 Clark wrote the cover story for New Orleans Magazine "The Ten Greatest Parades of All-Time. He retired as a parade critic after just three parade seasons.

In 1978, Clark turned another Carnival innovation into his business. As a serious doubloon collector, he bemoaned the lack of useful commemorative throws. He dreamed up the idea of a Carnival coastera plastic disc emblazoned with a krewe logo.

Seven krewes signed on in 1978 and that turned into 19 the next year. By 1981, while holding down a full-time job and with little business experience, Clark became a player in the new throw cup market.

It went from a hobby to a quasi-business. Then in 1982 I just got to the point where I said lets give it a shot full-time.

"I was young enough where if it totally failed, I could go sell shoes somewhere. But fortunately for me, it worked.

In the early days, his wife and young daughters helped him unpack shipping containers from China delivered to the front yard of their Metairie home. A bigger warehouse and more professional operation followed, as the company became J. Clark Promotions. In time, his client list expanded nationwide and his product line grew to include bobbing head dolls, medallions, special beads, and other collectibles.

Perhaps his greatest creation was a series of collector cards that were produced from 1992-2001

After more than 33 years in the business, Clark retired and sold his company in 2009, but hes still a major figure in Mardi Gras circles, and a frequent writer for the Mardi Gras Guide.

He also wrote the text for a coffee table book, "IrisOne Hundred Years," and has been commissioned to write a 50-year history book for the Krewe of Cleopatra.

.
Carnival reaches its peak this week with a grande finale of parades.

There are many notable milestones on this week's calendar. Rex has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and the parade finally rolls on Fat Tuesday. Le Krewe d'Etat marks its 25th parade. And the Culinary Queens of New Orleans debut in Marrero, bringing a Tuesday night parade back to the schedule.

This week's Gambit is packed with details about all of the parades in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Look out for maps, themes, throws and everything you need to know before hitting the route. Plus, we catch up with the Krewe of Red Beans and the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, which hits the streets early on Mardi Gras morning.

Flip through the digital edition below to read more.

Cant see the e-edition above? Click here.

Also in this week's Gambit: Preservation Hall's Charlie Gabriel releases his new album, "89"; Political Editor Clancy DuBos looks at the non-surprises from the recently wrapped redistricting session; Blake Pontchartrain tells readers about the tradition of Rex and King Zulu meeting at Spanish Plaza on Lundi Gras; the new Barrilleaux's serves Italian fare in Marigny  plus news and more.

If pandemic restrictions make it harder to pick up a Gambit in your usual spot, we have you covered. Our e-edition is available to download at bestofneworleans.com/current and read at your leisure.

If you enjoy this weeks issue, please share this digital edition on social media.

And as always, New Orleans, thank you for your support.

 The Gambit staff
Jack Strain, who helped send countless people to jail during his 20 years as St. Tammany Parish sheriff, officially became a lifer Tuesday when Judge A. Bruce Simpson formally sentenced the 59-year-old to life in prison for sex crimes against boys.

The time he will have to serve was a foregone conclusion. A St. Tammany jury found Strain guilty last November of eight sex crimes, including four counts of aggravated rape of a victim under 13, crimes that carry mandatory life sentences.

Simpson also tacked on an additional 30 years for crimes committed against two of Strains family members. Strain must pay $30,000 in fines and nearly $28,000 for costs of his prosecution.

Strains attorney, Billy Gibbens, said Strain will appeal.

Strain, currently being held in the Plaquemines Parish jail, showed little reaction to the sentences or to the emotionally charged victim impact statements made by Skip Keen and Mark Finn, whom Strain raped as children, and Finns mother.

The Times-Picayune does not typically identify victims of sex crimes. But Finn has publicly identified himself as a Strain victim. Keen has been publicly identified as a victim in his guilty plea to federal fraud charges tied to a kickback scheme orchestrated by Strain.

Strain has pleaded guilty in that case and will be sentenced next month in federal court for a single count of bribery involving federal funds.

Nightmares, substance abuse

Finn, who is currently incarcerated, asked Strain, clad in an orange prison jumpsuit, how he liked being in prison clothing.

Finn, who was first molested by Strain when he was 6 years old, said he still suffers nightmares.

The sexual abuse he suffered -- along with things Strain made him watch -- resulted in drug problems, deep anger issues and an inability to trust.

"Ive done over 25 years  prison, jail, halfway house, and you controlled me," Finn told Strain. "What it's done to me? My family? My mother used to think you were God and wouldn't hurt her baby boy, but you did."

Keen called Strain a monster and said that his family has also suffered from Strain's abuse.

"You are the reason my kids and wife have memories of an angry, out-of-control person who would just lash out for no reason," Keen said.

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The worst damage Strain did was not to his body, but to his mind, Keen said.

"More days than not, I hate myself. I have considered suicide. Thats on you  you! You better be glad I cant get my hands on you, buddy. You better be glad," Keen said, pounding on the table.

'A place in hell for you'

Finn's mother, Patricia Finn, also berated Strain, saying that she had loved him like another son and trusted him.

"I dont get no satisfaction putting you down," she told Strain. "I remember the little boy I fell in love with, 10 years old  for you to do that to my child at 6 years old? I blame myself. Why? How did I not see the hurt my child was going through. I live with that in my heart and brain 24 hours a day...They've got a place in hell for you," she said.

Assistant north shore District Attorney Collin Sims asked Simpson to impose the maximum sentences available, saying that they were insufficient to address the heinous nature of his crimes and the betrayal of trust felt by the victims and community.

Strain ran the Sheriff's Office from 1996-2016, after losing a bid for a sixth term.

The fact that Strain used his position as sheriff to help cover up his crimes, offering this victims jobs and pay, put an "exclamation point" on his wrongdoing, Sims said.

"Professional predator, professional manipulator and professional rapist - thats what his resume should say," he said.

Gibbens disagreed, saying, "I don't know how a life sentence is insufficient for anything." He also argued that any fines imposed would really be borne by Strain's wife, since Strain is facing life in prison.

But Simpson pointed to an analysis of his finances presented in court that includes $180,000 a year from Strain's pension. Strain's wife is paid $80,000 a year as a supervisor at Lakeview Regional Medical Center, according to testimony, and the Strains have their home on the market for $900,000.

The judge did not impose the maximum sentences for four of the crimes. Strain was sentenced to 15 years for each of the aggravated incest charges, short of the 20-year maximum. He was also found guilty of indecent behavior with a juvenile, which has a seven-year maximum and sexual battery with a 10 year maximum.

Strain was sentenced to five years each for those two charges, but they will be served concurrently with the 15-year aggravated incest sentences.
Grand Isle Councilman Elgene Gary, 78, was arrested Monday and booked on counts of sexual battery against juveniles "spanning many years," State Police said.

The State Police's Special Victims Unit in New Orleans arrested Gary on two counts of felony sexual battery and booked him into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. It was the culmination of an investigation they began in October 2021. Investigators determined Gary molested two children on separate dates at his residence in Grand Isle.

In June 2016, Gary, a former lieutenant with the Grand Isle Police Department, was one of three former officers booked with malfeasance in office and dismissed from their positions there. Gary was booked on one count of extortion in that incident, but prosecutors filed charges only against ex-officers Tyson Gravette and Cameron Westbrook. Gravette pleaded guilty, and Westbrook was acquitted.

In August 2020, Gary, a Republican, narrowly defeated incumbent Leoda Bladsacker by 10 votes, 346-336, for the Grand Isle Council seat he holds.

Anyone with information about this case, or anyone who has been the victim of sexual battery by Gary, may call the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit at (504) 310-7011.

Ramon Vargas, Faimon Roberts and Michelle Hunter contributed to this report.
In a surprise announcement Tuesday, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said multiagency task force officers who shot and killed a fugitive in the doorway of a South Robertson Street apartment earlier this month were not wearing body cameras.

The deadly confrontation happened Feb. 10, when members of the NOPD's Violent Offenders Warrant Squad  working with the U.S. Marshals fugitive recovery task force  knocked on the door of an apartment in the 3300 block of South Robertson Street and ordered 22-year-old Terrell Russell to surrender. Russell was accused in a deadly double shooting last August.

A woman who was hosting Russell came out with her hands up and informed officers that Russell was inside her apartment with a rifle, said Scott Illing, the top-ranking U.S. Marshal in the region that includes New Orleans. Russell then appeared in the doorway with a rifle behind his back and ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon, Illing said.

After officers pleaded for about two minutes with Russell to give up, he aimed the rifle at law enforcement agents, Illing said. A U.S. Marshal and an NOPD officer fired at Russell. One bullet fired by the U.S. Marshal struck Russell in the chest, killing him.

The task force officers, including those deputized from the NOPD and other outside agencies, were not wearing body cameras because U.S. Marshals protocol does not require them, Illing said. The federal agency has started the process of acquiring body cameras for their agents and deputized officers, and hope to have a program in place by April, he said.

But that was little comfort to Russell's family, who arrived at NOPD headquarters Tuesday to meet with Ferguson and other officials. In impassioned remarks, they accused the officers of lying about what had happened.

Theresa Russell said her cousin Terrell would have turned himself over to police had he known he was wanted. "Now, he's got a five-month-old baby ... (who) is going to grow up without a father," she said as she stood next to Terrell Russell's father, Malcolm, and mother, Shantell. "His mother and father are without their son."

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Shantell Russell added: "It's just sad  they never gave my son a chance."

Ferguson said members of his team had met with Russells father, but the chief hadnt personally been able to sit down with Russell's parents before Tuesdays briefing.

We never, ever want to have an interaction with our community to result  in a fatal incident, Ferguson said.

The NOPD has routinely released detailed footage of deadly police shootings since signing a package of federal reforms in 2012. As part of those reforms, the agency adopted policies requiring officers to record themselves in most cases that require use of force. In deadly police shootings, the agency also releases whatever the devices recorded.

Ferguson asked members of the public who may have recorded cellphone video near the scene where Russell was killed to provide the footage to NOPD.

Russell was wanted on a warrant accusing him of playing a role in an August 13 shooting that killed Djuan Brown and wounded a second man in the 2200 block of Piety Street.

Police had previously arrested two other suspects in the shooting that killed Brown. Brown and the second victim were in a car when someone approached and shot them. The car they were riding in crashed more than a mile away, and first responders found Brown dead.

A team of NOPD investigators that specializes in use-of-force cases is handling the internal probe into Russells killing. The NOPD officer and U.S. Marshal who shot at Russell were temporarily assigned to desk duty following the incident. As of Tuesday, both had returned to their normal jobs. Neither was identified.

WWL-TV's Meg Farris contributed to this report.
The man who was shot to death outside Costco in New Orleans on Sunday night has been identified as 44-year-old Joseph Sandoval, according to the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office.

Sandoval was killed when he and his girlfriend went to the parking lot outside the popular warehouse club off South Carrollton Avenue so that she could leave her child with the child's father. An argument erupted between Sandoval and the other man, who ended up shooting Sandoval to death.

Police suspect Sandoval also possessed a gun during the confrontation, and they are trying to determine whether the man who shot him acted in self-defense.

He wasn't immediately booked with a crime after officers brought him in for initial questioning, though detectives were still investigating the case. Police were working to recover video from the store's parking lot surveillance system and a dashboard camera in Sandoval's car to establish exactly what happened.

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Charges in the case depend on whether authorities find that the killing meets Louisianas definition of justifiable homicide.

People in Louisiana can kill without being prosecuted if they prove they reasonably feared they were facing imminent danger of losing (their) lives or receiving great bodily harm. There is no duty to retreat if the person claiming self-defense is in a place where they have the right to be present.

No other details were immediately available. Check back later for any updates.
New Orleans police arrested Rafael Rojas, 45, after he allegedly shot a woman in the head during a domestic dispute.

Rojas was booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail on one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of domestic abuse battery, police said.

Police responded to a shooting report at around 8 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Magazine Street. Rojas and a 44-year-old woman were arguing, police say, and the woman left the room. When she returned, Rojas assaulted her physically, police said.

She heard a "pop" and realized she was shot, police said. Emergency Medical Services took her to the hospital, where she was treated for a gunshot wound to the head.

Police arrested Rojas on the scene.

No other information, including the victim's current condition, was immediately available.
After weeks of tension with the school district's bus drivers, the St. Tammany Parish School Board and the school district's employees union have agreed on pay increases for the drivers that are four times the amount the district initially offered.

The board offered the pay increases during a special meeting Monday night. The St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees, after gathering the feelings of its members, accepted the increase after having rejected other proposals in recent weeks.

The drivers have complained for months that their pay has not kept up with increasing costs. The special School Board meeting followed a sickout by 62 bus drivers earlier this month over complaints of inadequate pay.

Bus drivers will get a total of $4,100 -- $400 per month for four months and a $2,500 emergency stipend for "operational pay." The proposal also calls for drivers who cover routes for other drivers to get $20 for driving a extra morning route and $20 for an extra afternoon route not to exceed $40 per day. That pay will be retroactive to Aug. 6, 2021.

It will cost the school district $2.16 million.

Union president Brant Osborn thanked the board but said that he hoped for quicker resolution to problems in the future. "There are a lot of hurt feelings and money isn't enough," he said.

Tiffany Hunt, a parent who spoke during Monday's meeting, chided St. Tammany schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia for an automated call the school district sent to parents after the bus driver sickout. "Most parents are backing bus drivers 100%," she said. "I wasn't even alive when the last increase was given."

In the automated call, Jabbia told parents that the district's contract with the union prohibits sickouts, work stoppages or strikes "because we know that this will directly impact students and families."

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Osborn, meanwhile, had worried that the sickout would hurt public support, at one point calling it "disorganized labor."

Bus drivers get a starting salary of $25,850 a year for 177 work days. The also get a fuel allotment that is adjusted every month and a $1,200 stipend from the district.

Union officials met Jabbia twice after the sickout to discuss pay increases. Fears that a second sickout was in the offing sparked the decision to hold the School Board meeting.

Drivers in Tangipahoa Parish staged a sickout over the same issue last week.

Most of St. Tammany's nearly 400 bus drivers own their buses. The drivers have been seeking a pay increase for months. The drivers say their costs continue to rise but that the state portion of their pay, which averages 87 cents per mile, hasn't gone up in more than 30 years.

The school district had initially offered to pay drivers an additional $200 per month from February to June -- $1,000 -- but drivers called the offer insulting and the union rejected it.

Since then, a number of counter-proposals have been discussed with the school district offering to add a $1,500 per driver stipend to make up for work lost during the pandemic shutdown.
Xi Focus: Championing economic globalization, despite countercurrents

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Photo taken on Jan. 2, 2021 shows the light show at the Lujiazui area in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

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.
It was a swank Carnival ball inside one of the citys most elegant buildings.

Yet despite the indoor mask mandate that Mayor LaToya Cantrell reimposed last month, images circulating online appear to show that politicians including Cantrell herself failed to follow all the rules during the Mayors Mardi Gras Ball at Gallier Hall on Friday night.

Now, Cantrell is being accused of hypocrisy  a charge thats dogged politicians from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the pandemic began.

In one video thats circulated widely, a maskless Cantrell appears to stand on a whirling, 360-degree photo booth with a microphone in her hand next to two other people. Other images show Cantrell either wearing a dark-colored mask or going without.

Cantrells administration has not disputed that the mayor failed to wear the mask at all times required on Friday night, or the authenticity of the video from the spinning platform.

While we did not see perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance over the weekend, we were encouraged overall by the level of masking and vigilance we saw on the parade route and at ball events, said Beau Tidwell, a City Hall spokesman.

In most of Louisiana, failing to wear a face mask at a ball wouldnt run afoul of any rules. But as COVID cases surged last month, the Cantrell administration put a mask mandate on indoor spaces back in place. The exceptions are narrowly drawn. Masks are supposed to be donned at all times unless the wearer is actively eating or drinking.

The mandate will remain in effect at least through Fat Tuesday  although observance and enforcement has been spotty at many indoor spaces during Carnival.

Photos and videos from the Mardi Gras Ball appear to show that some people wore masks, some of the time. One ball attendee said on Twitter that she had to show a required proof of vaccination and wear a mask at the door.

Once inside, the ball was about 70% masked, Kristine Froeba said.

Cantrell was the person who imposed the mask mandate via emergency order, but images appear to show other bigwigs failing to wear a mask for at least the length of time it took them to pose for a picture.

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City Council President Helena Moreno, Council members Lesli Harris and Eugene Green, Clerk of Civil District Court Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Deputy Chief Criminal District Court Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier and Orleans Parish School Board President Olin Parker were all photographed maskless in images circulating online.

"Ill take my lumps and say that I should have taken the picture with my mask on. Ill just leave it at that," Green said. "I was enthusiastic about taking a photo with our council president."

The other council members and political figures did not respond to requests for comment.

Cantrell hasn't faced public opposition from other elected officials in Orleans Parish over the mask mandate. But her COVID rules have agitated some local business owners and metro area residents who have complained about the restrictions.

Arguing that the rules infringed on their rights, more than 100 people filed suit earlier this month in an attempt to have the restrictions rolled back. Cantrell has fought a successful court battle to uphold the mandate through the end of the month.

Critics of the mask mandate seized on the photos in online posts. Cantrell is hardly the first politician to face such outrage. Newsom, the California governor, survived a recall attempt in September despite anger over an image of him dining at a fancy French restaurant early in the pandemic despite a ban on such gatherings.

Johnson, the British prime minister, may not be so lucky. His political enemies are circling after images surfaced of staffers partying in 2020, despite the strict lockdown rules in place at the time.

Tidwell said that despite the dust-up over the ball at Gallier Hall, the current rules will remain in place.

The mask guidelines and the vaccination requirement will remain in effect through Mardi Gras. That has not changed and it will not change, he said.

Amid declining infection rates, Cantrell hasnt said whether she will reimpose the mask mandate after Mardi Gras ends.
The Regional Transit Authority has been awarded a $5.7 million federal grant to buy a new ferry landing barge in Algiers Point.

The authoritys barges are a sort of floating dock near the terminals of the Canal-Algiers ferry route. RTA officials say the current, roughly 40-year-old barge in Algiers is nearing the end of its useful life.

The authority announced the grant from the Federal Transit Administration on Friday. The federal agency recently doled out $45.3 million in grants for ferry projects in 11 states and territories.

The replacement barge will share its design with a barge placed at the Chalmette Ferry Terminal several years ago, allowing the transit authority greater flexibility in case it needs to move them, according to Lona Edwards Hankins, the RTAs deputy CEO of planning and infrastructure.

The process of securing the final federal sign-off, as well as designing and procuring the new barge, could take about 2 years in total. Installing the new barge will likely lead to service disruptions for an undetermined period of time.

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In a news release, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said her administration wrote a letter of support for the RTA grant during the fall application process.

"This award is another great example of how we are leveraging federal dollars to improve our aging infrastructure and quality of life for all New Orleans residents and visitors, Cantrell said.

Ferry service between Algiers Point and downtown New Orleans has seen a number of changes in recent years. After a long and troubled acquisition process, the RTA launched two new catamaran ferries serving the route in late 2020.

Meanwhile, the authority is building a new $27 million terminal at the foot of Canal Street. Ferries are landing at a temporary berthing near the Audubon Aquarium.
Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma lawmakers Tuesday vowed that Oklahoma would be the most pro-life state in the nation after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to allow states to choose whether to allow abortion access. State abortion rights advocates at the same time said they were terrified at this point.
Raise the Region 2022 is an event designed to support the fundraising projects of local nonprofit organizations. The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP), in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, will launch a 30-hour fundraising event starting on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

Nonprofit participation in Raise the Region is available to 501c3 organizations serving residents in Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga, or Union Counties. Preregistration is required by Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at 5:00 PM. For nonprofits interested in registering for this event and a complete set of rules, please visit www.RaiseTheRegion.org.

Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has generously donated $170,000 that will be used to stretch every donation made to preregistered nonprofits. Any donation will be matched with a contribution from Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, thereby stretching the total fundraising sum for the non-profit and its mission.

Additional monetary prizes and incentives sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank, Larson Design Group, Subaru, Toyota Motor Corporation, Pennsylvania Skill by Miele Manufacturing, UPMC, Weis Markets, and AutoTrader will be awarded to participating nonprofits throughout the entire event.

In 2021, north central Pennsylvania showed its spirit of philanthropy by donating $2,037,800 to 272 nonprofits. Raise the Region had thousands of donors make over 14,000 gifts. Since starting in 2013, Raise the Region has collectively received $12.3 million in donations for the benefit of local nonprofit organizations.

On Wednesday, March 9, at 6:00 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, the public is encouraged to visit www.RaiseTheRegion.org and select participating nonprofits to support.

A donation(s) can also help raise additional support for the nonprofits selected by qualifying them for monetary prizes. All gifts are tax-deductible and will help make your favorite nonprofits mission possible.

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Lewisburg, Pa.  Students at Bucknell University held a protest on Monday in response to recent allegations that a campus public safety officer mishandled a sexual assault case, and the university covered up the issue.

At 12:15 p.m. hundreds of students, staff, and faculty left their classrooms, their lunches, their offices, and gathered in the science and engineering quad.

The gathering involved chants and multiple speakers. Attendees were given chalk and encouraged to write positive messages on the pathways. Many of the attendees wore teal clothing in support of sexual abuse survivors.

In January, a former public safety officer at Bucknell University filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that former Chief of Public Safety Steve Barilar mishandled crime cases on campus.

Related Reading: Former Bucknell public safety officer sues university for violating whistleblower law

According to the lawsuit, Barilar mishandled a case when he gave a student an opportunity to erase cell phone evidence of a harassment incident in which the student was allegedly involved.

Chief Barilar was supposed to retire in January, but in February, Barliar appeared on the university's webpage with a new title: Special advisor to the General counsel. Barilar's title was later changed to "Casual public safety," after a NorthcentralPa.com reporter reached out to the university for comment.

Related reading: Bucknell retains former public safety chief as counsel, despite corruption allegations

The university has not released an official statement or comment on the lawsuit, campus walkout, or the alleged actions of Barliar.

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Ongoing research studies at a Philadelphia medical school are focusing on stress-reduction interventions for health care workers experiencing burnout exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Daniel Monti, chair of the department of integrative medicine and nutritional sciences at Thomas Jefferson University and The Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, said the eight-week virtual program teaches mindfulness and meditation, which can be helpful for health care workers who have been inundated by grief and illness during the pandemic.

Monti explained it is not about replacing psychiatry but providing tools to alleviate the lingering effects of stress and anxiety.

"Many of us, we're in that middle zone, where it isn't that it was an acute clinical diagnosis, but the stress affects people," Monti pointed out. "It's been highly rewarding working with health care workers. We know what a difficult job they have, and we want to support them and help them in any way we can."

Previous studies have shown mindfulness strategies can be effective in fostering resiliency and recovery in health care workers during the pandemic. Due to stressors and high workloads related to COVID-19, a 2021 study predicted Pennsylvania will be short nearly 300,000 health care workers by 2026.

Monti noted Jefferson also offers mindfulness programs to the general public. After nearly two years into the pandemic, the social isolation and difficult decisions people have had to make to keep themselves and others safe have taken a toll.

"Stress, in a way, is an exacerbation of the fight-or-flight mechanisms of the nervous system," Monti remarked. "That fight-or-flight mechanism is meant to be temporary until whenever the perceived threat to survival passes. However, in a pandemic, it never goes away."

Through meditation practices, participants can learn to reduce the physical effects of long-term stress, along with ways to better communicate strong feelings such as anger. Jefferson's integrative medicine academic department is the first of its kind in the country.

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From 14 to 16 February 2022 the WCO COVID-19 Project, funded by the Government of Japan, successfully conducted its 12th capacity-building activity aimed at strengthening the resilience of WCO Members in effectively responding to COVID-19 and other disruptive events. The workshop, organized for Angola Customs, with interpretation supported by the CCF Finland-ESA, resulted in the development of a draft Guide collecting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the priority release of critical goods and equipment.

Angola is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and, in addition to the current COVID-19 pandemic, experiences epidemics of other diseases, such as HIV, malaria and cholera, which have a major impact on socio-economic activities and on the livelihoods of citizens. Angola therefore requested the support of the WCO COVID-19 Project to reinforce its disaster preparedness and review its emergency procedures according to the latest applicable international instruments and tools.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Nerethz Faria Coelho da Cruz Tati, Member of the Board of Directors of Angolas Revenue Administration, warmly thanked the WCO for its useful support and underlined the timeliness of the activity to improve Customs clearance and better tackle the global health crisis. Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, Director of the WCO Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, commended the commitment of Angolas Revenue Administration and encouraged participants to actively contribute to the discussions and make the most of the assistance provided by WCO and humanitarian organizations experts throughout the workshop.

Participants highlighted the challenges encountered for the clearance and regularization of different categories of goods at ports, airports and land points of entry, and formulated recommendations to improve applicable Customs procedures, including those concerning the status of importers and related exemptions.

On the last day of the workshop, participants agreed upon the next steps for the finalization of the Guide given that, during upcoming weeks, a number of meetings will be held with stakeholders to complete the document. Angolas Revenue Administration also expressed its interest to receive additional support by the WCO for the organization of a simulation exercise on the ground, to be carried out with the assistance of the COVID-19 Project, to test and fine-tune the newly drafted Guide and overcome potential remaining bottlenecks that could negatively affect the humanitarian supply chain.
Reprinted with permission from The Chesapeake Bay Journal.

The $1.2 trillion [federal Bipartisan] Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act recently passed by Congress is sending an unprecedented $6.4 billion for abandoned mine lands cleanup to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia over the next 15 years.

The record cleanup money will enable a quantum leap in removing the readily visible scars that still harm the environment in the four states.

People like Ed Wytovich of the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association in Pennsylvania are giddy about the influx of funds.

Catawissa Creek is a 42-mile-long stream that drains into the Susquehanna River in eastern Pennsylvania. It is one of the most picturesque waterways in the state, all but untouched by roads. Its sand and gravel bottom, cobblestones and boulders should make it one of the best wild trout streams in the eastern United States. Sixteen of its tributaries have wild trout.

But it's dead.

The stream suffers from high acidity and aluminum pollution draining from a 3-mile tunnel that dewatered coal mines long ago  poison to any fish and aquatic, insects that should be there.

I personally think its one of prettiest screwed-up creeks east of the Mississippi, Wytovich said.

His group, as well as local conservation districts, Trout Unlimited and the state want to build a wetlands and limestone-based treatment facility to bring back the Catawissa and unlock its potential.

Until now, federal funding has been restricted mainly to projects that pose a threat to public health, safety and property in populated areas, or those that boost economic development. Much of the other acid mine drainage, estimated to have contaminated 7,356 miles of streams in Pennsylvania alone, has taken a back seat. That estimate has risen by 1,797 miles in just the last two years.

But the federal funds from the new infrastructure bill can be spent directly on acid mine drainage, and officials in four Bay watershed states are dusting off plans for hundreds of long-stymied reclamation efforts.

Included is a project to stop the mine drainage into Catawissa Creek.

Biden administration officials say the new money also will be used to reclaim abandoned mine lands, eliminate pollution and spur economic development in those blighted areas, all while creating jobs.

More projects, bigger projects

To understand the scale of the increase for the four states 45-year effort to erase the blight from past coal mining, consider that Pennsylvanias estimated share of $3.8 billion  the most in the country  is more than twice the total amount the state has received since annual federal cleanup aid began in 1977 under the Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Act.

Of the 250,000 acres of abandoned mine lands still polluting and scarring Pennsylvania, almost half are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Although much of the pollution gets diluted by the time it reaches the Bay, mine lands are an unchecked source of sediment, nutrients and heavy metals washing downstream.

Its an unprecedented level of funding, said Brian Bradley, director of the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Were looking at all angles. Were looking at how we can do more projects, bigger projects, and looking at problems we have set aside previously because they were thought to be too costly. Everything is fair game.

Our community was stunned and thrilled at this windfall, added Andy McAllister, head of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, an environmental group that has partnered with both the state and nonprofit organizations to clean up legacy coal problems.

In Maryland, which will receive nearly $75 million, the Department of the Environment is lining up new projects and adding staff to hit the ground running, said department spokesman Jay Apperson.

Maryland, with an estimated 450 miles of streams impaired by acid mine drainage, has a list of unfunded coal reclamation projects that total $69.6 million. With nearly $75 million coming in new federal aid, it would appear that the state could eliminate its legacy coal pollution, but Apperson said its not quite that simple.

Each year, he said, the agency also has to fix landslides, mine subsidence and other pop-up problems that arent on the official abandoned mine land list. Still, he added, Its safe to say the money will be sufficient to reclaim the majority of the sites.

Marylands coal lands are exclusively in the states two westernmost counties Allegheny and Garrett. A majority of high-priority projects are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Virginia will get $354 million, and its Department of Energy has prepared for the surge by beefing up staff capacity. But none of its unfunded inventory of $425 million in projects is in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

West Virginia, where 14% of the land mass drains into the Bay through the Potomac and James River basins, will get $2.2 billion.

The new infusion of federal money is in addition to funds the states have been getting since 1977 from fees collected from present-day coal mining companies. The Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund has distributed nearly $12 billion to states around the nation. The fund expired last fall, but was renewed in the infrastructure bill with a 20% reduction in the fees, a concession to the struggling coal industry.

Broader use of funds

Cleanup advocates are not just excited about the record amount of aid about to be spent on legacy coal mining problems. They are also pleased that the funds have fewer strings attached so that a wider array of problems can be addressed.

Most importantly, the money is available for projects aimed solely at bringing impaired streams back to life, not just for public health and safety issues such as water supply remediation, removal of old coal slag piles or stabilizing abandoned highwall mines.

Now, instead of only chasing landslides, as one environmental group characterized efforts to date, the federal money can go toward reviving dead or so-called yellow-boy streams  dramatically discolored by contaminants  with the sole purpose of restoring their ecosystems. And, in the process, they can bring back fishing and recreational opportunities, too.

Fisheries and game managers from Bay drainage states recently wrote to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which will manage the new funds, urging that uses for the money be liberalized to allow more polluted streams to be restored. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced she was granting that request at a press conference in Pennsylvania on Jan. 24.

We need to make sure those funds are broadened, said Mike Nerozzi of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Oftentimes, these sites extend miles downstream and decimate everything in their path. He cited Catawissa Creek as a prime example.

The agency estimates that if the tainted streams were again fishable, it could create $29 million annually in angler-generated revenue.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania promised, I will continue pressing for more flexibility to use abandoned mine land funding to ensure Pennsylvania families have access to clean water, a right guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Another priority for state environmental agencies and advocacy groups is that new aid money be used to support the hundreds of aging acid mine drainage treatment systems that have been built but need rehabilitation or maintenance. Often, they are operated by volunteer watershed groups, conservation districts or municipalities with uncertain funding sources.

These things dont last forever, McAllister said.

In Pennsylvania alone, there are 350 passive treatment systems for acid mine drainage that rely on wetlands and settling ponds to filter out harmful metals, in addition to infusing limestone to lower acidity. But larger-scale treatment facilities, similar to wastewater treatment plants, will be needed to fix high-volume mine discharges.

Haaland said the money could be used for such treatment plants, as well as to maintain and refurbish them as they age.

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Williamsport, Pa.  Williamsport Police officers said they could see a suspect make a throwing motion right before hearing a bag hit the floor of a holding cell.

An inspection of the cell and a strip search of the woman helped authorities locate more than 80 grams of cocaine, according to an affidavit. Beatriz Fortuna Robles, 33, of Philadelphia was charged with a count of felony possession with attempt to delivere a controlled substance after the discovery.

Robles was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped on Feb. 15 after officers said they observed it go through a stop sign near Pine Street. Police spoke with Jess Brosh, who told them Robles had given her two baggies of cocaine earlier in the day.

A search of the vehicle was conducted prior to Robles being taken into custody. Officers informed Robles she would be stripped search once back at the station.

According to the report, Robles attempted to get rid of the substance as she was being held inside a holding cell. Officers said more cocaine and packaging materials were located after the strip search was completed.

Robles was given $95,000 monetary bail during an arraignment and incarcerated at the Lycoming County Prison. Court records show she was also charged with felony tamper with evidence, misdemeanor intentional possession of a controlled substance, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robles will face Judge Aaron Biichle on Feb. 24 for a preliminary hearing at the Lycoming County Courthouse. No charges were filed against Brosh at this time.

Docket sheet

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Education

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Rome Board of Education begins initial process of superintendent search

The Rome Board of Education will review a contract with the Georgia School Boards Association for assistance in a search for a new superintendent and likely vote on it in March.

During a called meeting Monday, board members heard from the GSBA Director of Superintendent Searches Sam King regarding the process, cost and what the organization can offer.

The hiring process generally takes 4 to 5 months, King told the board. Superintendent Louis Byars is set to retire at the end of the school year, which is around 90 days away. With that timeline, its likely the board will appoint an interim superintendent, although no action has been taken.

The GSBA would facilitate items like the initial search and application process as well as design a timeline for the interview and hiring process. The cost of those services is $7,500, if the Rome board chooses to enlist the aid of the GSBA.

While displaying an initial hesitancy in using the association, board member Faith Collins then suggested they hire the group to facilitate the search. Much of the board is new to the process.

Collins and board member Will Byington both went through the process to hire Byars. During that search the board also used the GSBA  and both veteran board members stressed that, despite any suggestions from that association, it is the boards responsibility to make the decision as to who to hire.

The board closed the session to the public for just under an hour and then opened back up to approve Byars retirement.

If the board decides to contract with the GSBA, the process will move in several stages. In the first stage, board members will fill out questionnaires concerning what they would like to see in a candidate. Once those are complete, the GSBA will then narrow down the field of applicants to ones that fit the overall vision of the board.

The board will then begin interviewing candidates to pare down the list. The list of candidates and those proceedings will be closed to the public. Once the list is down to three potential candidates, then they are required by law to release the information on those candidates to the public.

After 14 days, the board can make a decision. During that process, it is likely the board will open comments concerning those candidates to the public.
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Merrillville-based Centier Bank has opened a new branch in South Bend, its second there.

The bank, the largest family-owned bank in the state of Indiana, opened its South Bend West Branch at 2850 W. Cleveland Road in an industrial park.

Were excited to be a bigger part of South Bend and St. Joseph County, CEO and Chairman Mike Schrage said. Weve had a warm welcoming in the area, and we look forward to a long partnership with the City of South Bend. Weve been doing this for 127 years, so were not going anywhere. Centier Bank will continue to be a loyal partner to the city, and were happy to be a part of everything youre accomplishing  we hope you lean on us so we can work together toward the future.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Centier was already a familiar face in the community.

Were grateful for all Centier does to finance projects in our city and help small businesses, as well as help our residents to make sure they have access to banking services, Mueller said. Were excited that youre expanding your footprint and visibility in our community, we look forward to all the great things in the pipeline that were seeing. Thank you for your continued support.

Centier's new bank branch features a drive-through, coffee bar and self-service coin station. It will employ a mortgage loan officer and small business banker.

Homeownership is very important, banking is very important, and we need our community to have partners like Centier to help navigate and guide people through their journey of life, Councilman Pastor Canneth Lee said. We are so excited to have you here, and we want to welcome you to the First District.

Centier has more than 60 branches across Indiana, where it employs more than 900 workers.

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EAST CHICAGO  Cleveland-Cliffs plans to indefinitely idle Blast Furnace No. 4 at the Indiana Harbor steel mill, the second blast furnace in East Chicago to be taken offline in the last three years in a major blow to and further erosion of integrated steelmaking in the Calumet Region.

The Cleveland-based steelmaker said no jobs will be lost as workers will be transferred to other positions at the sprawling mill along the Lake Michigan lakefront. The dwindling amount of steelmaking capacity along the Lake Michigan lakefront will, however, have long-term effects on employment opportunities at the Region's steel mills.

Indiana Harbor had still operated five blast furnaces a little over a decade ago.

Cleveland-Cliffs announced it would raise steel prices as it took the steelmaking capacity offline, reducing the overall supply on the market at a time of strong demand. It plans to increase the price of carbon hot rolled, cold rolled and coated steel products by at least $50 per ton.

The flat-rolled steelmaker plans to idle Indiana Harbor Blast Furnace No. 4 because of operational improvements that include adding hot-briquetted iron to the blast furnaces and maximizing the use of scrap in basic oxygen furnaces.

All the employees will be transferred to other positions at Cleveland-Cliffs Indiana Harbor Works, which combines the former LTV and Inland steel mills that were consolidated under previous ownership. The company said it currently has more available job openings at Indiana Harbor in East Chicago than it had workers at the blast furnace, which forged raw materials into iron, the precursor for the steel that goes into cars, appliances and buildings nationwide.

Cleveland-Cliffs expects the closure will reduce its carbon emissions as integrated steelmaking is a carbon-intensive process that involves burning coke, a form of coal that's been stripped of impurities.

"Our strategy of increasing productivity at our ironmaking and steelmaking facilities through the use of both in-house produced HBI and additional scrap has allowed us to reduce coke rate and consequently reduce CO2 emissions, as well as to stretch hot metal utilization and still be able to produce similar amounts of crude steel with fewer blast furnaces," Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said. "Said another way, by concentrating the operation and maximizing productivity at IH No. 7 we are improving our carbon footprint and, at the same time, lowering our cost structure for the same level of steel production and shipments. Most importantly, as we have enough job openings on site for all impacted employees, we are now able to fill several available job openings at Indiana Harbor Works with the current workforce of IH No. 4.

Cleveland-Cliffs said normal operations will continue at the Indiana Harbor steel mill and the Riverdale Works mill it supplies just across the state line. Indiana Harbor Works still has two steel shops, the hot strip mill and finishing facilities.

The United Steelworkers union is requesting a meeting with the company to discuss the idling.

"We have not had any meetings with the company," USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap said. "We were notified right before they announced it. We were told nobody would lose their jobs and it was for efficiency reasons. Of course, we're concerned about continuously losing blast furnaces over the decades. I can't even tell you how many blast furnaces we had at one time. Of course, we're concerned about capacity."

Once the largest steelmaker complex in the world, the mill in East Chicago is down to just a single blast furnace. Indiana Harbor Blast Furnace #7 will now supply all operations at the steel mill in East Chicago and Riverdale Works in Riverdale, Illinois.

Indiana Harbor Blast Furnace No. 4 at the sprawling 3,100-acre Indiana Harbor campus had an annual capacity of 2.1 million tons per year. Its indefinite idling will reduce Cleveland-Cliffs' total portfolio of blast furnaces from 8 to 7.

Previous mill operator ArcelorMittal indefinitely idled Blast Furnace No. 3 at the former LTV steel mill in East Chicago's lakefront Indiana Harbor neighborhood in 2019 instead of undertaking the major expense of relining it. ArcelorMittal said it reached the end of its current campaign and that it was unwilling to make the significant capital investment needed for continued operation.

Blast Furnace No. 4 was the last left standing at the Indiana Harbor West mill that previously belonged to Youngstown Sheet and Tube, J&L, LTV Steel and ISG before being bought by ArcelorMittal in the early 2000s and Cleveland-Cliffs in 2020.

Cleveland-Cliffs said the idling will not affect its expected production level this year. The blast furnace should cease production in the next few months.

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NEW YORK  For the first time in two years for many people, the American workplace is transforming into something that resembles pre-pandemic days.

Tyson Foods said last week it was ending mask requirements for its vaccinated workers in some facilities. Walmart and Amazon  the nation's No. 1 and 2 largest private employers respectively  will no longer require fully vaccinated workers to don masks in stores or warehouses unless required under local or state laws. Tech companies like Microsoft and Facebook that had allowed employees to work fully remote are now setting mandatory dates to return to the office after a series of fits and starts.

"There has been a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past weeks," Amazon told workers in a memo. "Along with increasing vaccination rates across the country, this is a positive sign we can return to the path to normal operations."

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, announced plans to open its West Coast buildings on Feb. 28 with a hybrid mix of working in the office and home. Facebook parent Meta Platforms, which had planned to bring workers back to the office on Jan. 31, will now require them to return  with proof of a booster shot  on March 28.

That's a stark reversal from just weeks ago when the omicron variant of COVID-19 was peaking, prompting companies to double-down on mask requirements and enforce daily health screenings while delaying return-to-office plans for remote workers.

The U.S. has since seen COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations plummet. And nearly 65% of Americans are fully vaccinated.

"I think we are in a much better place than we were six months ago, or a year ago," said Jeff Levin-Scherz, an executive in the health practice of consulting firm Willis Towers Watson. "We are somewhat better protected than we were at any point in the past. But the new normal isn't going to be the old normal. It will be somewhat different. "

Many office workers will still be required to wear masks in the office and get regularly tested. Front-line workers like store clerks and restaurant staff who were already physically going to work will have to adjust to maskless colleagues and customers  whether they like it or not.

Then there are the old realities of pre-pandemic routines for some: dealing with rush-hour commuter traffic, putting on dressier clothes again and working alongside co-workers for the first time in two years.

Megan Chichester, a 48-year-old graphic artist who works at a packaging company in De Soto, Kansas, received notice that she will have to return to the office in April. She has only stopped in the office a couple times since the pandemic began.

"I'm excited to see people in person because I have missed them," she said. "But then on the other side, it's also a little strange because I'm so used to not being around people that there's a little bit of anxiety about it."

Adding to the anxiety is the fact that she has seen return-to-office dates scuttled repeatedly over the past couple years when cases surged.

"It's kind of like you're getting whiplash because you don't know what month you're really returning," she said.

Several states, including New York and New Jersey, have retreated from some of their own restrictions as their case counts decline but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not yet ready to tell everyone to take off their masks.

Many businesses  small and large  are figuring out what's best for them based on the attitudes of their customers and workers.

JPMorgan, which started requiring workers to return to the office in some form in early February, said that masking is now voluntary for employees who are fully vaccinated, except for those in cities or localities that still require it; unvaccinated workers will still need to wear a mask. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley announced a similar policy in their U.S. offices.

Brian Anderson, marketing manager at a supplement store outside of Chicago, said they've been under a state mask mandate since last August. But as soon as Illinois lifts the mandate Feb. 28, they won't require customers to wear masks.

"Our customer base is more fitness-focused and definitely not mask wearers," he said. Store workers can wear a mask, but it won't be required.

By contrast, Jeff Moriarty, co-owner of Moriarty's Gem Art in Crown Point, Indiana, says they'll continue to ask customers to wear masks even though there hasn't been a mandate in his state since 2021. His business provides masks and hand sanitizers at the entrance.

"The reason behind this is because we do have older associates working in our store, and our owners are over the age of 65," he said. "We understand that some customers will choose not to wear masks, but we will continue to have it as a recommendation option."

Companies that have imposed their own vaccination requirements for staff also must navigate the changing dynamics surrounding the virus.

The Supreme Court last month knocked down a federal nationwide workplace mandate but companies are allowed to maintain their own requirements and many are keeping them in place. Others, like Starbucks, have decided to eliminate their mandate in the aftermath of the high court ruling.

Peter Naughton, a 46-year-old who works at the Walmart in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, said most workers are worried about the mask requirement going away. He plans to keep wearing his mask because it protects him and other people.

"It's not over. It's still here. It's going to be here for a while," Naughton said of the pandemic. "So we need to, you know, take precautions ...You never know if another variant is coming, which is very possible."

AP Writers Tali Arbel, Mae Anderson and Ken Sweet in New York; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.

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U.S. Steel honored five employees in Indiana and Illinois as its Volunteer Service Champions, giving them each $5,000 in donations to give to charities of their choosing.

It's part of U.S. Steel United by Service campaign launched last January to honor Dr. Martin Luther King and his legacy of service.

U.S. Steel recognized the community service of employees Ashley Dabrowski, Jason Zeman, Joseph Petrovich, Sara Augustine and John Pfalzgraf.

Dabrowski, a supervisor in the Gary Works Accounts Payable Center of Excellence, volunteers as a school board member for Our Lady of Grace School in Highland. Serving as the interim board president last year, she led fundraising efforts including raffles, dinners and walk-a-thons.

The funds we raise are providing much-needed supplies, new technology, and external learning opportunities that would otherwise not be possible, while the volunteering is supporting the growth of the school and fostering a family atmosphere, she said.

Petrovich, a manager at Midwest Plants IT Digital Process Automation Department in Portage, volunteers for the Porter County Special Olympics. The Road Rally fundraiser he started as a board member raised more than $13,000 last year for Special Olympics athletes like his son.

Special Olympics is an extremely positive influence on their athletes on both the visible fronts of teamwork, training and competition but also the less visible fronts of health screenings, nutrition education, leadership training, self-esteem, friendship growth and community growth, he said.

Zeman, a mobile equipment trainer at Gary Works, is a fourth-generation volunteer firefighter with the Westville Community Volunteer Fire Department who now serves as fire chief. He's volunteered there for 20 years and is also an EMT.

Being a member of this department and providing that service to people of our community gives a sense of happiness to all involved," he said.

Augustine, a material specialist at the Midwest Plants Business Planning Department in Porter, has volunteered at the Guild of the St. Josephs Home for more than 20 years. He's helped raise money for the children living there through an annual gala and other events.

Volunteering my time with the Guild of the St. Joseph's Home allows me to help make the lives of troubled children better and hopefully they feel more love and support in their lives, she said.

Pfaltzgraf, a millwright at Granite City Works in Illinois, volunteers with the Boy Scouts, mentoring 11 scouts to rank of Eagle Scout.

"It's important because we help teach todays scouts responsibility and life skills, he said.

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The Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce plans to honor two longtime business leaders for their service to the community.

Urschel Laboratories President Rick Urschel received the Distinguished Community Leader award, which recognizes those who take a leading role in civic affairs outside their industry to help improve Valparaiso.

He has volunteered as a leader of The Rotary Club of Valparaiso, the Valpo Chamber, the Valparaiso YMCA, the Valparaiso School Foundation, Valpo Park Foundation and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission.

This will be the third Urschel who has been selected as the Valpo Chambers Distinguished Community Leader in the 36 years the award has been given," Chamber President Rex Richards said. "Joseph Urschel was selected in 1986 and Robert Urschel was selected in 2012."

Laurie Mullet, former president of Pines Village Retirement Communities, won the Legacy of Service Award. She has served the United Way, the Leading Age, the Elder Style Valparaiso Task Force, the City of Valparaiso Arts Council and the city's Human Relations Council.

Laurie Mullet has been an outstanding volunteer in numerous organizations throughout her entire career," Richards said. "She established a very special program that recognizes the veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam by taking veterans to Washington, D.C., to view the monuments to commemorate those veterans and their service. She raised $165,000 to launch that program."

They will be recognized along with companies with 50, 75 and 100 years of operation at the Valpo Chamber's Salute to Leadership dinner. It will take place May 6 at the Aberdeen Banquet Center.

For more information or tickets, call 219-462-1105.

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GARY  Gary Community School Corp. recently added new measures to help increase safety and security in its schools.

"As the district continues to improve, security remains a top priority," Col. Richard Ligon said in a news release. "We are exhausting every option because our students, staff and visitors deserve to feel safe every time they come to a school building."

The GCSC security team, led by co-directors Danny Rias and Ligon, has made several changes, such as upgrading the surveillance systems.

Footage from school buildings is now accessible to local law enforcement, and bus cameras are able to be seen by school administrators instantly. Rias said that previously videos would have to be sent from the transportation or security division, but now principals can access them immediately, allowing them to address any safety issues immediately.

The goal is to have 12 security officers in the high school, six in the middle schools and two in each elementary school. Currently, there are nine in the high school, three in one middle school and four in the other and one in each elementary school.

Ligon said it is especially important to have increased security because students are coming from different situations and may have problems before even getting there.

Most of the security is also sent through a safety specialist school, where they learn how to check bags, check lockers and learn laws and school rules.

GCSC is also doing additional training for security officers, such as nonviolent crisis intervention, CPR and first aid, and training regarding incident commands, workplace security and active shooters.

The nonviolent crisis intervention allows security officers to learn how to deescalate the situation and restrain the child if necessary.

While on school property, students and staff must wear ID badges. The team said that due to COVID-19 and virtual schooling, that measure had gone away during full virtual learning and is now coming back. Visitors are also checked in through a safe visitation system, where their government IDs are analyzed for any felonies or criminal activity.

Rias said that if someone comes in who does have a felony or something else concerning on their background check, they will not be allowed in. If it is a parent who is coming to visit their child, a solution where they can FaceTime or another option may be worked out.

Safety meetings are also held at each school monthly, with several members of administration. They meet with security to discuss anything that has happened in the school and may do training.

There are also public meetings known as Law in Your Community, which allow community members to understand what to do if they are approached by a police officer.

The district is also ordering books concerning safety and security in schools to provide to members of the community.

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PORTAGE  High waves and floating ice chunks forced officials Tuesday morning to cut short a boat search for the body of an Indianapolis man who fell through shelf ice into Lake Michigan a day earlier.

Bryce Dunfee, 22, was at the Indiana Dunes National Park site about 5:30 p.m. Monday with four friends when he fell into the frigid lake waters after venturing onto the shelf ice, said Indiana Department of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Nicole Baumann.

Firefighters, dive teams and others searched for Dunfee for about two hours Monday night until it got too dark and conditions became too treacherous in the near-freezing lake.

The search resumed Tuesday morning, but deteriorating weather conditions and melting shelf ice limited those efforts.

DNR Conservation Officer Alex Neel said the DNR boat had to head back after an hour on the water, leaving himself and others to continue scouring the area on foot in the foggy, wet and cold conditions.

"The conditions are constantly changing, and we're just trying to keep up with that," he said from the beach early Tuesday afternoon.

The search is complicated further in that the frigid water temperature, which is in the freezing range, is known to keep a body submerged, Neel said.

"It's such a big area," he said, describing efforts by those on foot to scour the beach and take to the higher dunes to search the water visually using binoculars.

The rough water conditions limited searching from a boat to surface level only and prevented the use of a helicopter or drone, Neel said.

Despite predictions of frigid temperatures moving back into the area over the next several days, the search will continue for the foreseeable future, Neel said. The colder temperatures could result in the shelf ice rebuilding along the shoreline.

Dunfee and his friends were visiting the beach and began walking on shelf ice, Baumann said.

"The shelf ice is elevated. They had to climb up a little hill onto the snow," she said. "A little piece of the shelf ice broke off, and he tripped and fell into the lake."

The friends are believed to be in their 20s. The others were local, hailing from Portage and Lake Station.

The four other people who walked out onto the shelf ice tried to rescue their friend, but the lake pulled him in.

"The lake conditions are such that there are 3- to 5-foot waves and big chunks of ice," Baumann said Monday. "The waves are just pounding that shelf ice. They had a hold of him and were able to bring him up, but the conditions were too treacherous."

They called 911 and were able to return to shore safely, she said.

A massive search party gathered Monday to try to rescue the man. Indiana Dunes National Park Rangers, Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and firefighters from Portage, Porter and Ogden Dunes combed the lakefront.

A Lake County Sheriff's Department helicopter shined a spotlight across the shore, and rescuers raked the inky black water with their flashlights. They saw no sign of the man and had to call off the search at about 7:30 p.m.

It's unlikely the man could have survived in the near-freezing water with such strong waves and huge chunks of ice, Baumann said. Hypothermia would set in within minutes.

People should avoid walking on shelf ice, especially when the temperature increases, she said.

"There are melting pockets right now," she said. "It's super unstable. It's like a honeycomb. There are currents of water running underneath and waves crashing up and over. Do not climb on the shelf ice. It's not safe. You are on the lake. The water is rushing in underneath. You don't know the stability or the thickness."

While there have been many drownings on Lake Michigan, Baumann said she can't recall any involving people venturing out onto shelf ice since she was first assigned to Northwest Indiana in 2006.

"We've had people missing where they weren't found for months," she said. "All that ice and snow makes an unstable platform for rescuers, but we want to bring him back for his loved ones."

Dave Benjamin with The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project said shoreline ice formations were a public health issue. He said warning signs at the park, beach and parking lot should caution people about the dangers of shelf ice.

"Drowning continues to be a neglected public health issue," he said.

Times Staff Writer Sarah Reese contributed to this story.

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Bob Kasarda Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. Follow Bob Kasarda Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
The door almost is open for the Aberdeen neighborhood southwest of Valparaiso to seek to officially become part of Porter County's central city.

The Indiana Senate voted 46-1 Monday for legislation creating a process to allow Aberdeen to initiate a voluntary annexation by Valparaiso, or for any similarly situated noncontiguous subdivision located near a third-class city to do the same.

House Bill 1110 previously passed the House, 86-6.

It next must be re-approved by the House to advance to the governor's desk to be signed into law after the Senate added a provision permitting Valparaiso, if it ultimately annexes Aberdeen, to simultaneously annex highway and utility right-of-way along State Road 2 to technically create a continuous direct link between the city and the subdivision.

According to the measure, the Aberdeen homeowners association can initiate an annexation by Valparaiso only after a financial study, so Aberdeen residents know the fiscal impact of becoming part of Valparaiso, as well as an opportunity for a majority of Aberdeen residents to overrule their homeowners association and halt the annexation.

Representatives of the Aberdeen Property Owners Association said they're reaching out to Valparaiso because Aberdeen residents are facing high costs to repair or replace aging infrastructure, particularly the streets running through the community that Porter County has no interest in taking over.

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, the House sponsor, also noted Aberdeen already practically is part of Valparaiso, since the subdivision is served by Valparaiso's water utility and fire services, and the children living in Aberdeen's 680 residences are assigned to Valparaiso Community Schools.

"For all intents and purposes, the folks of Aberdeen are Valparaiso people," Soliday said.

Aberdeen and Valparaiso officials both have observed any annexation is a ways off. But they've said that without the law change, there's no point even beginning those conversations because noncontiguous annexation is not currently permitted by Indiana statutes.

"We're comfortable taking the next step to do a deep dive into this," said Republican Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy. "Find out if this makes sense for the city."

The legislation was sponsored in the Senate by state Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton; and Michael Griffin, D-Highland, among others.

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VALPARAISO  Valparaiso is offering the community a seven-week City Government Academy.

The city invites residents to participate in the academy to learn how municipal government works in Valparaiso. It was created by Director of Community Engagement Maggie Clifton.

So far 75 people have graduated from our City Government Academy. Its gratifying to see them become more engaged in the community. In fact, several of our graduates are currently serving in elected or appointed positions throughout the city, she said.

The spring session will run from April 6 to May 18. Classes will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.

Attendees get to meet with department heads and government leaders. They will get a chance to familiarize themselves with the parks department, planning department fire department and other city departments.

They learn how residents can be more engaged in the city's decision-making.

The City Government Academy shares the how and why of Valparaiso government, and participants learn more about how decisions are made, how dollars are allocated, and how services are delivered each day, Clifton said. Were excited that participants report that theyre more likely to attend a public meeting or get involved in public service after the academy experience.

It's free and open to the public. Registration is required since there are only 35 slots per session.

To sign up or for more information, visit tinyurl.com/ValpoAcademy or call Maggie Clifton at 462-1161.

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RTHK: Biden: sanctions cut Russia off from western finance

US President Joe Biden 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 Vladimir Putin 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.

"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.

Sanctions are being applied to VEB bank and Russia's military bank, referring to Promsvyazbank, which does defence deals, Biden said. Starting on Wednesday US 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.

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. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The US and some Western media clamored that Russia would "invade" Ukraine in the early morning of February 16, but the "prophecy" did not come true. The US again claimed on February 18 that it is "convinced" that Russia "decided" to invade Ukraine and it might launch strikes "in a few days". When a reporter asked the reason why the US made such a judgment, the White House simply replied: "We have significant intelligence capability".

The US intelligence system is huge and complicated, and the information and relevant analysisit presents usually serve as important references for high-level decision-making by the US government. However, looking back on history, US intelligence agencies often falsify for the selfish interests of the US. And therefore, they are known as"intelligence fraud professionals".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine, saying what he said was "verified". However, he also admitted that the outside world would question the accuracy of US intelligence because of "previous instances where intelligence ultimately did not bear out."

The New York Times pointed out that Blinken was referring to the "famous scene" of then US Secretary of StateColin Powell at the UN Security Council in 2003 - he used a tube of white powder as evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and incited to use force against Iraq. Years later, Powell publicly admitted that the intelligence was wrong and repeatedly shifted the blame to US intelligence services.

Coincidentally, the Vietnam War a few decades ago was also fueled by false US intelligence. In addition, US intelligence agencies have acted in collusion with some US media to concoct and hype up all kinds of lies and pave the way for the US government to intervene in foreign countries. Daniel Kovalik, a visiting law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that many US propaganda activities are supported by intelligence agencies. The American people never know the truth about why the US wages a war.

The 9/11 attacks killed about 3,000 people in 2001. The US identified Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda who was hiding in Afghanistan at that time, as the culprit behind it, and launched the "War on terror" against Afghanistan in the same year. In 2003, the US launched the Iraq War to maintain its hegemony under the disguise of "democracy and freedom".

Nada Bakos, a former intelligence analyst at the CIA, published an article in 2017 saying that they were asked to dig up the evidence of the then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's significant links with Al Qaeda before the Iraq War. "This process is backwards; the information is supposed to lead the policymaker, not the other way around", Backus wrote, "If policiesdrafted or executedare used as a yardstick for analysts to then find matching intelligence, that is politicization."

Saddam was captured by the US military at the end of 2003 and executed three years later. However, the US never found evidence that Saddam's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction. Several US government reports believe that Saddam has no direct links with Al Qaeda.

Melvin Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC, wrote in Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA that a series of US intelligence failures showed that the CIA's intelligence system was unable to provide policymakers with a strategic warning. What is worse is that they have the capability to falsify intelligence for political purposes.

The impetus for intelligence fraud comes from the self-interest of the US. Over the years, the US has repeatedly launched wars overseas under various banners such as "democracy", "human rights" and "national security"and the true purpose is to seek selfish interests and maintain global hegemony. Recently, the US played the old tricks again by constantly throwing out exclusive "intelligence" to exaggerate the threat of war, aggravating the tension in Ukraine, and causing a lot of doubts in the international community.

Experts pointed out that there are two reasons for using so-called "intelligence" to incite the escalation of tension in Ukraine. The first is to turn Russia into a common enemy to win over and bind European allies and to maintain the European order dominated and controlled by the US. The second is to hype up the situation in Ukraine to reflect Biden's tough side on Russia and to boost his sluggish support rate. The US benefits from Ukraine tensions.
TRIPOLI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday that 632 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya in the past week.

"In the period of 13-19 February, 632 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya," the IOM said in a statement.

Since the beginning of the year, 36 illegal migrants died and 87 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, the organization said.

So far in 2022, 2,353 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, including 228 women and 77 minors, it added.

In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, the IOM said.

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. 
Headway is an initiative from The New York Times exploring the worlds challenges through the lens of progress.

Imagine someone showed up on your doorstep one day and told you that the swampy forest not far from your home contained a rare and precious soil, so powerful that the planets future hinges on its preservation. The world is relying on you to keep the soil undisturbed, youre told, or sinister forces will be unleashed, large enough to doom us all.

Soon, more visitors come your way, this time bearing axes. How do you stop them?

This plot out of a sci-fi movie is unfolding in our own cinematic universe, amid a sprinkling of rural villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The precious resource the villagers have been asked to protect is the ecological marvel called a peatland, a type of ecosystem that composes only 3 percent of the earths landmass, but houses 30 percent of its carbon  more than is stored within all the worlds forests, twice over. Just a few years ago, researchers confirmed that this part of the world is home to the largest network of tropical peatlands on Earth.
The officers testified that they were worried Mr. Floyd was exhibiting symptoms of a drug overdose and was in a highly agitated state. They said that keeping him restrained face down, even though he said over and over that he couldnt breathe, was necessary, in part to protect Mr. Floyd from hurting himself. The scene was far more chaotic, and possibly more dangerous to the officers, than the video footage in evidence suggested, they said.

But most of all, they said, they trusted that Mr. Chauvin, the senior officer present, had things under control.

I think I would trust a 19-year veteran to figure it out, Mr. Thao testified.

The officers testimony came at the end of a monthlong trial that represented a rare example of a civil rights case being pursued by the Justice Department against officers for failing to intervene against a fellow officer who was using excessive force.

Such cases have been rare, partly because it is difficult to prove willfulness, which implies some form of intent, or at least the knowledge that what officers were witnessing was unlawful. For a jury to decide the three officers are guilty, it would need to determine that the officers knew in the moment that Mr. Chauvin was using excessive force, and that Mr. Floyd was in a serious medical crisis.

And so the officers, in their testimony, walked a fine line as they tried to blame Mr. Chauvin  saying, in effect, that they trusted in Mr. Chauvins actions because of his experience  without acknowledging that they were aware that Mr. Chauvin was acting unlawfully.

He was my senior officer, and I trusted his advice, Mr. Kueng said.
A Democratic candidate for Congress in Oklahoma apologized in a television interview on Friday after parents complained that she drank and verbally abused children attending a sleepover at a friends home this month.

The House candidate, Abby Broyles, a former television investigative reporter who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2020, said that she had no memory of what happened because she had mixed alcohol and a sleep medicine. About eight girls between the ages of 12 and 13 attended the Feb. 11 sleepover, where they watched the movie Titanic, according to NonDoc Media, a journalism nonprofit in Oklahoma.

When first contacted by NonDoc Media for comment, Ms. Broyles seemed to deny that she was at the party. After a TikTok video showed otherwise, she gave an interview to KFOR-TV, an Oklahoma City station where she once worked. She did not immediately return a message from The Times on Monday.

In the interview, Ms. Broyles said that she had blacked out after drinking wine and taking a sleep medication. She said the medicine was given to her by her friend, whose daughter was having a sleepover when Ms. Broyles came to visit.
WASHINGTON  In a series of top-secret meetings last October, President 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 V. Putin, the Russian president, was preparing to invade Ukraine, top intelligence and military officials told Mr. 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, it also had the Russian militarys plans for a campaign against Ukraine  elements of which had already begun. At one of the morning meetings, Mr. Biden dispatched William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, to Moscow with a message for Mr. Putin:

We know what youre planning to do.

Stopping him would be a challenge. Many of Americas closest allies were skeptical that Mr. Putin  a master of disinformation  would actually invade. The use of U.S. military force against Russia was off the table, so the allies would have to threaten Mr. 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, Mr. 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 Mr. Putin might yet make.
The unusual late-evening meeting, requested by Ukraine, quickly turned into a diplomatic rebuke of Russia.

Russias clear attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity is unprovoked, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American U.N. ambassador, said. Ridiculing Mr. Putins assertion that Russian forces had been deployed as peacekeepers, she said: This is nonsense. We know what they really are.

Mr. Putins recognition of the territories represents a sharp departure from how the Kremlin has approached Ukraine over the last eight years. After establishing the breakaway republics in 2014, the Kremlin decided not to recognize their independence even as it quietly backed them militarily and offered Russian citizenship to their residents.

The strategy, analysts said, was to use the unresolved conflict as a pressure point on Kyiv, which signed peace accords in Minsk in 2015 that required Ukraine to grant a special status to the eastern regions. The accords were never carried out, with their interpretation varying widely in Kyiv and Moscow, and Mr. Putin said on Monday that Ukraine had made clear it planned to do nothing to implement them.

How long can this tragedy continue? Mr. Putin asked, repeating his false claims that Ukraine was waging a genocide against Russian speakers in the region. How long can we continue to bear this?

Mr. Putins speech began with an extensive recitation of his historical grievances, starting with claims that Ukraine owes its statehood to the Soviet Union: Modern-day Ukraine was in full and in whole created by Russia  Bolshevik, Communist Russia to be precise.

They were arguments that Mr. Putin had made before, but he laid them out in his nationally televised address Monday evening with an intensity and, at times, anger that the president had rarely displayed in his 21 years in power.
KYIV, Ukraine  In his speech to the Russian nation on Monday, President Vladimir V. 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, Mr. Putin declared Ukraine an invention of the 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, Mr. 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.

As a misreading of history, it was extreme even by the standards of Mr. Putin, a former K.G.B. officer who has declared the Soviet Unions collapse the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.
Delta Air Liness rebuilt Terminal C, expected to open this spring as one of the last big features of La Guardia Airports $8 billion transformation, will be defined by six new large-scale, site-specific permanent artworks.

We want public art to be a significant part of the appeal, inspiration and sense of place at a major new civic facility, said Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the airport.

The Port Authority, together with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Delta Air Lines, has partnered with the Queens Museum to commission Mariam Ghani, Rashid Johnson, Aliza Nisenbaum, Virginia Overton, Ronny Quevedo and Fred Wilson  all New York-based artists  to create installations throughout the arrivals and departures hall and associated concourse. The overall budget for Terminal Cs art program is $12 million.

Delta really wanted us to think about Queens, the most diverse county in the U.S., and find a way to reflect that, said Sally Tallant, the president of the Queens Museum, a close neighbor to the airport. Tallants team guided the selection of the six artists, chosen from an initial pool of several dozen.
The Philadelphia Orchestras cycle of Beethoven symphonies was supposed to come to Carnegie Hall in spring 2020. It should go without saying: It didnt.

But that series of concerts belongs to the lucky class of canceled performances that have found their way back to the stage. The journey, however, has been a mirror of our continued pandemic uncertainty. Although the cycle started last fall when the Fifth Symphony opened Carnegies season, it was delayed once again in January when the Omicron variant pushed off Beethovens Ninth  and its full-choir Ode to Joy.

So only on Monday did the cycle reach its conclusion, with the Philadelphians music director, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, at the podium for the First Symphony and the mighty Ninth, alongside a world premiere inspired by it, Gabriela Lena Franks Pachamama Meets an Ode.

In New York, Nezet-Seguin has taken on something like the role of resident conductor, even to the point of exhaustion; the performance on Monday came exactly a week before he leads a new production of Verdis Don Carlos at the Metropolitan Opera, where he is also the music director.
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.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




INSURGENCY

How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted

By Jeremy W. Peters

When Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on the morning of June 16, 2015, there was little indication the event would alter American political history. Pundits dismissed Trumps chances. He was polling at 4 percent; the head of Fox News, Roger Ailes, suggested Trump was really seeking a job at NBC, not the White House.

But Trump did make an impression on Steve Bannon, a voluble conservative activist plotting his own takeover of the Republican Party. Watching the reality-television star deliver remarks from the Trump Tower food court to a crowd that allegedly included actors who had been paid $50 to hold signs and cheer, Bannon couldnt contain himself. Thats Hitler! Bannon said. And, as Jeremy W. Peters writes in this spirited new history, he meant it as a compliment.

Insurgency chronicles the astonishingly swift transformation of the Republican Party, from the genteel preserve of pro-business elites to a snarling personality cult that views the Jan. 6 insurrection as an exercise in legitimate political discourse. Peters, a political reporter for The New York Times, depicts mainstream Republicans surrender to Trumpism as a form of political self-flagellation. From 1969 to 2008, Republicans occupied the White House for all but 12 years. And yet one of the more peculiar features of American conservatism is that despite decades of Republican rule, many true believers grew embittered and resentful of their party. They thought it was run by weak-willed leaders who compromised and sold out once they got in power.

The outlines of the Republicans hard-right turn are by now largely familiar. What distinguishes Insurgency is its blend of political acuity and behind-the-scenes intrigue. Much of the books opening material revolves around the first national figure to channel the bases anger: the former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who might have forestalled Trumps rise had she chosen to run for president in 2012. Trump was sufficiently concerned about Palins potential to claim the title of populist standard-bearer that he invited her to Trump Tower in 2011 to size her up in person. He concluded that while she had tremendous political appeal, she didnt know what to do about it.
FREEDOM

How We Lose It and How We Fight Back

By Nathan Law with Evan Fowler

240 pp. The Experiment. Paper, $15.95.

The dismantling of Hong Kong has long been one of the most painful disasters in East Asia. In the past few years, the city has effectively gone up in flames: booksellers kidnapped, student protesters beaten, the free press smothered, election law amended to make sure only patriots can run for office. As 2021 closed out and Beijing hawks took control of the legislature, statues commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre were being hauled off university campuses. How did Asias most liberal, open and cosmopolitan city  change so fundamentally? the activist Law asks in this philosophical memoir, written from exile in London. How was a flourishing and free society undermined from within?

Never an especially political child, Law remembers attending his first vigil as a teenager and weeping over the pamphlets. By the time of the famous Umbrella Movement protests in 2014, Law was a student activist, organizing peacefully for electoral reform; three years later, having won office by sweeping margins at 23, he was retroactively disqualified and thrown in prison. Back in 2014, Law writes, riot police were deployed against a generation in Hong Kong who knew no violence; by 2019, the year of Hong Kongs largest protests to date, some demonstrators carried farewell notes to their families in case they were beaten to death. Law left the next year. Today every organizer of the Umbrella Movement has been imprisoned or fled abroad, saying Free Hong Kong is a criminal offense and people are being arrested for the possession of stickers.

Half memoir, half stump speech, the book often dissolves into vague encomiums to the flame of freedom and textbook bullet points on the rule of law. Freedom could have been stronger had it explored Hong Kong through the lens of Laws own history. In the 90s, his father crossed from Guangdong into Hong Kong on a flat-bottomed boat; the rest of his family followed two years after the 1997 handover. Since 2014 I have regularly been arrested, Law writes calmly at one point, an understated illustration of how much has changed in the city, and might still.
Early in the Reagan administration, several Christian conservative leaders founded a group called the Council for National Policy. It soon turned into what my colleague David Kirkpatrick has described as a little-known club of a few hundred of the most powerful conservatives in the country. One of its main functions was introducing political activists to wealthy donors who could finance their work.

After Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, the groups political arm, known as C.N.P. Action, sprang into action. It encouraged its members to spread stories about election irregularities and issues in five swing states that Joe Biden had won narrowly. The goal was to persuade Republican state legislators to adopt Trumps false claims about election fraud  and then award their states electoral votes to him, overturning Bidens victory.

One vocal proponent of the effort was a C.N.P. board member who had spent decades in conservative politics. In the lead-up to the Jan. 6 rally at the Capitol, she reportedly mediated between feuding factions so that they would work together to plan it. On the day of the rally, she posted a message on Facebook: GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU STANDING UP or PRAYING!

This board members name is Ginni Thomas, and she is married to Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving justice on the Supreme Court. Today, The Times Magazine has published an investigation of Ginni Thomass work and its connections to her husband, written by Danny Hakim and Jo Becker.
West hits Russia with sanctions

President Biden announced harsh new sanctions on Tuesday aimed at punishing Russia for what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, joining European leaders in imposing severe economic consequences on Russia over the crisis. Here are the latest updates.

Biden condemned President Vladimir Putin of Russia, saying that the Russian action was a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community.

By blocking two Russian financial institutions and imposing sanctions on Russian debt, he said, weve cut off Russias government from Western finance. Russian elites and their families will also be punished. The U.S. Senate began working on a multipronged legislative response.

Bidens announcement came less than a day after Putin issued a decree sending troops into two separatist-held regions in Ukraine. Russias Parliament authorized the use of military force abroad on Tuesday.
The nations biggest banks are monitoring the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine to get ready for potential economic sanctions or cyberattacks.

The Biden administration is in regular touch with banks about the possibility of economic penalties on Russia, according to a banking executive briefed on those discussions who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Those talks are aimed at preparing lenders and minimizing the potential disruption to financial markets if broad sanctions are rolled out.

Carrying out severe economic punishments would be a complex undertaking, requiring American banks to cut off lending to Russian companies, sales of sovereign bonds and, potentially, cross-border payments. Such severe measures have never been applied to an economy as large as Russias.

Lenders could be impacted if the escalating conflict spurs volatility in stock markets and commodity prices. But a key emerging threat to banks is the danger of cyberattacks, which could be Russias way of retaliating if financial and economic sanctions are imposed.
Russias recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine could threaten important investments of Western oil giants and further drive up global energy prices in the next few weeks.

Since the closing days of the Cold War, Russias energy-based economy has become entwined with Europes. European energy companies like BP, TotalEnergies and Shell have major operations and investments in Russia. Though expansion of those holdings was largely halted after Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea, they remain important profit centers and could now be at risk.

Seeking to isolate President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, President Biden and the European Union imposed new sanctions on the Russian government and the countrys political and business elite on Tuesday. The measures do not directly target the energy industry. Thats why oil and gas prices settled only modestly higher on Tuesday afternoon in New York.

But analysts said the energy industry could still be hurt if the crisis dragged on, particularly if Mr. Putin decided to send troops into the rest of Ukraine or sought to take control of the capital, Kyiv. Such aggressive action would most likely force Mr. Biden and other Western leaders to ratchet up their response.
Dow Jones, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal and part of Rupert Murdochs media empire, told its staff on Tuesday that it would not be mandating a return to the office in March, instead taking a hybrid and flexible approach.

In a companywide email, Almar Latour, the chief executive, and Dianne DeSevo, the chief people officer, said leaders would discuss what type of return worked best for their teams and would start to apply it next month.

We know that different teams have different needs  that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to how and where we work, they wrote in the email, which was obtained by The New York Times.

Dow Jones encompasses The Wall Street Journal as well as the Dow Jones newswires, Barrons, Financial News and MarketWatch.
The next time you get your teeth cleaned or blood pressure checked, you may be doing so in a space once outfitted with face creams and frying pans.

Health care providers are increasingly choosing former stores for their offices and clinics, in a trend known as medtail  a reflection of the medical industrys migration to retail properties.

The pandemic has accelerated their embrace of retail space. Taking advantage of depressed rents, medical providers are opening facilities in storefronts on city streets and moving into malls and shopping centers in suburban and rural areas, sometimes occupying the hulking shells vacated by big-box and department stores.

In the past, landlords might not have welcomed such tenants  some just didnt want sick people around their properties, experts say  but they are increasingly seeking them out to fill vacancies and help generate foot traffic that may benefit the other occupants. This has been especially true for health care providers that brand themselves as so-called wellness companies, adopting the look and feel of consumer-oriented retailers.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that Germany would halt certification of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that would link his country with Russia, one of the strongest moves yet by the West to punish the Kremlin for recognizing two separatist regions in Ukraine.

The German leaders announcement came hours after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ordered armed forces to the separatist regions, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics.

Germanys allies in Europe and the United States had been pressing Mr. Scholz for weeks to state publicly that the $11 billion pipeline, which was completed late last year and runs from Russias coast to northern Germany under the Baltic Sea, would be at risk of being blocked in the event of a Russian move against Ukraine.

The situation today is fundamentally different, Mr. Scholz told reporters in Berlin. That is why we must re-evaluate this situation, in view of the latest developments. By the way, that includes Nord Stream 2.
BERLIN  As recently as December, Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, considered the new natural gas pipeline connecting Russia to the German seacoast a strictly private-sector project that had no role in political discussions.

Last month, Mr. Scholz demurred when asked if he would echo President Bidens assertion that the Nord Stream 2 project would be stopped if Russia invaded Ukraine.

But mere hours after President Vladimir V. Putin ordered Russian armed forces to cross the border into separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Scholz made clear that he was willing to sacrifice the project. This, when Germany is facing its worst energy crunch since the 1970s, and with business leaders warning that the high price of fuel could threaten the industrial prowess of Europes largest economy.

The situation today is fundamentally different, Mr. Scholz told reporters early Tuesday. Thats why, in view of the latest developments, we also have to reassess this situation. By the way, that includes Nord Stream 2.
Video: China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, calls on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue. (Xinhua)

The envoy underlines 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."



UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (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.

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)

"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. 
Croquetas have a long history of transformation, so their origins can be somewhat difficult to trace, said Maria Jose Sevilla, the author of Delicioso: A History of Food in Spain. Something similar created in 17th century France was shaped like a little ball and filled with commonplace ingredients. Then in the 19th century, bechamel was added, and the dish began to be known as croquettes. They took on a form similar to the one we know today, and recipes for them began to be written down and published.

Croquetas reached Spain in the 19th century, and eventually spread to its colonies like Cuba. And with the availability of ingredients over time, it became a treat for the rich and worked its way down to the poor in the 20th century. This is where the croqueta began to flourish, Mrs. Sevilla said, because of its use of leftovers.

Over the last 20 years, Spanish chefs have made similar innovations to the recent ones in Miami, she said, taking their family recipes and revamping them to create light and crispy croquetas that almost melt in your mouth.

Its become one of the most fashionable, and one of the most popular foods in Spain, Mrs. Sevilla said. At the end of the day, these beautiful foods do evolve in the hands of home cooks, chefs. Theyre making the most extraordinary, diverse croquetas.
Headliner

Fasano

For this new restaurant, the Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld has not radically disrupted his design for the Four Seasons 2.0, which briefly occupied the space until 2019. He repeated the tawny tones of the wood-paneled main dining room, but now the floor is carpeted, the lighting is softer and wood dividers separate some tables. It is the first New York restaurant for the Fasano Group, a restaurant and hotel powerhouse based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Mr. Weinfeld has designed a number of the groups many properties.) Gero Fasano, who runs the company in partnership with the developers JHSF, said the new restaurant had to be warmer, more appealing and better for sound. The food is expense-account Northern Italian, mostly traditional and often elaborate, including bollito misto dispensed from a silver cart. The former bar in the front room is now a more informal osteria with linen place mats instead of tablecloths, a huge bar along the windows and a somewhat simpler menu written on smoky mirrors (think spaghetti with tomato sauce and no risotti). The wine selection is global. There is no art on the walls in the dining areas. In late March, outdoor seating will be added, and, upstairs in a few months, there will be a spacious cabaret. Mr. Fasanos company was founded in 1902 when his Milanese great-grandfather emigrated to Brazil. The family was in and out of the restaurant business over the decades until Mr. Fasano, against the advice of his father who made his fortune in distilleries, plunged in and has applied his exacting standards ever since. The executive chef, Nicola Fedeli, a Florentine who has worked with the company for several years, adheres to Mr. Fasanos strict demands as to preparation and presentation. Theres no New York-style salad on top of the oversize, impossibly thin $70 veal Milanese; its served on the side lest the veal get soggy. (Opens Friday)

280 Park Avenue (entrance on 49th Street), 646-869-5400, fasanorestaurantny.com.

Opening

Chanson Le Salon

This French-inspired brasserie in TriBeCa is an offshoot of Patisserie Chanson and its underground Thyme Bar on West 23rd Street. By day, Chansons pastries and other takeaway items are sold in the front of the new space. In the evening, the executive chef Frederic Robert, formerly at the Baccarat Hotel, takes over with traditional fare like lobster bisque, filet mignon au poivre, and duck a lorange in a warmly decorated 50-seat dining room. There will be heated outdoor seating as well. Jeremy Le Blanche, who runs the drinks program at Thyme Bar, is in charge of libations here.

355 Greenwich Street (Harrison Street), 646-930-2272, chansonlesalon.com.

Lore

The chefs Jay Kumar and John Kim have joined forces to open this brick-walled neighborhood bistro. The inventive menu features fermented dosa with potatoes and red lentils; smoked steelhead trout; wild mushroom ragout with buckwheat spaetzle and fenugreek pesto; and bavette steak with local potatoes and masala butter. Mr. Kim, whose background is Korean, had been the chef de cuisine at Electric Lemon in Hudson Yards. Mr. Kumar, a native of India, was the chef and owner of Jays in Basel, Switzerland.

441 Seventh Avenue (15th Street), Park Slope, Brooklyn, 347-599-0300, lorebrooklyn.com.

Rowdy Rooster

Fried chicken, Indian-style, is the latest from Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya of Unapologetic Foods (Dhamaka, Adda Indian Canteen, Semma). Takeout, delivery and only eight seats are available, and you can order three pieces of bone-in or boneless chicken at various spice points and with different sauces. Also available are two or three pieces with more garnishes and bread, three pieces of boneless or cauliflower in chile sauce, a potato dumpling and pakora sides.

149 First Avenue (Ninth Street), no phone, rowdyrooster.com.
So scientists have to find creative ways to make predictions for animals whose ACE2 sequences remain unknown. ACE2 sequences play a crucial role in basic biological functions, such as regulating blood pressure. By collecting a species basic life history details  such as what it eats and whether it is nocturnal  Dr. Hans team trained a machine learning algorithm to identify those that appeared likely to bind to and transmit the virus, allowing them to predict susceptibility across many more mammals.

Scientists can test these computational predictions in the lab by trying to infect animal cells or live animals with the virus. Such experiments can differentiate species that may seem similar; one study found that deer mice could be infected with  and shed  the original version of the virus, while house mice could not.

But what happens in a collection of cells does not always occur in real animals, and what happens in a lab, where animals typically receive high doses of the virus, may not reflect real life. For instance, although the original virus can replicate in pig cell lines, actual pigs do not appear to be highly susceptible, researchers found.

To learn whether animals have been infected by the virus in the real world, scientists can perform what are known as serology studies, looking for coronavirus antibodies in their blood. Serology helps us to look at the historical exposure, Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, a veterinary microbiologist at Penn State, said.

The discovery of widespread antibodies in white-tailed deer set off scientific alarm bells because it indicated that many of the animals had already been infected by the virus. It prompted researchers to look for active infections in the cervids, which they soon found.

But sampling and swabbing free-ranging animals can be difficult and time-consuming. So the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which received $300 million under the American Rescue Plan to conduct disease surveillance in animals, is now asking zoos, aquariums and wildlife facilities to send in blood samples, which will be analyzed for coronavirus antibodies.

And researchers at Tufts, including Dr. Sawatzki, have enlisted wildlife rehabilitation specialists to swab an eclectic collection of creatures, including black bears, bobcats and hundreds of bats. (Bat rehabilitators often submit guano samples instead of oral swabs, which can be difficult to obtain from the animals. They have very tiny little mouths, Dr. Sawatzki said.) So far, all have been negative.
I wonder, though, whether you havent left out one of the main ways in which you could assist him. What if you and your father discussed your respective situations frankly, working out a strategy for addressing his financial problems? You could have a conversation about whats reasonable for him to expect from you, in light of your situation. These conversations are bound to be uncomfortable, and you may both have avoided them for that reason. But I suspect that confronting the matter  with love and respect  will be better than each of you continuing to agonize about it on your own. In the end, it will be up to you to decide what you give him. And a loving father isnt going to want to undermine your chances of living a happy and successful life, whether thats here in the United States or back home nearer to him.

For nearly a year and a half, we were in a pandemic pod with another family, and our children became fast friends. We saw this family nearly every weekend; it was our only social interaction. A few months ago, just after the children went off to different preschools, the parents suddenly said they were splitting up, much to our surprise. Several months later, one of the parents had sole custody, claiming the other parent was mentally ill and recounting several violent incidents.

The other parent has reached out to ask us to write a letter on her behalf to support regaining some custody of her child. She says that her ex-partners claims of violence and mental illness are false. I wasnt present for any of the incidents, so I cant say who was right or wrong; we merely heard stories. On one hand, the claims of violence could be true, and my account of her character would be false, although true to me. On the other hand, if the claims of violence are false, am I assisting a system that is denying my childs friend interactions with the other parent by not writing a letter on her behalf? I want to do what is in the best interest of the child, while maintaining healthy boundaries. My husband says not to get involved, and my instinct is to trust the system. Do I have an obligation to write a letter on her behalf? Name Withheld

The legal system for deciding matters of custody is far from perfect. But its most likely to work well if decision makers have as much useful information as possible. So accurately describing what you know  and avoiding conjecture about what you dont  should be more helpful than not.

In a contentious custody battle, each parent is naturally tempted to exaggerate the flaws of the other. While things have changed since the period when you were in a pod together, its relevant that (as I assume) both your friends appeared to be responsible and caring parents when you did spend time with them. You worry that your character claims would be false, though true to me. Really, theyre true or theyre not. That you put it this way underlines your uncertainty about how much you know. So make it clear that you can speak only about what you were present to see. The parent who solicited the letter is the one submitting it to the court, and she wont if she or her attorney has reservations about it. Still, this is a case where the dictum write what you know is worth taking to heart.

Kwame Anthony Appiah teaches philosophy at N.Y.U. His books include Cosmopolitanism, The Honor Code and The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity. To submit a query: Send an email to ethicist@nytimes.com; or send mail to The Ethicist, The New York Times Magazine, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018. (Include a daytime phone number.)
So she could become a key ally for Mr. Adams, as budget negotiations with the City Council commence and legislation is introduced to end the use of solitary confinement and eliminate the gang database.

The speakers nuanced record on crime

Over the years, Ms. Adams, a centrist Democrat and no relation to Mr. Adams, has stood against police violence. She joined the Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network after police officers killed Amadou Diallo in 1999, and she remains friends with the family of Sean Bell, who was killed by the police in 2006.

But as a city councilwoman, she has opposed the movement to defund the police and has said that many residents of mostly Black and Latino neighborhoods affected by gun violence do not want a reduced police presence.

We need to be in partnership with the N.Y.P.D. to let them know that we need community policing, that we shouldnt be fighting each other and that we need to work together to help make our community safe, Ms. Adams told my colleague Jeff Mays.

She has also shown a willingness to side with her members against City Hall, such as when Mr. Adams lashed out at 29 council members who criticized his intention to restore solitary confinement to the citys jails.

A more sober start than her predecessor

Ms. Adams, the first Black City Council speaker, has begun her role with less fanfare than her predecessor, Corey Johnson, who in his first weeks on the job danced in a cameo appearance on a television news weather report and posted a video of himself singing along to Lady Gaga.

In contrast, Ms. Adams has made several appearances related to high-profile crimes. Last month, she spoke at a memorial for Michelle Alyssa Go, who was shoved to her death at the Times Square subway station. She then appeared at a vigil for an 11-month old girl who was shot in the face in the Bronx.
Such selective prosecution arguments often fall flat with judges, but the lawyers for the Trump Organization and Mr. Weisselberg also argued that the district attorneys office had failed to meet a legal deadline to file some of the charges and that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to support the case.

In addition, Mr. Weisselbergs lawyers, who include Bryan C. Skarlatos, Mary E. Mulligan and Rita Glavin, argued that the prosecutors did not have the authority to charge Mr. Weisselberg over his federal income tax returns, which are the jurisdiction of the I.R.S.

Mr. Weisselbergs lawyers also contended that the charges were impermissible because of an earlier grant of immunity that their client received when he testified before an unrelated federal grand jury focused on Mr. Trumps longtime fixer, Michael D. Cohen.

Mr. Weisselbergs testimony, in 2018, came as federal prosecutors in Manhattan were investigating Mr. Cohen for paying hush money to a pornographic actress who had said she had an affair with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Weisselbergs lawyers claim that his testimony in that case sparked a vendetta that Mr. Cohen has pursued against Mr. Weisselberg in every forum available, including by cooperating with the district attorneys investigation.

As such, the lawyers said, Mr. Weisselbergs testimony against Mr. Cohen set off a chain of events that culminated in the indictment last summer, even though Mr. Weisselberg had testified in the federal investigation under the promise of immunity. (Mr. Weisselbergs lawyers claim that Mr. Cohen was so essential to the district attorneys investigation that the prosecutors office nicknamed the inquiry after him, calling it The Fixer.)

It is unclear whether a judge will find that argument persuasive. Although Mr. Weisselberg agreed to testify in exchange for a promise that federal prosecutors would not charge him with the specific conduct he testified about, he was not granted immunity for all his conduct at the Trump Organization.
More than two decades ago, I had the great good fortune to spend parts of several years traveling with Dr. Paul Farmer, to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, Russia and Mexico for my book about his life. He was a good companion, funny and talkative and when I got sick from a night of too much rum in Cuba, he took care of me.

In airports, he would buy presents for people he was visiting at his next stop. Hed buy present after present until he could barely manage to carry them all. His itineraries werent on any of the usual sightseeing lists. In Russia, for instance, he didnt see the Bolshoi Ballet but rather went to advise beleaguered doctors at a prison where inmates were dying of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Pauls basic belief was that all human beings deserve equal respect and care, especially when they are sick. His dream, he once told me, was to start a movement that would refuse to accept, and would strive to repair, the grotesque health inequities among and within the countries of the world. When I first met him  in Haiti, in 1994  he had already created a growing health care system in a desperately impoverished area. I thought hed done a lot already. Now, looking back, I realize that he was just getting started.

In 1987, he and several friends had founded the organization Partners in Health. Membership has come to include thousands of young people, many of whom Paul taught and mentored, and legions of friends and colleagues in the countries where Partners in Health works. Paul was the main inspiration for so many efforts: medical education and hospital-building in countries such as Haiti and Rwanda; campaigns against diseases such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, AIDS and Ebola; providing surgery and giving chemotherapy in places where all sorts of illnesses and injuries have typically gone untreated.
In August, the A.C.M. issued an order that prohibited Apple from requiring dating apps to use only the companys payment system, which enables Apple to collect a fee. It might not look like much, but the Netherlands could be one of the first dominoes in loosening Apples grip on the app economy.

In response, Apple last month proposed a set of conditions that some app developers said was a hostile defiance of the Dutch regulator. Apple essentially said that dating apps in the country could use any payment system they wanted, but that Apple would collect a fee of 27 cents on each dollar of purchases that people made in the app, and require the dating companies to hand over information and audit it.

Try to imagine if Walmart said that shoppers could pay any way they wanted, but that it might cost more if you used a non-Walmart credit card and you had to give Walmart your cards monthly statement.

People who keep close tabs on Apple have said that its approach in the Netherlands is probably a blueprint for other cases in which judges or regulators try to force the company to do things it doesnt want to do with its app store.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Unions antitrust chief, addressed Apples behavior in a speech on Tuesday. Some gatekeepers may be tempted to play for time or try to circumvent the rules, she said. Apples conduct in the Netherlands these days may be an example.

The regulator says that Apples new conditions dont comply with the A.C.M. order. Apples so-called solutions continue to create too many barriers for dating-app providers that wish to use their own payment systems, a spokesman for the A.C.M. said in a statement Monday.

A court in the Netherlands will most likely have to resolve the dispute with Apple. All regulation is slow and complicated, but this dispute shows that those involving tech companies with deep pockets might be even more so. The question now is whether Apple will fight current and future attempts to change its app store with the vigor it has in the Netherlands  and whether well be better or worse off if it does.
TEMPE, Ariz.  Early in the pandemic, when shops along Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe closed their doors and students at nearby Arizona State University were asked to go home, the roar of construction continued to fill the air. Now, gleaming in the sunlight and stuffed with amenities, towering glass office buildings have sprouted up all over the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Arizonans are about to have new next-door neighbors. And they include some of the technology industrys biggest names.

DoorDash, the food delivery company, moved into a new building on the edge of a Tempe reservoir in the summer of 2020. Robinhood, the financial trading platform, rented out a floor in an office nearby. On a February morning, construction workers were putting the finishing touches on a 17-story Tempe office building expected to add 550 Amazon workers to the 5,000 already in the area.

The frenetic activity in the Phoenix suburbs is one of the most visible signs of a nationwide recovery in commercial office real estate fueled by the tech industry, which has enjoyed unchecked growth and soaring profits as the pandemic has forced more people to shop, work and socialize online.
Beneath a waning moon

In planning my trip to Utah, I took some advice from Ms. Foott and scheduled my trip as close as I could to the new moon, when the sky is darkest.

Light from the moon may seem dim, but it can dramatically alter the nighttime scene, Ms. Foott said. A new moon is the best time to see faint celestial objects that can be washed-out by moonlight like the Milky Way and faint stars. This can also be achieved when the moon has set, or when the moon is only partially illuminated.

On the morning of Oct. 4  as the moon was waning  I deplaned at Salt Lake City International Airport, and headed by car to the town of Moab, about 230 miles southeast and the gateway to Canyonlands and Arches, two of Utahs Mighty Five national parks, which also include Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Zion.

In my tiny Ford Fiesta with all the windows down, I got my first glimpse of Utahs often-photographed sandstone formations, spires, buttes and hoodoos (or earth pyramids) as well as the undulating canyons and natural bridges that make the state so geographically vivid. With only a few days away from caring for an elderly parent, I was constrained for time, so I needed to bypass another nearby hub for stargazers, Canyonlands National Park, and concentrate solely on Arches, where I planned to meet up with an old friend, Thom Harrop, a Utah native and photographer.

After hours of driving, and a little grubby, I pulled into the former mining town of Moab, which acts as a base camp for tourists, rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers and stargazers. A range of restaurants in Moab caters to a variety of tastes while a growing number of hotels serves the needs of those who want to kick about the sandstone and then sleep in crisp sheets, a demographic in which I squarely fall.

While still back home in Tennessee, I heard that a long-utilized ad hoc stargazing site at Arches called Panorama Point had recently been upgraded. Joette Langianese, the executive director of the Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks, the nonprofit organization that was critical in getting the dark-skies designation for both parks, confirmed that they had built an outdoor sky-viewing space with telescope pads and seating for 75 people.

Lately, people are going there with their own telescopes, and sometimes a ranger will just come out and talk to them, Ms. Langianese said. Both Canyonlands and Arches have scheduled night sky programs, but, because of Covid, they were canceled, so theyve been happening sort of automatically.
The state of Georgia will formally memorialize Ahmaud Arbery on Wednesday, the second anniversary of his death.

The Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution this month declaring Feb. 23 to be Ahmaud Arbery Day in perpetuity. Lawmakers called Mr. Arbery one of the states most distinguished citizens and declared that he suffered a senseless loss of his life because of the color of his skin.

The resolution noted two significant legislative changes in response to Mr. Arberys killing in 2020 outside of the South Georgia community of Brunswick: a new state hate crimes law and the dismantling of Georgias 19th-century citizens arrest law, a statute that was initially cited as justification for the actions of Mr. Arberys pursuers.

In Brunswick, several events are planned to mark the anniversary, including a march, a 2.23-mile run in honor of Mr. Arbery and a walk through the Satilla Shores neighborhood where he was killed.
A number of cities have recently taken up measures designed to reduce the enforcement of low-level traffic offenses, which advocates say would limit the number of potentially combustible interactions between officers and motorists. For example, Pittsburghs City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting officers from stopping a driver for a secondary violation, including a broken taillight or an out-of-date inspection certificate. In Seattle, police are no longer initiating traffic stops for such infractions as expired vehicle registrations or cracked windshields.

Police across the country have been contending with a surge in violent crime in some cities. Several officers in recent months have been shot during vehicle stops, reinforcing the sense of peril for the police. On Saturday, a Mecklenburg County, N.C., sheriffs deputy was shot during a traffic stop before returning fire at the driver. Both survived.

During the Louisiana encounter, Mr. Vallee had raised his hands, but at one point dropped them, hitting the vehicles horn, Sheriff Lopinto said.

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, the sheriff said. The second deputy fired his weapons reacting to that gunfire.

Both officers fired multiple times, Sheriff Lopinto said. The three other officers on the scene did not fire their weapons.

The sheriff identified the fired officers as Isaac Hughes, 29, and Johnathan Louis, 35. Mr. Hughes had been employed with the department since 2013, and Mr. Louis since 2020. Each faces one count of manslaughter. The deputies and their lawyers could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the use of force in this situation was not justified, Sheriff Lopinto said, while adding that he thought the shooting was certainly not intentional.
This has been something thats been building for a long time. If you had asked me the same question two or four years ago, the answer may have been no. I think now the situation has become so urgent. Look at how many recall elections were having, whether for governor or for school board and district attorney in San Francisco. The level of reaction to what were seeing goes beyond party, it goes beyond ideology  it goes to the experiences people have. I think that anger, that frustration, is palpable. I hear it from Democrats, I hear it from independents and from Republicans. So that leads me to believe, yeah, this can transcend the partisan polarization weve seen.

How do you diagnose your partys problems in California? Why cant Republicans even compete statewide?

Party leadership in California has generally been focused on winning targeted state legislative and congressional races. You cant fault them for that rationale, but the problem is then you have no statewide voter contact infrastructure. Thats No. 1.

No. 2: There havent been candidates capable of putting together and articulating the kind of message and vision thats appealing broadly to Californians.

Lets say youre campaigning at a farmers market in, say, Santa Barbara or Monterey, and a voter approaches you and seems to like you. But theyre apprehensive about voting for the Trump Party. What do you tell them?

I think its really important to understand where Im coming from and why I think its important to have somebody whos got a different partisan alignment from the rest of people in state government. So start with the notion that checks and balances are important. But then I do move to talk about the Republican Party that I know and the kind of Republican Party I believe we can have again, centered around ideas like responsibility and accountability. At some point were going to have to move past individual personalities, and I dont know when that point will be.

So why not just run as an independent?

On the practical side, if youre not worth several billions of dollars, youre not going to be able to build that base thats required. But theres a more important point. I think authenticity counts for a lot in politics, and Ive been a Republican my whole life. Ive never been registered as anything else, and I think its important to be yourself.
WASHINGTON  Since the 1950s, when Senator Arthur Vandenberg declared that politics stops at the waters edge, titans in Congress have been key partners in Americas foreign policy, not as yes men to presidents but as co-architects of Pax Americana and the post-World War II order.

But the spiraling Ukraine conflict has pointed up how far the power of Congress in the foreign policy arena has fallen since the death of Senator John McCain, the move of Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. off Capitol Hill and to the White House, and the rise of a brand of partisanship that extends well beyond the waters edge.

This week, loud voices emerged urging President Biden to act forcefully to counter Russian aggression. But other lawmakers have used the crisis for partisan advantage, castigating the president and blaming the Biden administration for President Vladimir V. Putins assault on his neighbor.

Perhaps more telling is the relative quiescence, from both Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, who are hobbled by divisions in their ranks and seemingly content to let the White House take the lead, the credit or the blame.
A pair of Democratic lawmakers asked the Treasury Departments inspector general on Tuesday to investigate the revolving door between the countrys biggest accounting firms and key policy positions at the Treasury.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington were prompted by an investigation published by The New York Times in September detailing how giant accounting firms embed top lawyers inside the government to draft tax rules that benefit their clients.

The Times found at least 35 examples in which lawyers at the countrys biggest accounting firms left to join the government, largely in the Treasurys tax policy office, and then returned to their old firm.

The Times found that while in the government, many of those lawyers granted tax breaks to their former firms clients, softened efforts to clamp down on tax shelters and approved loopholes used by their former firms. In nearly half the examples, the officials were promoted to partner upon rejoining their old firm.
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, in Denver, applied the most demanding form of judicial scrutiny to the law but upheld it.

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, Judge Mary Beck Briscoe wrote for the majority, adding that the law is narrowly tailored to address that interest.

To be sure, Judge Briscoe wrote, L.G.B.T. consumers may be able to obtain wedding-website design services from other businesses; yet, L.G.B.T. consumers will never be able to obtain wedding-related services of the same quality and nature as those that appellants offer.

Judge Briscoe added that Colorado may prohibit speech that promotes unlawful activity, including unlawful discrimination.

In dissent, Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, citing George Orwell, said the majority takes the remarkable  and novel  stance that the government may force Ms. Smith to produce messages that violate her conscience.

It seems we have moved from live and let live, he wrote, to you cant say that.

Kristen Waggoner, a lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents Ms. Smith, said the antidiscrimination law violates the First Amendments protection of free speech. 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, she said in a statement.

Jennifer C. Pizer, a lawyer with Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focusing on the L.G.B.T.Q. community, said in a statement that the Supreme Court should reaffirm and apply longstanding constitutional precedent that our freedoms of religion and speech are not a license to discriminate when operating a business.
As director of N.I.M.H., Dr. Insel was a champion of basic research, confident that understanding genes and neurobiology would help unlock some of the most complex mental disorders.

He steered the agencys $1.3 billion research budget toward the biology of disease. That drew criticism from some in the field, who argued that the funding should be split more evenly between neuroscience and clinical research into treatments, like medication and therapy, that could be used in the near future.

Dr. Allen Frances, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, warned in 2014 that the institute was betting the house on the long shot that neuroscience will come up with answers to help people with serious mental illness.

In an interview last week, Dr. Frances, 79, said his warnings had been borne out.

The end result of these last 30 years is an exciting intellectual adventure, one of the more fascinating pieces of science in our lifetimes, but it hasnt helped a single patient, he said.

He added that it was difficult, surveying the homeless camps proliferating in so many American cities, to feel proud of his 55 years of work in the field. People with severe mental illnesses, he said, were much better off then than now.

I have a happy life, and Im not spending every minute of my life feeling guilty, but if I look back on my career, its with regret, not with satisfaction, he said.

Dr. Insel sees it differently. He does not express regret about his work, or level any criticism at his successor at the N.I.M.H., Dr. Joshua A. Gordon, like him an advocate of basic research. If anything, Dr. Insel said, the country should double down on brain research.
Inside the purse, the officers found a stress ball, which they cut open, inspected for drugs and claimed to have found cocaine inside, the lawsuit states.

Ms. Goldring believed that they were joking, the lawsuit states, but they were not.

Officers Henry and Restrepo took Ms. Goldring to the Fulton County Jail. There, she saw the officers conduct drug tests on the substance inside the stress ball and heard one officer tell Officer Henry, Give it up, buddy, after multiple test results came back negative, the lawsuit states.

The officers then told Ms. Goldring that she would have to wait in jail until test results returned from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, her lawyers said. Her alternative was to pay her bond set at $25,500, which she could not afford.

While in jail, Ms. Goldring was placed in a dorm for people who identify as transgender women, yet she was still subjected to sexual misconduct, her lawyers said.

Ms. Goldring remained there for five months and 12 days until March 22, 2016, a day after her charges were dismissed. The G.B.I. had determined on Nov. 17, 2015, that the contents inside the stress ball were not cocaine or any other drug substance, the lawsuit states.

In his ruling, Judge Ray said that there were two seeming injustices that came to light at the trial. The first came when Atlanta police officers testified that they arrested people for jaywalking  a troubling practice, Judge Ray said, because such low-level offenses could seriously disrupt a persons life, leading to discrimination. He said that officers energy could be better spent on more pressing activities, such as addressing violent crimes.

The second concern for the judge arose when the chief deputy of the Atlanta Police Department, Darin Schierbaum, testified that officers work under a system that rewards them with points for making a traffic citation, an arrest or other actions.
OTTAWA  With the capitals streets cleared of the heavy trucks and cars that made some of them impassable for three long weeks of protest, Canadian authorities said Tuesday that they were lifting freezes on hundreds of bank accounts associated with protest organizers and Canadians who had blockaded Ottawas streets with their vehicles.

Isabelle Jacques, an assistant deputy minister in Canadas department of finance, told a House of Commons committee that the banks had begun unlocking accounts on Monday and that no more finances would be locked up.

The vast majority of assets are in the process of being unfrozen, she said.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided a week ago to invoke his countrys Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history to quell the unrest, it gave the police sweeping new powers to go after the finances of the protesters.

Ms. Jacques said that those measures are now being lifted because they were intended to pressure protesters to leave the citys streets.
Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states.

"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," Psaki said in the statement, using the Russian abbreviation of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Lugansk People's Republic," two self-declared republics founded by anti-government militia groups in Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts during the height of the armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

"This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," said Psaki. "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."

The press secretary said the executive order is separate from the economic sanctions the United States is preparing to impose on Russia if it 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."

The White House's statement came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had signed a decree recognizing the DNR and the LNR as independent and sovereign states. The European Union also announced its sanctions. 

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
BOGOTA, Colombia  Having an abortion is no longer a crime under Colombian law, the countrys top court ruled on Monday, in a decision that paves the way for the procedure to become widely available across this historically conservative, Catholic country.

The ruling by Colombias Constitutional Court follows years of organizing by women across Latin America for greater protections and more rights, including access to abortion, and significant shifts in the regions legal landscape.

Mexicos Supreme Court decriminalized abortion in a similar decision in September and Argentinas Congress legalized the procedure in late 2020. Colombias decision means that three of the four most populous countries in Latin America have now opened the door to more widespread access to abortion.

It also comes as the United States has been moving in the opposite direction, with abortion restrictions multiplying across the country, and the U.S. Supreme Court considering a case that could overrule Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  The euphoria felt by many in Pakistan over a Taliban victory in Kabul six months ago is subsiding. The government had hoped that a friendly  some would say proxy  regime in Kabul would ease its concerns about the Pakistani Taliban.

But instead, there has been a spike in terror attacks in recent months, which Pakistani officials say were planned by militants hiding inside Afghan territories.

Still, senior Pakistani civil and security officials remain sanguine about the future, or, at the very least, stress that a stable Afghanistan is essential for a stable Pakistan. Its a position that puts Pakistan in a tight corner: The country must continue to help the new Taliban government, while also contending with the growing security and economic risks to Pakistan that have come with the new regime.

Is there a chance that if the Taliban government is squeezed, there could be a change for the better? No. Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said in an interview with CNN earlier this month. He stressed that the world will also eventually have to deal with the Taliban for the lack of a second or better alternate.
Mr. Biden said that he would ratchet up sanctions against Mr. Putin if Russia went further than it had already.

Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine, he said. Today, Im announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia.

He added: Well continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.

Mr. Biden delivered his speech less than a day after Mr. Putin issued a decree sending troops into two separatist-held regions in Ukraine. Russias Parliament authorized the use of military force abroad on Tuesday, taking another step toward what Western officials fear could be an full-scale assault against Ukraine.

Western leaders said Russian troops have already entered Ukraine in what Mr. Biden labeled an invasion.

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? Mr. Biden asked during his remarks.

Germany announced Tuesday that it would halt certification of a natural gas pipeline linking it with Russia. The British government said that it would sanction members of the Russian Parliament who voted to recognize the independence of the separatist areas and would create legislation to ensure that no British individual or company could do business with the regions, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also described those sanctions as the first tranche.

In the United States, Jon Finer, Mr. Bidens deputy national security adviser, said that Russias forces had begun to move into Ukraine, declaring on CNN that an invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. But he and Mr. Johnson shared the same sentiment, saying that weve always envisioned waves of sanctions that would unfold over time in response to steps Russia actually takes.
BRUSSELS  European Union ambassadors were preparing on Tuesday to adopt an immediate set of sanctions in response to Russias recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine, according to two E.U. diplomats with knowledge of the talks in Brussels.

The sanctions, which will target people, government and business entities in the separatist regions and in Russia, were set to be further reviewed at an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Paris later Tuesday. The ambassadors were then set to approve the package on Tuesday evening, the diplomats said, although they said that meeting could run into the early hours Wednesday.

The diplomats said the draft included 27 individuals and entities, including political, military, business and financial entities, as well as propagandists linked to the recognition decision.

Some are geographically inside the separatist areas, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics, diplomats said. But the draft also includes the 11 members of Russias Parliament who proposed the recognition and 351 members who voted in favor of it, the diplomats said.
But Russian troops around Ukraine remain in position for a massive invasion of Ukraine with little notice, said the NATO general-secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, after representatives of the alliance met on Tuesday with Ukrainian officials. Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine, he said, adding: Its never too late not to attack.

If Mr. Putin sends troops beyond the contact line, then I think it is the full monty of European sanctions, said Nathalie Tocci, director of the International Affairs Institute in Italy. But if he just sticks to the occupied areas, then there will probably be a long and potentially divisive discussion.

The European Union cannot afford not to reach an agreement, Ms. Tocci added. So, if Mr. Putin does not advance further now, it is likely that even Poland and the Baltics, despite their strong views about punishing the Kremlin hard and quickly, will accept a partial set of sanctions, as will Hungary, which is more pro-Russia but has always accepted sanctions against Moscow even while complaining about them.

The paradox of the situation is that the worse it is for Ukraine, the easier it is for us to stick together, Ms. Tocci said.

The E.U.s sanctions package was carefully assembled to avoid divisions, said Emre Peker, the Europe director of Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy. Quick movement on the first set of targeted measures will help bolster unity, while paving the way for more substantial measures with follow-up sanctions.

What the bloc has approved so far is a partial set of sanctions, mostly linked to the Russian recognition of the separatist enclaves. The penalties do not cover major items like Russian energy companies, which would be more contentious now among member states with varying dependency on Russian natural gas and oil.

The sanctions target 27 individuals and entities, including political, military, business and financial organizations, as well as propagandists linked to the recognition decision.
KYIV, Ukraine  At a cemetery lined by fir trees in central Kyiv, mourners paid their final respects on Tuesday to Capt. Anton Sidorov, who was arrayed in his army fatigues in a casket.

Glory to Ukraine! said one of Mr. Sidorovs comrades. Glory to the heroes! came the solemn response from the group of mourners, which included dozens of soldiers.

Captain Sidorov, 35, was killed on Saturday in eastern Ukraine, near the front line separating government-held territory from breakaway areas backed by Moscow. He was one of the first casualties in a drastic escalation in tensions between Russia and Ukraine that led President Vladimir V. Putin to recognize the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics in Ukraines east on Monday, paving the way for sending Russian troops to the region.
MOSCOW  Slumped in a chair, red tie askew, his staccato delivery emphasizing every grievance, President Vladimir V. Putin delivered a speech on 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 percent down in less than a week, as businesses braced for damaging new Western sanctions. And the potential, far more tragic, costs if Mr. Putin were to go ahead with an invasion of Ukraine still appeared incalculable.

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 Mr. Putins Security Council. A dramatic address to the nation.
PARIS  For the prime minister of Lithuania  and Lithuania knows something of life in Moscows imperium  President Vladimir V. Putins rambling dismissal of Ukrainian statehood, used to justify sending Russian troops into the eastern part of that state, put Kafka and Orwell to shame.

There were no lows too low, no lies too blatant, the prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, said of Mr. Putins menacing explanation on Monday of his decision to recognize two separatist regions of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk. But if the speech revived the doublespeak of the Soviet Union, more than 30 years after its demise, did it also rekindle the Soviet threat and the Cold War that went with it?

On many levels, the challenge Mr. Putins revanchist Russia presents to the West is different. This Russia has no pretense of a global ideology. The Cold War depended on closed systems; computer technology put an end to that. No Soviet tanks are poised to roll across the Prussian plains and absorb all Europe in a totalitarian empire. Nuclear Armageddon is not on the table.

Yet, perhaps because of the way he prepared the ground for full-scale war, saying Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures against what he called a fictive nation led by usurpers who would be responsible for the bloodshed, Mr. Putins decision felt like a breaking point that went beyond his annexation of Crimea in 2014. It held up the specter of Europes darkest days. He laid down a marker, setting the outer limit of the Europe whole and free of 1989.
AWARD winning Offaly photographer Tom O'Hanlon shrugged off all the dire warnings about the impact of Storm Dudley on Wednesday evening in his quest to snap a unique full moon shot.

The Rahan man decided recently he wished to capture the moon rising on the horizon behind one of the county's most impressive landmarks, the Mullagh Tower folly in Killurin.

However, the lunar calendar and the Irish weather seemed to be conspiring against him as the full moon date of February 16 approached, with not just one, but two Atlantic storms predicted to make landfall.

Speaking to the Tribune on the side of a boreen off the Killurin-Killeigh road as darkness was falling, Tom admitted: It was touch and go with the storm coming in.

I looked at the weather apps and there was going to be a clearing at 6pm and at 5.30pm I was here in the absolute spills of rain.

And it just cleared just in time, just enough. I could just see that little kiss of the moon coming up.

The moon appears at its largest when it is closest to the horizon so it takes a combination of good timing, preparation and no little skill to record a satisfactory image.

Tom said his interest in astrophotography (photographs of the night sky and astronomical features) has been growing recently though he had some images from about 10 years ago which he now says are all rubbish.

Before he educated himself, he would even be confusing his satellites with his meteors: But I always had a fascination with the moon and Milky Way and all that type of stuff. And I suppose as my craft of photography came along, I'd notice things on Instagram and I remembered that I used to really enjoy going out having good crack at night with the younger brother Dec and I used to think it was brilliant.

He gives credit to one of the most celebrated photographers in the Midlands, if not Ireland, Rahugh man James Crombie.

He met James and his colleague Colin Hogg during the April 2020 Covid-19 lockdown when they were photographing the 'super moon' which resulted in the famous 'Hurler on the Moon' picture.

I saw the level of work and dedication that went into it, and the planning. I knew that if I'm to have more luck at this I'll have to take a page out of the boys' book.

So I started researching how to calculate these different things, but I suppose, again, it's down to planning. It's never a fluke.

If you walk around with a camera and wait for something to happen, the chances are it won't.

He was familiar with Mullagh Tower, which is on a hill on the land of Alo Dillon, having visited it for a story when he was staff photographer for the Tullamore Tribune.

He carried out his research into the movement of the moon, established the exact location of the tower, and estimated its height.

After that, he was at the mercy of Storm Dudley.

Last year Tom was named as a runner-up in the prestigious Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

His winning image, North Star Jesuit House is a series of tacked images, taking in the North Star at Tullybeg House, the former Jesuit boarding school in Rahan.

The image was selected as a runner-up from over 180 entries by an expert judging panel. One of his other entries Skytrain Lough Boora was also chosen to feature in an exhibition of the judges 20 top-rated images.
An Offaly man has been fined after pleading guilty to animal cruelty.

Eugene Cleary with an address at Derrinclare, Shinrone, Co Offaly pleaded guilty to animal cruelty at Nenagh District Court on February 10. He was fined 1,000 and ordered to pay 750 in costs.

The case originated in January 2021, when a black pony was seized with severely overgrown hooves from a field near Cloughjourdan, Co Tipperary. The pony, named Nash by rescuers, was transported to the ISPCAs National Animal Centre in Longford for urgent farrier treatment and a veterinary examination.

Enquiries by ISPCA Animal Inspector Emma Carroll identified Mr Cleary as the owner but he initially claimed that he had never seen the pony before. The following day, the defendant admitted ownership of the pony. He claimed that he had a farrier tend the ponys hooves every six months but, there had been a delay due to Covid and his farrier being ill.

X-ray results confirmed that Nash had chronic laminitic changes but, in ISPCA care, he received regular farrier treatment and made an excellent recovery. He is now enjoying life in his new home.

Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said, it is sad and unacceptable that Nash had to suffer needlessly due to the lack of basic equine knowledge and understanding of his owners. Thanks to a vigilant member of the public for contacting the ISPCA to highlight this issue, we were able to alleviate his pain and prevent further suffering. Nash now has a far better quality of life in his new home where he is loved and cared for.

Regular hoof trimming by a qualified farrier is recommended every six to eight weeks, which would identify any issues and correct hoof problems.

If you suspect that an animal is suffering from cruelty, neglect or abuse, please report your concerns in confidence to the ISPCA on 0818 515 515, email helpline@ispca.ie or report online here.

The ISPCA relies on public donations to continue our vital work rescuing, rehabilitating and responsibly rehoming hundreds of vulnerable animals that desperately need our help. If you would like to help the ISPCA continue this vital work, rescuing Irelands most vulnerable animals, please if you can, make a kind donation here to help the animals that are suffering now.
New research launched by national childrens charity Barnardos and leading grocery retailer Aldi Ireland, found that a quarter of Leinster parents often worry about not being able to provide food for their children and nearly three in 10 people in Ireland have witnessed child food poverty first-hand.

The research comes as Barnardos hosts a forum on child food poverty today, supported by Aldi Ireland.

The new research, conducted by Amarach Research on behalf of Barnardos and Aldi Ireland, explores both the prevalence and impact of food poverty in Ireland on vulnerable children and families.

The study found that 6% of Leinster parents feel close to food poverty.

Families are particularly affected by this issue, with 11% of parents and those looking after children in Leinster skipping meals in an average week in order to feed the children in their care, increasing to almost 30% when including those who report doing so occasionally.

19% of those looking after children across Ireland said they have skipped meals themselves or reduced portion size, so their family and children have enough to eat, increasing to 40% of those not working.

The harsh impact of food poverty on families and children was evident in the studys findings.

55% of parents in Leinster stated they have in the past cut down spending in other areas such as household and medical bills, loan repayments, and transport to afford food. This rose to nearly two-thirds (62%) among those not working, including homemakers throughout the country.

The emotional impact this experience has on parents in Leinster is significant with one quarter (25%) often worried about not being able to provide food for children in their care, again increasing to 34% of those not working nationwide.

Of the quarter who worry, the biggest impact on their concerns about providing food was rising costs and pressure on household finances (81% of all parents in Ireland who worry).

In the study, parents across the country who are concerned about food described themselves as feeling stressed (36%), worried about the future (33%), and guilty (30%), about their current situation, among other negative emotions.

With nearly 3 in 10 people witnessing child food poverty first-hand, the long-lasting impact of this on children was also observed. Three in four (74%) of those who witnessed child food poverty first-hand noticed an impact on the childs physical development, while a similarly high number saw how it affected their social and emotional development (70%). Food poverty also affected the childs education (65%) and ability to maintain relationships (44%).

The research comes as Barnardos hosts a forum on child food poverty, Food Poverty  the lifelong impact for vulnerable children and families, supported by Aldi Ireland. The online event aims to be an educational platform to help raise awareness of the prevalence and impact of food insecurity on children and families in Ireland.

Commenting on the launch of the research, Suzanne Connolly, CEO Barnardos said:

These research findings align with Barnardos experience of working with vulnerable children and families in communities across Ireland.

We see far too many families, often one parent families, deprived of access to fundamental life essentials such as food and heat. Parents tell us of the very difficult decisions they are forced to make to keep their family fed, by either going without a meal themselves, or needing to turn off their heating in order buy food - with one respondent saying they feel like a failure.

We know that a child who is hungry, cannot concentrate which is why food is such a key part of many of Barnardos services  from providing meals to children daily, and providing families with food parcels to take home.

Access to affordable nutritious food is key to a childs development and has a lifelong positive impact on a child. Our partnership with Aldi Ireland allows us to support families where access to food and the impact that has on a family, is a very real problem.

Niall OConnor, Group Managing Director of Aldi Ireland added:

As a family retailer, Aldi has always championed access to affordable and nutritious food for all Irish families.

With two thirds of people spending up to half of their income on food costs, our role in keeping prices low and affordable becomes even more important. The top priority for most families this year will be managing their household budgets in the face of rising living costs, and they can be reassured Aldi will always offer the best prices for groceries.

The work Barnardos does to support vulnerable families and children very much reflects Aldis values and we are fully committed to raising 1 million for the charity, helping to provide 10,000 warm meals to vulnerable children at their centres and a range of other essential supports.

Aldi established a long-term partnership with Barnardos in 2020 with the aim of raising 1 million for the childrens charity. The supermarket has raised over 450,000 for Barnardos to date through a series of exciting initiatives including the launch of its first cookbook Home, alongside the IRFU, with all profits going towards Barnardos Early Years and Family Support Services.

To support Barnardos services to vulnerable children and families in Ireland, Aldi customers can text KIDS to 50300 to donate 4 (Text costs 4. Barnardos will receive a minimum of 3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 01 481 9311).
The Government is expected to approve an ending of the rules around mandatory mask wearing.

This morning (Tuesday February 22), Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney indicated that the Government was likely to approve the recommendations from health officials at a meeting of the Cabinet.

Ministers will discuss a proposal from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly which would see the vast majority of rules on mask wearing come to an end, to be replaced by guidance.

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 has recommended an end to the mandatory wearing of masks, but they will be advisory in healthcare settings and on public transport.

The changes are expected to come into place on February 28.

In his letter to Mr 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 Taoiseach will meet the German Chancellor in Berlin today (Tuesday), where he is expected to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Micheal Martin will meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been in office since December.

The meeting comes amid the backdrop of deepening fears about Russian actions in Ukraine, after Moscow ordered troops into two breakaway regions in the east of the country, allegedly to carry out peacekeeping duties.

The EU is expected to announce sanctions against Russia following the move.

While Ukraine is likely to top the agenda in the meeting between the pair, UK-EU relations and the post-pandemic recovery will also be discussed.

Mr Martin will also visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin for a wreath-laying ceremony.

In a statement ahead of the visit, Mr Martin said: Germany has long been one of Irelands closest friends, and one of our biggest trading partners in the EU.

I very much look forward to the opportunity to discuss with Chancellor Scholz the close ties between our two nations, and the major opportunities and challenges facing Europe at the moment such as the situation in Ukraine, the economy, and the drive to reach our shared climate action goals.
Tullamore and District Angling Club held its annual open pike angling competition for the Hogan cup on Sunday last, February 20.

This is the clubs biggest pike angling event of the year and is fished in memory of Jim Hogan, who was a well-known angler in the Tullamore club although Jim is no longer with us, he still lives on in the memory of his friends and family today.

Conditions were challenging to say the least, with constant rain and strong wind throughout the day. Although the conditions were rough, they provided an excellent feeding spell on various spots along the canal, as the pike fed well throughout the low-pressure conditions.

Most of the 30 anglers who turned out to fish the event on the Grand Canal caught pike throughout the competition and in all 60 pike were landed.

The winner on the day was Robbie Lawlor. Rob caught steady throughout the day and finished up with a catch of 8 pike, and a combined weight of 42lb 4oz. Well done, Robbie.

In second place was Charlie Lawlor. Charlie also had a brilliant bag of fish and weighted in 6 pike, for a combined weight of 31lb 15oz. Well done, Charlie.

In third place was Pat Foran. Pat caught 8 pike throughout the day which added up to 15lb 13oz.

In fourth, we had Eamon Hogan, who also had a catch of 8 pike and a total weight of 15lb 10oz.

and in fifth place, we had Pat Conlon who had 3 pike for 9lb 3oz. Well done Eamon and Pat.

The Junior prize on the day went to young Jake Maher, who had a nice jack of 2lb 4oz. Good work Jake.

The heaviest fish went to Charlie with a lovely fish 10lb 8oz.

The club returned to the Irish National Foresters for our prize-giving ceremony. The anglers enjoyed hot food and refreshments.

The club also announced the final results of the 2020 and 2021 pike fishing competitions.

The committee also awarded on the night the Gordon Bushell Memorial Shield for the heaviest pike of 2021.

This was won by Charlie Lawlor with a nice pike weighing 15lb 12oz.

The Joe Lambe Memorial Shield for the best bag of the years 2020 and 2021was awarded to Pat Foran, Pat had 106lb 13oz in 2020 and 43lb 8oz in 2021, giving a combined weight of 150lb 5oz.

Other heavy bags over the combined 2020 and 2021 season included Seamus Hogan (90lb 15oz) and Dan Lawlor 80lb 10oz and Robbie 52lb 13oz.

Over 2020 our members caught a total of 211 pike and in 2021 we had 94 pike.

The smallest of these fish was caught by a junior angler Chris Leavy and weighed just 4oz.

The club would like to thank the Hogan family for sponsoring the event and supplying the wonderful prizes to be raffled off to ensure everybody left with something.

Paddy and Johnny Hogan travelled from New York to fish the event, they brought one of their American friends, Bill Casey over for the occasion.

It was great to have our overseas guests in Tullamore, and we wish them a pleasant and safe stay in Ireland in the next few weeks.

The club would like to extend a huge special thanks to all the Hogan family and Foresters for making the event such a success.

The club would also like to thank all our committee members and competition officers who have worked hard behind the scenes to keep the show going and also a huge thanks to all our members new and old, who support the club with their attendance.

Tullamore and District Angling Club will host the next pike competition on February 27th.

New members are welcome. Meeting at 9 am at Kilbride Plaza, Tullamore.

For more info contact Pat 0863545579
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Rumble 11 Mar 2022

In this video, we look at an update on the Russia Ukraine conflict and the recent events that have led some to call it an invasion...
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. 
Newsy 24 Feb 2022

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Biden to Attend , NATO and EU Summits , to Discuss Russia's Invasion of Ukraine.

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BANGKOK (AP)  Shares fell sharply in Asia on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, suggesting a long-feared invasion was possibly underway.



Tokyos Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.8% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 3.2% in early trading. Oil prices jumped, with U.S. crude up 2.8%. The future for the S&P 500 dropped 1.5% while the contract for the Dow industrials lost 1.3%.



U.S. markets were closed Monday for Presidents Day. d



In Europe, shares slipped Monday as investors awaited developments in the Ukraine crisis. Germanys DAX gave up 2.1%. In Paris, the CAC 40 in Paris declined 2%. Britains FTSE 100 fell 0.3%.



Russia's MOEX index dropped nearly 11%. The ruble was down 3.2% against the U.S. dollar.



Western powers fear Russia might use skirmishes in Ukraine's eastern regions as a pretext for an attack on the democracy, which has defied Moscows attempts to pull it back into its orbit.



A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin cast the order for troops to move into eastern Ukraine as an effort to maintain peace." He also recognized the independence of the separatist regions, apparently dashing slim remaining hopes of averting a conflict that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe.



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.



In Asian trading, the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo was down 477.52 points at 26,433.46 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gave up nearly 793.51 points to 23,376.95. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.7% to 2,697.74 and the Shanghai Composite index fell 1.5% to 3,439.86. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost...
Europe's gas reserves are at their lowest in years with winter demand not yet over. As the Ukraine crisis escalates, raising fears over Russian supply, could liquefied natural gas (LNG) fill the gap?
Germany's historic Russia policy, which has been focused on "special relationship" diplomacy and economic ties rather than confrontation, has been struck a blow by Russia's escalation. What now for Scholz's government?
The danger of a Russian invasion appears imminent, as Vladimir Putin orders his troops to enter Ukraine's breakaway regions. A DW takes a look at how it came to this point.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to recognise two separatist regions has drawn condemnation from Western nations, who have vowed to impose new sanctions.
The prime minister rejected Moscow's claim a decision to deploy troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine was for peacekeeping, describing it as unacceptable and unprovoked.
For weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been holding the world on tenterhooks, with some 190,000 personnel and enabling forces amassed around Ukraines borders, even as top Russian officials have denied plans to mount an offensive in Ukraine.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday expressed his deep concern over Russia's decision on the status of Donetsk and Lugansk of Ukraine.

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, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief.

Through a statement attributable to Dujarric, the UN chief 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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine 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. 
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Rumble 20 Mar 2022

It has been several since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict...
In an emergency UN meeting, the US said Russia's claim that troops were on a "peacekeeping" mission was "nonsense," threatening Russia with dire consequences for its "unprovoked attack" on Ukraine.
Martin Kimani's powerful speech, which came at an emergency Security Council session, condemned a "trend" of powerful states breaching international law with little regard.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the gas pipeline project cannot go ahead now in these crisis circumstances. He said the approval process has been halted.
A black bear known to residents as "Hank the tank" has become the subject of a state-wide search, after breaking into more than 30 homes in California.
The US and others have imposed sanctions on Russia and more could follow.
A mother from South Wales who is accused of murdering her five-year-old son was washing bloodied sheets when police showed up to look for the boy, a court has heard.
Boris Johnson has announced sanctions against three Russian oligarchs as the UK takes action against Vladimir Putin's "cronies" in response to the "renewed invasion" of Ukraine.
The German and British defense ministers announced that they were prepared to send even more troops than planned to NATO units in the Baltic states. Separately, the UK announced military exercises in northern Europe.
OUAGADOUGOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's explosion at an artisanal gold mining site in southwestern Burkina Faso has risen from 59 to 63, said a judicial source on Tuesday.

A suspect has been arrested, added the source.

The governor of the South-West region, Emmanuel Zongo, also announced in a press release the immediate closure of the site until further notice.

An explosion occurred on Monday on an artisanal gold mining site in Gongombiro, rural commune of Gbomblora in the southwestern province of Poni.

The ministry in charge of mines had given Monday evening, a provisional assessment of 59 loss of human life, serious injuries and significant material damage.

The cause of the explosion remained unknown. An investigation was underway. 
The US president announced financial sanctions against Russian banks in response to the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.'' Follow DW for the latest.
Zee News 24 Feb 2022

India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a..
Amid the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine, India has asked students to leave the latter temporarily till the situation is under control.
Police are appalled by the "absolutely disgraceful" behaviour of protesters in Wellington this morning after three officers were hospitalised having been sprayed with a "stinging substance". Reports of sexual assault at the site...
President Biden will deliver a speech addressing the Ukraine crisis at 1 p.m. ET, the White House said, after Russia's president signed a decree recognizing two breakaway republics.
On the brink of imposing sanctions on Russia, the US and Europe have sought to reduce a ripple effect that could destabilize their own economies.
The UKs ambassador to the UN has urged Russia to step back from invading Ukraine as the Prime Minister prepared to chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments.
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.
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- 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. 
Newsy 25 Feb 2022

Watch VideoRussia pressed its invasion of Ukraine into the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases..
The time has come for the EU to impose sanctions on Russia, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister said.
An airline has been fined for not ensuring passengers complied with Englands coronavirus rules, the aviation regulator has announced.
The Duchess of Cambridge has arrived in Copenhagen for a whistle-stop tour meeting health workers and academics at the forefront of Denmarks world-leading approach to early childhood development.
Mashable 25 Feb 2022

If you can believe it, Tumblr turned 15 this month. The microblogging site that launched a thousand ships was created by software..
Russian President Vladimir Putin received no support from members of the U.N. Security Council at an emergency meeting Monday night, after Russia recognized two separatist regions of Ukraine as independent states. (Feb. 22)


Britain will immediately impose hard economic sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday.
Boris Johnson announced a "first tranche" of sanctions against Russian banks and individuals  but there are calls for him to go further.
The picture shows the meeting scene of the 58th Munich Security Conference. (Photo/Agencies)

By Jiang Feng

The three-day 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC) wrapped up on February 20, but is continuing to shock the world with two details: one, Russias absence; and two, German medias exposure of MSC chairman Wolfgang Ischingers alleged abuse of his office to make personal gains, especially from arms dealing. The absence of Moscow made a direct dialogue on its crisis with Ukraine impossible and therefore turned the conference into a collective denouncement of Russia by NATO and the western bloc, seriously undercutting MSCs significance and authority as a major international security dialogue scheme.

The conference that is focused on discussing and seeking solutions to crises has become a crisis itself is symbolic of the security dilemma facing Europe today.

First, security should be for all countries and a Europe where only a few countries feel secure isnt really so. But the very purpose of NATO as a military bloc is to fend against threats from enemy states and ensure security for part of the members. The dissolution of the Warsaw Treaty Organization after the Cold War actually took with it the reason for the existence of NATO, and some European countries have been hoping to turn it from a defense to a political organization that will focus on promoting economic and social cooperation and integration across the continent.

What the Europeans didnt know when celebrating their victory in the Cold War more than 30 years ago was that Washington, at that time, already had a blueprint in mind for the future security architecture in Europe. In Washingtons mind, collective security anywhere around the world, including Europe, is a challenge to Americas security, so it wont allow Europe to find security anywhere else than within the NATO framework, which is under American control. US vice president Harris pledged at this years MSC to defend every inch of NATO land as firmly and sincerely as she was defending every inch of the American homeland.

The end of WWII has given Europe 75 years of relative security and peace, the longest period without major conflict in its history. That is largely attributed to the US, or rather, to the US-Russia balance. Russias refusal to attend after participating in the conference for 19 consecutive years not only tilts the conference structurally out of balance, but also signifies the imbalance of Russia-US relations in Europe, which bears essentially on European security like the Sword of Damocles.

Second, the Russia-US crisis dates back to the legacy left by Uncle Sam more than 30 years ago. At that time, America set the precondition that Germany after its reunification, which was to take place soon, should stay in NATO, and both Washington and Berlin promised not to expand in Russias direction in exchange for a nod from the Soviet Union. However, when NATO began to take big strides eastward years later, neither the US nor Germany was willing to mention their promise back then.

In the opinion of the Soviet Union then and Russia later, the end of the Cold War meant enduring peace in Europe, the end of hostility and conflict between Russia and the West, and the possibility of the disappearance of NATO just like the Warsaw Treaty Organization. There would be no more antagonistic military bloc on the continent. However, the constant eastward expansion of NATO has wakened Moscow to the fact that the West never sees it as a pal or an ally, only as a mounting threat.

The Cold War has long ended, but its ghost has been hovering over Europe till the present day, fermenting into the current Russia-Ukraine crisis, an old score completely of Americas making. The security feud between Washington and Moscow involves Europe and Ukraine, but they are mere walk-ons. Frustrating as it may sound, its a historical truth that the Europeans never really have a say over their own security.

Europe is at a most dangerous moment since WWII  this is a message all western leaders conveyed in their speeches at MSC this year, and they dont seem to have found a way out yet. How ironically well this matches the theme of the MSC annual report this year  collective helplessness, or we can more precisely call it bloc helplessness, the European bloc that has been following Americas lead all these years. As humanity is facing more and more challenges, understanding each other and working together is the only way to overcome them and achieve peace and welfare for all. Thats the spirit of the time that all should uphold, and bloc politics in any form goes the opposite way.

(The author is a researcher at Shanghai International Studies University)

Editor's note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
China's permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




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 after Moscow's parliament ratified cooperation deals with Ukraine's separatist republics.
On the streets of the biggest city in Ukraine's breakaway eastern regions, some residents expressed joy and gratitude over Russia's decision to recognise their independence, but others were filled with foreboding for what might come next.
Speech comes as members of both parties urge president to follow through on threats to enact severe sanctions
Europe has shown its "strongest show of force against Russia" yet as tensions skyrocket and UK government officials declare "the invasion of Ukraine has begun".German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made his biggest move yet after killing...
ELDON [mdash] A graveside memorial service, with military honors, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Eldon Cemetery in Eldon, IA for Charles and Irene Stribling. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
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BIG RAPIDS  The Big Rapids planning commission was active in 2021, evaluating proposed amendments to the citys zoning ordinance and conducting site plan reviews, according to an annual report presented during the commissions meeting last week.

The members of the planning commission put in many hours of diligent work over 2021 to ensure a strong, thriving Big Rapids, community development director Paula Priebe said. Our staff thanks them for their service to the community.

The annual report is something that is done every year, as recommended by the Michigan Planning Enabling Act legislation, which is the law governing planning and zoning in municipalities, Priebe said.

There is a lot that got done, and when you summarize it like this, you really do see the amount, she said. I just want to say publicly that I appreciate all of you giving of your time to the city.

Over the course of 10 meetings, the planning commission recommended the adoption of three amendments to the zoning ordinance.

One amendment regarding signs for marijuana facilities increased the number of allowed signs and added an allowance for internally lit signs.

Another addressed a marijuana setback around the Mecosta Osceola Independent School District facility in downtown Big Rapids. Originally excluded from the marijuana setback pertaining to public schools, the amendment added a 500-foot setback around the downtown facility.

An amendment addressed fencing in the city eliminated the use of chicken wire fencing and included additional regulations regarding types of fencing and fences in disrepair.

In addition to the three zoning amendments, the planners also addressed an issue regarding the number of chickens allowed within the city limits. An amendment to the city code of ordinances increased the number of allowed chickens for a residential parcel less than 14,500 square feet to five chickens, and for parcels over 14,500 square feet to 10 chickens.

The planners also held two site plan reviews in 2021, one for the Rust Avenue extension project and one for the Wendys reconstruction project.

Other work the planning commission engaged in over the course of the year included the ongoing Redevelopment Ready Communities project, which involves a review of the citys zoning and building codes, the report said.

The commission is working on rewriting the building codes for the C2 and RR districts, adding 'form-based' codes to the regulations.

Form-based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks, making sure that buildings are compatible with their surroundings while allowing a mix of activities.

In addition, they are working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to maintain and improve the citys downtown by participating in programs that improve the physical and economic wellbeing, the report said.

These efforts include working with downtown business owners to maintain an up-to-date list of issues and identify the best way to address issues related to infrastructure, streetscape and vacancies and to promote downtown activities to attract shoppers; expand housing opportunities for all types of households; and improve residential areas by enforcing regulations.

The purpose of the report is to summarize the work of the planning commission and the zoning board of appeals, so that all the various departments are communicating and know what is happening at the planning commission level, Priebe said.

BOARD VACANCY

In other business, the planning commission is looking for an interested community member to fill a vacancy on its board.

During 2021, the planning commission lost members Karen Simmons, who was elected to serve on the city commission, Paul Jackson and Bill Yontz. They were joined by new members Sarah Montgomery and Jacob Buse, leaving one vacant position.

If you like the idea of helping to preserve and grow and make stronger and better this community of ours, maybe consider joining us on the planning commission, chairman Chris Jane said.

The planning commission is a board appointed by the city commission to assist in the administration of the zoning ordinance. The duties include development and administration of the zoning ordinance; consideration of text or map amendments to the ordinance; requests for conditional use permits; and review of site plans.

For more information on the duties and responsibilities of the planning commission visit cityofbr.org.

Anyone interested in serving on the planning commission should contact the community development office at 231-592-4053.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the end of all domestic COVID restrictions in England in a process starting later this week.

What is changing in England? What does it mean to the British people, especially the vulnerable? Some scientists expressed their concerns about the move.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
As the old adage history repeats itself goes, we find that exactly 100 years ago to the day, Manistee County, as well as the state of Michigan, was in the midst of a significant ice storm similar to what we have been experiencing over the last 24-48 hours.

The impact that this storm had on the people from a century ago is significant as the storm not only closed schools, offices and businesses but also stopped travel and industry as well as completely shut down power and all communication with the outside world for over a day.

Details on the ice storm of February 1922, preceded by the headline Loss of Power Paralyzes Industry 32 Hours, were compiled by Teena Kracht and were originally published in the Manistee News Advocate on Feb. 23, 1922:

Electric power, the interruption of which by a break in the high tension transmission wires between this city and the Junction Dam [which] paralyzed Manistee industry for two days, was restored tonight at 6:30.

The interruption was the longest and most serious in Manistee.The last one was last fall when power was off for only a day.

The break yesterday morning was caused by the heavy sleet forming on the wires. The power lines were not alone in feeling the wrath of the storm. Telephone and telegraph wires were down both inside and outside the city. The instruments at the Western Union office have not been in motion since yesterday morning.

This, together with the damage to the telephone toll lines, has practically cut off communication with the outside world. The only touch Manistee has had with other cities has been through the railroads, and they, too, have been delayed by the storm. The city was in almost total darkness last night.

The Manistee News-Advocates long distance telephone wire to Lansing, by which the news of the world is obtained, is out of commission. The only outside town reached by telephone was Kaleva.

Telephone wires in Manistee were broken and tangled on many streets. A large number of wires, coated heavily with ice, were strained to the breaking point. The telephone company is unable to determine the extent of the damage.

The article goes on to describe the various practices that were employed by local factories and businesses and how the storm affected the normal, everyday work schedule:

Electric power ceased about 10 oclock Wednesday morning. It had previously been off until about 8:30. But an hour and a half later it died for good. All factories in the city were at once idle, and when it became known that service would not be restored for hours, the managers sent their employees home.

The industries in town not affected were those that are supplied by their own power plants, namely, Ruggles & Rademaker, the Iron Works and the furniture factory.

The Pere Marquette railroad was operating under difficulties, their lines of communication suffering with all others in this section of the state

As usual, The News-Advocate was absolutely crippled. It was hit in two places  the Linotype machines and the presses. Even should it have been possible to set the type, the paper could not have been printed. Added to this was the loss of its long distance wire news service.

In Manistee the rain which followed the sleet storm added to the difficulties of all workmen. The basement of the telephone exchange was flooded. It is understood a number of homes had similar trouble. All sewer catch basins were clogged with ice, but city workmen were out early Wednesday morning trying to create an outlet for the puddles which formed over the frozen streets.

Huge branches of trees were forced almost to the ground by the heavy covering of ice. Walking was extremely dangerous, especially in the evening, and few people ventured out, doing so only on necessity.

The following day, it was reported that losses from the storm would reach into the thousands taking into account the repair work that needed to be done on are telephone wires (with the telephone company reporting that 50 poles were down between Manistee and Scottville) as well as the roughly 1,000 people that were put out of work for at least a day.

On Feb. 24, 1922, the News Advocate provided yet another example about the severity of damage due to the ice storm:

Some idea of the damage a sleet can do to heavy, high-tension electric cables can be gained from the knowledge that between Manistee and the dam 10 breaks had occurred. And the covering of ice was so heavy that no sooner was one break repaired than another occurred near to it

An article, also published on Feb. 24, 1922 in the News Advocate, provides the answer to the question, what if you were stuck on a train during such a perilous weather event:

Train service everywhere was chaotic

Baldwin was congested with stranded travelersThe inadequate station and small depot hotel were jammed with fretful folks spending hald a lifetime there waiting for some train to come.Passengers for points further north were stuck up in Baldwin for goodness knows how long

The last lap of the journey home [to Manistee] was not without its discomfortsThe train made good headway until about a half-mile south of Eastlake station, where a local freight was wedged in a heavy drift. After a wait of over an hour the passenger engine proved unequal to its duty and the train was stuck. The conductor finally established communication with the freight engine crew, imploring them to come to his rescue, but not until the train had been abandoned by practically all its passengers, some of whom walked across the lake to the city and others of whom were picked up and brought home by several private automobiles and by Walter Kinneys big car and a taxicab, which managed to make the trip with difficulty.

Among the Manistee passengers who were glad to get home as best they could were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph KirsterC. S. KresslerIra NotewareMr. And Mrs. Harry W. MusselwhiteHoward L. Campbell, George A. Johnson, George Hunter and Tom Jensen.

All the travelers, whatever their direction, expressed the sentiment that it is a great life if one does not weaken.

The following day clean-up from the storm continued; however it was noted that Manistee was still pretty isolated from the outside world.

Attempting to put the ice storm into context, the News Advocate ended their coverage of the meteorological event by writing:

One thing is sure: in the years to come Washingtons birthday will be remembered as one of the most disastrous in the history of Manistee. And it is hoped it will not happen again.

More on the ice storm of 1922 (as compiled by Teena Kracht) can be found online at manisteenews.com/localhistory.
The village of Elkton needs to raise about $70,000 to $80,000 for a planned walking path and is asking residents and businesses to step up and take part in a fundraising campaign.

The asphalt path will be about two-thirds of a mile in length, 8 feet wide, and include vegetation, park benches and fitness stations. The path will wind around Ashleys Playscape, the pavilions, basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds and the log cabin museums.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources gave the project a boost late in 2021 with a $150,000 grant from the Recreation Passport program, but the village will have to pay for the remaining cost of construction.

To raise that money, the village of Elkton is seeking donors to purchase bricks or a space on a special donor wall. Donor bricks will be located on a walkway around the donor wall that leads up to the walking path. The donor wall will feature the names of upper-level donors and be located at the entrance to the walking path.

The cost of bricks will be based on size, with a 4-by-8-inch brick available for a $100 donation, an 8-by-8 brick for $250, and a 12-by-12 brick for $500. Names on the donor wall will be distinguished by font size depending on the donation level. Level 4 donations range from $1,000 to $2,999, Level 3 donations range from $3,000 to $4,999, Level 2 donations range from $5,000 to $7,499, and Level 1 donations are $7,500 and above.

Elkton Village Clerk and President Phyllis Baranski said the bricks are intended to serve as memorials or can provide businesses with an opportunity to show they support the community.

I think itll be great for families, and make the quality of life in Elkton even better, Baranski said.

Baranski said the idea for a new walkway had been around for a couple of years and was part of the villages parks and recreation plan for 2016 through 2021. The village will still need to raise $70,000 to 80,000 to cover the entire cost of the project, Baranski said and will rely on the communitys generosity to cover the remaining costs.

Village officials hope to break ground on the project in the fall of 2022 or spring 2023 with completion slated for fall.
Following is the latest installment in a series of first-person accounts by local Chief Science Officers, who bring their peers and community leaders together to ignite new opportunities in STEM and innovation.

My name is Faith Persyn, and I have a passion for STEM. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have held a central place in my heart since childhood. Throughout my everyday life, and most profoundly in my educational endeavors, I have pursued this passion. One of the ways in which I have done this is through the Chief Science Officers (CSO) program, the mission of which is to spread STEM and its inspiration throughout the community. In fulfilling this mission, I have been able to share my passion with others all while gaining valuable professional skills and leadership experience.

As a Chief Science Officer, one participates in a Leadership Training Institute (LTI) before the start of each academic year and in two cabinet meetings. During LTI, students learn about the Chief Science Officers program while also sharing their passion for STEM with each other. But the most valuable experience during LTI and during each cabinet meeting, in my opinion, is the exposure to STEM professionals.

Chief Science Officers meet with professionals from a wide range of STEM-related fields that require various levels of education. Because of this opportunity, I have been exposed to careers that I find most interesting. Without this experience, I would have been ignorant of the numerous possibilities for my future in STEM.

Prior to meeting with these professionals, students are previewed professional skills which encourage them to have educated discussions. Due to this experience, I have developed skills that will someday allow me to comfortably talk to my colleagues and superiors in a professional manner.

Learning these skills at such a young age has allowed me exposure to more equal relationships with adults who are my superiors and has fostered respect. This experience has created for me a greater feeling of competence when discussing important topics and questions with adults, which will allow my voice to have a greater presence in future discussions.

As a Chief Science Officer, I have also acquired beneficial leadership skills that contribute to my ability to lead group discussions and projects, and will someday positively contribute to my presence in group settings in the workplace. In STEM, the goal is always new discovery, and without leadership, the discoveries of a group may be suppressed.

At LTI and each cabinet meeting, Chief Science Officers lead discussions about their action plans, their plans to spread the influence of STEM in the community. This allows for the sharing of ideas, which has given me the skills to contribute to and build up the ideas of others. These skills will allow me to increase the benefit I give to and receive from future group discussions.

Ultimately, my experience with the Chief Science Officers program has furthered my passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. This program has set me up for success as I enter my undergraduate education next fall and the workforce thereafter. I have gained many abilities that will be of use in the professional environment; these include skills of professionalism, leadership, inquiry, and much more. I am a far more valuable asset to professional groups and am more able to articulate educated ideas because of the professional experience this program has provided.

For more information about the CSO program, visit https://chiefscienceofficers.org/ or contact Adrianne Cole at acole@svsu.edu.
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. 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/Bai Xueqi)

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."

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. 

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. 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/Bai Xueqi)
There Is No Spain without Latin America: The Frustrating Omission in Alejandro Amenabar's 'La Fortuna'

By Alberto Cox Delano | TV | February 22, 2022 |

Hi again, if youre coming from my previous rave review of the AMC+ series La Fortuna. I really think you should watch it, enjoy it for its strengths. Because I also need to rip into its most glaring and frustrating omission. One that undermines the very points Amenabar, its writer and director, tries to make.

(Spoilers throughout)

To recap, La Fortuna tells the fictionalized story about how the Spanish government fought a US sea-exploration company that had absconded with the bullion of a Spanish frigate, sunk in 1804. Its a stunning tribute to the adventure genre, a visual feast, and a celebration of culture, heritage, and civil servants. One where the little country, formerly known as the Spanish Empire, wins over US amoral capitalism and clashing diplomatic interests.

But the series conveniently ignores the question of where that bullion came from. Where were the mines that yielded that gold and silver, who worked in them and who minted those escudos and reales de a ocho. They do tell us where the frigate began its journey, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (the historical convoy set sail from Uruguay). And thats it. As far as La Fortuna cares, that gold is just another part of Spanish cultural heritage, the fact that it wasnt mined or minted in the Mainland is irrelevant because the Colonies were Spain too. Or at least, thats what it seems to imply. Colonies that, by the time that frigate was sunk, were less than a decade away from starting their Independence movements.

And to omit this fact, in the current context of Spanish politics, sets a dangerous precedent.

Spaniards from the political center and rightwards roll their eyes whenever Americans remind them everything they owe us: Hiding in Twitter accounts colored with their horrid, horrid traditional heraldry, conservative and reactionary Spaniards spit back whenever we tell them it was our resources that made Spain Spain. That and the Arab legacy, which is a whole other story.

They roll their eyes at any mention of their Colonial atrocities, dismissing them as par for the course for the times, that the population collapse amongst the American peoples was mostly due to diseases (true, except they) and nothing could be done about that ( exploited them into a glorified slavery with extra steps and destroyed their culture), that they actually left us civic structures (and a caste system that refuses to die, more effective in segregating by race than whatever the Southern US could come up with). In sum, that they gave us the gift of European Civilization (but none of its Modernity, its industrialization, and free trade, just monopolized extraction of resources by lazy local elites). This is the White Legend way too many Spanish people tell themselves about their Colonial legacy, which in the end can be summed up as well, whatever, consider yourselves lucky you werent colonized by the puritans. To be fair, this is also a lie Latin American white elites tell themselves, updated according to whatever atrocity is currently happening in the USA.

But what those reactionaries forget is that it was our gold and silver that paid for the entire modern cultural heritage of Spain. We paid for the Golden Century you squandered away, setting the precedent for the economic incompetence that runs through Spain and Latin Americas history. We gave you the foundations in which you built what is still a developed country. It was our wealth which allowed you to build the most exquisite achievements of Baroque architecture and design, that later would finance two of the greatest painters that ever lived. That helped you in one of those many wars between Catholic Europe and the Ottoman Empire, a war that shaped the man that wrote one of the greatest achievements in the human use of language. All of which are things to be proud of, things in which you should and must build your national identity. Things that have inspired human progress. The cultural legacy that is, indeed, your oil, at the crossroads of thousands of years of history: Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Arabs, and those weird Basques.

Cultural pride that refuses to include us, Latin America (this is about Spanish-speaking countries, but it might as well include Brazil and Portugal, with a twist). That keeps us in their worldview as eternal subalterns, even though we have become something much more complex, richer, much bigger, literally and metaphorically, than whatever they couldve ever imagined. But this isnt about what we have achieved in Latin America. This is about what they refuse to acknowledge: That Latin America isnt just important to Spains Cultural Heritage, but that there is no Spain without Latin America. There is no Spanish as the cultural empire that it is today without Latin America. For that matter, there is no Europe without Latin America or the Americas; can there be a modernity without the Americas wealth? Without the potatoes and corn and sugar and tobacco and chocolate that reshaped Europeans down to their nutritional components? Without everything Europe built on the backs of what you took from here, be it on the backs of indigenous peoples in encomiendas or African slaves? What is the Catholic Church or Protestantism without the question of the humanity of the Black African or the Indian? (a question they answered incorrectly).

And all of the above, Spain started it, Spain got the first-look deal, Spain dictated it first, Spain got first Peso. And La Fortuna does nothing to address this. There is only one mention of whether that gold might be owed to the Americas too: Frank Wild, the antagonist, brings forth an appeal to retrieve the loot in the name of the Peruvian government. This is framed as just another form of legal f**kery, after all, what claim could Peru have over gold extracted before they became a nation? Thats it, thats all the lip service given to our hand in Spains heritage.

And heres the thing, the problem is not the gold. Under any legal framework, that gold belongs to Spain, and thats OK. We dont need that gold, our mines are far from depleted (putting a pause on ecological concerns just for now) and it wont make much of a difference if we stored it in the vaults of our Central Banks. We dont need Spain to give us back the gold, we dont need them to dismantle El Escorial brick by brick and have it shipped to Colombia. We dont need any of that: we need the immigrants from our side of the pond in Spain to be treated with dignity (duh), we need you to dismantle neo-colonial exploitation. But above all, we need recognition. Recognition that what you did here kickstarted a chain of horror that is spread in every sphere and every aspect of human society (guess who came up with this whole thing of concentrating people in a camp), recognition that the gold you brought to Europe was extracted by systematic exploitation of the locals. Recognition that we have helped Spain more than once, in hosting hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees, or in grain after the Civil War.

Recognition that everything that holds us back is not about what you took from Latin America, but what you left behind: A legacy of institutionalized corruption, stratified society, racism, mediocre white elites, incompetence, lazy extractivism. And lost history, lost memories of when and how humans first populated this continent. Lost languages, lost heritage, lost monuments. In sum, lost culture. Just like the other languages of the Iberian Peninsula, which a succession of Spanish governments have tried to suppress.

So when the Minister of Culture in La Fortuna pleas passionately to revindicate Spanish Culture, it rings hollow when you ignore the roots of that legacy. Because this isnt just about one countrys history, about the looting of one graveyard. It was also about us, Latin Americans and about our complicated relationship with Spain. Because that heritage is also our heritage. Shared on equal terms, at the very least. Thats what makes La Fortuna an incomplete thesis on the value of Culture. Culture without the full story is just propaganda, and that shit has a short shelf-life.

Side note about specificity: The series makes no mention of the political leanings of the Spanish government during the course of the trial. In real life, the process took place under the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, leading a centre-left coalition. The story is updated to our times, but there is nothing that could help us get an idea of what kind of government is this. A lack of specificity with the US market in mind, but that erases what couldve been a great commentary: How even left-leaning parties in the first-world choose to avoid acknowledging the colonial legacies of their countries, a social and psychological hindrance to the very ideals they are supposed to uphold.

As I said before, erasing Latin America from the cultural heritage of Spain is a dangerous oversight in their current political climate of growing fascism. The mainstream right-wing party (Partido Popular) was already reactionary enough, but along came the far-right Vox, celebrating Spanish Colonialism, Franco and Spains dour National-Catholicism, with a religious outlook that comes across as almost Protestant. Their radicalism has pushed the president of the Partido Popular to up the ante by denying Spains Colonialism or claiming that we refer to it as the Motherland, because they also like to forget we had wars about that very thing, and they lost. More recently, Spains King decided to chime in, and during a visit to Puerto Rico he insisted that Spain had nothing to apologize for.

In a way, its almost pathetic: other than the capitals controlled by Spanish corporations, Spanish reactionaries insist on treating us as wayward children, as if they had any real leverage to get us to kneel. As if we didnt have a culture of our own, bigger, richer, broader. As if we didnt have problems of our own or with empires that are very much alive and much more powerful than Spain ever was. As if we didnt made them.

But Amenabar shouldve known better than to leave this issue unquestioned, feeding into the delusions of those Spaniards. Spain isnt exactly the underdog. They are still a global power. Just one figure: Spains GDP is slightly smaller than the combined GDPs of all Spanish-speaking South American countries. They are not the only victims in La Fortunas story.

Full disclosure, theres also the fact that Alberto Cox is super-Basque on the side of 3/4ths of his grandparents, so he might be a bit biased against Spain. Those Basques came 500 years ago tho. Also, its still streets ahead of the Uncharted movie

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Image sources (in order of posting): AMC, Movistar Play
Ann Brown, age 67, of Palestine, Texas, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Palestine, Texas. Funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Evangelistic Temple. Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6PM to 8PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 a
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The National Council of the Transition (CNT), the legislative body of the transition in Mali, on Monday adopted the draft law revising the Charter of the Transition of 12 September, 2020, without debate, by the 120 members present, PANA learned from an official source
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA)  The alleged mastermind behind a massive gunfight between police and hardened criminals on Monday has been identified as a Botswana national
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA)  Mauritius on Monday celebrated its 172nd centenarian of whom 145 are women and 27 men at an official ceremony marking the 100 years of centenarian Mrs Kalowti Bhyroo, the Government Information Service (GIS) said
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Transport of the Government of National Unity discussed the financial allocations for airports for the year 2022, as well as the operational plans and the provision of the necessary means to overcome the shortcomings in the equipment and operating systems
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, has reiterated the importance of the continued consensus between the House of Representatives (Parliament) and the High State Council, urging Libyan political actors to commit to maintaining calm in the country
Photo: (Photo : Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels)

No one can prevent accidents and illnesses, but purchasing insurance can help individuals protect themselves and their families. It is frustrating, then, when a claim is denied by an insurance company. Here are some steps to help dispute the denial.

1. Read the Paperwork Closely.

Before disputing an insurance denial, carefully read any paperwork that comes in the mail or by email. These can include a notification, remittance advice, or explanation of benefits. Notifications will state if the claim has been fully paid, paid partially, denied, or delayed in payment. Notifications may also provide additional paperwork and verification that the insurance company requires. If it is not clear, call the insurance company for a complete explanation.

2. Write an Internal Appeal.

If the insurance company continues to deny a claim, appeal according to the carrier's guidelines. Appeal requirements and processes may vary by state and by law. Be sure to submit appeals promptly, or they may not be considered at all. Make sure to include all necessary paperwork and evidence with your appeal. Be aware that because of HIPAA guidelines, only the "minimum necessary" information needs to be provided. Don't give up. Insurance carriers sometimes need to see that you are persistent about a matter before they will reconsider an appeal.

For a medical insurance denial, it may be helpful to get a letter from the patient's physician stating why the treatment is deemed necessary. Consider sending test results and details from the insurance plan that provides the coverage. Journal articles or additional information from experts can also help to strengthen the case.

If a doctor will not support the appeal, use that in the defense. Point out areas where the doctor made a mistake that led to the denial. Another option is to hire a patient advocacy company. A patient advocacy company will usually charge an hourly rate but will collect all of the necessary papers from you, the doctor, and the insurance company, and then draft an appeal letter on your behalf. Because they are more familiar with individual state laws and mandates, they can often solve the problem more efficiently than an individual can on their own.

3. Write an External Appeal.

If an internal appeal to the insurance company does not work, file an external appeal. Usually, these must be written within four months of the original denial. External appeals often include denials where there is a disagreement with the health insurance plan. Sometimes, appeals go to the external level because there is a determination that a treatment is experimental. Occasionally, insurers will even cancel coverage, claiming that false information was provided when coverage was applied for.

4. Keep Records

Maintain detailed records every step of the way. Keep photocopies of notifications, and paperwork that was sent to the company. Also keep detailed notes from conversations with representatives from the company, including details they provided regarding the claim and instructions that they may have given to you. Include dates and times on the notes as well. These records can be helpful if the case ends up being litigated and attorneys need the information.

Above all, stay calm and be persistent. The majority of insurance denial appeals end up being paid, though it often takes some time and determination.
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

An advocacy group found widespread lead contamination in the water lines of several schools across Philadephia, potentially exposing thousands of students to the toxins that cause learning disabilities, damage to the nervous system, and internal organs.

The study, done by PennEnvironment and PennPIRG, also indicated that of the 1932 samples taken, 307 were found to have more than the acceptable limit of 10-ppb of lead.

Lead exposure is hazardous for children, as studies have linked it to damage to the nervous system and learning disabilities.

Lead Contamination in Schools Across Philadelphia

The study revealed that 61 percent of the 1,932 outlets showed lead contamination exceeding one part per billion. Of the 65 schools sampled, 98 percent had at least one water outlet contaminated beyond one part per billion.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that based on the study, Duckrey Elementary in North Philadelphia had the highest reading of lead, having 8,768-ppb, which also showed a 100 percent contamination of all its outlet.

Longstreth Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia had the most lead-contaminated outlets, with 49 out of the 56 sampled, while Bethune Elementary in North Philadelphia and Moffet Elementary in Kensington recorded that 90 percent of their outlets were contaminated with lead.

The study's authors stated that the data they reviewed was just the "tip of the iceberg" as it concerns almost 200,000 students.

Read Also: Human Breast Milk For Sale Online: Experts Warn of Risks of Buying, as it Can be Harmful.

Impact of Lead Contamination on Health

The city has a 10-ppb limit to lead permitted in schools and drinking fountains. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other organizations warn of no safe lead levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to lead can pose severe threats to a child's health, including damage to the brain and nervous system and delayed growth and development. Lead is also linked to other problems like learning, behavior, and speech and hearing problems. Lead exposure is often linked to lower IQ, decreased ability to pay attention, and underperformance in school.

Call for Improved Water Systems in Schools

The PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center and PennPIRG Education Fund gathered in front of the district's headquarters Wednesday to announce the findings and urge the school officials to take action.

However, Monica Lewis, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia School District, said that the report is not accurately reflecting the water quality that students and staff in Philadelphia are accessing every day.

According to Lewis, they had installed more than 1,300 hydration stations where students could replenish their water bottles. The district said it aims to have a minimum of one hydration station per 100 students per floor in 269 school buildings.

Pastor Willie Francois, president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality, called for a faster replacement of the water stations before students could use them again.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek Green said that the district needs to move faster to remove lead out of schools for the protection and safety of the children.

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BRUSSELS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders said Monday that the bloc will react with sanctions against those involved in Russia's recognition of eastern Ukraine's Lugansk and Donetsk regions as independent states.

In a press statement, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they condemn the decision by Russia to recognize the two regions as "independent entities."

"This step is a blatant violation of international law as well as of the Minsk agreements," said the statement. "The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act."

The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing "Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" & "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent states on Monday night.

Last week, Russia's State Duma, the lower house of the country's parliament, gave the green light to a bill recognizing the Luhansk and Donetsk republics in east Ukraine's breakaway region of Donbass as independent and sovereign states.

Hours before the announcement of Russia's recognition of the two regions, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borell had warned of sanctions on Russia should it recognize the regions in eastern Ukraine.

"Certainly, if there is annexation there will be sanctions, and if there is recognition I will put the sanctions on the table and the ministers will decide," Borell said during a press conference after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels. 
Photo: (Photo : JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Support has poured in for the family of Arlene Alvarez, a 9-year-old mistakenly shot dead, with thousands attending a weekend barbecue event to raise funds for the girl's funeral.

Gwen Alvarez, Arlene's mother, said that while she still hopes everything has been just a bad dream, she's appreciative of the community support. On the other hand, Dad Armando Alvarez said that the community event is also a campaign to raise awareness for gun violence as something has to change so that another child will not die.

Arlene was shot as she sat alone, waiting for her dad by the ATM in the family's pickup truck. The girl was unaware of a commotion between a man and robber nearby as she had her headphones on. The robbery victim had a gun for his protection. He had fired at the pickup because he thought this was the getaway car.

Read Also: New York Girl, Missing Since 2019, Found Alive in Secret Staircase; Who is Paislee Shultis?

A Mistaken Identity

The Houston Police Department identified the shooter as 41-year-old Tony D. Earls, who was initially unaware that his weapon killed a child. He reported the robbery to the police and detailed that the thief came after him while withdrawing money from Chase Bank's ATM.

Earls also said the suspect fled the scene, but he thought of firing at a vehicle parked near the bank, believing the robber owned this. Armando witnessed the robbery and was signaling for his daughter to take cover. The father also said that Earls sprayed their vehicle with bullets. One of the bullets hit Arlene's head.

The police said this was a case of mistaken identity. Nonetheless, Earls has been charged by the Houston Police Department for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently out of jail after paying a $100,000 bond.

The Alvarez family lawyer said that Earls could not say this was self-defense as there was no reason for him to open fire at the car since the robber fled the scene. The suspect has still not been identified as of press time.

The Pain of Losing a Child

Earls' wife, Deyonna Hinds, extended her and her husband's condolences to the Alvarez family. The couple has six kids and said that they have also been having sleepless nights thinking about the pain of losing a child.

Brennen Dunn, the lawyer for the couple, said that the robber fired the first shot, and Hinds was also with her husband during the incident. Dunn said that his client fired only two shots at Alvarez's car, and the death of Arlene has been "eating him up inside," per KHOU.

He has advised Earls not to speak unless to the authorities so as not to further incriminate himself amid rumors that the robbery was a drug deal gone wrong.

Meanwhile, Gwen said that Arlene, whom she described as an "old soul," fought for her life like a warrior when she was brought to the hospital. However, she was declared brain dead because of the gunshot wound to her head. She was shot on Valentine's Day, February 14.

Related Article: COVID-19 Complications: Parents Remember 'Amazing' 7-Year-Old Girl Whose Brain Swelled from the Virus
Photo: (Photo : Leon Neal/Getty Images)

South Carolina police arrested grandfather, Kalim Abdul Alawajid, and charged him with unlawful conduct towards a child as he failed to secure and lock his loaded gun, enabling his 6-year-old grandson to bring this to school where he planned to "shoot zombies."

Alawajid, 72, went to his court hearing on Saturday, February 19, where the judge determined that he should not have any bond.

CNN reported that the grandson, who attends Laurens Elementary School, didn't make any threats to his classmates or teachers and staff. The school officials were also able to take care of the matter after discovering the small handgun in the child's seat.

Laurens Police Department spokesperson Lt. Scott Franklin said that a school resource officer was able to secure the gun before any untoward incident took place. On the other hand, Laurens County School District Superintendent Ameca Thomas said that the boy, who has remained unnamed, will have to undergo a disciplinary hearing given the "seriousness of this incident."

Read Also: Gun Violence: Missouri 2nd Grader Brings Gun to School, South Carolina Teen Arrested for School Shooting Threats

Grandfather Should be Responsible for Weapon

According to the police, Alawajid is supposed to ensure that his gun is not accessible to anyone else, especially a minor. If found guilty of breaking Section 63-5-70 of the South Carolina law to protect children, Alawajid could face up to 10 years in prison.

The grandfather has another hearing set for March 18, but it's still unclear if he has hired a private lawyer to represent him in the case.

Reports cited that the gun was seen by a staff member of the school who took swift action by informing the school resource officer. When they asked the boy why he had brought the gun to school, he told the officer that he planned to shoot zombies.

The superintendent said that the family cooperated upon the discovery and worked with the authorities to ensure the safety of everyone. The school official also said that they would continue to work diligently to improve the safety protocols to deter potential school shootings.

Thomas further asked parents to check their children's things regularly before heading to school. If the families have any concerns, they are encouraged to raise these with the teacher, principal, or counselor.

Calls to Mandate Gun Storage

It comes more than three months after the school shooting tragedy in Oxford High School in Michigan that killed four children and injured six others, including a teacher. Reina St. Juliana, the sister of one of the victims, has expressed support for the state legislation that will mandate gun storage.

St. Juliana said this mandate would help stop shooters from having easy access to firearms and curtail more gun violence and school shootings. Michigan school shooter, Ethan Crumble, took his new handgun to school because his parents failed to intervene despite knowing he was in mental distress. His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter while their son has multiple felony charges, including terrorism.

Related Article: Romantic Courtroom Antics of Parents of Michigan School Shooter Turning off Prosecutors
Photo: (Photo : DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

Mom Jess Martini knows how it feels to lose a child in public because she went through the same experience with her three young boys, and she is sharing some helpful tips for other parents who might find themselves in this situation.

In a post on TikTok, Martini shared that she's making a public service announcement because many children go missing at the zoo, amusement park, or even the shopping centers. The mom advocates for never looking at lost kids in silence because being loud as possible will inform the people of the parent's predicament.

Despite how embarrassing this may look for some parents, Martini said that shouting the child's description in public will bring the "best-case scenario" as someone will likely find the child and return them to the parents.

She also believes that shouting the child's description, such as the hair, the clothes, age, or height, will fend off any abductor and let go of the child. The point is to make a commotion as the consequences could be worse otherwise.

Read Also: Mom Tries and Succeeds to Do Grocery Shopping on a Budget From 2012

Better to Look Stupid than Sorry

Martini went on to say that she understands if some parents might feel very stupid as they holler for their child. However, this is the best option than feeling sorry if something bad has actually happened. Her tip has helped a parent in Australia whose son went missing in Kmart. Per Metro, the mom remembered Martini's TikTok video and started shouting for her 2-year-old boy, Nathan. It took 10 minutes for her and the Kmart staffers to locate Nathan, but she was glad and relieved he was safe. Martini also posted a second TikTok video as a follow-up to her first tip. This time, she told parents to let their children wear brightly colored clothes if they visit a public place, making it easier to find them. She also said that parents should take photos of their children for that outing, just in case they get lost.

The mom added that the kids should have their parents' names and numbers with them. She also reiterated for parents to "never look in silence" if they lose a child in public.

"You need people to understand you loud and clear," Martini said, adding that all the other adults who heard the parent will be on the alert and search for the child as well.

Adopt Preventive Measures

Some preventive measures will also help parents avoid this bad experience. For instance, parents can train their kids early on to learn their parents' name, home address, or hotel name, as well as their parents' contact numbers. The family should also plan to go to a certain place if they are separated from the group, such as a customer service area or a famous restaurant, and wait for their parents there.

If a child can be taught to memorize some details, they could also be taught to seek help from a policeman, security guard, or an employee of a store or amusement park. Instruct your kids on what to say to these adults if they are lost.

Related Article: Black Mom Who Gave Birth to Son With Red Hair Says Strangers Accuse Her of Kidnapping
The number of new coronavirus cases has declined in recent weeks, but the Colorado River Indian Tribes still have their 'Safer at Home' resolution in place. This sign on State Route 95 reminds people coming to Parker of the Tribes' mask mandate in public places on Tribal land.
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Parker Police Det. Joey Venegas spoke about how to prepare for an active shooter situation to a group Feb. 18 at Arizona Western College in Parker. Venegas said it was important for people to have what he called the survival mindset.
MONDAY, Feb. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental drug may help build bone mass in some adults with a rare brittle-bone disease, a small preliminary study suggests.

The disease is called osteogenesis imperfecta. It's caused by defects in certain genes involved in making collagen -- a key protein in the body's connective tissue. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is present at birth, and may leave children with soft bones that are deformed or break easily -- though the severity of the condition ranges widely.

While experts have known the culprit genes involved in osteogenesis imperfecta, the new study points to a mechanism in the disease process: overactivity in a protein called TGF-beta.

And when the researchers infused eight adult patients with a drug that inhibits the protein, five showed an increase in bone density.

The findings are preliminary, and much work remains ahead, stressed researcher Dr. Brendan Lee, a professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"One has to be cautious," he said, "because more bone does not necessarily mean better bone."

But the broader hope is that by understanding the mechanisms of OI, better treatments -- possibly with benefits outside the bone -- can be developed, according to Lee.

"This is not only a bone disease," he said. "This is a connective tissue disease."

Depending on the severity of the condition, people can also suffer unstable joints, weak muscles, skin that bruises easily, hearing loss or underdeveloped lungs.

At this point, Lee said, it is unknown whether the drug used in this study, called fresolimumab, can affect those kinds of symptoms.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is rare, occurring in 1 out of every 10,000 to 20,000 births worldwide, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

There are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for the disease. But osteoporosis medications called bisphosphonates are a mainstay of treatment for children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

The drugs can increase kids' bone density and help them be more active, said Dr. Cathleen Raggio, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

But bisphosphonates are not specifically designed for OI. That means they target a symptom and not the disease process itself, said Raggio, who researches and treats osteogenesis imperfecta.

She agreed that having medications that target a "pathway" in the OI process could "treat the core problem, rather than symptoms."

Raggio, who was not involved in the new study, said she was "cautiously optimistic" about the findings. But like Lee, she stressed that much more work has to be done.

Larger studies of adults are needed, Raggio said, to look at the safety and longer-term effectiveness of fresolimumab -- and to better understand why some patients may respond, while others do not.

The study, published recently in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, involved two parts. First, the researchers analyzed bone tissue samples from a small group of children with and without the brittle bone disease.

In previous research, Lee's team had found that TGF-beta "signaling" is ramped up in lab mice with an OI-like condition. So they wanted to see whether that was true in human OI-affected bone.

It turned out that was the case.

Next, the researchers gave eight adult patients a single infusion of fresolimumab -- a lab-engineered antibody that inhibits TGF-beta. The drug has been under study as a treatment for certain cancers, among other conditions.

In bone, Lee explained, TGF-beta appears to be a "master orchestrator" of remodeling -- the continual process by which old bone is broken down and new bone is formed.

He and his colleagues found that five patients with more moderate OI showed increased bone density in the three to six months after the fresolimumab infusion. The three remaining patients, who had more severe disease, showed either no change or a decline in bone density.

Past research of fresolimumab for other conditions has turned up some potential risks, including bleeding and skin tumors.

In this study, patients had no serious side effects from the single infusion, according to Lee's team.

The research was supported by the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium, and a research agreement with Sanofi Genzyme, the maker of fresolimumab.

The company will lead a larger trial of adults with osteogenesis imperfecta, to further test the drug's safety and effects on bone.

If adult studies prove positive, then the question will be whether the drug can benefit children with OI, too -- possibly added onto bisphosphonates, Raggio said.

For now, she said, parents should know that researchers are working on understanding the mechanisms of the disease, and translating that to treatment.

No one is saying fresolimumab, or any single drug, will be the answer to a complex disease like OI, Lee noted.

"Rarely in medicine does one size fit all," Lee said.

More information

The OI Foundation has more on osteogenesis imperfecta.

SOURCES: Brendan Lee, MD, PhD, professor and chair, department of molecular and human genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; Cathleen L. Raggio, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City; Journal of Clinical Investigation, Feb. 3, 2022, online
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A woman shows jewelry during the Nebu expo for gold and jewelry in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Niffler, a rodent-like creature in the film of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, must go nuts if it attends Egypt's first-ever trade fair for gold and jewelry, since it is obsessed with finding sparkly objects.

CAIRO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Major gold companies and designers at home and abroad have gathered in Egypt's first-ever trade fair for gold and jewelry here in the capital Cairo to support local industries and attract foreign investments.

The three-day Nebu expo for gold and jewelry, which runs until Monday and is named after the Egyptian symbol for gold, has attracted over 30 major gold manufacturing and trading firms from Egypt as well as master goldsmiths and designers.

A man takes photos of jewelry during the Nebu expo for gold and jewelry in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

"The exhibition helps us develop relationships with existing and potential customers. It also adds value to the influence of marketing activities," George Abdallah, a local marketing manager told Xinhua.

Sponsored by the Egyptian government, the expo also came as unique trading and investment platform for the industry in the Middle East and Africa, according to Abdallah.

A woman wears jewelry to show during the Nebu expo for gold and jewelry in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

"Here, we can reach customers that were not reached before through regular promotions. We can also increase sales and collect business leads," he noted.

"This is the first fair for gold makers where I can meet a large number of gold and jewelry manufacturers one-stop" and talk to them directly, Amr Mamdouh, a visitor seeking business opportunities, told Xinhua.

"I can also know more about the gold industry in Egypt through live seminars and discussion panels" during the trade fair, he added, referring to the sideline events.

An exhibitor shows jewelry to a customer during the Nebu expo for gold and jewelry in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea said the Egyptian gold and jewelry industry enjoys competitiveness as the country is becoming a major production and export hub in the Arab region and Africa.

Gold production from Egypt's major Sukari mines has hit an annual average of 15.8 million tons, which is expected to increase with the Golden Triangle project launched in the Eastern Desert, the minister said earlier during the opening ceremony.

People view jewelry during the Nebu expo for gold and jewelry in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Gamea said the government intended to build the first domestic gold refinery to purify gold extracted from Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and Africa, as an alternative to the refineries in Switzerland and Canada.

The Egyptian government has also tried to add more value to the local gold industry by building a new city for the manufacture and trade of gold in the New Administrative Capital, she said.

The new "City of Gold" would include 400 technical workshops for gold production, 150 other educational workshops, and a vocational school, she added.
According to a new supply chain report published today, TSMC has squeezed out Samsung with its advanced manufacturing process and took all orders for Apple's fifth-generation mobile communication (5G) related radio frequency (RF) chips, which is expected to be applied to the next-gen iPhone 14 launching later this year.

The industry believes that it will be a trend for RF-related Netcom chips to be upgraded to 6nm process wafers. TSMC's 6-nanometer process belongs to the 7-nanometer family, and it was also the advanced process that accounted for the largest share of TSMC's revenue that year.

TSMC's 6nm RF process was first announced at the TSMC Technology Forum in 2021. At that time, it emphasized the need to support 5G smartphones, provide advanced RF technology to support the 5G era, and improve the size and power consumption of chips derived from 5G smartphones.

According to TSMC last year's technical forum information, the 6nm RF process provides significantly reduced power consumption and area for 5G RF transceivers below 6GHz and millimeter wave bands, while taking into account the performance, functions and battery life required by consumers. Enhanced support for WiFi 6/6e performance and power efficiency. For more, read the full report by Taiwan's United Daily News (UDN).

UDN posted a second report this morning about Apple's entry into designing it's own 5G / RF chips is putting pressure on the likes of Qualcomm, Broadcom and Skyworks. Not only will theses suppliers lose business as Apple uses its own 5G/RF chips, but Apple has aggressively poaching their engineers. The report noted that roughly 20% of Broadcom's business is from Apple while it's 60% of Skyworks business.

Qualcomm has predicted that Apple's fastest 5G will likely come to market in 2023.
In April Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple Orders a 10-part anthology series titled 'The Crowded Room,' a gripping anthology series that will explore the true and inspirational stories of those who have struggled and learned to successfully live with mental illness.

Last Thursday, Deadline reported that "Oscar nominee Amanda Seyfried is set to play the female lead opposite Tom Holland in "The Crowded Room," Apples seasonal anthology series from A Beautiful Minds Akiva Goldsman and New Regency.

Today we're learning that the cast is quickly filling out with four new actors being announced. Holland, who is also executive producing, is starring as a man named Danny Sullivan. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Emma Rossum has been chosen to play the role of Sullivans mother, who is always looking for a man to fulfill her dreams of salvation.

Seyfried is playing a clinical psychologist faced with the most challenging case of her career, who is also trying to balance her life as a single mother.

Today, a Deadline report adds that an additional three actors were cast. Sasha Lane (Conversations with Friends) Christopher Abbott (Catch-22) and Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown) round out the cast of The Crowded Room.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Lane will play Ariana, Dannys closest friend and ally, together they seek revenge for the pains of their past.

Abbott portrays Stan, Dannys lawyer and a Vietnam veteran processing the trauma from his past.

Laird is Isabel. Dannys friend from high school, who recognizes his talent and heart in a way no one else does.

Archive: Apple TV News
Lets not get ahead of ourselves, but there is light on the horizon in this age of ridiculously priced graphics cards. HP is currently throwing a sale that gets you an AMD-based desktop entry-level gaming rig for $500, down from $650. Yes, you can finally buy a gaming PC for under $500 again! The downside, however, is that youre going to have to wait a while for this rig, with shipping not starting until the end of March.

HP classifies this particular Windows 11 rig as appropriate for the casual gamer. That means itll have acceptable performance for esports enthusiasts and folks willing to dial down graphics settings in triple-A games for faster performance. If youve been hunting for a solid Fortnite or League of Legends PC that wont break the bank, here it (finally) is.

This desktop has a Ryzen 3 5300G APU, which has four cores, eight threads and a max boost to 4.2GHz. As this is an APU it has onboard graphics, but they wont get you very far for gaming. Thats why HPs also saddled this rig with an AMD Radeon RX 5500. This is a prebuilt-only part that is designed to offer acceptable 1080p performance at a reasonable price for PC buyers.

The Radeon RX 5500 is okay, but if you want to add an extra $20, HP will swap out that graphics card for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super. That promises much better performance than the RX 5500, though this is still decidedly a 1080p machine. Still, given that the GTX 1650 Super itself sells for anywhere from $300 to $500 these days (it was originally a sub-$200 card), this is a solid deal.

The rest of the rig includes 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard SSD storage. Thats not a ton, but again you can add 1TB of hard drive storage for another $49 if you need it. If you already have a PC, a better option would be to take whatever hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs you have in your current desktop and migrate them over.

This is a good deal even with the low amount of onboard storageagain, its a sub-$500 gaming PC in an era when many graphics cards alone are selling for nearly that amountand if youre willing to add that extra $20 to upgrade to the GTX 1650 Super youll have an especially nice entry-level gaming machine. Radeon or GeForce, you dont want to miss out on this.

[Todays deal: HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop for $500 at HP.com.]
The much-awaited summit on the business of Chocolate dubbed 'The Chocolatarium Business Summit comes off on Monday 21st February 2022 at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel.



Organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the event which is also under the umbrella of the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa Programme, seeks to promote and support local businesses in the cocoa value chain amidst COVID-19 challenges and beyond.



The discussions under the Summit are designed in line with the mission of the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa Programme to support businesses and highlight the importance of value creation, promotion and funding of chocolate manufacturers.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman speaking on the maiden edition of this event noted that this summit seeks to bring together stakeholders within the chocolate value chain to discuss ideas on value creation, and funding for artisanal chocolate manufacturers.



After a successful celebration of the 2nd edition of the National Chocolate Week, GTA is introducing the Chocolatarium Business Summit to highlight ways in which we can reap the economic benefits of chocolates while promoting its consumption. We will also explore ways to boost chocolate consumption in the hospitality sector. This summit promises to be edifying and insightful, he said.



In his remarks, he acknowledged the support of the Government of Ghana under the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa Programme. GTA is appreciative of the support government is rolling out to ensure that businesses in the cocoa and chocolate sector are empowered to positively contribute to the economic transformation of the country.



The Ministry of Finance under which the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa Programme operates, said the Chocolatarium Business Summit is an opportunity for the Ministry to reiterate its commitment to presenting policies and programmes that will boost local businesses and help the Ghanaian youth take advantage of business opportunities, in this case in the cocoa and chocolate sector.



The Chocolatarium, is in partnership with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), GIPC, Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA), EXIM Bank and Cocoa Value Addition Artisans Association of Ghana (COVAAGH).



High profile personalities expected in attendance include the Deputy Minister of Finance Hon. John Kumah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, CEO of COCOBOD, Mr. Joseph Boahen-Aidoo, CEO of GEA, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh and CEO of GIPC, Mr. Yofi Grant.



Individuals and businesses interested in participating and exhibiting their products and services at the Chocolatarium Business Summit are encouraged to register by sending their details to [email protected]

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Eight-nation regional monetary authority UEMOA on Jan. 9 told all financial institutions under its umbrella to suspend Mali with immediate effect after the junta - which overthrew the president in a coup in 2020 - reneged on a promise to hold early elections.



The UEMOA action severed Mali's access to regional financial markets and was taken in conjunction with sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which froze Malian state assets, closed its borders and suspended non-essential financial transactions.



The junta's lawyers said they filed two complaints on Feb. 15 with the UEMOA Court of Justice, the first seeking a repeal of the UEMOA sanctions and the second the suspension of their implementation due to the negative impact on the population.



In a statement, the lawyers referred without explanation to the sanctions' "absolute illegality".



Officials at UEMOA, which Mali had earlier this month already asked to lift the sanctions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Mali has defaulted on more than 54 billion CFA francs ($93 million) in loan payments since January due to sanctions, and workers are starting to feel the squeeze as mass lay-offs take hold.



The junta is also facing the prospect of losing the support of the French forces that have since 2013 coordinated a multinational mission battling an Islamist insurgency in Mali and the wider Sahel region.



Relations between Paris and Bamako have deteriorated since the junta extended its hold on power, and France said last week it would pull its forces out of the country.



The junta's use of Russian private military contractors has also angered other European countries involved in the French-led and other military missions.



Senegal's President Macky Sall, who chairs the African Union, said on Monday that European troops were still needed in Mali.



Sall spoke in Dakar during a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said Germany would take regional security experts' opinions into consideration when it made a decision in the coming months on whether to stay or withdraw.

Source: France 24









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The police have arrested the kingpin of one of the two groups involved in the violent clash at Nima, a suburb of Accra, in the Ayawaso East Municipality.

The suspect, Ali Awudu, aka Bombom, is the leader of the Bombom group, one of the rival groups that fought in Nima on January 18, 2022.



The other group, Kumodzi group, is led by Ibrahim Hussain, aka Kumodzi, based in Nima and Maamobi.



Awudu was arrested at Aflao in the Volta Region through an intelligence-led operation.



Hussain was arrested 17 days after the incident, while it took the police about a month to arrest Awudu.



Briefing the Daily Graphic about the arrest, the Director General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kwesi Ofori, said Awudu had been detained in connection with the violent clash, and was being processed for court.



Mr Ofori assured the public that the police would do whatever it took to arrest other members of the gangs and dismantle their activities through the due process of the law.



He indicated that the police were still pursuing other gang members believed to have participated in the Nima violent clash, and appealed to traditional leaders, opinion leaders and the public to support with credible information about the hideouts of the rest of the members.



Court



The arrest of Awudu brings to 14 the total number of persons arrested by the police in connection with the said disturbance.



Out of that number, 11 of them have been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court between February 1 and 15, 2022.



On February 1, the Accra Circuit Court granted the eight suspects a total sum of GH 640,000 bail and remanded two.



Each of the eight accused persons was admitted to bail in the sum of GH80,000 with two sureties each.



As part of the bail conditions, they are to report to the Nima Divisional Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service twice every week, and sign a bond to be of good behaviour.



The suspects were charged with conspiracy to riot with weapons, rioting with weapons and causing harm to two persons, Frimpong Boateng and Shaibu Abdul Razak, who are said to be receiving treatment.



The eight on bail are Abdul Gafaru Mahama, Atarouwa Bassam, Abdul Mumuni Gariba, Mohammed Saabi Barinu, Bashiru Ganiru, Illiasu Salim, Ibrahim Moro and Issah Seidu.



Those remanded were Aziz Suleman and Farouk Dawda, aka Omoni.



They all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared at the court, presided over by Ms Rosemary Baah Tosu.



Kumodzi before court



On February 15, 2022, Kumodzi was admitted to bail along with three other suspects  Farouk Dawda, aka Omoni, Aziz Suleman and Zakari Mohammed, aka Miller  by an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Rosemary Baah Tosu.



Farouk Dawda and Aziz Suleman had earlier been reamanded into police custody by the court.



The four were admitted to bail in the sum of GH80,000 each with two sureties each.









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.

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An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a motor rider to eight years imprisonment for defiling his girlfriends companion at Agbogboloshie, Accra.



Edward Mensah, 19, charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty.



However, the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann found him guilty at the end of the trial and sentenced him accordingly.



The court said it considered the age of the accused, the degree of revulsion felt by the law and ordinary citizen, the premeditation with which the crime was executed, the prevalence of the offence and the fact that accused was a first offender.



Prosecuting Inspector Opoku Aniagyei narrated that Mensah per the bone examination was 19 while the victim per bone examination was between 13 and 15 years.



Inspector Aniagyie said the accused resided in the same vicinity as the complainant.



The prosecution said the victim was a friend of the accused's girlfriend and they both attended the same church.



He said Mensahs girlfriend was pregnant and had gone to the Northern Region to deliver.



Inspector Aniagyie said in January, Mensah met the victim in the vicinity and told her that her friend had returned from the Northern Region and had safely delivered and so she should visit her.



He said the victim obliged and went to Mensahs house at about 8:00pm.



On reaching the house, prosecution said Mensah asked the victim to enter his room knowing that his girlfriend was not around.



Mensah then locked the door and pushed the victim on his mattress, undressed the victim, held the victims neck, and had sex with her.



After the act, the prosecution said Mensah warned the victim not to tell anyone about it.



In March, the victim experienced abdominal pain and she was rushed to the Children's Hospital but was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital where she was admitted.



The prosecution said the victim confided in the Medical Doctor and told him about her sexual ordeal with the accused person and the doctor in turn informed the complainant.



The complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in the Greater Accra Region and she was issued with Police medical form to send the victim to the hospital for further examination and treatment.



The prosecution said Mensah was arrested and during investigations, he admitted the offence.









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.

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Peacefmonline.com can confirm that the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is suspending its industrial action; albeit temporarily.



The suspension is expected to last till March 4, by which time UTAG says it hopes to have reached a favourable consensus with government during its deliberations.



This decision was taken on Monday, February 21st, at an emergency meeting held by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG to evaluate their ongoing industrial action.



Previously, similar meetings on the subject of calling off the strike action, held between the leadership of UTAG, Parliaments Education Committee, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Education Minister and the Labour Minister, had all been inconclusive.



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.



Temporarily Suspended



In a statement jointly signed by the groups National President, Prof Solomon Nunoo and National Secretary, Dr Asare Asante-Annor, UTAG said it has "agreed to heed the advice of the eminent leaders, the Select Committee on Education and the court ruling to suspend our strike action



The statement highlighted a roadmap that had been agreed between the association and government, adding in that regard, negotiations will commence in earnest and completed within the agreed period and the outcome.



"Meanwhile, the legal processes on the legality or otherwise of our strike action, pending before the Court, will continue to its logical conclusion, portions of the statement read.



Legal Battle



Last week, the Labour Division of the Accra High Court placed an injunction on the strike by the university lecturers.



The order from the Court on Tuesday, February 15th, follows an appeal by the National Labour Commission (NLC) for an interlocutory injunction to suspend the strike by UTAG while negotiations continue.



The NLC dragged UTAG to court after attempts to have UTAG call off its strike failed. The lecturers are expected to halt the strike until the Court determines the substantive application by the NLC.



Fingers Crossed



But should this news, welcoming as it is, be considered reprieve at last or is it a false sense of hope?

Well, that can better be assessed by the first week of next month, as students and lovers of education wait with bated breath.

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Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a media briefing in Downing Street in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the end of all domestic COVID-19 restrictions in England in a process starting later this week.

The prime minister announced the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID."

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 1st April, 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 percent of people aged 12 and over in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 85 percent have received both doses, according to the latest figures. More than 66 percent 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.

Dr David Strain, who divides his time running a hospital COVID-19 ward and lecturing at the University of Essex Medical School, told Xinhua: "We all hope that this is the end game. We hope that we are coming out of COVID. But just because we hope it doesn't mean it's true. I think we're too early to say we're at the end. There's a risk of new variants arising."

"According to the government, that is something that could take place. You could be sat next to somebody in the office with COVID who are asyptomatic who feel they are safe to be out and about, but could be putting yours or your loved ones at risk."

Strain's conclusion is that it is too premature to lift the restrictions.

Dr Adam Squires, a biophysical chemist and aerosol scientist at the University of Bath, is an expert on how the virus travels through the air to infect people.

He told Xinhua he will continue to take precautions when out and about and avoid socialising in bars and restaurants.

"There's a lot that governments can do, just like we did for Spanish flu," said Squires. "It's realising what we, as individuals and governments, are going to need to do things so we can lead this new normal life." 

A woman passes a sign requiring the wearing of face coverings in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

People work on their laptops in a coffee shop in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

A man passes a sign promoting the wearing of face coverings in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows a notice asking passengers to wear face coverings on public transport in London, Britain. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

A man stands outside a COVID-19 testing center in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

People pass a sign requiring the wearing of face coverings on tube in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

People walk in a street in London, Britain, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

People walk near the Big Ben in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

People walk in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

People walk in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

A woman takes photos in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

People wait to enter a store in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

Public transportation riders are seen in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)

Public transportation riders are seen in London, Britain, Feb. 24, 2022. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate has been removed from Thursday of this week after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with COVID." (Photo by Andy Hall/Xinhua)
Fifty-four (54) Medical Doctors from the Family Health Medical School, (FHMS) Ghana's Premier Private Medical School have been inducted by the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) to be recognized as professionals in their practice.



Speaking at the Induction ceremony held in Accra over the weekend, the Registrar of the MDC, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, noted that, the new doctors had a greater responsibility to care for their patients, particularly the responsibility to decide between life and death. Again, he posited that, the newly qualified doctors must be professional in their practice in order to maintain the trust and confidence society reposes in them. He added that, the MDC would continue its watchdog role of promoting and protecting public health and safety while ensuring professional standards in the training of medical and dental practitioners.



Prof. Paul Nyame, Chairman of the Council, in his speech advised the inductees not to be swayed by the desire and thirst for glory, but should distance themselves from vices such as human trafficking and adoption trading.



He admonished the new doctors to tame their weakness in their line of duty in order not to jeopardize their integrity and trust that society had in them. Again, he reminded the inductees that, keeping the confidentiality of their patients information was crucial to their practice.



The 54 doctors, were the second batch of graduates from the Family Health Medical School. The doctors were trained by highly respected and competent lecturers and Professors under the supervision of the Founders Prof. Enyonam Yao Kwawukume and Dr. Susu Bridget Kwawukume.



Mrs. Rita Kaine, Registrar of Family Health University College (FHUC) in an interview stated that, The Council, Management, Faculty and entire staff are all excited and proud to see the induction of the students they have nurtured and groomed, inducted into the medical profession.



She said that the Management of FHUC was optimistic that the determination and enthusiasm shown by the inductees during their studies will reflect in their profession and practice. Mrs. Kaine revealed that feedback received by Management, on the thirty (30) doctors inducted by the MDC last year is encouraging.

We are getting good feedback from all over the regions and we believe the fifty-four (54) inductees will replicate same, if not better than their predecessors.



The Founder of Family Health University College, Prof. Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, opined that, the attitude of teamwork and togetherness imbibed in the inductees during their studies will be continued.



Prof. Kwawukume added that, Faculty will keep collaborating with the new doctors to ensure they follow the discipline and professional ethics of their practice. He assured the new doctors that, their progress will be keenly monitored, and guidelines and assistance will be provided where necessary to enable them excel in their delivery of service to patients in Ghana. This, he believes will cement the relationship the Family Health Medical School seeks to build with their former students.

Dr. Elikplim Amenyawo, an inductee from Family Health Medical School said, she was proud to be an alumnus of FHMS adding that, the school is one of the best Medical schools in Ghana.



"I am so thankful to the Founders of Family Health Medical School, for establishing this first private medical school in Ghana. FHMS has given me the opportunity to fulfil my dreams as a Medical Doctor. I believe with this exposure and opportunities I am on my way to becoming a great doctor.



Dr. Simon Sackitey, Overall Best Student for Class of 2021, expressed his excitement for having successfully passed out as a Medical Doctor. He said his choice to trust Family Health Medical School with his ambition of being a doctor has been hugely beneficial to him. He applauded the competence, patience and professionalism of his professors and lecturers.



Family Health Medical School is Ghanas Premier Private Medical School, that provides student-centered learning strategies that promote smart-learning among students.

The school offers a six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme for SSCE and A Level candidates, and a four and a half-year Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) for first degree holders in science related disciplines.

Source: Peacefmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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National President of the University Teachers' Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof. Solomon Nunoo, has shot back at the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta for the latter's there is no money to pay teachers remarks.



In a viral audio that gained traction this week, Ken Ofori-Atta is heard declaring teachers deserve better but its unfortunate that government is in a tighter corner to help with their plight.



To the UTAG body, his claims are "unfortunate".



"There is no money yet they [government] have money for other things, Prof. Solomon Nunoo said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie'.



UTAG has agreed to suspend their seven-week-old industrial action.



This is to pave the way for a two-week negotiation with the government to begin and conclude.



The suspension is subject to the approval of UTAG members within a five-day period.



The announcement was made via a Facebook post by the General Secretary of the University of Ghana Branch of UTAG, Professor Ransford Gyampo, who said the decision to suspend the strike was reached by the UTAG National Executive Committee meeting held on Monday, February 21, 2022.

The Minister speaking at a graduation ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) urged the fresh graduates to find innovative ways of becoming entrepreneurs and venture into a business that will be of profit.



This Mr Ofori Atta told the UPSA graduates will help reduce the over-reliance on the government for jobs, and also reduce the burden on the governments payroll as is the only way the rising unemployment rate can be reduced.



That Government of Ghana (GoG) payroll is full because we are spending some 60% of our revenue on remunerating some new 650,000 people. That is not sustainable, the Finance Minister stated at the graduation ceremony.









He added that You have the skills set to be able to do what you have to do. Government is to create the environment and the macro stability, currency stability and ensure that you have access to the relevant skills and financing.



The politician also said the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government is structuring its budget to focus on how to support the youth or unemployed tertiary graduates in the country to create their own jobs.



The project according to the Minister for Finance is being done by the government through initiatives such as the Ghana CARES programme. This budget that we are going to be doing is going to really focus on the youth, he said.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has backed the transport operators to increase fares following the increment in petrol prices.



The transport operators have agreed to adjust the fares by 15 percent commencing on Saturday, February 26, 2022.



The transport unions had earlier proposed a 30 percent increase in fares but after a meeting on Monday February 21, 2022, they agreed on the 15 percent upward adjustment.



We kindly request all commercial transport operators to comply with the new fares and post same at three loading terminals, the transport group said in a statement after the meeting.



A member of the Communication team of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), Samuel Amoah, according to a myjoyonline publication, has also urged the public to cooperate with the drivers to implement the new charges.



After lengthy deliberations and discussions, the conclusion was that transport operators have been given 15 per cent upward adjustment of transport fares, and the agreement is that this increment is taking effect right from Saturday, February 26, 2022.



We are urging all commuters to go strictly by this directive from the Ministry and the transport operators. Currently, the approved transport fare is the one with the 15 per cent increase because thats what we have agreed upon, he said.



Nana Akomea, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Tuesday morning, noted that it has become necessary for these new fares to be effected because the transport business sector will collapse should the fares remain the same vis-a-vis the fuel price hikes.



"It's a business. You can't have a situation where their cost component, the major cost component [the direct and immediate] is petrol and the petrol price changes but the transport fares remain the same. You can't have that situation. People will stop doing the transport business and the impact on the economy will be worse than COVID. So, it's good that we review transport fares because of the way the petrol prices are going high," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.



He added that the transport operators have been very patient with Ghanaians over the period because fuel prices have shot up by huge percentages multiple times but the transport operators, due to their magnanimity, have only slightly increased the transport fares.



To him, in actual fact, they should have adjusted the fares in proportion to the fuel prices but this has not been the case, therefore wants passenges to bear with the commercial bus drivers.



"When you look at the economics of transport in Ghana, it is not good. If we don't change it, the industry will break down. Everybody will stop doing the transport (business)," he stressed.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and players in the hospitality industry in the Central Region have expressed their preparedness to host the 65th Independence Day anniversary with a promise to give guests a rich experience.



They indicated that tourist sites, hotels and guest houses in the region were leveraging and building drive from the success of the National Farmers Day celebration held in Cape Coast last year.



Mr Kwame Gyasi, the Regional Director of GTA touted their readiness at a stakeholders meeting with some hoteliers in Cape Coast on Tuesday.



The meeting focused on how the industry could ready itself for the March 6th Celebration and beyond, while identifying and offering solutions to some grey areas in the hospitality sector.



The activities for the two-week Independence celebration as well as some programmes of the GTA aimed at driving domestic tourism during and after the period, were also laid on the table for discussion.



The 65th Independence Day Celebration on the theme: Working Together, Bouncing Back Better will be the third to be hosted outside Accra after the Northern and Ashanti Regions.



It will be graced by Her Excellency Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados as the Special Guest of Honour, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs and other high-profile personalities, representatives of the CSOs and other dignitaries.



Mr Gyasi called on the hoteliers to position themselves to embrace the opportunity in order to attract repeated visits which he added was the engine of the industry.



For us at GTA, we are responsible for tourism promotion and development that is why we wanted to go the extra mile. I believe all the institutions are doing their part but the ultimate responsibility lies with us. This is just to spur us on, he said.



Mr Victor Mintah, the Central Regional Vice-Chair of the Ghana Hoteliers Association said the Hungarian President and his delegation were hosted some four weeks ago in the Region.



We are ready to host any Presidential delegation or head-of-state who will be here for the celebration and give them a rich experience of what the Central Region has to offer in terms of culture, attractions, hospitality and cuisine and let them who we are and where we are coming from, he said.



Mr Emmanuel Lawer, the Principal Standards and Quality Assurance Officer, GTA, urged hotels train their staff to be on top of business while ensuring a clean environment.



Without a clean environment, you don't have any business doing in the hospitality sector. As much as possible, let us keep every department clean, he stressed.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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About 60 people have died after an explosion at a makeshift gold mine in a village in southwest Burkina Faso, local officials say.



The blast happened in a market at the gold-mining site when dynamite stored there caught fire, witnesses said.



"There were bodies strewn everywhere. It was an explosion that managed to uproot trees and bring down houses," a judicial source told Reuters.

Dozens of injured people have been evacuated to the nearest hospital.



It is thought women and children are among the casualties, the AFP news agency reports.



An investigation was opened into Monday's incident after the regional prosecutor visited the scene near the town of Gaoua.



One person has been arrested and is being held for questioning.



The goldmine has since been closed until further notice according to Burkina Faso's news agency, AIB.



The explosion has been described as destroying "everything on its path," according to a local news reporter from RTB TV.



Many of the miners at the site are displaced people from elsewhere in the country, local leader Sansan Urbain Kambou told Reuters.



Burkina Faso is one of Africa's biggest gold producers, with many mines run by international firms, as well as informal ones without little oversite or regulation.

BBC West Africa correspondent Nicolas Negoce says that since 2009, gold has become Burkina Faso's leading export, overtaking cotton.



In 2020, the country produced 54 tonnes of gold, compared to 45 tonnes in 2019, an increase of 20%, according to the ministry in charge of mines and quarries.



About a quarter of the total output is from unauthorized mines, which provide work for around 1.5 million people, the ministry estimates.



Deadly accidents such as roof collapses frequently happen at informal mines in many African countries.



Last month, at least 13 people were killed in a huge blast in neighbouring Ghana after a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine collided with a motorbike.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kenya's ambassador at the UN Security Council has condemned Russia's decision to send troops to Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and to recognise them as independent states.



The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine stands breached. The charter of the United Nations continues to wilt under the relentless assault of the powerful," Martin Kimani said.



His statement, which has been mostly welcomed on Twitter, drew comparisons between Africas experience of colonialism and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.



We understand that separated people may look yearningly across borders hoping for reintegration but Kenya rejects such a yearning from being pursued by force," he said.



Mr Kimani's comments signal a marked change from Kenya's previous position at the UN Security Council when it abstained from voting.



Gabon and Ghana, which are also non-permanent members of the body, also condemned Russias actions against Ukraine.



There are concerns that the cost of living could rise as a result of the crisis.



Kenyas Business Daily Newspaper on Tuesday published a front-page headline: How Russia-Ukraine row will hurt Kenyan homes.



Disruptions from any military action or sanctions could also see bread and wheat flour prices rally in Kenya, which relies on imported wheat from Ukraine and Russia, the report said.



An article in South Africas Daily Maverick news site warned that a war in eastern Europe will soon ripple and be felt in every village and town of South Africa and the world.



Mali, whose growing alliance with Russia has worsened a diplomatic fallout with Western partners, is yet to officially comment on the imminent conflict.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A professional teacher, and citizen of Ghana, Vance Adedze, has filed a complaint at the General Legal Council (GLC), against embattled lawyer and convenor of #FixTheCountry, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, seeking his removal from the roll of lawyers for what he says is grave misconduct in a professional respect.



In the cover letter attached to the complaint, date the 15 February 2022, and addressed to the Chairman of the General Legal Council, Vance Adedze, states that I submit herewith a complaint against Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor for grave misconduct in a professional respect with regards to statements and Declarations made by him publicly, which fall below the dignity and high standing of the legal profession and lawyers in this country [Ghana].



Substance of complaint



In the substantive complaint, Mr Adedze, states that some five (5) recent comments made by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, are in clear breach of section 18 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32).



The comments according to the complainant are first, If this E-Levy passes after this Cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army! [Posted on 9 February 2022].



Second Neho! I welcome the news of a military coup in Guinea. Still waiting on confirmation of its success. Hopefully a new transition process is put in place quickly. Guinea shall work again. [Posted on 5 September 2021].



Third I welcome the news of an ongoing coup by the junior ranks just next door in Burkina Faso. I wish the young coup makers all the best in their struggle. [Posted on 24 January 2022].



Fourth, I welcome the news of an ongoing coup in Guinea Bissau. I want to remind all that in Ghanaian Constitutional Law only successful coups are legal. [Posted on 1 February 2022].



Fifth, Year of Coups. [Posted on 1 February 2022].



Breach of rules/timing



Mr Adedze further states in complaint that under rule 1 of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L. I. 2423), a lawyer is under a duty, at all times, to uphold the dignity and standing of the legal profession and his own dignity and standing as a member of the legal profession.



The Complainant states that due to the timing and circumstances of Mr. Barker-Vormawors public statements and declarations cannot be treated lightly, given the fact that there have been three successful coups detat in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso and one unsuccessful coup detat in Guinea Bissau, all within the last twenty-four months.



Prayer of complainant



It is the contention of the complainant, Vance Adedze, that Mr. Barker-Vormawors conduct set out above, constitutes grave misconduct in a professional respect. Accordingly, the Complainant prays the General Legal Council to exercise its powers under section 16 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32) and strike Mr. Oliver Barker  Vormawors name off the Roll of Lawyers or suspend him from practising law or holding himself out as a lawyer for a period that the General Legal Council deems fit.



Background



The #FixTheCountry convenor of pressure group was picked up by the Tema Regional Police on Saturday 12 February 2022, for allegedly stating that he would stage a coup in Ghana if Parliament passes the E-Levy bill.



In a statement, the police said on Saturday (12 February) that Barker-Vormawor is being kept at the Tema regional police command for further investigations into his social media post.



The State on the 14 February 2022, charged Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, with treason Felony, contrary to section 182 (b) of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).



According to the charge sheet filed at the Ashiaman District Court, the particulars of offence indicates that the accused person, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, sometime in February 2022, prepared to undertake by unlawful means an enterprise which usurps the executive powers of the Government of Ghana.



Brief facts



The brief facts as presented in Court by DSP Sylvester Asare stated that the accused person is a lawyer and Convener of social movement namely FixTheCountry.



Sometime in February, 2022, the Ashiaman Police received a report that Accused person was inciting some group of persons believing to be members of the FixTheCountry movement.



That on receipt of the report, the Police mounted surveillance on the accused person until his arrest at Kotoka International Airport on Friday 11th February, 2022 when he arrived from the United Kingdom (UK). Preliminary investigation has revealed that accused is a lawyer and a PhD student at Cambridge University, UK.



The facts further indicated that it has also been established during investigation that Accused for some time now has been inciting some group of persons through the social media to undertake an unlawful enterprise to usurp the executive powers of the Government of Ghana.



Pursuant to his preparation to usurp the executive powers of the Government of Ghana, accused further published on his Facebook wall that the Ghana army is useless and went ahead to declare his intention in a Facebook post to stage a coup if the Electronic Transaction Levy [E-Levy] is passed by Parliament.



Investigations according to the Police also revealed that the said E-Levy Bill is currently before Parliament and that the accused arrival in the Country was in furtherance of his intention to stage a coup as declared by him.

Source: asaaseradio.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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National Organizer of Liberal Party of Ghana, Asani Tanoh has criticized Bishop of The Potters House, Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr., popularly called T.D. Jakes over the effusive praise the latter heaped on President Akufo-Addo's administration quite recently.



In a video circulated widely on social media, T.D. Jakes, while introducing the Ghanaian leader to his audience as one of the speakers for his upcoming summit on leadership said: I have, for some time, watched with amazement, the President of the Republic of Ghana and the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo will speak at our International Leadership Summit this month. And, in case you are not up to speed on how things are going in Africa; Ghana is one of Africas wealthiest countries; he [Akufo-Addo] has completely turned it around.



It is the largest producer of gold on the continent and the worlds second-largest producer of cocoa. Under President Akufo-Addos leadership, Ghana has emerged as a booming tech centre  even welcoming Twitter. [Twitter] is moving to Ghana. Africas corporate headquarters of Twitter is going to be there.



However, Asani Tanoh believes T.D. Jakes' comment is not a true reflection of what's happening in the country.



Speaking on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme, he said: "he (Bishop T.D. Jakes) goofed big time...if he was in this country we would have met him squarely...we accept that there's money but we're not seeing anything...he failed to tell his people that even though we have gold ghana has less than two percent stake"



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Over the weekend, the Peoples' Campaign continued its ongoing first phase tour of key constituencies in the 16 regions of Ghana respectively as part of a Skeletal tour to touch base and have a constructive conversation, particularly on the rescue mission of the incumbent New Patriotic Party.



The Musah Superior led Peoples' campaign, Party First mantra continues to be a spirited and bold drive to rejuvenate the base structure of New Patriotic party and inspire hope of change to better the lots of the hardworking party people who have sacrificed for the party.



Musah Superior, a strong contender in the race for General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party and current Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission, has made strong and critical assessments of the current National leadership of the New Patriotic Party and has advocated for new people with fresh strategic ideas to re-recruit the base of our party secure victory in the 2024 elections.



The Oti region played host to the Peoples' Campaign as the team visited a good number of constituencies within the newly created region.



Krachi West Constituency was the first stopover of the Peoples' campaign as Musah Superior, leader of the Peoples' campaign and NPP General Secretary hopeful and his team engaged the constituency executives on the core agenda of the campaign.



Significantly, as part of his presentation to the Constituency Leadership, Musah Superior reiterated that "all over the country, the spiritual philosophy of the party is dead and a good number of our party members are disgruntled and languishing in despair of neglect by the current National party leadership.



Since we came to power, the party had no plan to cater comprehensively for the welfare of the hardworking party officers which consequentially characterized our poor outshow of the party's poor performance in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections." "There should be no excuse for our loss of 32 seats in parliament and our current National executives ought to be held to blame because they superintended over the disqualifications, machinations, favouritism and imposition of candidates on the constituencies which caused our downfall" the maverick politician added



Other constituencies the team visited were the Krachi Nchumuru Constituency, the Krachi East Constituency and the Biakoye Constituency.



At every engagements of these constituencies, the complaints of great apathy and neglect by the party has been the same across the country, of which they were no exceptions.



The constituency leaderships' narrative of gross suffering and disappointment were loudly articulated and took center stage of the discussions.



The former Mayor of Tamale thus far has demonstrated the tenacious capacity to be a forerunner in the race to be General Secretary of the NPP as the teeming delegates keep yearning for him as their " Messiah" in such a time where they have been abandoned to their peril.



Currently, the New Patriotic Party is organizing their internal elections commencing with the polling stations executives elections and subsequently the constituency executives elections across the entire country.

Source: William Gentu/ Peace FM News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has said the Majority in Parliament will not ambush the Minority in the consideration and passage of the Electronic Transfer Bill, 2021 (E-Levy).

In his view, the Business Committee of Parliament had made provision for motions and bills, including E-levy, to be considered in the ensuing week.



The Finance Committee has a number of bills that they are considering which include E-Levy, a matter before Parliament. So, the report of the committee will be considered as a motion, he said.



Ambushing



Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Business Committee, stated that when he presented the business statement last Friday for February 22 to 25, 2022.



He gave the assurance when he responded to a question on why the Finance Committee of Parliament had done its work on the bill but the motion on the bill had not been considered.



That was after the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, had complained to the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who was presiding, that the business statement Mr Afenyo-Markin presented did not make any provision for the E-Levy bill to be taken next week.



The Asawase MP recalled how the persistent assurances by the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, over the past three weeks that the bill would be put before the House had not yielded any outcome.



He noted that the business statement for next week clearly indicated that the House would not take the bill.



We do not want a situation where an attempt will be made to introduce the bill because any attempt to do that will be ambushing. If the bill is going to be introduced unplanned, that we will not accept it and I just thought that we needed to serve this notice, he said.



Heat on MPs



Responding, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the business statement he presented last Friday contained motions that might be debated and their consequential if any.



The motions include the E-Levy, so do not create the impression with mischievous intent that the government does not intend to pursue its own policy. We have provided for it and it is there; we do not need to mention E-Levy, he said.



Expressing surprise that some NDC MPs were complaining about lack of funds for road construction in their constituencies, Mr Afenyo-Markin reminded them of the urgent need for Parliament to pass the E-Levy bill to allow the government to raise funds to complete these projects in your constituencies.



I am happy the pressure is coming from your constituencies and the heat is on you; assist the government to pass the E-Levy, he stated.



He, therefore, urged the two sides of the House to build consensus to pass the E-levy bill just as they considered the Sputnik-V report by consensus.



Blame game



The NDC MP for Juaboso, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, lamented the manner in which some Majority MPs kept blaming the Speaker as the cause for the consideration and passage of the bill.



Some NPP MPs blame the Speaker for not being in the seat for the bill to be taken; Mr Speaker has been in the country and for one week he has been sitting and you are reading the business statement and there is nothing to that effect, he said.









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.

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The Aliu Mahama Foundation is set to hold the 10th anniversary celebration of the demise of the late former Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.



Ahead of the celebration, the Foundation has unveiled a new logo to commemorate this years event under the tagline, Ten Years On; Celebrating Alhaji Aliu Mahama.



The week-long event is aimed at celebrating the life and legacies of the late former veep who was first Muslim Vice President of the Ghana from 2001 to 2009.



Member of Parliament for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama said the Planning Committee of the anniversary have finalized preparations and will soon roll out a list of activities for the annual memorial event.



The legislator described his late father as a man of great national icon of peace, harmony and respect for humanity.



According to him, the late Aliu Mahama as Head of the Economic Management Team contributed significantly to the successes achieved under the Kuffour administration arguing the fastest economic transformation under the fourth republic was achieved under his stewardship.



This period witnessed the fastest economic transformation in the history of the Fourth Republic-attaining middle income country status by 2006 much earlier than the projected year of 2015. His stewardship as a lead member of the Economic Management Team and government is historically recorded.



Alhaji Aliu Mahama died on November 16, 2012 at age 66 during the run up to the December general elections.



He left behind a wife Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama and four siblings, Salma, Umar Farouk, Halim and Fayad Aliu Mahama.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged all election committees handling the polling station and electoral area coordinators elections to ensure that no aspirant is denied nomination forms.

It said the party would not renege on its responsibilities in dealing with anyone who flouted the guidelines for the conduct of its internal elections.



The Director of Research and Elections of the NPP, Mr Evans Nimako, stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in response to agitations by some polling station aspirants that some of the constituency executives had locked up the party offices and were not making the forms available to the aspirants.



The NPP opened nominations for the candidates for polling station executives and electoral area coordinators last Saturday and is scheduled to be closed today(Monday). Vetting of aspirants is due for February 22 to 24, 2022 while the conduct of elections will take place from February 25 to March 5, 2022.



Mr Nimako, therefore, advised all election committee members to ensure that all aspirants had the opportunity to pick forms and file their nominations.



He also advised the aspirants to endeavour to explore internal mechanisms to resolve their grievances instead of resorting to the media.



He said the party had issued guidelines as well as code of conduct for its internal elections and would certainly ensure that every candidate had an opportunity to contest on fair grounds.



Kwadaso



Meanwhile, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from Kumasi that the Chairman of the Kwadaso Constituency, Mr Yaw Bonna Boadi, had to seek refuge at the Suntreso Police Station last Saturday to escape the wrath of the constituents.



The constituents had besieged the house of the chairman to pick up nomination forms to contest the upcoming polling station executive elections.



Some of the applicants had also piled up at the party office awaiting the arrival of the chairman to pick their forms.



Refuge



Sensing danger and a possible stampede, Mr Boadi drove to the Suntreso Police Station to seek refuge and escape the wrath of the constituents but the constituents followed him to the police station where they wanted the police to release him to distribute the forms to them.



Suspicion



Already, suspicions are rife that the constituency executive members were clandestinely compiling a new constituency album and would hoard the nomination forms for their favourites.



They alleged that the chairman called his favourites last Friday and made the forms available to them but was trying to deny others the opportunity to pick the forms.



In order not to be sidelined, the party members decided to ambush the party chairman to pick the forms.



According to Mr Boadi, the chairman of the Election Committee was at the time indisposed and the decision was taken to hold on to the distribution of the forms for at least a day.



He said the plan was for the committee to meet and decide on the modalities before the distribution of the forms.



Aside from that, he said, the election was a process and the distribution or picking of forms was supposed to last for three days so he wondered why the party members were rushing for the forms.











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.

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National Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly called 'Nana B', has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene in the UTAG situation.



An Accra High Court has ordered the University lecturers to resume work after weeks on strike but the lecturers, who are calling for better conditions of service, have reportedly defied the ruling as they are still currently on strike.



According to the President of UTAG, Prof. Solomon Nunoo, they are not convinced yet to resume work as he disclosed that UTAG will file a countersuit in court tomorrow.



"Tomorrow at 1:30 pm, they will look at the substantive case to declare whether the strike is legal or illegal and also the motion to set aside the injunction ruling also has been filed...The calls coming in about the President intervening, I think it is all in the right direction. If the President will step in and intervene, fine, I think it will also help the matter but the most important thing is that the condition of service of the University teacher is extremely bad and must be dealt with," he stated in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''.



Addressing the issue, Nana B is of a strong view that the UTAG impasse will be resolved when the President steps in, so calling on him to call for a meeting with the lecturers.



"I doubt these University lecturers will disrespect His Excellency the President," he emphasized.



He also advised the University lecturers to be considerate and heed the calls to go back to the classrooms saying, "if this thing drags too much, it's the students who will suffer. The young people will suffer more''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Henry Nana Boakye, popularly called Nana B, has urged all aspirants in the New Patriotic Party to pick their forms at either the Regional or national levels.



He made this annoucement in reaction to reports that the party's nomination forms are being hoarded by some executives for their favourite candidates.



There are suspicions that Kwadaso constituency executive members are trying to deny some aspirants from picking the forms.



Due to these suspicions, the party Chairman, Mr. Yaw Bonna Boadi narrowly escaped an attack from the constituents last Saturday as he sought refuge at the Suntreso Police station.



The constituents alleged that the Chairman called his favourites last Friday and made the forms available to them.



Nana B has debunked the claims, hence stating emphatically that no one has the right to refuse an aspirant the opportunity to pick forms.



"No NPP member, who is working at the polling station and is qualified, will be denied. Even if the Constituency Elections Committee, that is the polling station electoral area, deny you, go to the Region. The Region will give it to you. Go to national or if you want, call me, we will direct you," he charged while speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The vociferous Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has explained why he is furious about what he describes as the long absence of the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo from Parliament.



Speaking on GTV's Breakfast Show Monday [Feb21,2022] morning, Mr Agyapong said he was furious because he was at the receiving end of insults because he was part of the campaigners for Ms Safo's re-election in 2020.



He indicated that after campaigning for the NPP to select her as a Parliamentary candidate, and she went ahead to win the constituency Parliamentary election and returned to Parliament in 2020, only for her to be staying away from Parliament when the NPP needs her presence, was problematic.



He reiterated his allegation that Ms Safo was demanding to be made a Deputy Majority Leader before she will play ball with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary caucus.



"A whole minister, Cabinet Minister, demanding that now she should be made a Deputy Majority Leader before ...



Asked whether it was true that Ms Safo has indeed requested for that, Mr Agyapong insisted she has requested for that.



On whether that could cost her, her seat, Mr Agyapong said, "of course, if you don't come to Parliament and you are on TikTok dancing..."



The aide, Nana Dubin Kwapong in an interview with TV3 last week described the claims as unfortunate and ridiculous.



He noted that, contrary to the assertion that she intends to through her absence, sabotage governments efforts to pass the E-Levy bill, Adwoa Safo is in total support of the E-Levy and will duly be present to vote when it is presented.



According to him, Adwoa Safo is merely being victimized to the advantage of some NPP elements.



Whatever is happening now if you ask me, is just for lack of a better word, an agenda by certain people within the party who feel if these things happen, it inures to their benefit. It is not to the benefit of the party but an individual agenda that some people are trying to project and make it seem like theres something being done against the party. No, far from that.



People feel they can ride on her absence and push a certain agenda which they believe will go in their interest, he said.





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.

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Joyce Bawa Magtari, Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama is taking to prayers for the release of coup monger and leader of the #FixThe Country Movement, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor from remand.



According to the leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), she is fervently praying for the activist to gain his freedom on bail this week after he has been remanded by an Ashaiman court.



I am praying and hoping that Lawyers for #fixthecountry activist Barker-Vormawor will be able to secure his freedom, on bail this week, Bawa-Magtari wrote on her Facebook wall.



She further stated how she is praying for Oliver, a former Presidential staffer in the Mahama admnistration to stop his hunger strike and start eating in order to be strong before his release.



Reliable information has it that he is still on hunger strike. I pray he will seriously reconsider his stance on that, because he will surely be putting his health at risk.



He needs to be strong and healthy to fight the case against him. And also be able to continue to advocate for the things he says he believes in.



Ghana needs strong and Courageous Men and Women!!, she said in the statement.



Ms Bawa Mogtari had earlier issued a statement distancing the former president from the coup mongering of his former appointee, Oliver.



The FixTheCountry convener has been charged with treason felony after he made comments on social media that have been deemed to be a coup threat.



The Ashaiman District Court on Monday, February 14, 2022, remanded Mr. Barker-Vormawor, into police custody till February 28, 2022.



Mr. Barker-Vormawor was arrested on Friday, February 11, 2022 upon his return to the country from the UK.



According to a police statement, his arrest was necessitated following a comment he made on the social media platforms to the effect that he would stage a coup if the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy popularly known as E-levy was passed into law.



During a court hearing, the lawyer for the accused person, Akoto Ampaw, prayed the court to grant him bail but the prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Asare, opposed the plea and asked that he be remanded due to the nature of the case.



According to members of the #FixTheCountry Movement, their convener had refused to eat or drink ahead of his initial appearance in court.





Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghanas Minister of Finance who doubles as the Chairman of GIABA Ministerial Committee (GMC), Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, at the opening of the 24th GMC Meeting on Saturday held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, has challenged member States within ECOWAS to take drastic measures against organized financial crimes and terrorism financing.



The meeting was used to adopt, amongst other things, the Second Round Mutual Evaluation Report of the Republic of Guinea Bissau as well as approve some important decisions taken at the just ended 36th GIABA Technical Commission/Plenary Meeting in Accra.



The Finance Ministers call comes at a time when organized financial crimes and terrorism financing have taken an entirely different dimension threatening peace and security in West Africa.



I want to encourage all member States to also take the necessary steps in strengthening their Anti Money Laundering (AML) Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regime, he charged.



He further challenged ECOWAS member States to work and ensure proper frameworks and institutional mechanisms are put in place making sure they do not lose out on international trade transactions or experience significant capital loss by channeling development funds towards terrorist activities.



According to the Finance Minister, no responsibility is more important than the efforts of member states to stop the flow of illicit finance in the wake of the many challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.



As COVID-19 crisis evolves, the goals facing us now are to ensure that despite the pandemic, the resources of our land are shared fairly among all its people through reconciliation of private enterprise with social mobility, economic justice, and human capital development. There are many challenges ahead to ensure that we recover from the pandemic; however, no responsibility is more important than our effort to stop the flow of illicit finance, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta emphasized.



Touching on some statistics, he revealed that an estimated 2-5% of global GDP, between $800 billion  $2 trillion in current US Dollars is lost to money laundering globally.



This amount is almost 120% of the GDP of the ECOWAS region. Also, according to the UNCTAD, $88.6 Billion of resources are lost to IFFs on the African continent. These IFFs encompass trade misinvoicing, money laundering, and aggressive tax evasion facilitated by an extensive network of entities comprising multinationals, financial institutions, and spurious legal structures.



He also raised concerns about resurgent terrorism saying as I mentioned at our last GMC Meeting in October 2021 via Zoom, resurgent Terrorism in the West African region, particularly Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso, is a significant concern for all of us. The UNCTAD estimates that of the $31.5 billion in IFFs generated annually in conflict areas, 96 percent is used by organised criminal groups, including violent fuel conflict. Hence, there remains an urgent need for a concerted effort from all relevant stakeholders to help cut the funding source for these terrorist groups.



He also commended the government and the people of Guinea Bissau for successfully going through the Second Round of Mutual Evaluation of its AML/CFT regime.



Hon. Ken Ofori Atta also urged Guinea Bissau to further concentrate on implementing the recommended actions as part of efforts to clamp down on money laundering and terrorist financing.



I want to congratulate the government and people of Guinea Bissau for successfully going through the Second Round of Mutual Evaluation. I know it is not an easy task but by Gods grace, you are through. The essence of this whole exercise is to help us identify weaknesses in our AML/CFT regime for us to take the necessary steps to address the same.



He assured fellow member States, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali that are currently closely marked under FATF ICRG Observation, that GIABA was fully behind them to ensure they exit the process.



Mr. Ofori-Atta was confident this exercise will propel a renewed focus to remedy the various deficiencies in AML/CFT systems of member States by leveraging GIABAs extensive network.



He also called on the member States to rally behind GIABA in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.



On behalf of the GMC, I want to reiterate our commitment to implementing the Effectiveness Improvement Action Plan to strengthen GIABA in delivering its mandate to the FATF global community.



As we advance, I ask that we continue to support the activities of GIABA in combating the financing of terrorism in our region. Our institution (GIABA) may not be perfect. Still, we must acknowledge that we have made significant progress over the years towards permanently closing loopholes that have denied economic opportunities for the many in the interest of a selfish few.



He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the GIABA Secretariat, the Technical Commission and all the groups that worked tirelessly to have a successful plenary meeting in Accra from February 13th-18th, 2022.



Finally, I once again challenge the FATF to incorporate more of an African Voice in its standard-setting regulatory and operational measures relevant to meet the regions diverse requirements. As it stands, South Africa is the sole member of FATF. Until this is changed, we might not be able to answer critical questions on the root causes and state-of-play for IFFs in Africa, the institutional mechanisms and regulatory structures which advance IFFs on the continent, and the value from reclaiming IFFs for financing the sustainable development goals for African countries, he underscored.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Moses Atobrah is a colossus breed of the gospel music industry in Ghana, who has written and recorded about 56 songs out of which three albums were released so far to his credit.



Many remember him for the 90s hit worship song Honhom Krokron Yehia Wo to wit We Need You Holy Spirit.

The good news for gospel music fanatics is that Moses Atobrah has once again bounced back to the music scene.

This time around, with a new album mix comprising timeless worship songs which form part of his main touching prayerful melodies.



The new album is expected to be launched on 28th February 2022.



The new release is dubbed YE BE YI W'AYE. It was produced and arranged by Joseph Amoah of Springboard Studios.

All along, his desire and focus was never on gospel music but instead wanted to become a well-endowed marketing person to promote something or some brand.



In an interview on Accra-based Joy FM on Sunday with the Host of The Reason Is Jesus, Fiifi Folson, Minister Moses Atobrah revealed on Up Close a segment of the show that his maiden gospel Honhom Krokron hit came right from the throne room of grace.



I think I received this song on the campus of IPS now UPSA about 26, 27 years ago so I did the recording and exactly 25 years ago I released an album when I was in my final year. It was a whole album that was released. The Title Track of that Album was Twe B3n No to wit Draw Close to God.



He added the real driving force receiving that first song, was as a result of a broken relationship I had at the time. I never knew I had that gift of writing songs. I was just there alone and this song dropped. The song meant draw close to God and give your heart to him. I recall that broken heart, I was full of pain. So I realized I had the gift and then subsequently the songs kept coming.



He further revealed that he used to pray in the bush between IPS and PRESEC so the first hit was one of the songs that God graciously gave him during those prayer hours.



When it comes to how I started my music, I want to thank God for this blessing simply because it is a family thing. I have uncles like Nana Nkrumah who handles the Nsroma Talent Project; also JB Andrews who we lost recently who was the Music Director for the whole Methodist Church Ghana;



I also learned my grandfather was a pianist, organist for the Methodist Church. And I must say from the whole family we sing; we usually gather around myself and my siblings to sing and harmonise together so music is in the family, he said.

Moses when asked how he begun producing his songs had this to share:



I was on campus and these songs kept coming at the time I was also the vice-president of Gafex, I felt let me rally some of the talents around me. One Rev. Minister of Lighthouse Chapel Bishop Solomon Boateng, a very good keyboardist, and then we had one Osorohene so we mobilized and started working on some of my songs. Then I contacted Zap Mallet who transformed everything into a masterpiece and produced my first work.



Interestingly, here was I discovering my own gift I could promote but trust me the frustration was a lot. Piracy was rife, also, producers wont offer any help due to past experiences of ingratitude on the part of some already made music artistes so it was very difficult breaking through.



From his experiences, what made him sad the most was where men of God and pastors with big churches commanding large numbers sidelined musicians at that time.



According to him, it was a nice way of frustrating them from using their bigger stages as a platform to blow.

Moses Atobrah is a married man with three children.



He is currently a Council Member of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is an entrepreneur behind huge brands like Debbies and Debbies Tone African Herbal range of organic products.



He has also worked with Tigo, Shell, Softsheen Carson (manufacturers of Dark & Lovely, Merchant Bank, and Star Assurance.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen rises during Question Period, Monday, February 21, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal Conservatives are ending their boycott of a special national security and intelligence committee for parliamentarians. Candice Bergen announced the reversal this afternoon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has started nationwide pooling of basic pension funds since Jan. 1 this year, Vice Minister of Finance Yu Weiping said Tuesday.

The move will allow pension funds to be transfered from regions with surplus to regions with deficit, Yu said at a press conference, adding the ministry is drawing up related documents and will strengthen guidance to localities.

Qi Tao, an official from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said the move will make sure that retirees in less-developed regions will get their pensions timely and sufficiently.

According to Qi, all Chinese regions realized the pooling of pensions funds at the regional level at the end of 2020, but it was not enough. Gaps of economic development and differences in the age structures of populations have led to pension fund surplus in some regions as well as difficulties of payment in others.

After the establishment of the nationwide pooling system, the unified management of pension policy, pension services and information systems will be enhanced, he said. 
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Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the China Law Society, delivers a keynote speech at a legal science forum in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official on Tuesday urged persistent efforts to develop whole-process people's democracy and advance the rule of law in China.

Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chief of the China Law Society, made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at a legal science forum.

Noting that whole-process people's democracy is a significant result of creative efforts led by the CPC, Wang called for efforts to make it more extensive, fuller in scope and sounder in practice. He said it is important that various institutions and national governance fully express the will of the people, protect their rights and interests, and spark their creativity.

People working in the field of law should redouble their efforts to study and publicize China's overall and legal systems, fully leverage their relevant expertise, and put forward more high-quality suggestions, Wang said. 
Irish Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced a 7 million support scheme for the countrys struggling pig producers, writes Alice Cooke.

The fund will be distributed through a flat rate payment of a maximum of 20,000 per individual commercial pig farmer sending more than 200 pigs per annum to slaughter.

While Defra Secretary George Eustice repeatedly rejected calls for a fund to support farmers in England, this was the latest of a series of emergency support packages brought in by governments across the UK and EU. Ireland has now joined Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland by introducing measures to help its pig farmers struggling due to low pig meat prices and extraordinarily high input costs.

The price of feed and energy has skyrocketed, in line with a drop in the market price received for pigs. As a result, Irish pig farmers are currently losing between 35 and 40 a pig.

Explaining the reasoning behind the introduction of the package, the Irish Agriculture Ministry said: The pig sector is of significant importance to the national and rural economy.

It is the third largest of the livestock sectors after dairy and beef. It accounts for 6.3% of the output value of the agri-food sector and generated exports valued at 930 million in 2021. Furthermore, the sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs.

Reaction

Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Ulster-north Leinster regional chair Frank Brady welcomed the funding, thanking the Minister for seeing that there is a major problem in the sector. But added that further aid is needed, describing the 7m emergency pig fund as a token gesture, which he said should act as a stepping stone to further support for the sector.

He suggested that instead of the 20,000 allocation per farmer, the fund should have been paid per pig sold.

He said: Thats only three days feeding for some pig farmers. While this funding is appreciated, its putting a bandage on a giant wound.

IFA president Tim Cullinan acknowledged the ministrys efforts but added: It is important that this funding is deployed quickly and without excessive bureaucracy.

Unfortunately, there is no sign of a light at the end of the tunnel on this crisis. While todays announcement will certainly help, it will not be sufficient unless there is an unexpected turn in the market.

Unprecedented challenges

Outlining the new measures, Minister McConalogue said: Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient, but I am acutely aware of the challenges they are facing at present. Irish pig farm families are currently facing unprecedented challenges due to a combination of low pig meat prices and extraordinarily high input costs, due to international factors outside their control.

I am, therefore, pleased that the Government has this morning approved my proposal for a 7 million scheme to provide emergency support to commercial pig farmers. This is an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals. I am pleased to have been able to deliver this package following thorough engagement with the IFA and its national pig committee.

My colleague Minister Martin Heydon has played a key role in bringing this scheme to fruition especially his important work as chair of the Pig Roundtable.

Minister of State Martin Heydon added: As outlined by Minister McConalogue, our pig sector has faced an extremely difficult set of circumstances. We have been in close contact with all stakeholders throughout and we will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure a coordinated response. The package we are announcing today will help to support farmers through this period.

The package

Minister McConalogue stressed that this scheme is part of a series of measures to support the sector.

Finance

Minister McConalogue noted that he and Minister of State Martin Heydon recently met with the main banks and SBCI specifically to discuss the crisis, and that the key messages emerging was that farmers experiencing cash flow difficulties should engage with the banks as soon as possible to discuss options and that the banks remain committed to supporting their customers in the period ahead.

The Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which are financed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, can be used for working capital and include features which will assist the current financial needs of pig farmers.

Promotion

Bord Bia has intensified its efforts to promote quality assured Irish pig meat in the domestic and export markets with dedicated TV, radio and national print media advertising campaigns planned for Q1 2022. Bord Bia has two EU programmes that have significant funding allocated towards pig meat promotional activity. These programmes are currently running in China, Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Advisory

Teagasc has intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options potentially available to them.

Stakeholder engagement

The Pig RoundTable, chaired by Minister Martin Heydon TD, provides a forum for strategic engagement by stakeholders in the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in the time ahead, and particularly the strategic actions identified for the sector in the Food Vision 2030 strategy.

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NFU president Minette Batters has described the pig industry crisis as a disgrace that could and should have been avoided.

Opening the two-day NFU Conference in Birmingham, Mrs Batters will say the disaster facing producers was a direct result of the Governments poorly designed change to immigration policy and urged it to learn the lessons in rolling out future policy.

She will launch a new report British farming: a blueprint for the future to highlight five key areas the government, supply chain and farmers needs to prioritise:

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

Mrs Batters will warn that without the urgent implementation of a clear plan and vision for British farming and food production, the government risks wasting the huge potential of the countrys agriculture sector and potentially sleepwalking into more and more crises.

She will call for certainty, commitment and consistency in government policy that can capitalise on British farmings high standards of food production and net zero ambition. She will say a plan with this approach will help avert unnecessary crises, such as the current disaster facing the pig sector.

The NFU president, who played a prominent part in the recent pig industry crisis summit, will say: I want to be clear from the outset. 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 pre-empts crises, rather than repeatedly runs into them. The current situation in the pig sector should have, and could have, been avoided. There are currently 200,000 pigs on contract backed up on farm. 40,000 healthy pigs have been culled and simply thrown away.

This truly is an utter disgrace and a disaster for the pig industry. This is down to the governments poorly designed change to immigration policy and what I can only say appears to be its total lack of understanding of how food production works and what it needs.

But situations like this make me more and more determined to shape a new and better future for not only how we produce our food but how we achieve a fair return for it.

This country needs a strategy and a clear vision for what we expect from British farming. We have completely contradictory government policies. It is raising the bar for environmental standards at home but pursuing trade deals which support lower standards overseas.

It is claiming to value domestic food production but making it difficult to find workers to harvest or process it. It is stating there are many export opportunities for British food but failing to prioritise the resources to open up those new markets.

If government wants to achieve more for the environment, then there is only one solution. We need policies and investment into the new world optimisation of agriculture. Polarised debates are getting us nowhere and theyre not allowing us to focus on the very real challenges around food supply in the future.

Above and beyond everything, we need to all be working to the same objectives and aiming for the same outcome. 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.

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Nemeth is in the Hunt For His Third Super MILLION$ Title

February 22, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

The latest edition of the GGPoker Super MILLION$ has reached its final table with only nine of the 235 starters remaining in contention for the $475,125 top prize. Super MILLION$ final tables are always star-studded affairs but the final table of the 31st episode of the tournaments second season could be one of the toughest on record.

It features no less than three former Super MILLION$ champions, including last weeks winner, and the legendary Hungarian Andras Nemeth who is in the hunt for what would be a third Super MILLION$ title.

Super MILLION$ Season 2 Episode 31 Final Table

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Rodrigo Selouan Brazil 6,157,453 102.6 2 Andras Nemeth Hungary 4,657,618 77.6 3 Elio Fox Mexico 3,258,307 54.3 4 Ole Schemion Austria 2,555,245 42.6 5 Aleks Ponakovs Latvia 1,981,333 33 6 Chris Klodnicki Canada 1,647,580 27.5 7 Tauan Naves Brazil 1,467,966 24.5 8 Seth Davies Canada 932,244 15.5 9 Sung Joo "ArtePokerTV" Hyun Hong Kong 842,254 14

Watch All The Action Here Click here!

Leading the final nine players into battle at 6:00 p.m. GMT on February 22 is Brazilian grinder Rodrigo Selouan. This is the 18th time we have seen Selouan in a Super MILLION$ event this season but only the second time the Brazilian has navigated his way to the final tale. Selouan will certainly fancy his chances of glory this evening because he sits down with a tournament-leading stack of 6,157,453 chips, and is the only player with more than 100 big blinds (102.6). He has $260,720 in winnings from this tournament, finishing third of better more than doubles tha total.

Nemeth has been in this position many times before during his long and illustrious career. Nemeth is guaranteed to break through the $1 million in Super MILLION$ winnings barrier regardless of where he finishing today. The Hungarian star has two Super MILLION$ victories under his belt and will join the likes of Niklas Astedt, Artur Martirosian, and Michael Addamo in an exclusive club of three-time champions. Nemeth has a very healthy stack of 4,657,618 chips, or 77.6 big blinds at the restart.

Elio Fox is looking for his first Super MILLION$ victory

Third-place when play recommences belongs to Elio Fox who has never won this tournament despite reaching the final table on five previous occasions. The Mexico-based star is armed with an arsenal of 3,258,307 chips (54.3 big blinds) so do not write off his chances of adding the $475,125 top prize to the $9,204,081 he has won from GGPoker tournaments.

Super MILLION$ Season 2 Episode 31 Final Table Payouts

1st - $475,125

2nd - $366,372

3rd - $282,511

4th - $217,846

5th - $167,982

6th - $129,532

7th  $99,882

8th - $77,020

9th - $59,390

Ole Schemion is another player to look out for at this ridiculously stacked final table. Schemion is 19th place in the all-time winnings leaderboard for the Super MILLION$ with $1,950,524 in earnings. He is guaranteed at least $59,390 today but having 2,555,245 chips (42.6 big blinds) at his disposal suggest the former Super MILLION$ champion will be reeling in a much larger score come the end of the night. Several GGPoker players are benefiting from Schemions latest final table appearance because he sold 9.2% of his action a 1.1 markup using the in-built staking software.

Making back-to-back final table appearances is the one and only Aleks Ponakovs. He was the chip leader going into last weeks Super MILLION$ final table but could only muster a fifth-place finish worth $172,271. Ponakovs sits down further down the chip counts this week with 1,981,333 chips (33 big blinds). Like Schemion, Ponakovs sold some of his action, selling 20% of himself at 1.15 markup

Chris Klodnicki

Chris Klodnicki is not a name that regularly frequents the Super MILLIONS having only played in 19 tournaments since its launch. However, he has cashed in 24% of those entries, and is now relishing competing at his first Super MILLION$ final table. Klodnicki has more than $10 million in live MTT cashes, so he knows his way around a tournament table. The man from Pennsylvania, but who is battling from Canada, sits down behind a stack of 1,647,580 chips, the equivalent of 27.5 big blinds.

Another player planning on making the most of their first Super MILLION$ final able appearance is the chip leaders fellow Brazilian, Tauan Naves. He sits down with 1,467,966 chips, 24.5 big blinds, which are enough for seventh-place when play gets underway. Should naves finish at last sixth, he will more than double his Super MILLION$ earnings.

Seth Davies has swapped the live poker grind for the online variety, and it has resulted in his fourth Super MILLION$ final table spot. Davies has more than $12.2 million in live event winnings, helped by 33 pries weighing in at six-figures or more. He has a lot of work to do if he is to secure a six-figure haul in this event because he returns with a 932,244 stack, which is enough for 15.5 big blinds. However, last week, Dario Sammartino sat down as the shortest stack but eventually finished in second place, so an epic comeback is possible.

Bringing up the rear this week with 842,254 chips, 14 big blinds, is last weeks champion Sung Joo "ArtePokerTV" Hyun. He caused an upset last week by denying Sammartino a zero to hero story but has his work cut out for a repeat performance this evening.
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JINAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sun Deshun, former president of China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited, stood trial on Tuesday at the Intermediate People's Court of Jinan City in east China's Shandong Province for accepting bribes.

Sun was accused of taking advantage of his various former positions to illegally assist others in matters such as gaining loan approval and credit lines from 2003 to 2019.

In return, Sun accepted money and gifts worth more than 979.5 million yuan (about 154.3 million U.S. dollars).

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that was, in turn, examined by the defendant and his lawyers. Each side gave its own complete account.

In his final statement, Sun pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.

The trial was attended by Sun's relatives, legislators, political advisors, the press and members of the public.

Sun's sentence will be announced at a later date. 
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CAIRO  The United States and Egypt launched a joint group Monday to prepare for the U.N. climate change summit in Egypt this year, as a U.S. envoy called for a sharp slash in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.

John Kerry, President Biden's special envoy for climate, said the working group is focused on the U.N.'s COP27 conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in November. He said Egypt, which is chairing the summit, has already begun its preparations and set ambitious goals.

Kerry said other world tensions, including the ongoing Ukraine crisis, "will not change the reality of what is happening every day with respect to our climate," and called the issue an "international threat for all of us."

He said the climate issue is not about politics.

"There is no ideology in this. This is not anything to do with some of the issues" of concern for the U.S. administration, Kerry said at a news conference in the capital of Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry. Neither official took questions from reporters.

Kerry, who also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, was referring to conflicts in the Middle East and likely Egypt's human rights record, which has drawn criticism from the U.S. and other Western governments.

Shukry said they discussed priorities and goals of the Egyptian-chaired COP27, including making funds available to developing counties to implement the Paris 2015 agreement on climate change. He did not further elaborate.

The former U.S. senator and secretary of state, who landed in Cairo on Sunday, spoke at the American University in Cairo on the future of international climate action in the leadup to COP27.

He called for concerted efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions by a minimum of 45 percent by 2030, to be able to reach a pollution-neutral planet by mid-century.

"The test ahead of us is not just a political and diplomatic challenge to tame mother nature  it is a test pitting human nature against itself," he said.

In the news briefing, Kerry said they aim to implement all promises made in last year's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. In the 2021 summit, almost 200 nations accepted a compromise deal, which outside experts said showed progress, but not success.

That deal didn't achieve any of the three U.N. goals: Pledges that would cut world carbon dioxide emissions by about half, $100 billion in yearly climate aid from rich countries to poor ones, with half that money going to help the developing world adapt to the harms of a warming world.

"Our goal this year, in addition to fulfilling all promises made in Glasgow, is to include more countries to the 1.5 degree-efforts," he said.

Keeping global warming from going beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) was the most ambitious goal in the 2015 Paris accord. The planet has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial times.

Also on Monday, the Council of Europe warned in a statement that a lack of at-scale funding for "resilient and just energy transitions" in developing countries is an obstacle for green and sustainable development.

The European Union urged rich countries to meet the collective commitment to mobilize $100 billion per year in 2022 as financial aid to poor countries, according to the statement.

Kerry also said the U.S. was working with Egypt on its own transition to a clean energy future.

In June, Kerry announced an increase in U.S. funding to help Egypt convert to solar energy and move away from fossil fuels, a major source of energy in the country of over 100 million people.

In recent years, el-Sissi's government has taken steps to convert to renewables, seizing the advantage of the country's optimal solar and wind conditions for energy harvesting.

But the government has faced criticism from environmental activists for razing green spaces and cutting down tens of thousands of trees for infrastructure projects, especially in Cairo where a gigantic cloud of air pollution often hovers.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Charleston International plans to add three temporary boarding gates as more airlines add more destinations from the Lowcountry.

The new boarding areas are slated for Concourse A, which is anchored by the airport's dominant carrier, Delta Air Lines. Allegiant, Breeze, Frontier and Silver also use the wing.

"Their installation will be staggered," airport spokesman Spencer Pryor said.

Plans call for the first one to be set up in June, with another following each month through August, he said.

Two of the temporary gates are targeted for the end of the concourse and will require new jet bridges while the other one will be outside and require passengers to board planes from the tarmac.

The airport board is expected to be asked to sign off on the additions during its next meeting in March, according to Charleston County Aviation Authority CEO Elliott Summey. The cost of the additions has not been determined.

The airport plans to add the temporary boarding areas because of the expected upswell in volume this summer.

Summey said passenger counts are trending upward to pre-COVID-19 levels and he wants the terminal to be ready to handle the projected increases.

"In talking with our airline partners, there is no intention of slowing down those trends and they may ramp them up even further unless there is a new virus variant," Summey said.

He pointed to natural growth from the airport's legacy carriers such as Delta, United, American, Southwest and JetBlue along with new airlines now calling on Charleston as indicators of a summer surge that could help push the airport past the milestone of 5 million passengers for the first time this year.

"With us pushing for new destinations on top of it, we have to be ready," he said. "We have to anticipate capacity to make sure there is a positive passenger experience since this airport is the first thing people see when they fly into Charleston and the last thing they see when the leave."

Charleston soon will be served by a dozen carriers, and some have announced plans for new routes this year, including low-cost upstarts Breeze and Avelo along with Sun Country Airlines  all new to the Lowcountry.

Utah-based Breeze, which launched service last May to 11 destinations from Charleston, recently added two new routes to Palm Beach, Fla., and Islip on Long Island near New York City.

Breeze will introduce new larger Airbus A220 aircraft in May that can carry more passengers on some current routes than its Embraer fleet. New routes also could be announced.

Avelo will begin flying in May between the Lowcountry and New Haven, Conn., the Houston-based carrier's East Coast hub.

Sun Country lands in the Lowcountry in April with flights to and from its home base in Minneapolis.

To prepare for future passenger growth, which was approaching 5 million annually before the pandemic, the airport is in the early phases of planning for a third concourse that could include eight gates. Summey doesn't expect it to be operational until 2026 at the earliest.
One of the world's largest wood pulp and paper manufacturers is spending $20 million to expand its operations in Alcolu, a tiny mill town in northern Clarendon County.

Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific said most of the money will go toward the addition of a third line to produce oriented strand board, wood panels similar to particle board that's used in flooring and other construction applications.

The addition will increase the plant's output by about 150 million square feet per year. Work is scheduled to begin at the site north of Manning in April, with the new addition slated to be online by the first quarter of 2023.

Tobey Elgin, Georgia-Pacific's director of operations for oriented strand board, said the expansion has always been in the plans for the South Carolina plant.

"The site was originally designed for additional capacity, so adding this third strander will maximize the efficiency and output for the operation," he said.

A strander is a machine that processes wood flakes from logs that have been debarked. The final product is made by adding adhesives to the flakes and then compressing the mixture into various types and thicknesses.

Georgia-Pacific makes the building material at five U.S. sites. The company sold another strand board plant in Allendale in October for $280 million to Canada's West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. That factory had been idle since 2019.

Andy Konieczka, Georgia-Pacific's president of structural panels, said in a written statement that the Alcolu expansion "will be a plus for the local economy."

He estimated that about 100 contractors will work on the expansion during the construction phase, and the new machine will require more truckers to deliver raw materials and haul away the finished goods.

This is the second major expansion at the Alcolu plant since 2018, when Georgia-Pacific announced a $4.5 million investment in a new warehouse, a laminating line and other new equipment.

The company bought the plant, which employs about 150 workers, in 2010 from Grant Forest Products. Production began three years later.

All told, Georgia-Pacific has five sites across South Carolina that employ 920 workers and have a combined capital investment of $252 million.
Need a meatier mental challenge than Wordle?

Consider the constitutional sticky wicket of a real-life Civil War figure by the name of Benjamin Butler. The lawyer-turned-Union Army major general found himself in the crosshairs of a conundrum of conscience, one whose legal miscalculation could seal the fate of an enslaved man who had escaped.

It all plays out in "Ben Butler," the searing, seriously comedic work by Richard Strand. The prescient work that dramatizes a surprising Civil War narrative premiered at New Jersey Repertory Company in 2014 before moving Off-Broadway to 59E59 Theaters. It is aging well, and is now up at Pure Theatre through March 12.

For Butler, the Civil War was the time that tried his soul, and in ways that weren't necessarily playing out on the battlefield. In his well-appointed office at Fort Monroe in Virginia, where he sips sherry and messes with his subordinates' heads, he found himself hosting enslaved escapee Shepard Mallory as he demands to be heard, and be saved.

But don't be misled by the high-stakes, deeply grave subject matter that are tackled in this play. In Strand's deftly humorous hands, the empowered and the oppressed are allotted equal agency  and their ensuing repartee is as transfixing as it is terrifically entertaining.

Here's the history book Cliff's Notes version: Benjamin Butler was a career lawyer championed by Abraham Lincoln who was hustled up the chain of command. When he served as a Union Army major general at Fort Monroe, three enslaved men turned up there, seeking sanctuary.

Now to Strand's dramatization. One of those men, Shepard Mallory, demands an audience with the quasi-accidental major general. The two men soon find themselves in an intellectually rocker of a back-and-forth, with the commander offering solutions that fall short of having to take in the three, and the enslaved man holding strong for his desired outcome.

The mental volleys between the two serve as the main focus of the play, in exchanges that are intricately layered, as assumptions are belied and Butler's military, legal and moral mettle is tested.

And it does so while upending all manner of tropes that have long lost their purpose, while also dramatically reconstructing a historic narrative that challenges others that withhold agency and strategy among the enslaved Black during the Civil War.

While Mallory regularly outmaneuvers the general, he does so with little charm, but with full-on strategic acumen.

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To prove a point, he derisively deploys the stereotypes heaped on the enslaved, impersonating the behavior of those who dumb themselves down for the comfort of their captors and generally speaking his mind in ways that provoke ire. But Mallory himself is incapable of stooping to conquer, or just simply survive, an inclination that has resulted in some savage scars across his back.

The 19th-century American playing field of Butler's office may not be level between commander and escaped in the eyes of the law, but the intellectual plane they share is another story. They are well-matched in both wits and eccentricities, and watching their negotiations twist and turn toward the eventual, historic end is great sport.

As directed by Mark Landis, the players, R.W. Smith as Butler and Michael Smallwood as Shepard, are well-matched, too. As a man of privilege grappling with a sense of right that he just can't quit, Smith's relatable, yet somewhat oddball general delivers the genuine article.

And Smallwood is thoroughly inspired, channeling the off-kilter aspects of the curious, razor-sharp Shepard, while still managing to endear himself to both his counterpart and the audience alike.

But the curiously feel-good undertow emanating from the Cannon Street Arts Center stages is never at the cost of the take-no-prisoners laughs of this life-or-death chess match. The two also gain considerable dramatic ballast from the ensemble's other two actors: Addison Dent as the duty-bound Lt. Kelly and Josh Wilhoit as the irascible Confederate Maj. Cary.

All this transpires on Richard Heffner's Civil War-era set, which serves to firmly place the action in a military man milieu. Landis's period, fiddle-rich sound design adds ambiance as well.

In short, it is crackling, smart writing, well-played by committed actors. It immediately snapped me out of my lingering pandemic-induced slumber to sit up, take note and fully engage in the potential of live theater.

It's irresistible, this noodling out of just two are going to come out of a battle that is at once with and against one another. And, with its a fusillade of rabid-fire, cunning fun, "Ben Butler" demonstrates that, then and now, humans contending with humans, for better and for worse, is at once meaningful, rich material and ripe for the chuckling, too.

Go figure out your tickets. Wordle can wait.
Former Anderson County School District Four Superintendent Gary Burgess entered the S.C. education superintendent's race as a Democrat on Feb. 21.

He joins a race already crowded by Republican candidates, including Kathy Maness, executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association; Cindy Bohn Coats, a board member for Charleston County School District; Ellen Weaver, president of the think tank Palmetto Promise Institute; and Kizzi Gibson, a teacher in Lexington County.

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They're running for the state's top education office during a time when education is becoming increasingly politicized, including during the first two years of the pandemic as students were shuffled between in-person and remote learning. It's grown increasingly partisan now that school boards have to make decisions on controversial issues like mandating masks in schools, critical race theory and censoring books.

Burgess announced his candidacy at Wofford College in Spartanburg, which he attended as a student, according to a statement sent to reporters. In his announcement speech, he said South Carolina must do better at educating its children.

"We must not settle for minimally adequate, which leads to us being at the bottom of the academic rung of the education ladder and one of the less educated states in America," he said.

The S.C. Supreme Court ruled that under the state's constitution the state Legislature only needs to provide students with a minimally adequate education.

In a phone interview with The Post and Courier after his announcement, Burgess said he believes he has a chance of getting elected as a Democrat in a historically conservative state.

"I do believe that folks want to take public education back from the extreme right and the extreme left," he said.

Burgess' platform focuses on supporting teachers and school districts' rights. He wants teachers to get raises and have fewer non-educator responsibilities around schools so they can spend more time concentrating on their lessons.

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He also believes the state Department of Education should act as a resource for school districts rather than taking them over.

Burgess is the spokesman for Florence County School District Four's board of trustees. That district was taken over by the state and is in the process of being combined with Florence School District One.

Burgess attended Wofford College, Converse College and received a doctorate from the University of South Carolina, according to his media statement.

He worked as a principal for a school in Anderson 4 from 1999 to 2003, when he was promoted to superintendent of the district, according to the school district. He served as superintendent until 2008 and now is a member of the Anderson County Education Board, which encompasses all five Anderson school districts.

Burgess previously ran for S.C. education superintendent in 2014, but lost to the state's current superintendent, Republican Molly Spearman, who is not seeking re-election.

The party primaries are set for June 14.

Weaver has received $127,489 in contributions according to her latest campaign disclosure report as of Dec. 31, 2021. Maness received $10,840 as of the same period, and Gibson had $7,741.80.

There were no campaign finance reports available for Coats or Burgess.

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For the second year, a fleet of local food trucks will gather for a day full of outdoor eating, cocktails and live music on the front porch at North Charleston's Firefly Distillery.

This year, 16 Lowcountry food trucks serving cuisine from vegan to seafood to barbecue are set to serve up eats from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 26 at 4201 Spruill Ave. in Park Circle.

Attendance is free for what's being dubbed the second annual Low Country Food Truck Festival.

This event is a great way to bring the community together and support local small businesses, said Scott Newitt, co-founder of Firefly Distillery. Its fun to bring a ton of flavors together and pair them with our distillery's specialty cocktails for a great day outside.

Participating food trucks are Bangin' Vegan Eats, Bits-N-Bytes, Delights Desserts, Empanada Cuisines, Flight, Happy Thai, James Brown's Famous Peanuts, La'Son Anchor Grill, &Lobster, Lola's Lumpia, Mazyck Grill, Miss Katie's Sweets, Pita Stroller, Poseidon's Playground, Roti Rolls and Tamashii.

Anthony Leonard of Bits-N-Bytes and April Floyd of Miss Katie's Sweets helped organize the event last year.

"(The festival) was founded during the pandemic as a way for food truck owners to continue to make ends meet along with the consumers to be able to get a sense of normalcy," said Leonard.

He said the turnout last year was bigger than expected, but because of the pandemic, attendees were limited. This year, since there is no limitation in place for the number of patrons allowed on distillery grounds, he expects two to three times as many people.

And even more sales than last year, which Leonard said already exceeded food truck owners' expectations. Most are returning from last year.

"We are hoping to see double the attendance this year as more people have come to know about the event," shared April Floyd of Miss Katie's Sweets. "Hoping this event shines some light on the local food truck industry here and how we are contributing to Charlestons food culture."

The next event on the calendar at Firefly is The "Suite" Sounds of Ellington presented by Charleston Jazz at 5 p.m. March 25. Cocktails, beer, wine and food trucks will be on-site for the outdoor concert.

Tickets are $30 general admission, $25 for seniors and military, $10 for students and free for children 6 and under. They can be purchased at fireflydistillery.com/news-events/live-at-firefly-the-suite-sounds-of-ellington.
Feb. 8 is a special day for John Zucker.

Its his mothers birthday, the day he opened his first catering company and, later, Feb. 8 was opening night at Cru Cafe, Zuckers downtown Charleston restaurant.

Opening a restaurant was always the plan for Zucker, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. After helping open restaurants in Atlanta and Charleston, Zucker decided catering was the best avenue to get his foot in the doors of the Charleston restaurant industry.

Shortly after successfully catering legendary Charleston chef Robert Carters wedding at Hibernian Hall, Zucker opened Cru Catering, now one of the top weddings and special-events caterers in Charleston.

Two years later, the chef realized his dream of opening his own restaurant when Cru Cafe debuted on Pinckney Street on Feb. 8, 2002.

Ahead of its time

Several establishments played a role in Charlestons restaurant revolution that took place in the 1990s and early 2000s. For its part, Cru Cafe was doing things in 2002 that have become part of the fabric of Charlestons dining scene.

Cru Cafe opened in a renovated Charleston home years before other local restaurants  Chez Nous, The Tippling House, Malagon and Chubby Fish, just to name a few  followed suit. Before it was trendy, Zucker debuted an open kitchen-facing chefs counter, where he put a chef-inspired spin on Southern plates, such as Cru Cafes grilled pork chop with coconut Carolina Gold Rice or fried green tomatoes with pork belly croutons, a dish I first experienced at Zuckers chefs counter in 2016 shortly after moving to Charleston.

At first, the chefs table took some getting used to for diners, Zucker said. Now, its four of the most coveted seats inside the restaurant.

Once they get up here, they love it. We only have about 52 seats, no hard liquor, just beer and wine. Were closed two days a week  we always have been, Zucker said. That formula didnt seem like it would be one that would work, but it works really well here.

Zuckers mother can be credited with Cru Cafes interior decorations, which havent changed much over the years.

Cru Cafes staple menu items havent, either.

We still have a lot of the original stuff on our menu, Zucker said. We change it frequently, but its just minor tweaks.

Seasonal swaps are a regular occurrence, but there are certain dishes that will likely never depart Cru Cafe's menu.

The macaroni and cheese has been on there since day one, the Chinese chicken salad. These are things that if I took off, I think people would rebel against me, Zucker said with a smile.

Like the macaroni and cheese, made using four types of cheese, Zuckers menu is filled with elevated versions of food that, simply put, just taste really good. White wine truffled mussels, Thai seafood risotto, poblano and mozzarella fried chicken. The list goes on.

I think one of the most fortunate things for me is that a large percentage of the population likes what I like, Zucker said. So whatevers on the menu, thats what I like. Im fortunate that people have similar tastes.

While the Upper King Street part of downtown Charleston has changed drastically in the last 20 years, Cru Cafes neighborhood feels similar to how it did in 2002. Nearby Anson Restaurant opened seven years before Cru did, and Henrys, one of the oldest continuous restaurants in South Carolina, was just about to turn 70 at the time. Three years earlier, Hanks Seafood Restaurant was named one of Americas Best New Restaurants by Esquire after opening in 1999. One year after Cru Cafe debuted, FIG would enter Charlestons food and dining scene one right turn away on Meeting Street.

Still, Cru Cafe carved out a niche in this established restaurant-centric part of Charleston thats stood the test of time. In fact, the only major change Cru Cafe has faced since 2002 is the one the entire world is still grappling with: The pandemic.

Patio provides relief

Small restaurants like Cru Cafe arguably faced the worst of the pandemic in 2020. Even when Gov. Henry McMaster declared restaurants were allowed to open for limited dine-in service on May 8, 2020, Zucker chose to keep his restaurant closed. Like most other local restaurateurs, Zucker turned to takeout to keep Cru Cafe afloat.

Eventually, he made the decision to use a vacant lot to create an outdoor patio the restaurant still uses today.

During the shutdown, we were thinking, What can we do? How can we create revenue? Zucker recalled. Well, that was never utilized; it was just an empty area. And my business partner came to me and said, Well, why dont we build a patio back there?

Zucker donated and raised $62,000 during the shutdown, enough to pay each of his employees two paychecks. He also paid them to help build out the patio, which they completed in just 3 weeks.

One look outside Cru Cafe today, and you would be hard-pressed to picture the restaurant without it.

He kind of showed me his vision, and (in) three and a half weeks we had that built. All the herringbone bricks, from scratch, Zucker said. At that point, we added an additional 18 seats.

A place where memories are made

Cru Cafes longevity is difficult to achieve, especially given the pandemic. Look no further than local favorites like Trattoria Lucca, Fat Hen and The Macintosh that closed before reaching the two-decade mark.

The restaurants success isnt by accident; Zucker has developed a formula that caters to all lunch and dinner guests. The chef credits his employees, who were hard at work preparing the kitchen for dinner while serving one last table for lunch during a Jan. 27 interview.

Definitely my employees is the key to our success. Ive had people working with me for a long time, said Zucker, whose two head chefs, Rachel Blumenstock and Travers Horton, have been with Cru Cafe and Cru Catering for years. My relationship with the community is pretty solid. We treat everyone as if theyre family, and thats the truth.

Charleston resident Ed Seagar owned a carriage house at 1 Motley Lane when Cru Cafe opened steps away in 2002. He developed a rapport with Zucker and his mother, who was designing the restaurant when Seagar first stopped by.

Over the years, Seagar has hosted family gatherings and business meetings for his company, Digital Ignite, at Cru Cafe. Hes since moved to Johns Island, but he still makes time to visit the restaurant at least twice a month. Other locals who live closer to downtown visit the restaurant weekly, usually at lunch.

Ive got to say of all of the restaurants, and I've seen a lot of them come and go in 30 years, its probably the most consistent, Seagar said, adding the pork chop is one of his favorite dishes. Its kind of like weve weathered storms and celebrated together for many years. Its a comfortable, warm, welcoming destination for my entire family.

Whether its locals like Seagar or tourists visiting Charleston and Cru Cafe for the first time, Zucker and his team have consistently delivered for the last 20 years.

When a tourist comes in here, they look at us like Wow, its so cute, its kind of like a house, Zucker said. Well, it is a house, and welcome to my home.

At the end of our interview, a couple walked up to Cru around 3:50 p.m., a little over an hour before the restaurant was set to reopen for dinner. You wont be surprised to learn that Zucker called them over and asked what they would like to order.
BEIJING, Feb. 22 -- A naval auxiliary ship group of the PLA Southern Theater Command recently offered free physical examinations for its military families onboard the hospital ship Youai (Hull 861), a Type-919 hospital ship independently designed and manufactured in China.

On the ship, medical staff from the Second Naval Hospital under the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted detailed medical examinations for military families of the auxiliary ship group. I feel so touched and honored to be a military family, said the father of Soldier He Shuqiong, a Master Sergeant Fourth Class.
Tourists view a mural during the International Public Arts Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. The sixth edition of the International Public Arts Festival, Africa's largest street art festival, is held from Wednesday to Sunday in Cape Town, with new large murals to beautify walls in the central business district. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The sixth edition of the International Public Arts Festival, Africa's largest street art festival, will be held from Wednesday to Sunday in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, with multi-story new murals to beautify walls in the central business district.

This year 15 artists including 10 locals will add new murals to the existing 133 large-scale murals created by more than 100 artists through the festival, organized by Baz-Art, which aims at showcasing the power of street art and generating conversations among individuals and communities, said the city of Cape Town, a sponsor, in a statement issued Tuesday.

Between festivals, the organization installed more than 400 murals in different locations in Cape Town, read the statement.

The festival has played an important role in beautifying public spaces in Cape Town while also providing a platform for local artists to express their talent, said the city's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, in the statement.

He said the festival is contributing to the steady recovery of the tourism industry from the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting tours and providing work opportunities for local tour guides.

The first National Public Arts Conference, consisting of roundtable discussions, a seminar series and a street art master class, will be introduced by the organizer and run alongside the festival. 

Artists work on a mural for the International Public Arts Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. The sixth edition of the International Public Arts Festival, Africa's largest street art festival, is held from Wednesday to Sunday in Cape Town, with new large murals to beautify walls in the central business district. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

Artists work on a mural for the International Public Arts Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. The sixth edition of the International Public Arts Festival, Africa's largest street art festival, is held from Wednesday to Sunday in Cape Town, with new large murals to beautify walls in the central business district. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)
PENDLETON  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham derided President Joe Biden's strategy to further deter Russia's incursion into Ukraine, demanding bolder action and referencing what he said are policy mistakes similar to those that have failed in Europe in the past.

"This is the most important time in world history since the end of World War II," the senior South Carolina Republican said Feb. 22, speaking at his law office in Pendleton in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's movement of troops into eastern Ukraine.

The comments came ahead of a Biden address in which the president announced allied sanctions against Russia's independent investment corporation (VEB) and its military bank, a freeze on Russian financing in Western institutions and unidentified oligarch families in the country that must "share in the pain."

"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."

The president didn't specify what those next sanctions would be, which was one of Graham's key criticisms.

Graham said those warnings lack transparency and the air of mystery has not worked. The consequences should have been communicated clearly to Putin before he deployed 190,000 troops and mobilized invasion forces, Graham said.

Graham said the U.S. has the upper hand on Russia, which he said has an economy the size of Italy and is overly reliant on selling oil and gas.

"We dont need soldiers in Ukraine," he said. "We need a united world front of Western nations that would take off the table the rich lifestyle of the oligarchs, that would create alternatives to Russian oil and gas. We could crush their economy, and the ruble should go in the tank.

Graham eschewed the sentiment of bipartisanship so long as the Democratic administration's approach remains what he characterized as one of appeasement.

"In the '30s, you had plenty of unity and it was all wrong," Graham said. "You had a lone voice called (Winston) Churchill that said 'what you're doing's not going to work,' and he was proven to be right."

"Count me in for bipartisanship," he continued, "but count me out when bipartisanship takes off the table things that matter."

An hour after the president's address, Graham posted on Twitter that the sanctions announced are "woefully inadequate" and that Biden isn't seizing the moment at a critical point in history.

Sen. Tim Scott, Graham's fellow South Carolina Republican senator, joined Graham in the partisan tone, assailing Biden for a failure to take action and alluding to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan this past August.

"Unfortunately, for the second time in less than a year, the Biden administrations weakness on the world stage has emboldened our adversaries," Scott said in a statement. "America and its international allies must stand up to Putin and make clear were committed to protecting sovereignty and democracy.

In his address, Biden said the allies' decisions are "totally defensive moves on our part."

"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."

The comments came the day after Putin signed an accord recognizing the sovereignty of two primarily Russian-speaking breakaway states within Ukraine on Russia's eastern border  Donetsk and Luhansk.

Putin, who has repeated rhetoric of consolidating democratic countries under Russian control that chose independence after the fall of the Soviet Union three decades ago, sent troops and equipment into the area.

Ukraine has expressed desire to join the NATO alliance of Western powers, a move the U.S. has said is possible but only down the road. Russia has long worked to prevent countries along its western border, many of them former Soviet states, from joining NATO.

It's unclear the ultimate strategy Putin will take to achieve his aims, whether it is a full-scale invasion that destroys the Ukrainian government or a drawn-out destabilizing conflict in the disputed area along the eastern border.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
BAMBERG  A Bamberg woman attending college in New Orleans was pronounced dead at a Louisiana hospital over the weekend, hours after taking a car from a ride-hailing service.

Ciaya Jordan Whetstone, a 21-year-old University of New Orleans student, was declared dead shortly after arriving in an unresponsive state at a hospital early the morning of Feb. 19, according to the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office.

Beverly Searson, Whetstone's great-grandmother, recalled the young woman as a loving person who maintained deep faith.

"Everybody liked Ciaya," Searson said. "She was a go-getter. She loved everybody. ... She was very spiritual. She prayed all the time. She talked about God all the time. She just loved everybody and Jesus Christ."

About 6:54 a.m. Feb. 19, New Orleans police Seventh District officers responded to a call of a woman arriving at a hospital in that district via a private vehicle, the New Orleans Police Department said in a statement.

Emergency Medical Technicians pronounced her dead on arrival, officials said. The case remains under investigation as an unclassified death, police said.

There were no further details police could release, the agency said. Whetstone's cause of death was expected to be released by the Orleans Parish County Coroners Office following an autopsy and notification to her family.

Family and friends confirmed Whetstone as the deceased.

The night of Feb. 18, Whetstone had attended Mardis Gras parades, according to reports. After hanging out at bars with friends, a friend took her to her boyfriend's house. Later that night, Whetstone used the Uber ride-sharing app to call a car to get to her apartment so she could check on her dog, multiple media reports in New Orleans said.

The driver waited, and Whetstone returned to the car.

She was dropped off to the hospital early in the morning of Feb. 19, outlets reported. It is not clear who dropped Whetstone off.

Our thoughts are with Ciaya Whetstones family as they grieve the loss of their daughter," a spokesperson from Uber said. "We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.

Louisiana resident Dawn Gegenheimer said in a Facebook post shared on Feb. 19 she and Whetstone were co-workers and yoga partners. Whetstone always saw the best in people and searched for the bright side of any situation, Gegenheimer said.

"She had the sweetest personality," Gegenheimer said in the Facebook post.

She urged other women to be safe during the New Orleans festival.

"It's Mardi Gras in NOLA," she wrote. "Protect your daughters no matter how old they are."

The University of New Orleans expressed condolences in response to the tragedy.

"As a University, few things are more challenging than dealing with the sadness of the death of a student," university President John Nicklow said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Ciayas family and friends. We are offering counseling services to students and employees who need support.

Whetstone's funeral will be arranged by the Brice Herndon funeral home in Walterboro.

Olivia Diaz contributed to this report.
Charleston chef Kevin Mitchell has led his fair share of cooking demonstrations over the years, especially in 2020 and 2021, when he served as a South Carolina chef ambassador.

From specialty dinners and appearances on the Southeastern Wildlife Expositions Fresh on the Menu Kitchen Stage to daily demonstrations for students, cooking in front of a crowd has become part of Mitchell's career as a chef.

Feb. 24 will be different.

Mitchell, a faculty member at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, will showcase his talents in front of a national audience on the Today show live during the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. hours of NBCs hit morning show. Each segment will be about four to five minutes.

This ones going to be a little different because NBC has their own chef and their own food styling team, Mitchell said. Whats going to be really cool for me is it's going to be with Al Roker and Hoda (Kotb) and the other hosts.

The New Jersey native lived and worked in Atlanta and Detroit before moving to Charleston in 2008 to join the CIC faculty. In 2015, he was tapped by University of South Carolina professor David Shields to host the Nat Fuller Feast, a nod to a mid-19th-century dinner hosted by Black Charleston caterer Nat Fuller.

Shields found what he believed to be evidence of a post-Civil War interracial dinner hosted by Fuller to celebrate the end of the war. Reenacting the dinner at McCradys pushed Mitchell to pursue a masters in Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi, where he successfully defended his thesis, From Black Hands to White Mouths: Charlestons freed and enslaved cooks and their influence on the food of the South.

In October, Mitchell teamed up with Shields again; this time to write a cookbook. Taste the State details 82 of the states most distinctive ingredients through recipes, historical facts and stories.

While researching for the book, Shields and Mitchell each tackled around 30 ingredients, teaming up to pen the remaining entries. Using genealogy.com, they found newspapers dating back to the 1700s; the writers used these to pull recipes and historical context.

Mitchell, who sits on the Charleston Wine + Food Festivals board of directors, credits the festival with connecting him with Today. In the 8 a.m. segment, Mitchell will cook fish and grits with tomato gravy. Two hours later, hell make blackened salmon with curried black-eyed peas and collards with Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

Today will also air a feature video highlighting Mitchells work with South Carolina farmers, ingredients and rising stars. Half of the video was filmed at Joseph Fields Farm on Johns Island and the other half took place at the Culinary Institute of Charlestons Thornley Campus.

I suggested that we do it at the farm based on my relationship with Joseph Fields, said Mitchell, discussing his appearance on Today.

It definitely is surreal. Im very honored and very excited to actually be there live in the studio and also talk about my work.

In addition to his board of directors role, Mitchell will serve as a chef participant in the 2022 Charleston Wine + Food Festival on March 2-6. Mitchells The Roots of Rice signature dinner March 5 will pay homage to stories surrounding rice and explore how food, notably rice, can bridge the gap between cultures.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
S.C. Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey told his colleagues on Thursday that he has seen things happening in South Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic that he never imagined he would see

So have we.

For Sen. Massey, the unimaginable was S.C. businesses and local governments requiring employees to get vaccinated in order to keep their jobs.

For us, it was S.C. legislators threatening to punish businesses  which under state law can fire people for practically any reason or no reason at all  from imposing those workplace requirements.

Even though some businesses needed to require vaccinations in order to reduce the number of employees who had to isolate because they contracted COVID or had to quarantine because they came in contact with their infected co-workers  in some cases forcing the businesses to temporarily close their doors.

Even though the overwhelming majority of people who have to be hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated, and the cost of too many of those hospitalizations can bankrupt a company that self-insures.

Even though some consumer-focused businesses run the risk of losing their customers if they cant assure them that all the employees are vaccinated.

Even though some businesses will lose federal contracts and have to close if they dont require their employees to be vaccinated.

Sen. Massey and other supporters of H.3126 emphasized that they didnt like interfering with employers decisions about how to run their businesses, but said they felt like they had no choice because businesses ignored their pleas and suggestions and warnings to back down.

Thats nice, but lets be really clear about what theyre saying: They believe businesses should be allowed to run their businesses as they see fit  as long as they make the decisions that our lawmakers want them to make.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but in that respect, our conservative, pro-business legislators are no different than the liberal, anti-business politicians they like to denounce. Anti-business politicians also are fine with businesses making their own decisions  so long as those businesses make the decisions those politicians want them to make.

Sen. Massey's subcommittee-endorsed amendment to the bill, which the full Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to debate Tuesday afternoon, would force businesses to pay a surcharge of about $30,000 for any employee they fire for refusing to get vaccinated. It also would prohibit local governments from requiring vaccinations. And it would forbid businesses or governments from requiring vaccinations for service  whether thats admission to a restaurant or a concert or being placed on a waiting list for an organ transplant.

Its no surprise that the Legislature would want to bar local governments from trying to maintain a healthy workforce, both to keep service delivery on course and also to protect members of the public who have to come into contact with police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other city and county workers. There are few things the Legislature loves more than telling elected local officials what they can and cant do.

The good news is that the local governments and businesses that believed they needed to require vaccinations have probably already done so. But as the S.C. Chamber of Commerce notes on its Facebook page, the legislation sends a chilling message to businesses looking to locate in our state, and a dismissive one to businesses already here: Our government cannot claim to let businesses make these decisions and, in another breath, penalize them roughly $7,500 (per year) per employee fired, for doing what they feel is best.

The ban on limiting services to people who are vaccinated is particularly disturbing, because that affects ongoing operations and makes it impossible for businesses to cater to customers who dont want to be around people who have a much higher than average rate of being infected, and passing that infection on to others.

Most disturbing might be the Legislatures attempt to inject itself into medical decisions, by extending this provision to hospital transplant programs. The legislation would bar MUSC and Prisma Health from making the best use of our nation's limited supply of transplant organs by reserving them for patients who have a track record of following doctors orders and not deliberately increasing their risk of death.

Whats next? Telling transplant centers they have to give new lungs to people who refuse to stop smoking and new livers to people who refuse to stop binge drinking? The COVID vaccination requirement is no different than long-accepted requirements for patients to stop smoking and drinking.

We realize that legislators feel a need to mollify the small portion of the public who apparently are willing to die in order to preserve their right to infect others  but aren't willing to give up their jobs, or even their right to dine in certain restaurants. But those desires are in direct contradiction to the basic principles of the free market that we believe and we thought our legislators believed. It's time for our state senators to return to their traditional role of protecting our state from the populist excesses of the House.
CAIRO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- After decades of negligence, Egypt's government has been implementing a progressive plan to improve Egyptian lakes in order to increase fish output and exports, according to Salah Al-Mislhy, chairman of the General Authority for Fish Resources and Development (GAFRD).

"The development and protection of lakes in Egypt has become a top priority concern, and the GAFRD, the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, the Suez Canal Authority, and some private companies have collaborated on doing this," Al-Mislhy told Xinhua.

Egypt has a number of freshwater, brackish and salt lakes, including Maryut, Edko, Manzala, Borolus, Bardawil in north Cairo, Al-Timsah and Great Bitter Lake in Ismailia Governorate and Qaroun, Wadi El-Rayan and Lake Nasser in southern Egypt.

"Egypt's lakes contribute about 12 percent of Egypt's fish resources," said Salah Al-Mislhy.

He predicted that the development of some lakes, such as Bardawil, Borolus, and Manzala, would be completed by the end of 2022, while Maryut would be finished by the end of 2023.

The cost of developing lakes varies depending on the conditions of each lake, he said, adding that only expanding and renovating 250,000 feddans (105,000 hectares) of Lake Manzala cost 2 billion U.S. dollars.

Al-Mislhy emphasised that the effects of developing lakes were monitored even before all of the work was finalized.

"Lake Manzala produced 82,500 tonnes of fish in 2020, compared to 60,000 tonnes in 2017," he said, adding that more fishing boats would be able to operate if further efforts are made in developing the lake.

According to Al-Mislhy, Egypt's water resources supply 20 percent of the country's fish: 12 percent from lakes, four percent from the Nile River, two percent from the Red Sea, and two percent from the Mediterranean Sea.

Egypt's per capita fish consumption in 2021 was 20.5 Kilograms per year, up from 16 kilograms the previous year.

Egypt's fish production exceeded 2.2 million tonnes in 2021, according to Al-Mislhy, who expected the amount of production to further rise in 2022, and reach 2.5 million tonnes by 2025.

Egypt's fish production has increased dramatically in recent years as a result of the government's efforts to expand fish plantation initiatives.

The fish wealth in Egypt is witnessing a major leap in the past few years in light of the government endeavors for increasing fish plantation projects, he said.

Egypt opened in the past few years several projects in aquaculture like Ghalyoun Lake in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate and Al-Fayrouz project in Port Said Governorate. The latter is the largest of its kind in the Middle East, and a third such project in the Suez Canal.

When those large projects reach full capacity, Al-Mislhy estimates that they will contribute more than 500,000 tonnes of fish to the market.

Aquaculture investment in Egypt, he said, is a promising field with accessible resources.

Egypt will soon unveil significant national projects for marine cages in 21 locations, including 12 in the Mediterranean Sea and nine in the Red Sea, which will serve as important fish production sources, said Al-Mislhy. 
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster said he will not punish members of the National Guard who refuse to comply with federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for men and women as a lawsuit seeking to overturn the requirement works through federal court.

In a Feb. 21 letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, McMaster said he believed the federal vaccination requirement for the state branch was likely unlawful.

Additionally, McMaster contends it overrode his statutory command of the S.C. National Guard and did not reflect the current severity of the pandemic in South Carolina.

As a result, McMaster said he would not allow the state's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. R. Van McCarty, to convene courts-martial for those refusing to get vaccinated.

"The State of South Carolina has a rich heritage of military service, and South Carolinians are proud of, and eternally grateful for, those among us who choose to serve in uniform," McMaster wrote in his letter.

"Consistent with this tradition, and in furtherance of my responsibilities as commander-in-chief of the States militia, I will not be conscripted into enforcing the Departments arbitrary and capricious vaccine mandates and will play no part in punishing members of the South Carolina National Guard solely on account of their vaccination status."

The letter underscores national tensions between state and local authority over the National Guard.

While the U.S. Defense Department exerts significant control over the Guard and its policies, the governors of individual states are considered the commanders-in-chief of their branch and maintain broad authority over their activities in peacetime.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who like McMaster is a Republican, recently sued over the Biden administration's vaccination mandates for state National Guards, saying the move "threatens to undermine his chain of command" and blurred the lines of accountability between state capitals and Washington D.C.

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"President Biden is not the commander-in-chief of Texas Guardsmen, because he has not federalized the Texas National Guard in accordance with the U.S. Constitution and Title 10 of the U.S. Code," a preliminary injunction filed by his office Feb. 8 in federal court read.

A spokesman for McMaster's office said South Carolina's governor is limited in the steps he can take with the National Guard, but that he believes withholding discipline is within his authority as governor.

"What the governor can do is withhold the authority for state assets or state entities to participate in punishing guardsmen over this vaccine mandate," spokesman Brian Symmes said. "So that's what he has done. And we're confident that he has the ability to do that."

McMaster's letter came amid mounting concerns from members of the S.C. National Guard who feared an exodus of highly experienced enlisted men and women as the Guard's June 30th vaccination deadline approached.

Flight instructor and state Rep. Vic Dabney, R-Camden, told The Post and Courier he and several retired military members had been working to put pressure on McMaster's office to take action against the mandates as members reported delays in processing religious exemption requests and myriad other concerns.

While Monday's announcement was not all that he wanted, Dabney said it was a step in the right direction.

"This mandate has hurt people," Dabney said. "This might help the rest of them that were still wondering what the fate of their career was going to be. Now they can at least take a deep breath now and say, 'OK, the governor's on my side.' That's what I wanted. I wanted the governor to stand up and say, 'I've got your back. You're my soldiers. You're my airmen, and I'm going to watch out for you.' That's it."

Representatives for the S.C. National Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment, including questions about how many men and woman had been punished or left the Guard over their vaccination status.
SPARTANBURG  A new monument featuring the history of the Southside neighborhood before Black businesses were pushed out by the federal government in the 1970s is scheduled to begin construction in April.

The Southside Cultural Monument will be located at the intersection of South Converse Street and Hudson Barksdale Boulevard near the Mary H. Wright Greenway. More than $600,000 has been raised for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in June.

"The monument will depict historical moments, individuals, and places that signify a historical time period in Spartanburg," Assistant City Manager Mitch Kennedy told The Post and Courier. "It will be a major artistic display of Black history and serve as a gateway to the Southside."

The Southside neighborhood was once a thriving community with more than 50 Black-owned businesses. The businesses were displaced, especially along Liberty Street, in the 1970s during urban renewal when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development seized and demolished property. Former state Rep. Brenda Lee Pryce, who grew up in the city's Southside neighborhood, said the monument will serve as a reminder of how vibrant the community once was with hopes of renewing interest in its history.

"There are a lot of people who don't know what happened to the community, and this is a good opportunity to tell the story," Pryce said. "It had a lot of energy and many Black businesses that got torn down or relocated."

The monument will be 150 feet long and feature 37 panels with a mix of illustrations, donated images and printed images from the community. It will be constructed with a resin material and be illuminated at night. Jessica Scott-Felder, who is a Wofford College studio art professor, will help assist with developing the monument's visuals. She's already done some test images for the monument as the city continues to seek images from the community.

"We are collecting those stories and photographs to see what is out there," Scott-Felder said. "There have been a lot of great conversations that have come up on how to represent the Black community and how the urban renewal process played a major role in displacing families and businesses, and how to bring that history back into the Southside."

The panels will be embedded with images, and several canopies will be constructed along the monument. Adam Flynn of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture said the panels will be constructed to allow the monument to be updated with new images over time. The site will be landscaped.

"We haven't decided on a final color, but we want the monument to highlight the artwork, which will be a mix of black, white and color images," Flynn said. "The background of the panel will be white and backlit and illuminated at night. The (monument) is still in the design phase and the city will solicit bids when that wraps up."

State Rep. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, who represents District 31 in Spartanburg, has worked to secure funding and interest in the project for the past five years. When she was a member of City Council, she visited Columbus, Ohio, and was inspired by the Long Street Cultural Wall that highlighted the city's Black history near its East Side neighborhoods.

"We toured one of the sites and it was so stunning to see figures of Black history," Henderson-Myers said. "Their community was destroyed because of urban renewal and when the interstate highway system came through. The community found a way to commemorate and honor those people. It was so moving I thought we could do something about the Southside of Spartanburg and urban renewal."

Henderson-Myers said momentum for the Southside Cultural Monument began to build in 2020 with city and state funding becoming available for the project. She believes the monument will help spur new interest in the area. She grew up in the Southside neighborhood.

"I think seeing something like this will encourage people and inspire people to want to do something on the Southside in terms of future development," Henderson-Myers said, "and will also give people pride living on the Southside and help it grow and be a vibrant community as it once was."
SPARTANBURG  The proposed realignment of Spartanburg County's six County Council districts is scheduled for final approval on March 7.

County Council approved second reading of the proposed redistricting on Feb. 21. The ideal size of the new districts will be 54,444 based on population changes in the 2020 U.S. Census. The county grew by 14.8 percent over the past decade, from 284,307 residents to 326,662. County Council approved first reading on Jan. 24.

"We had a meeting a couple months ago about the maps," County Councilman David Britt told The Post and Courier. "Staff presented us with several options and we went over them. Looking at Spartanburg County, we have got districts set up that work well for everybody."

On Feb. 10, County Councilman Monier Abusaft hosted a public input session at Dr. TK Gregg Community Center on the proposed redistricting. During the meeting several alternative maps were presented on how to redraw the District 1 map to ensure it maintains its Black majority. Charles Mann, who serves on the Spartanburg Local Redistricting Advisory Committee, encouraged County Council on Feb. 21 to consider the alternative maps as part of the process.

Assistant County Manager Kevin Stiens said staff had reviewed the alternative maps and similar criteria was used by the county to redraw District 1.

"It (the alternative map) made the districts a little tighter," Stiens said. "The data is close to county data."

Abusaft said the county's proposed redistricting does more to preserve District 1 as a majority-minority district and said there could be an opportunity long-term to create another County Council district.

"(There is not) enough population now or in the next five years to do that," Abusaft said.

County Council Chairman Manning Lynch said the proposed redistricting plan protects the majority-minority status in District 1.

"We have done the job that we think is appropriate and protected our minority seat," Lynch said. "Looking into the future, I don't think there is going to be another minority seat. Not in Spartanburg County in 10 years. That is not our population make-up. You could make the argument to dilute the minority representation in District 1 and spread it out to other districts and eliminate the minority seat but that is not what we are about either."
Dr. Jeffrey S. Nine is expected to start this summer as Guams chief medical examiner, a position that has been vacant for about three years now.

He accepted the offer authorized by the Post Mortem Commission earlier this month, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General of Guam.

The commission authorized the appointment of Nine with a salary of $310,000 plus benefits. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Attorney General Edward Manibusan confirmed their commitment to providing $50,000 as part of this package in exchange for Nine providing forensic pathology services to the CNMI, the release stated.

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Nine will fill the vacancy left by Dr. Aurelio Espinola who retired at the start of 2019. Without a full-time medical examiner, Guam has relied on doctors from Arkansas, Florida, and Hawaii for forensic autopsies and Dr. Aburiziq and Dr. Dauterman for non-forensic autopsies.

Nine serves as Yavapai County medical examiner in Prescott Valley, Arizona. He also has served as a professor of pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; University of New Mexico School of Medicine; Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio; and Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies.

(Daily Post Staff)
Liz Collin is the Emmy-winning former reporter and news anchor at the Minnesota affiliate of CBS News. When Liz announced that she was leaving the station a month ago, it was big news. The Star Tribune story reporting her departure was the most-read story that day. Liz has not publicized the reason for her exit, but commented in her announcement that day: The truth makes me tick. Ill get back to telling that soon.

As of this evening Liz is announcing that she has gone to work for Alpha News (on whose board I sit). We are excited to have her. Liz tells me the feeling is mutual: Im excited to go to work for an independent news source. Alpha News goes where others are afraid to and believes in reporting without fear. I do, too. Her joining Alpha should be as big a story as her leaving CBS Minnesota, but I doubt the Star Tribune will see it that way.

In her first story for Alpha  video below  Liz went undercover with a Twin Cities carjacking task force to get footage showing Minnesotas carjacking crisis. Her story features exclusive interviews with victims, advocates, and police. Its the best story on our local crisis so far. Please check it out.
Joe Biden has dispatched Kamala Harris to deal with the Ukraine crisis. This is somewhat like sending a kid with a squirt gun to try to extinguish a burning building, only perhaps more futile. Here Kamala dispenses her wisdom banality on the Ukraine situation while wearing a ridiculous face mask. You may have noticed that Vladimir Putin did not wear a mask while announcing his virtual annexation of part of Ukraine:

Sending perpetually unprepared Kamala Harris over to attempt to quell a geopolitical crisis is such an outrageous move. https://t.co/AGTPniL2yd  Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) February 21, 2022



The idea that anything Kamala Harris does could impact the geopolitics of Eastern Europe is so ridiculous that not even a Democrat could believe it.
Today Vladimir Putin recognized the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic as independent of Ukraine, and ordered Russian troops into the breakaway region to keep the peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.

I see little prospect of a major war, in part for this reason:

It was not immediately clear whether the Russian military action would be regarded by the West as the start of an invasion of Ukraine that the United States and its allies have warned about for weeks since the area was already controlled by Russian-backed separatists and Moscow in practice.

Putin appealed to history in his televised appearance:

In a lengthy televised address packed with grievances against the West, Putin, looking visibly angry, described Ukraine as an integral part of Russias history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian lands and that he was confident the Russian people would support his decision.

***

In his address, Putin delved into history as far back as the Ottoman empire and as recent as the tensions over NATOs eastward expansion  a major irritant for Moscow in the present crisis.

There has been talk of a summit between Putin and Joe Biden, but Putin evidently decided there was no need to wait:

Moscows action may well torpedo a last-minute bid for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine.

***

Hours earlier, French President Emmanuel 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 hasnt happened.

Has an invasion happened? It depends on the meaning of the word invasion.

Psaki said measures being rolled out in response to Putins decree were separate from sanctions the United States and its allies have been readying if Russia invades Ukraine.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it seems to me that there is no force in the vicinity that can seriously oppose this Russian action. The diplomacy being engaged in by the likes of Emmanuel Macron and the threats issued by Boris Johnsons and Joe Bidens administrations are pretty much irrelevant, the only question being whether the Russians deem the value of the territory acquired, plus the gain in Russian prestige, to exceed the cost of whatever financial sanctions may temporarily be in place.

In his speech, Putin declared that the moves he announced today should have been made a long time ago. They could, in any event, have been made some time ago, and perhaps their timing has something to do with the fact that the U.S. is more or less without a president. Although, to be fair, I doubt that any president could have done much if push had come to shove. Realistically, I think our best hope is that Putin does not proceed to annex the rest of Ukraine.

UPDATE WITHOUT COMMENT: This is via Ed Driscoll at InstaPundit:
JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The South African police arrested a total of 202 suspects for cash-in-transit related crimes, recovered 178 high-performance vehicles and 104 firearms since February 2020, said National Commissioner of Police Khehla Sitole on Tuesday.

Sitole was giving an update about the cash-in-transit crimes following the establishment of the task team to deal with such cases across the country in February 2020.

He said the team managed to arrest the top 13 most-wanted criminals, recovered 59 pistols and 48 rifles. The latest arrest happened on Monday afternoon when the police shot dead eight suspects, arrested 10 and seized six AK47 machine guns, three rifles, and explosives.

"The multidisciplinary team ought to be commended for their hard work and dedication in pursuing these criminals in the latest breakthrough. This latest incident ought to send a clear message to all criminals that we are coming for all of them and that there is no longer a space for criminals to operate freely in South Africa. I also take this opportunity to wish all injured a speedy recovery," said Sitole.

He stated that those who were arrested on Monday were armed suspects who were going to commit cash-in-transit robbery and were intercepted by the police. They are looking for those who fled and urged the public to assist the police with information. 
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Of all the great men of the revolutionary era to whom we owe our freedom, Washingtons greatness was the rarest and the most needed. At this remove in time, it is also the hardest to comprehend.

Take, for example, Washingtons contribution to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Washingtons mere presence lent the undertaking and its handiwork the legitimacy that resulted in success. The conventions first order of business was the election of a presiding officer. Washington was the delegates unanimous choice.

Presiding over the convention during that fateful summer, Washington said virtually nothing. In his excellent book on Washington, Richard Brookhiser notes: The esteem in which Washington was held affected his fellow delegates first of allWashington did not wield the power he possessed by speaking. Apart from his lecture on secrecy, Washington did not address the Convention between the first day and the last.

The esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens was similarly crucial to the implementation of the Constitution during his presidency. In 1790 Rhode Island became the thirteenth state to ratify the Constitution. To mark the occasion, President Washington made a ceremonial visit to Newport when Congress recessed in August. Newport welcomed Washington with open arms. In Newport on August 18, according to James Thomas Flexner, Washington completely fatigued the company by briskly walking, fortified by the wine and punch served in four different houses along his route, from nine in the morning until one in the afternoon.

In anticipation of Washingtons visit to Newport, the members of Americas oldest Jewish congregation prepared a letter welcoming Washington for presentation to him at a public event on the morning of August 18. The letter was authorized by the congregations board and signed by its president, Moses Seixas. It is Washingtons magnificent letter responding to Seixas that that has become famous as one of the classic statements of religious toleration in America.

The congregations letter to Washington is not so well known, although the most prominent line in Washingtons letter echoes that letter. By far the most striking feature of the congregations letter is its expression of sheer gratitude to Washington himself and to America for the freedom and equal rights the congregants had attained as American citizens. Here is the congregations letter:

Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits ~~ and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to NewPort. With pleasure we reflect on those days ~~ those days of difficulty, and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword, ~~ shielded Your head in the day of battle: ~~ and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit, who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States. Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People ~~ a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance ~~ but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: ~~ deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine: ~~ This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, doing whatever seemeth him good. For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men ~~ beseeching him, that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised Land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life: ~~ And, when, like Joshua full of days and full of honour, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality. Done and Signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in NewPort, Rhode Island August 17th 1790. Moses Seixas, Warden

Today, as we contend with the contemporary equivalent of the Babylonish empire, let us send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days for this indispensable man. (First posted February 2006.)
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has been granted a $100 million facility by United Kingdoms CDC Group as a lifeline targeting businesses owned by women, under-banked and underserved groups in the country, the development finance institution said on its website on Monday

The cash will help ease the pangs of small businesses facing the pressure to thrive, while at least $30 million of the outlay goes to women entrepreneurs.

In addition, CDC/BII will support FirstBank with a technical assistance programme which will build on the Banks knowledge base of the women-led and women-owned businesses in its portfolio, strengthening the Banks technical capabilities and ability to reinforce its commitment to gender-based initiatives, the statement said.

Last year, CDC Group with focus on developing countries set out to plough in $1 billion in investment opportunities in Africa alone, parts of it in finance and infrastructure.

The gender gap in financial inclusion in Africas most populous country remains broad, with just 45 per cent of the female adult population having access to formal financial services in contrast to 56 per cent of male, according to EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2020 Survey..

FirstBank plans to disburse the fund by way of its vast branch network of 700 service outlets, while also utilising the services of its 150,000 agency banking operators for this purpose.

READ ALSO: First Bank gets new executive directors

This facility will channel our flexible and long-term capital toward expanding the financial solutions made available to women entrepreneurs, who are often the drivers of small business ideas and services to their communities, Nick ODonohoe, CDC Groups chief stated.

The managing director of FirstBank, Adesola Adeduntan is optimistic his organisations synergy with CDC Group will advance Nigerias oldest lenders commitment to backing women-led businesses in Africa.

Beyond the mutual benefits this partnership offers to both organisations, this transaction offers yet, another occasion for FirstBank to contribute immensely, to the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.
As the 2023 general elections draw closer, a Nollywood filmmaker, Pascal Atuma, has urged Nigerians to look beyond religious and ethnic lines while casting their votes in the coming elections.

The socially-conscious filmmaker, based in Canada, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Atuma, whose most recent film, Clash, topped the Netflix charts in July 2021, said Nigeria has failed to achieve her full potential due to a wrong leadership choice.

He wrote: As grateful as I am, I also have mixed feelings because of the adverse effects of tribalism, religious intolerance, bitter politics, and corruption in Nigeria, my country of birth. We have failed to attain our full potential mainly due to bad choices in choosing some of our past leaders.

I encourage all Nigerians not to vote along religious, ethnic, and tribal lines come 2023, and youths must rise and save Nigeria. The older adults are almost close to their heavens; the younger generation should say no to crumbs while our leaders bury Nigeria and the future of Nigeria before they depart.

Youth participation

Mr Atuma, whose breakout directorial debut, My American Nurse, premiered in the United States at the 2006 Pan African Film Festival, also actively encouraged Nigerian youths to participate in the forthcoming elections.

He noted that if Nigeria must progress, we must eradicate tribalism and unite the centrifugal forces into forces of Nigeria beyond ethnic and sectional sentiments in the choice of candidates into public office.

He wrote: Unity is the ability to pull towards a common goal at a given time. Ethnic and tribal divides are common amongst most Countries of the world, but weaponizing Ethnicity is more prevalent in 3rd World Countries where leaders take advantage of tribal sentiments to appeal to sectional support. Evidence abounds that such leaders hardly can mobilize the entire countrys potential for growth and development. Our inability to unite our country has affected our country negatively. Therefore, inefficient governance is a direct result and Correlation of tribalism in Nigeria.

According to Mr Atuma, when tribalism clouds our judgment, we make bad choices of leaders, thereby making it extremely difficult for the best hands and professionals to participate in building a nation.

Tribalism will raise primordial favors above rewards for good jobs done, creating a downward slope for Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and hence impoverishment is imminent. Therefore, if Nigeria must progress, we must eradicate tribalism. Lets unite the Centrifugal forces of Nigeria beyond ethnic and sectional sentiments in the choice of candidates into public office.

Development and wealth do not speak the language of Ethnicity; Growth and development speak a universal language. Therefore, if Nigeria can look for the best men and women irrespective of tribe or religion, we will have a chance to rebuild Nigeria from its present ruins caused by years of Ethnic Politics and confusing religion.

As a director, hes helmed most of his movie productions. As an actor, he starred in several of his productions, as well as other projects including Sweet Revenge (Winner 2018, Kevin Harts Laugh Out Loud, Just For Laughs Eat my Shorts Lions Gate Competition). Bloodlines, LAPD African Cops, The Other Side of Love, My American Nurse, Faithfulness, and Secret Past, Amongst others
The United Kingdom (UK) on Monday through its minister for Africa announced the payment of 210,610 pounds (about N120 million) as fraud compensation to the government of Nigeria.

This is following a four-year corruption investigation led by the UKs Serious Fraud Office relating to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector by Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.

The government of the UK represented by Ms Ford and the Nigerian government represented by Benjamin Okolo, solicitor-general of the federation, signed a memorandum of understanding on the utilisation of the money.

Mr Okolo said the signing of the MoU is a signal that the UK anti-bribery act will lead to a substantial return of illegally acquired profits, by businesses, to developing countries.

We are grateful that you deemed it necessary to return this fund even though Nigeria did not participate in its negotiation. It shows the UKs commitment to the global effort to tackle illicit financial flow and prohibit bribery in international business, he added.

Ms Ford in turn noted that the security and defence dialogue held earlier this month between both countries reaffirmed their commitment to work together to tackle illicit financial flows, bribery and corruption.

The UK has a zero-tolerance policy to corruption and we hope that todays signing sends a clear statement about our commitment to this, she said.

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, special assistant to the Nigerian president on justice reforms and international relations, said the funds will be invested in the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Abuja-Kaduna expressway projects.

Origin of the compensation money

The money was obtained through a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA), which is when a prosecutor agrees to defer prosecution in exchange for the defendant agreeing to fulfil certain requirements such as accepting criminal liability for offences and paying the appropriate compensation. In this case, the DPA was agreed with Amec Foster Wheeler (AFWEL), relating to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector.

According to the UKs Serious Fraud Office, AFWEL took responsibility for ten offences of corruption relating to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector by the legacy Foster Wheeler business. The offences spanned from 1996 to 2014 and took place across the world, in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India and Brazil.

In the July 2021 ruling by Lord Justice Edis, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, Lisa Osofsky, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said, over a period of 18 years, Foster Wheeler Energy Limited brazenly and calculatedly paid bribes to officials around the world to cut corners and secure contracts, going to great lengths to conceal its corrupt conduct.

In doing so, the company subverted the rule of law and harmed the integrity of the economy in the United Kingdom. We will continue to deliver justice for the taxpayer by punishing such actions and forcing companies to change for the better.

Justice also means recovering money to compensate victims wherever possible, and I am delighted that we have been able to secure compensation for the Nigerian victims in this case.

Offence

Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, (incorporated in England and Wales under registered number 01361134 and known at the time of the alleged offending as Foster Wheeler Energy Limited), between March 1, 1996, and June 30, 2004, conspired with certain of its employees and others to make corrupt payments to officials in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, the Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as an inducement or reward to ensure that payments were made to Foster Wheeler Management Operations (UK) for invoices submitted under contracts for services in Nigeria.

Also, between November 1, 2003, and May 30, 2004, the firm conspired with certain of its employees and others to make corrupt payments to Nigerian police and tax officials as an inducement and reward to settle an allegation of tax evasion against Foster Wheeler (Nigeria) Limited (incorporated in Nigeria under registered number 12992).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed a former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, as the Chairperson of the partys Anambra State Ward Congresses Electoral Appeal Panel.

The party disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, on Monday.

Mr Ologunagba said the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) constituted the appeal panel to consider appeals arising from the conduct of the ward congresses in Anambra.

He said that Umar El-Gash would serve as Secretary, while Esther Uduehi, Mulikat Akande and Ubandoma Laven will serve as members

The exercise is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23 at the NWC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja at 10 a.m.

It advised all aspirants, leaders and critical stakeholders of the party in Anambra to take note.

The ward congresses would be held between February 19 and 25.

The exercise is scheduled to hold in all the 326 wards of Anambra State.

(NAN)
Some civil society organisations in the country on Tuesday in Abuja protested the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The National Assembly had on January 31 transmitted a clean copy of the reworked Electoral Bill to Mr Buhari for assent.

But worried by the inaction of the president, the organisations declared February 26 as a day for national protest to demand immediate assent to the bill.

Among the organisations that protested were Partners for Electoral Reform, Nigeria Civil Society Room, Yiaga Africa, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, International Press Institute, Cleen Foundation, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Enough is Enough and the Electoral Hub.

Others were Institute for Media and Society, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Liberty, Labour Civil Society Coalition, Transition Monitoring Group, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Centre for Disability, and The Albino Foundation.

Women in Politics, Take Back Nigeria Movement, 100 Women Lobby Group, Raising New Voices, Ready to Lead Africa and Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa also took part in the protest.

The organisations gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja for several hours during which they condemned the delay by the president to sign the bill into law.

In a statement they jointly signed during the protest, the 25 CSOs asked the president to sign the bill within the 30 days timeline and thereafter propose any amendments if he so desired as he did to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Further amendments to the Electoral Bill 2022 can be proposed after assent has been granted. It is within the Presidents prerogative to propose amendments after signing the bill like he did in the case of the Petroleum Industry Bill and 2022 Appropriation bill, an act which attracted commendation.

We call on President Buhari to sign the Electoral bill into law on or before the expiration of the 30 days timeline on the 1st March 2022 to enable INEC to issue Notice of Election and release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, the statement said.

Clause 28 (1) of the bill requires INEC to issue notice of election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for an election.

Speaking on the protest, the Deputy Director at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Mboho Eno, said signing the bill will be to the credit of the president and that it would give the nation a new breath of fresh air in the electoral process.

It is an opportunity for the president to speak loudly that he is a President for the citizens and he listens. He should not see the call by the CSOs as playing cheap politics as opined by his special adviser  Femi Adesina  yesterday, he said.

CSOs are partners in nation-building and they are playing their roles like that. CSOs pressure or not, Nigeria deserves a new, improved and citizen-friendly which the new bill represents he said.

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The National Assembly transmitted the reworked Electoral Bill to Mr Buhari on January 31.

In December last year, the president had rejected the bill earlier sent to him on November 19, citing his disagreement with the provision of only direct mode of primaries in the bill.

The legislators, upon their resumption from the Christmas/New Year, reworked the bill and included other modes of primary elections, namely indirect and consensus.

A day before the protest, the Presidency had berated the organisations, alleging that they wanted to cash in on the delay by the president to foment civil disorder and muddy the waters.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a television interview, assured that Mr Buhari would assent to the bill any moment from now.

If the president declines to assent to the bill, it would be the fifth time he would do so since 2018.

In March 2018, he rejected the bill on grounds that it could usurp the powers of the electoral umpire, INEC. In July of the same year, he rejected the bill citing drafting issues.

In September, he failed to act on the bill until the time frame elapsed. In December, his reason was that it was too close to the 2019 general elections.
Ahmed Hassan* did not visit Government College Funtua for several years after he retired as the schools principal. Arriving on an invitation to an event at the school recently, he was so shocked by what he found on the ground that he vowed never to set foot on the school again.

I shed tears and I told the principal and some of his staff that they should never invite me to any function again. When I retired, the school was still among the best. The structures were still good. But now the situation is heartbreaking. I could not believe it was the same school I managed. Wallahi I shed tears over what I saw.

Illustrious history

What is known today as Government College Funtua was established in 1940 as an elementary school by the British colonial authorities. It was the first school in the Funtua zone of Katsina State. In 1962, two years after Nigerias independence, the school was elevated to a provincial secondary school. It was later renamed Government Secondary School Funtua, and finally Government College Funtua by the Governor Ibrahim Shema administration in 2008.

Mr Shema also changed the school from boarding to a day school. Many people, including Mr Hassan, said that singular decision changed the fortune of the school.

In its illustrious history, Government College Funtua had produced some prominent Nigerians, including the current Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari; former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; former military governor of Borno, Abdulmuminu Aminu; Sadiq Mahuta (former chief judge of Katsina and district head of Malumfashi), the current Chief Judge of the state, Musa Danladi, and Umar Maska, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission in the state.

But today, many of the old students may not recognise the school. The classrooms are dilapidated with broken ceilings, doors, windows and blackboards. There are mostly no desks.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt from several ex-students of the school that the number of students has dropped drastically from what it was in the glorious days of the school. An official in the examination unit of the school said it currently has 1,200 students.

This school used to have more than 3,000 students. But the school has been split into pilot and government secondary school but that doesnt mean parents are happy with the school these days, the official said, asking not to be named as he has no permission to talk to journalists. All the current officials of the school interviewed for this report gave the same reason when asking that their names not be mentioned for this report.

Another alumnus of the school, who is now a journalist with Vision FM in Katsina, Abdullahi Fikra, said before he graduated in 1996, parents were falling over themselves to get their children into this school.

We cannot fault Masari alone, Mr Hassan said. Because when Shema wanted to convert some of the boarding schools to day, the ministry advised him not to but he went ahead to do his wish. Boarding schools are better taken care of in our society today. Go and see how what used to be the hostels have become now.

Rats, lizards and students share classrooms

During a recent visit to the school, a senior academic staff conducted PREMIUM TIMES around the vast school compound.

Two rats raced across the wall into the ceiling as the reporter and the teacher walked into a classroom. There were only two desks in the classroom and the blackboard was broken. The teacher said students had become used to rats dropping from the broken ceilings of classrooms during lessons. There were no desks in most of the classrooms and all the blackboards were broken. In some of the classrooms, a portion of the building was painted black as makeshift blackboards.

The exterior of some of the laboratories, especially the one for woodwork, was overgrown by grass while thick cobwebs hung from all corners of the laboratories. The ceilings are also broken and reek of bats droppings.

We still use all these laboratories, the teacher said. One of the reasons why students dont like practical sessions is because of the conditions of the laboratories.

Apart from the classrooms, PREMIUM TIMES observed that most other buildings in the school were in various stages of collapse. From the central administrative block to the teachers offices and classrooms down to the laboratories, no building was spared from cracks.

Some classrooms were renovated by members of the schools old students association while the only usable computer laboratory was repaired by MTN Foundation.

If these buildings were not made by the British, they would have all collapsed by now. But instead of them (government) to manage them, look at how they left them, a senior non-academic official of the school told PREMIUM TIMES.

The toilets too are all dilapidated, making it difficult for staff and students to use them conveniently.

An overwhelming majority of residents of Katsina are Muslims and it is not uncommon for schools in the state to have mosques in them so the staff and students can go there to pray. However, the only mosque in the Funtua school area has been abandoned and was overgrown by grass, though the security guard said students and some of the staff still use it.

During the visit, the reporter observed a teacher walking out of the school gate to observe his afternoon prayers.

We dont have a functioning mosque to pray. The one in the classes area is also in a total stage of dilapidation, the teacher said.

He said the teachers twice tried to gather money to repair the mosque but to no avail.

Katsina Hoodlums hideout

Because the hostels are no longer being used by students, the cracks are more evident there. Faeces passed by humans, bats and other animals littered the six hostels.

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A security man at the school, who gave his name as Adamu, said the hostels had become a hideout for hoodlums. Mr Adamu, who conducted this reporter round the hostel area, said criminals and hoodlums hide in the hostels before and after committing crimes.

I have informed the school authorities but there is also nothing they can do about it because the fence of the school is no longer effective. As you can see when you came in, the fence has cracks in virtually every corner, so how do we manage who comes in or goes out?

The abandoned hostels are named Galadima, Sarkin Maska, Faskari, Bakori, Magaji, Makama, Sabuwa and Dandume.

This reporter crossed the school fence through a hole in the fence and noticed some boys going through the hole to neighbouring buildings such as Funtua Housing Quarters (Shema quarters), Shema Housing Quarters, Shagari Low-cost, Zamfarawa and Jabiri areas.

Musa Yusuf lives in Shema Housing Quarters. He said hoodlums taking refuge in the abandoned hostels were always terrorising them.

On several occasions, we lost a lot of our properties to the criminals living in the school. As you can see, you too followed through one of the cracks in the fence which brought you here. That is how the bad boys do, he said.

Mr Yusuf added that many residents had left the area because of incessant burglary and minor attacks.

Some fear that their daughters could be raped because of how bad the situation is, he said.

Its disheartening

A former student of the school, Abdurahman Ado, who graduated in 1999, said it has become a ghost of its former self.

I know how good products of the school used to be. Today, the environment is not conducive for students to learn because equipment for practicals is not there. How can students learn under broken and leaking roofs?

Mr Ado called for a total renovation of the school.

Restoration agenda and huge budgetary allocations to education

In the build-up to the 2015 Katsina governorship election in which he was elected governor, Mr Masari titled his campaign the restoration agenda with a promise to revive the key sectors in the state. He mentioned education as the top in the list of prioritised sectors to be revamped.

The state government, from 2016 to date, allocated huge sums to the sector in its budgets. According to official data, in 2016, Mr Masari budgeted N22.2 billion while N16 billion was budgeted in 2017. In 2018, he budgeted N42.4 billion and N19 billion in 2019. Education got N24.5 billion in 2020 and N19 billion for this year.

During the 2017 budget presentation, Mr Masari said his government had spent about N3 billion on construction, rehabilitation, renovation and upgrade of secondary schools for the 2016/2017 fiscal year. The government did not provide the list of the schools that benefitted from the expenditure but apparently, Government College Funtua did not benefit.

The Commissioner of Education in the state, Badamasi Charanci, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him by this reporter on the situation of the school.

After several visits to Mr Charancis office at the Bello Kofar Bai State Secretariat, this reporter could not meet the commissioner. Officials of the ministry refused to provide the reporter with information on the schools renovated or built by Mr Masari and how the education budgets were spent since 2016.

A former chairman of the ex-students association of the school, Abdulmuminu Aminu, who is a retired colonel and former military governor of Katsina State, and the incumbent chairman of the association, Musa Danladi, also did not respond to SMS and calls seeking their comments on what the association was doing to help the school.

We construct over 2000 classrooms  Masari defends Restoration Agenda

In November 2020, during an education summit organised by the state government, Mr Masari said his administration had not derailed from its core campaign promises of restoring the glory of Katsina State, especially in the education sector.

The governor, who was represented by Mannir Yakubu, his deputy, said there was the establishment and construction of seven new secondary schools in Katsina State. This is in addition to rehabilitation of 38 secondary schools and partial renovation of 37 schools due to storm damages and dilapidations.

He said the state government had committed a lot of resources to the education sector from 2015 to date.

He added that the sector has witnessed holistic revolution in the areas of infrastructural development, staff employment as well capacity building of teaching and non-teaching staff.

The deputy governor said: In the Basic Education Sub Sector, this administration has constructed and rehabilitated over 2,294 classrooms, 1334 offices and store were renovated. There is also the upgrading of 12 primary schools into storey buildings.

Also 930 toilets were constructed in various primary schools across the state aimed at improving the sanitary condition of both pupils and teachers. This is in addition to drilling of 70 boreholes in some primary schools in the state, he said.

*Not real name. The subject asked not to be named because he still serves as a consultant to the Ministry of Education in the state.
The Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved March 26 for the National Convention of the party.

John Akpankudohede, the national secretary of the CECPC, said this when he spoke with journalists shortly after the committees closed-door meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The party had earlier in the day written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponing its national convention initially slated for February 26.

It also told the commission that it would conduct its zonal congresses on March 26.

But Mr Akpankudohede said after Mondays meeting of the CECPC that activities for the national convention would commence on February 24.

After deliberation and agreement with the CECPC, we have agreed and approved that the activities of the the partys National Convention will commence on February 24 and terminate on March 26 at Eagle Square with the National Convention.

In between the convention, we have agreed to have zonal congresses, he said.

Mr Akpankudohede said the congresses would hold in line with the timetable and schedule of events released by the party.

The activities, according to him, will hold as follows:

On Thursday, February 24, publication of zonal committees. On Saturday, Feb.26, meeting of zonal stakeholders.

From Monday, Feb. 28 to Thursday, March 3, sales of forms for zonal positions. On Saturday, March 5, screening of zonal aspirants.

On Sunday, March 6, Screening Appeal. On Tuesday, March 8, adoption of screening report.

On Saturday,March 12, Zonal congresses. Monday, March 14, Zonal congresses appeal.

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On Wednesday, March 16, adoption of appeal report, he said.

Monday, Feb. 28, Publication of National Convention Sub-Committees. From Wednesday, March 9 to Friday, March 11, Sales of Forms.

From Tuesday March 15 to Thursday March 17, screening of aspirants, Saturday, March 19, Screening Appeal. Monday, March 21, adoption of Appeal Report.

From Thursday, March 24 to Friday, March 25, accreditation. Saturday, March 26, Convention.

Tuesday, March 29 Convention Appeal. Wednesday, March 30, Adoption of Appeal Report. Thursday, March 31, Inauguration.

Mr Akpankudohede said the schedule of activities was in pursuant to Article 12.6 of the APC Constitution.
A police sergeant, Adeleke Ogunsola, on Saturday died in the compound of the former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, in the Sagamu area of the state.

The police officer reportedly died after one of the drivers of Mr Daniel knocked him down while he (the police officer) was trying to open the gate to the former governors private residence, popularly known as Asoludero Court.

Mr Ogunsola was one of the police officers posted to Mr Daniels house.

Mr Daniel governed Ogun State between 2003 and 2011.

After he was knocked down, the police officer was rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

A police source who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said, Every VIP is expected to have a gatekeeper, even before policemen are sent to their houses strictly for protection sake.

The source did not want to be named because he was not a police spokesperson.

Why will an armed policeman be the one opening a gate? Why will politicians turn the police into their slaves? the source continued.

When an officer refused to be used as a gateman in the house, they call the DPO that he should change him and he is redeployed.

A policeman bearing arm will be asked to open gate; drivers, civilians and Daniel himself will be telling officers to open gate. If there is a gatekeeper in that house, this will not happen.

This was a man who left his home for work on Saturday morning, but he died in a mysterious circumstance.

It is so unfortunate that our bosses in this job are not speaking the truth because of what they want to eat. Imagine, officers posted to that Gbenga Daniels residence are paid N2,500 weekly.

Now that guy has died. What will he give to his family that will replicate the life of that officer? We are tired of this job.

Steve Oliyide, a media aide to Mr Daniel, when contacted, promised to call back but never did hours later.

Police response

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police spokesperson in Ogun State, confirmed the incident, adding that it was an accident and can happen to anybody.

We dont know the circumstances that led to him opening the gate. We were not with him on duty, Mr Oyeyemi continued.

It might be that the gate, maybe the gate is of two arms, somebody will be opening the first arm, another person opens the other. Its possible.

If hes not armed as of the time, he can help in opening the gate. But were not there with him. We dont know the circumstances that led to him opening the gate.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered Russian troops into Eastern Ukraine to maintain peace in two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, hours after the Russian president recognised them as independent entities, Al Jazeera reported.

In two official decrees, Mr Putin instructed the countrys defence ministry to assume the function of maintaining peace in the eastern regions, which it has backed since 2014.

The West has repeatedly warned Russia not to recognise the separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk  a move that effectively buries a fragile peace process in the region.

Mr Putins announcement paved the way for Russia to openly send troops and weapons to an area witnessing a long-running conflict between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed rebels.

The U.S. said calling them peacekeepers was nonsense, and accused Russia of creating a pretext for war. Several Western countries have announced sanctions in response.

Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said his country was not afraid of anything or anyone.

In a late-night televised address to the nation, President Zelensky called for clear and effective actions of support from Ukraines international allies.

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, BBC quoted Mr Zelensky saying.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that fears of an invasion have been rising in recent months, as Russia had massed some 150,000 troops along Ukraines borders, according to U.S. estimates.

At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield dismissed Russias claims that troops would be taking on a peacekeeping role, saying: We know what they really are.

Recognising Luhansk and Donetsk as independent was part of Russias bid to create a reason to invade Ukraine, she said.

World leaders React

Western leaders have rallied behind Ukraine, promising tough sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraines territory.

The U.S. has condemned Mr Putins move, and President Joe Biden signed an executive order that prohibits new investment, trade and financing by Americans in the breakaway regions. The White House said the measures were separate to wider sanctions which are ready to go should Russia further invade Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia had violated Ukrainian sovereignty and completely torn up international law. He said Mr Putin appeared bent on a full-scale invasion, and promised a barrage of sanctions. Already the UK has announced sanctions on some of Russias largest banks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was halting the process of certifying the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline because of Russias actions. The gas pipeline between Russia and Germany was completed last September but is not yet operating. Running under the Baltic Sea, it would double Moscows gas exports to Germany and circumvent Ukraine, which relies on existing pipelines for income.

The European Union pledged to react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine.

Although there are fears that the Russian action could lead to a full-blown war in the region, so far there has been no such inter-nation military conflict.

The NATO debacle

Russias actions in Ukraine are not new. Russia in 2014 annexed Crimea, which was part of Ukraine, after a Russia-aligned Ukrainian president was controversially forced out of power.

Russia had repeatedly demanded a guarantee that its neighbour, Ukraine, would not be allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which Russia says threatens its rise.

However, Western countries, led by the U.S., have repeatedly insisted that it is left for Ukraine to decide whether or not it wants to join the U.S.-led NATO and have refused to grant Russia the guarantee it seeks.
KHARTOUM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese authorities on Monday released 36 detainees from Soba Prison, who had been arrested in demonstrations in capital Khartoum during recent weeks, according to Sudanese Lawyers Committee.

"Those released from Soba prison are political prisoners who were arrested in connection with the recent protests," the committee said on its Facebook page on Monday.

They were transferred to police stations in Bahri, Omdurman and Khartoum cities, and were released after completing bails procedures, it added.

Those who were released were part of more than 200 detainees, the lawyers said, pointing out the move was "a camouflage to mislead" the visiting UN Expert on Human Rights in Sudan Adama Dieng.

Dieng arrived in Khartoum on Sunday for a four-day visit, one month after the Sudanese authorities asked for the postponement of his visit.

He met on Monday with Sudan's acting Justice Minister Mohamed Saeed al-Hilu, and will also meet with senior Sudanese government officials, representatives of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, heads of UN entities, and diplomats, according to the UN human rights commission in Sudan.

Dieng was appointed in November 2021 to monitor the human rights situation in Sudan.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the General Commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.

Since then, opposition groups have been staging regular mass protests in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other cities to demand civilian rule. 
Governor Udom Emmanuel has sacked his Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen, amidst political tension in Akwa Ibom State.

The sack was announced on Tuesday via a letter from the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, to Mr Inyangeyen who has been having political differences with Governor Emmanuel.

Mr Inyangeyen, hitherto a close friend of Governor Emmanuel, was first appointed commissioner for work before he was moved to the position of chief of staff.

The government, however, said the sack had to do with competencies.

Given the urgent need to match skillset and competences to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required and you are hereby relieved of your position as chief of staff, the SSG, Mr Ekuwem, said in the letter.

You are therefore directed to hand over all property of the government in your position, to the Secretary to the State Government, he added.

Mr Inyangeyen recently declared interest to contest the 2023 senatorial election for the Akwa Ibom South District, against the wishes of Governor Emmanuel who, with other political leaders in the state, zoned the seat to a different area, Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.

Besides, the former chief of staff is said to be supporting the governorship ambition of Bassey Albert, a senator from the state, against Governor Emmanuels preferred successor, Eno Umo.

Mr Inyangeyens security officials were withdrawn on Sunday after he said, during a political outing on Saturday, that he was not to be blamed for the non-completion of a road project in the state. Some politicians accused him of attacking the governor in the remarks.

Inyangeyen reacts

Mr Inyangeyen has issued a quick reaction to his sack.

The former chief of staff, in a statement , on Tuesday, thanked Governor Emmanuel for giving him the opportunity to serve in his administration.

I am grateful to him for having found me worthy to hold the two positions (commissioner for works and later chief of staff) in his administration. And I am pleased I made a positive impact while I served, he said.

He thanked his former colleagues in the cabinet and the people of Akwa Ibom, and said he remained loyal to Mr Emmanuel and would continue to support the governors completion agenda.

I wish to state emphatically that Ill continue to work for the betterment of our dear state wherever I find myself in future.

My love for the state and our people remains unquenchable, he said.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned the N738 million pension fraud trial of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

This was due to the failure of the officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abuja, where he is currently serving a jail term, to produce him for the trial.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had, in November last year, jailed Mr Maina for eight years for money laundering involving the diversion of N2 billion in pension funds.

The trial judge, Okon Abang, had convicted Mr Maina on all the 12 counts of money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja commenced just about a month before the ongoing trial at the FCT High Court started in November 2019.

In the case pending at the FCT High Court, the EFCC charged him and his co-defendant, one Ann Igwe Olachi, with nine counts of stealing various sums of money totalling N738million belonging to the federal government.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants stole the funds under the guise of payments for the contract for biometric enrollment of pensioners, and payments for allowances, among others.

Some of the offences were said to be punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, vol. 4, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007.

Court hearing

Mr Maina was absent from Tuesdays proceedings and the officials of the correctional service who usually produced him in court for the case were also absent.

The trial judge, Abubakar Idris, referred to a letter of a hospital in Gwagwalada, Abuja, but did not read out the content of the document to provide clarity about Mr Mainas whereabouts.

The prosecuting lawyer, Attah Ocholi, and the defence lawyers, Anayo Adibe, representing Mr Maina, and K.O. Balogun, representing the second defendant, said they were unaware of the letter.

Mr Adibe said Mr Mainas presence in court was critical for the proceedings to go on.

In his remarks, Mr Kutigi requested the prosecution to communicate with the correctional service department over Mr Mainas whereabouts.

As a result, the judge adjourned the matter until April 27.

Tales of a fugitive

Mr Maina, notorious for jumping bail to evade trial, is accused of perpetrating monumental fraud in the pension scheme of the federal civil service.

He initially fled Nigeria in 2013 after the government of former President Jonathan launched an investigation into the pension fraud traced to him as the head of the pension reform task force team. He ironically took the position in 2010 to sanitise the pension scheme in the federal civil service.

He reportedly sneaked back to the county in 2017 and retreated again after PREMIUM TIMES exposed the move by the government to quietly reinstate him to the civil service.

He was later arrested on September 30, 2019, alongside his son, Faisal, in Abuja, by the State Security Service (SSS).

Charged at the Federal High Court in Abuja with 12 counts of money laundering involving diversion of pension funds, Mr Maina pleaded not guilty and was subsequently granted bail by the trial judge, Okon Abang.

His son, Faisal, was similarly charged before the same judge on charges involving diversion of pension funds.

Mr Maina jumped bail in 2020 causing the judge to detain his surety, Ali Ndume, a serving senator, for a few days.

He would later be rearrested in Niger Republic and brought back to continue facing his trial in December 2020.

The judge found him guilty of the alleged offences and jailed him eight years in November last year.

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His son, Faisal, who also jumped bail in the course of his trial, was equally convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in absentia in October last year.
Barely 24-hours after a federal judge declined to grant bail to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, another judge has compounded his woes by approving a request by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to detain Mr Kyari and six others for two weeks.

The NDLEA is investigating Mr Kyari, a suspended deputy commissioner of police; and some other police officers, for their alleged involvement in a 25 kilogrammes cocaine deal.

The other suspects are Sunday Ubia, an assistant commissioner of police; James Bawa, an assistant superintendent of police; Simon Agirigba, a police inspector; John Nuhu, police inspector, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alfonsus Ezenwanne.

On Tuesday, Zainab Abubakar, a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, granted an application by the anti-narcotics agency to detain the seven suspects pending further investigation.

Ruling

The court gave the order following the NDLEAs application which was argued by the agencys Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Sunday Joseph, on Tuesday.

The agency had in the ex-parte application dated February 15, 2022, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2022, sought the leave of the court to detain the suspects in NDLEA custody for 14 days pending the conclusion of an investigation.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, the NDLEA stated that the 6th and 7th respondents (Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne) confessed upon their arrest in Enugu that they imported the seized cocaine through Addis-Ababa to Enugu on January 19, 2022.

It further disclosed that the 1st to 5th respondents (Messrs Kyari, Ubia, Bawa, Agirigba and Nuhu) are police officers who carried out the arrest of the 6th and 7th respondents and transferred them to NDLEA for further investigation.

That investigation by the NDLEA revealed that the 1st to 5th respondents have compromised the whole operation and were involved in the importation, trafficking, and dealing and also tampered with the recovered cocaine.

That the 1st to 5th respondents have volunteered their statements upon preliminary investigation, which has shown complicity in the case. Copies of statements are hereby attached and marked Annexure NDLEA 4,5,6,7,8, & 9 respectively.

That the investigation will take some time as there are complicated dimensions of the case that require follow-up and unravelling. That the investigation is likely to extend to foreign countries, where some people linked to this trans-national drug trafficking activities reside.

That it is in line with the above that the Applicant is applying to the Honourable Court for a period of 14 days in the first instance to detain the respondents to enable it carry out its investigation successfully.

In her ruling, Mrs Abubakar granted the NDLEAs prayer and directed that the agency should at the expiration of the 14 days detention order either seek an extension, file a charge against the suspects or arraign them before the court.

Mr Kyari and the four other police officers were arrested and handed over to NDLEA on Monday, February 14, by police authorities, five hours after the agency declared him wanted in connection with the drug deal.

Meanwhile, Inyang Ekwo, the Federal High Court judge in Abuja who refused Mr Kyaris bail request had fixed February 24 for a hearing of the full application after ordering Mr Kyaris lawyer to put the NDLEA on notice concerning the pending application.
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised that his party, APC, should pick its next national chairman by consensus rather than the aspirants challenging themselves in a primary election.

Mr Buhari was quoted as saying this by the chairman of the APC governors forum, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, at the State House, Abuja.

Mr Bagudu spoke Tuesday after he and other APC governors held a closed-door meeting with the president.

President Buhari is a believer in consensus as one of the options of producing leaders and he urged us to explore consensus while recognising that many people who have indicated interest are equally competent but only one person will occupy the office at the end of the day.

Consensus is part of our constitution and he urged us to work towards consensus, the Kebbi governor said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that there are at least eight politicians jostling to be the national chairperson of the APC. The list includes former governors and serving senators, many of whom had been campaigning for months to lead the ruling party.

Mr Bagudu defended the presidents preference for a consensus candidate, saying the procedure had been adopted by the party in the past.

We have produced a number of national chairmen by consensus; Bisi Akande emerge as the pioneer chairman of the APC through consensus, John Oyegun emerged by consensus, Adams Oshiomhole emerged by consensus, so the president reminded us of that.

Mr Bagudu said he believes the party will achieve its aim of selecting consensus candidates.

And the governors, I have said earlier, have also been working to ensure that as part of equitable arrangement, zoning and consensus are incorporated. We have done that at the lower levels, and even at the national level its almost certain that we will achieve it, he said.

New date for APC convention

Mr Bagudu also spoke on the March 26 date announced by the interim leadership of the APC for the partys national convention.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the APC, on Monday, adopted March 26 for its elective convention after previous postponements. The new leadership of the party is expected to emerge from the convention.

The date of the convention, the caretaker committee briefed us yesterday of their meeting and the proposed March 26, 2022. And today, the governors informed Mr President that we have had the briefing from the caretaker committee and we are supportive of their position, Mr Bagudu said.

In its announcement on Monday, the APC interim leadership also announced that the party would hold zonal congresses before the national convention. However, critics have said the APC constitution has no provision for zonal congresses.

When asked about this on Tuesday, Mr Bagudu said, I think there has been so much debate. Yesterday, there was a statement to the effect that even the letter that has gone out was withdrawn. So, zonal congresses are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Particularly, how you do zonal congresses. And we have in the past done them with National Convention, but nothing again in the Constitution, stop them from being done outside the national convention. But the final form will be decided, given the input we have provided.

When asked if the controversy surrounding the APC convention had split the governors of the party, the Kebbi governor was evasive.

We are in total support of Mr President, we are appreciative of his leadership, we commend him for his leadership. We are appreciative of the sacrifice of the national caretaker, and extraordinary convention planning committee. And we thanked them for the successes recorded under them. Our party, like I said, is greater and stronger, with more members by the day, he said.

Mr Bagudus counterpart from Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, however, admitted that though the governors were initially divided over the matter, they are now on the same page.

We were divided over the timing of the convention. Some governors felt we should not have the convention until we resolve all the congresses issues in some states. Because, in some of the states, these matters are even in court.

So some governors held the view that we should wait until all these are resolved and that was not borne out of any agenda or selfish interest but just a realistic opposition to avoid violating any laws or putting our party structures or elected candidates in future.

But after our meeting last night to deliberate on the proposal by the national caretaker committee and our briefing with the president today, we are all on the same page, he said.

Mr El-Rufai also said the APC governors had agreed on a zoning formula for elective positions in the party.

We have agreed on a zoning formula for all the six geo-political zones and essentially we swapped the positions, such that now northern zone will take positions that the southern zone had in the last eight years and vice-versa.

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It is a very simple, equitable and fair formula. We will now go back and consult at the zonal level and look at the positions that are available and the process of preparing for the convention will start in earnest, he said.
Nigerias minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, has promised Nigerians that the ongoing one-week-old industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will end before the one month declared by the union.

However, an adamant ASUU has said the strike will continue as the government has failed to fully meet any of his demands.

Mr Ngige, who spoke on Tuesday at the resumed negotiation between the union and the representatives of the government, said the government was surprised by the lecturers decision to embark on strike despite the assurances by the government and the intervention of stakeholders including the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

The minister said, I assure you, this meeting will be a fruitful one.

We brought everybody to the discussion table. We have apprehended the situation. All the disputes. And we expect that from the discussion that we will have today, ASUU will understand that the government does not mean any harm. And even if there were lapses, they are lapses that can be handled without resorting to industrial action.

PREMIUM TIMES had on Monday exclusively reported that the union and the government representatives would resume negotiation on Tuesday as part of efforts towards resolving the conflict.

No demand fully addressed yet  ASUU

But in response to the ministers claim that most of the issues in contention had been addressed by the government, ASUU said none of its demands had been fully met by the government.

The unions president, Emmanuel Osodeke, said several meetings with different agencies of government have also not yielded any positive result.

ASUU said it had met with President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and that despite the promise by them that the issues would be resolved, yet nothing has come out of it.

Mr Osodeke noted that during one of its meetings in October, the ministries of education and finance promised to set up a tripartite committee in two weeks but noted that nothing has been done.

He said Tuesdays meeting was for the union to see action.

This is not a MoA or MoU meeting. We have to see action Mr Osodeke said.

ASUU added that NIREC reached out to the union and conveyed its demands directly to the president in February.

The ASUU president added, They (NIREC) actually met with the government on the 1st of February and they told us that the ministers of labour, education and the chief of staff were mandated to resolve the issue by the president.

When you look at issues in this agreement, you will find out that none, not even one has been fully implemented as we agreed. And that is what led us to where we are.

We are fully ready to discuss. The strike will not last for one month if the government doesnt want it to last for one month.

Meeting will be fruitful

But the minister, who said he was in Botswana when the union embarked on strike, said the government would not allow a situation where the grass suffers when two elephants fight. He was referring to the situation where the students suffer the consequences of strike by the union.

The minister said, I sincerely thought ASUU and the Ministry of Education would have resolved the issues, which hopefully are not major areas of dispute, warranting industrial action. To my surprise , I came back , and the strike is still on. Be that as it may, it is the mandate of my ministry to apprehend industrial disputes wherever they occur and we have apprehended this.

But I must tell you that on the government side, they were taken by surprise. NIREC met with you (ASUU) and reported to the President. Having met with you (ASUU) and having given the details of their meeting with you, we sincerely hoped we wont again take this route of industrial action . So, the government side is taken by surprise- Ministries of Education, Finance and all are taken aback.

Mr Ngige called on the government he serves in to fulfill the timeline of the agreements it signed.

ALSO READ: Reps urge FG to honour agreement with ASUU

He said: I also want the government as much as possible to be factual as far as this negotiation goes because there is nothing as bad as somebody agreeing to do something and put a timeline and that thing is not done.

As a negotiator, it doesnt strengthen my hand because I wear a double cap. I wear a cap of a reconciliator. I wear the cap of a minister of the government of the federation.

Closed-door meeting

The representatives of both the government and ASUU went into a closed-door meeting which was yet to end as of Tuesday night.

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The meeting, which is currently taking place at the conference room of the labour and employment minister, also has, in attendance, representatives of the ministry of communications and digital economy, officials from the office of the head of service, auditor generals office, ministries of education and finance.

Parts of the items lined up for discussions at Tuesdays meeting include Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), revitalisation fund for public universities, promotion arrears, inconsistencies in IPPIS payments, proliferation of state universities, FGN/ASUU 2009 Re-negotiation, the release of white papers on the report of the visitation panels to universities and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Backstory

ASUU had on Monday, February 14, declared a one-month warning strike after its weekend-long National Executive Council meeting at the University of Lagos.

The union had accused the government of consistently failing to meet its demands including signed agreements.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, on Tuesday explained why the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were divided over the timing of the National Convention of the ruling party.

Mr El-Rufai stated this after the governors under the Progressives Governors Forum met President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on pending issues before the convention.

The event had been scheduled for this Saturday until the partys Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) on Monday announced the postponement to March 26.

The committee released a new timetable and schedule of activities for the National Convention and Zonal Congresses in its statement on Monday.

According to the new timetable, activities for the national convention will begin on February 24, with the publication of committees for the zonal congresses.

The sale of forms to aspirants for elective offices will begin on Wednesday, March 9 and end on Friday, March 11.

Meeting with Buhari

Following the meeting with the President on Tuesday, Mr El-rufai acknowledged that the planned convention divided the APC governors.

Yes, we were divided. We were divided over the timing of the convention. Okay, there were some governors that felt that we should put off the convention until we resolve all the congresses issues in some states. As you know, there are issues in some states. So some governors held the view that we should wait until all this is (these are) resolved, he told State House correspondents.

But the governor said the disagreement was not borne out of any agenda or selfishness.

It is just a realistic proposition to avoid us violating any laws or putting our party structures of elected candidates in danger.

So yes, there was (were) differences in opinion about timing. Some of us are saying the Constitution allows us to have convention even if three or four states have issues that are unresolved, while others are saying no, let us finish all the reconciliations and we do this convention.

After all, there is no time limit for the convention as long as we do it before the time for the primaries. So that was the difference. This is what the media has called divided governors.

In a democratic setting, there is no way you can have 22 governors plus the deputy governor of Anambra State agreeing on any issue. We can have differences.

But after our meeting of last night, to deliberate on the proposal by the national caretaker committee, and our briefing with Mr. President today, were all on the same page.

We have agreed on a zoning formula for all the six geopolitical zones and essentially, we swapped, northern zones will take positions that southern zones had in the last eight years and vice versa. So very simple, equitable and fair formula.

We will now go back and consult at the zonal level, and look at the positions that are available and the process of the convention preparation will start in earnest. So by the grace of God on the 26th of March, we will have done a National Convention.

Whether (we) do zonal convention before that, or do it at the same time, again, the constitution is silent. So as our chairman said, we can decide either way, the Kaduna governor said.
A former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, is currently undergoing treatment for infections and hearing complications as well as hypertension, the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has stated.

The hospital also stated that Mr Maina, a convict already serving an eight-year jail term for embezzling N2 billion in pension fund, was scheduled for a brain scan and hearing loss test.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the letter sent by the hospital to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, Abuja, where Mr Maina is undergoing trial for stealing another N738 million pension fund.

The judge, Abubakar Kutigi, referred to the letter, but refused to disclose its content during Tuesdays proceedings.

Mr Maina was absent from the hearing and his whereabouts could not be immediately ascertained by both the prosecution and the defence.

Health conditions

PREMIUM TIMES has, however, obtained a copy of the letter dated February 18, 2022 which was signed by I.O Omonua, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultant surgeon at the hospital.

It summarised Mr Mainas health conditions and his scheduled medical appointments.

The above-named male patient being managed at our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic for the chronic fungal Rhinosinusitis to rule out cancer left maxillary antrum.

There was associated itching in the throat, nose and ear. He complained of frequent recurrent nasal blockage, post nasal drip and difficulty when exposed to dust, perfumes and chemicals, the letter read in part.

The doctor added that Mr Maina has a history of episodes of vertigo, which according to Longman dictionary is a feeling of sickness and dizziness caused by looking down from a high place.

Mr Omonuwa said Mr Mainas vertigo is known to be lasting for a few minutes and (he) has hearing loss in the left ear.

He added that Mr Maina is also hypertensive. Although on drug, he is poorly controlled, the doctor noted.

The letter sent to the court to seek the judges permission to enable Mr Maina to keep appointments with the hospital, added that ex-pension reform boss was scheduled for examinations for hearing loss, brain scan, and pre-operative work-up between February 21 and 23.

He has been booked to conduct hearing loss test on 21/2/2022, IVU procedure on 22/02/2022, and brain CT-Scan on 23/02/2022, for pre-operative workup.

We hereby appeal to you to grant him the privilege of accessing medical care in our facility, the letter added.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Maina was absent from court on Tuesday.

Officials of the prison in Abuja, where he is serving an ongoing eight years sentence for money laundering, were also absent from court.

The judge, Mr Kutigi, made a passing comment about the letter he received from the hospital concerning Mr Maina. He, however, did not disclose the details or even the exact name of the hospital.

In the reaction to the letter, the prosecuting lawyer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Attah Ocholi, as well as the defence lawyers, Anayo Adibe, representing Mr Maina, and K.O. Balogun, representing the second defendant, all said they were unaware of the letter.

This raised concerns about Mr Mainas whereabouts.

Mr Adibe said Mr Mainas presence in court was critical for the proceedings to go on.

But the judge requested the prosecution to communicate with the correctional service department over Mr Mainas whereabouts.

He then adjourned the case until April 27.

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Jailed, second trial continues

The Federal High Court in Abuja had, in November last year, jailed Mr Maina for eight years for money laundering involving the diversion of N2 billion in pension funds.

The trial judge, Okon Abang, had convicted Mr Maina on all the 12 counts of money laundering filed against him by the EFCC.

The trial at the Federal High Cour commenced just about a month before the ongoing trial at the FCT High Court started in November 2019.

In the ongoing case at the FCT High Court, the EFCC charged him and his co-defendant, Ann Olachi, with nine counts of stealing various sums of money totalling N738 million belonging to the federal government.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants stole the funds under the guise of payments for the contract for biometric enrollment of pensioners and payments for allowances, among others.

Some of the offences were said to be punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, vol. 4, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007.

History of ill health

Mr Mainas trial for money laundering at the Federal High Court in Abuja was punctuated by complaints of ill health.

Following his repeated absence from court, the judge in November 2020, declared him to have jumped bail.

As a consequence, the judge imprisoned his surety, Ali Ndume, a serving senator, for some days.

Mr Maina was later rearrested in Niger Republic and brought back to Nigeria in December 2020 for him to continue his trial.

Complaining of leg injury, Mr Maina started appearing consistently on a wheelchair during his subsequent court appearances.

He filed a fresh bail application anchored on ill health. He said in the application that he fled the country to attend to a knee injury.

He said the medical attention helped him to avert leg amputation.

But the then EFCC prosecutor, Mohammed Abubakar, urged the court to dismiss the fresh bail application.

He said Mr Maina was not remorseful, hence did not deserve to be granted another bail.

He also argued that the University of the Abuja Teaching Hospitals medical report relied on by Mr Maina to ask for fresh bail was silent on the knee injury he claimed to have undergone outside the country.

The court in its ruling, dismissed Mr Mainas bail application. He remained in detention till when he was sentenced for an eight-year jail term in November 2021.

He has also been attending his second trial at the FCT High Court from prison.

Mr Mainas son, Faisal, who similarly jumped bail for money laundering involving pension funds, was also jailed in absentia last year.
The Police in Oyo State say they have arrested two suspected vandals of rail tracks at Omi-Adio area of Ibadan.

The command made this known in a statement issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, on Monday in Ibadan.

Mr Osifeso said the arrested persons, who were caught in the act, specialised in trade of harvesting and selling Pandrol (Railroad) clips.

The PPRO said the suspects, aged 20 and 30 respectively, were arrested on Friday at about 6.30 p.m. at Ile-Esho Area, Omi-Adio in Ido Local Government Area as a result of the commands intelligence-driven surveillance.

The Commands Operatives attached to Omi-Adio Divisional Police Headquarters arrested the suspects and recovered 34 Pandrol Clips/Railroad clips, One Fish plate, One Hacksaw and a Damaged Railpot.

The suspects have confessed to the crime and are cooperating with ongoing investigations tailored at apprehending their entire criminal network, Mr Osifeso claimed.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, enjoined the citizens to always provide the police with credible and timely information to nip crime in the bud.

(NAN)
The trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu, for murder of Usifo Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, was on Monday stalled due to the absence of a prosecution witness.

Ms Ojukwu is standing trial before a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tarfa Tafawa Balewa Square.

She is charged with murder, stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

On Monday, prosecution counsel, A. O. Oluwafemi, also the Deputy Director of Lagos State Directorate Public Prosecutions, told the court that a prosecution witness, billed to testify, was not in court.

She prayed that earlier dates for continuation of hearing of the case be vacated to enable prosecution to get toxicology results needed for the trial.

Mrs Oluwafemi said the results were not available yet, adding that the next witness would be examined with those documents.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya consequently vacated the dates, and adjourned the proceedings until April 25 for the continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the last adjourned date, February 17, an Investigative Police Officer, Ibrahim Isaka, gave evidence.

Testimony

Mr Isiaka, the sixth prosecution witness, narrated how police allegedly discovered Mr Ataga in the pool of his own blood on June 16, 2021.

The witness said that the police consequently called the Emergency Unit at Yaba General Hospital and evacuated Mr Atagas corpse.

He told the court that on June 16, 2021, a case of murder was reported at his place of work, Maroko Police Station.

Mr Isiaka testified that at 11:30 p.m. Nkechi Mogbo came to the station and reported that a body was discovered at her short-service facility where people lodged.

He testified that Mrs Mogbo narrated to the police that the security guard at the facility informed her that the body of a man who lodged in the facility was discovered lying in the pool of his blood.

The witness said that Mrs Mogbo also told the police that a cleaner in the facility went to clean the apartment but there was no response from the people who lodged there.

He said that the security guard and the cleaner forcefully opened the door and discovered Mr Ataga in a pool of blood.

The witness said the police, including the divisional police officer and the divisional crime officer, went to the crime scene.

Mr Isiaka said that the police found some clothes as well as a travelling bag in the apartment and collected the items for investigation.

Charges

NAN reports that the three defendants were arraigned on October 12 on a nine-count charge preferred by Lagos State Government.

Messrs Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Ms Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count  stealing of iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Ms Ojukwu and Mr Quadri are alleged to have conspired and murdered Mr Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

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(NAN)
A Nigerian professor was among five persons arraigned in court for forgery in a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The professor, Obiajulu Obikeze, is with the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, formerly known as Anambra State University, Igbariam in Anambra State.

Mr Obikeze and others, slammed with 11-count charge by the police, are accused of presenting forged documents and a letter to the special adviser on chieftaincy and town union matters to the governor of Anambra State.

Among the other accused persons are Raymond Ofor, Amobi Nwafor and Okafor Bethram.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Celestine Odo, prayed the court to fix a date for the trial, saying they have 19 prosecution witnesses for the case.

The lawyer said five of the witnesses would be invited to testify in court, while others would give their testimony in the alternative.

Mr Odo urged the court to give an order for the remand of the defendants in a correctional centre pending the perfection of their bail terms, but the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, declined.

Mr Ekwo said since the police had already given them an administrative bail, the defendants should continue with the bail conditions.

The judge ordered the prosecution to submit the administrative bail terms to the court.

The case was adjourned to May 23, May 24 and May 25 for trial commencement.

Counsel to the defendants, Kelvin Nwofo, SAN, in an interview with reporters after the sitting, said although he had a motion for bail, he was happy that the court admitted his clients to bail on the earlier one granted by the police.

(NAN)
YAOUNDE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least five people died on Tuesday in a road accident in Cameroon's West region, according to the police.

The accident occurred by 7:30 a.m. local time in Banekane locality of the region when a passenger bus collided head-on with a truck, police said.

Over 20 people injured in the tragedy were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Such accidents in Cameroon are often linked to the poor state of roads and drivers' ignorance.

The Ministry of Transport estimates that 1,500 people die in road accidents each year in the Central African nation. 
Residents of Ado-Odo community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, at the weekend, pleaded with the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to come to their aid over decaying infrastructure in the town, especially poor road networks, lack of potable water, and electricity supply.

They made the call during the final burial rites of their monarch, Abdul-Lateef Akanni, who died on January 7 after 13 years on the throne.

The late traditional ruler was once violently attacked by suspected hoodlums some years ago, forcing him to relocate from the community. He was, however, in the process of returning fully to the community when his death was suddenly announced.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the planning committee, Ramon Nasir, eulogised the late monarch for what he described as his sacrifices for the restoration of the ancient towns glory.

Mr Nasir said until his sudden death at the age of 63 in January, the monarch struggled to achieve peace, progress, and excellence for the community.

This is an ancient town with records of early development in the whole of Ogun State. We enjoyed water supply, good electricity and NIPOST and NITEL offices located here.

In the area of education, we were never backward. The Alamuwa Grammar School where this event is holding was a product of community effort in the early 1970s and in the whole of Ogun State here nobody could underrate the school for anything. But over the years, we lost everything and government presence could no longer be felt.

The three roads linking the community to the outside world are in bad shape. We no longer enjoy electricity and water is unavailable. Reclaiming the lost glory was what the monarch died for, and we cannot but celebrate him even in death.

He said the effort to immortalise the late monarch informed the decision to launch the Oba Abdul-Lateef Adeniran Akanni Foundation, with the sole purpose of building on his legacies of investment in education, health and building entrepreneurial skills of the youths, especially within the community.

Also speaking, a professor of education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Oludare Bamikole, said the launch of a N100 million appeal fund for the foundation was to give it a sound footing for take-off.

Mr Bamikole appealed to sons and daughters of the town, and friends of the late monarch to support the initiative, which he noted will be for the benefit of the community and humanity.

Governor pledges support

Speaking at the event, Governor Abiodun pledged his support for the community and the foundation launched in the memory of the late monarch.

The governor, who was represented at the event by her deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, promised the community and the entire Ogun West senatorial district of improved attention.

We acknowledge the challenges faced by the people but we are also sure that you must have been seeing our efforts. We will continue to build on this and ensure that development cuts across the whole of Ogun State, he said.

Foundation laying ceremony

The governor also witnessed the foundation laying ceremony of the proposed secretariat of the Oba Abdul-Lateef Adeniran Akanni Foundation.

The governor, who performed a ceremonial foundation laying activity at the structure, prayed that the facility when completed will be for the benefit of humanity.

He thanked those behind the project for the foresight and encouraged everyone in attendance to live a life worthy of emulation.

In attendance at the ceremony were many dignitaries including commissioners, kingmakers, chiefs and wife of the late monarch, Fausat Akanni, and the children- Gbadebo Akanni, Gbadero Akanni, among others.
Oluwarotimi Fadoju, a customer at the Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ring Road branch, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, created a scene inside the banking hall, protesting the alleged freezing of his account over Tax Identification Number (TIN) certificate.

Mr Fadoju, who claimed to be a London-trained police officer, was seen shouting on top of his voice, which temporarily disrupted activities in the banking hall.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who was in the banking hall, while the drama lasted, gathered that the banks security personnel disallowed other customers from entering.

NAN gathered that for over four hours, the aggrieved customer was seen fuming, shouting as the bank workers could not immediately find a solution to his complaints.

Mr Fadoju told NAN that he was made to understand that his account was frozen because of TIN certificate, which he said was already in the custody of the bank.

The customer further complained that he had been in the banking hall for over four hours without being attended to.

In spite of pleading by other customers to calm him, Mr Fadoju insisted that he would not leave the banking hall unless his account was activated and he gets access to his money.

Mr Fadoju, who lamented that his daughter would get married on Saturday, said he was denied access to his hard-earned money to purchase all the needed items for the ceremony.

According to him, I am supposed to be in Abeokuta by now, but unable to go because I could not access the money in my account.

Mr Fadoju further demanded that his account in the bank should be closed, because of the sufferings and alleged humiliations he had been subjected to by the bank.

Put yourself in my shoe, my daughter is getting married on Saturday, and I am supposed to be in Abeokuta by now, since my account had been frozen I cant go.

The question now begging for answer is why was my account frozen?

When I got to the bank around 9.00 a.m, a lady who first attended to me asked if I have the soft copy of my TIN, and luckily I found it on my phone and gave her, she input it into her system.

The same TIN certificate for which my account was blocked was printed out of their system, confirming to me that I opened my account at Dugbe branch in Ibadan.

When I opened the account, I provided every document needed and that is why she was able to get the TIN from her system.

When I ask her to close my account, she said it will take longer time to close my account than to resolve the issue of frozen of my account, Mr Fadoju said.

The customer said he had been subjected to mental and physical torture, insisting that he would not leave the banking hall until he collected his money.

However, a female official of the bank, who pleaded anonymity, because she was not permitted to talk to the press, later came and apologised profusely to the aggrieved customer.

The official said she was in the office when a report came that an aggrieved customer was in the bank hall shouting in protest over the freezing of his account.

Before I came down from my office upstairs, I was trying to find a solution to his complaints before I could meet him.

This was the reason why I could not come out immediately to meet him because I know that no amount of pleading could pacify him unless the issue he raised is resolved.

No responsible officer will hear that a customer is aggrieved and will just sit down without finding a way out of the issue, the official said.

She assured the customer that the issue with his account had been rectified, adding that he could go and make his transaction.

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(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration has embarked on prioritising the construction of projects to ameliorate hardship across the country.

The president said this on Tuesday at the State House when he hosted a delegation from Kaduna State led by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe.

He said that the intervention on the Lagos-Ibadan route with completion of road and rail lines had improved the traffic significantly.

My objective was very clear, despite the dwindling resources, I wanted to deal with infrastructure across the country.

We should look at advancement in terms of infrastructure. No country can advance without infrastructure. There used to be railways, especially people from Southern Kaduna will remember this.

Which country can really advance without road, rail and power? Thats why I wanted to sort out infrastructure.

I know that Nigerians are competitive by nature and they will face their businesses when there is road, rail and power, he said.

Mr Buhari said the challenge of commuting in the South-west had been improved with the rehabilitation of the transport infrastructure.

The people from South-west can tell better because between Lagos and Ibadan by now, if we hadnt done what we did, people would have been trekking.

This is because the road was not there, the rail was not there and there was so much insecurity.

But we thank the international community. We thank China and Chinese investors who came along to support the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects, he said.

Mr Buhari assured that the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure which include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano express road, being handled by Julius Berger would be sustained.

The president commended Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, for the transformation of the state, with growing infrastructure and socio-economic projects.

Please extend my gratitude to the governor for doing so well. I have been living in Kaduna for many years before I came here.

But, now I will need a modern compass to go around because of the transformation, he said.

In her remarks, the Mrs Balarabe thanked the president for his working visit to the state, where he inaugurated projects in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria.

She said the Urban Renewal Programme in the state would be sustained and spread across the state for more impact on the lives of the people.

The Emir of Zazzau also thanked the president for the visit, saying its in January and support to the Government, a the saying that its memory would be long cherished by all Kaduna State citizens.

(NAN)
The students were granted bail before the expiration of a 30-day remand order. The police officer who investigated the controversial death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr on Monday told a coroner that the investigation of the five senior students of Dowen College were not concluded before they were released.

Mikhail Kadiri, the coroner, is conducting an inquest to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Oromoni Jnr in December 2021.

Bamidele Olusegun, a police officer, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, said the students were released despite a protest letter issued by the Lagos Police Command to the chief judge of the state seeking a revocation of the bail.

The students were granted bail before the expiration of a 30-day remand order.

A portion of the letter that was read by the witness in the court stated: It came as a rude shock that the investigation was not allowed to be carried out.

He also said the suspects were not brought back to the station for the conclusion of the investigation.

Mr Olusegun said, during his cross-examination led by Femi Falana, who is representing the Oromoni family, that while the police were recording more statements from the five accused students where they were remanded at the boys home in Oregun Lagos, their parents were arguing their bail applications before the chief magistrate that initially ordered their remand.

The letter of protest signed by Fayoade Adegoke, a deputy commissioner of police, dated December 22 is now an exhibit in the matter.

History of bullying

In the police interim investigative report dated December 23, 2021 (another exhibit), the witness said that claims that the deceased was allegedly bullied, tortured by the suspects, and forced to drink an unknown substance were unsubstantiated.

But it included among its findings that a suspect had in 2019 been suspended by the school for inappropriate behaviour which includes spitting on a teacher.

Another senior was also found in 2019 to have been suspended for bullying and physically assaulting another student who has since left the school.

The witness also acknowledged that the school did not reprimand another suspect who beat up the deceased in October 2021 because he was asked to describe the private parts of his elder sister who also schools at Dowen College.

He said that a parent once reported a case of bully against her son by some students at the Maroko police station.

Mr Olusegun also told the coroner that the police report concluded that it is evident that some group of students constitute themselves into a clique that bullies and intimidates fellow students in the schoolthat the three school housemasters  Valentine Igbokwueze, Ahmed Ayomo and Adesanya Olusesan  are negligent, passive and failed to take decisive action when cases of inappropriate behavior are reported to them.

This position was also reflected in an interim legal advice dated December 30, 2021, issued by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions stating that There are sufficient facts to establish the alleged offence of criminal negligence against the three staff as well as one Celina Uduak, Mr Adeyemi and Dowen College for failing to address bullying and protect their students.

The police officer said it couldnt proceed with prosecuting the school and the indicted staff after a second legal advice issued on January 4, 2022, stated that they would not be charged for the said offence after all, owing to lack of evidence.

The court sitting in Ikeja for the inquest adjourned to February 22 for Dowen Colleges, lawyer, Anthony Kpokpo, and others to cross-examine the witness.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that it had been unable to serve Rochas Okorocha, a former Imo State governor, with the N2.9 billion fraud charges filed against him.

The anti-graft agency had in January filed a 17-count charge against Mr Okorocha over allegations that he conspired with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.

At Tuesdays proceedings, Cosmos Ugwu, counsel for the EFCC said, My Lord, we have made several but unsuccessful attempts to serve the charge on the first defendant (Mr Okorocha).

We urge the court for an adjournment to enable us serve the 1st defendant, he told the court.

While the 2nd defendant, Anyim Chinenye, was in court and represented by Oba Maduabuchi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Okorocha who is the incumbent senator representing Imo West senatorial district, was conspicuously absent.

Subsequently, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the suit until March 28, for the arraignment of the defendants.

Backstroy

This newspaper had reported that the charges were filed about the same time Mr Okorocha was declaring his intention to run for the office of the president in 2023.

Since the charges were filed, Mr Okorocha had appeared on national television to criticise the EFCC for initiating the proceedings against him.

He has also visited the Presidential Villa to report the matter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Okorocha, 59, was a two-term governor of Imo State, serving from 2011 to 2019 when he lost an intense political battle to install his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, as a successor. He, however, succeeded in winning the Imo West senatorial election for himself as a candidate of the APC.

The returning officer alleged he was forced to declare Mr Okorocha the winner under duress, making INEC delay issuing him a certificate of return.

His co-accused, Mr Nyerere, open-source searches show, was the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 Abia State election and currently serves as a commissioner at the National Pension Commission.

Mr Nyerere features in all the 17 charges and is accused of conspiring with Mr Okorocha to steal and launder N2.9 billion belonging to Imo State and local government areas in the state in contravention of the Money Laundering Act 2011. As Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) searches by PREMIUM TIMES showed, he owns or controls three of the charged companies, namely Consolid, Pramif, and Legend World, all registered in Abuja.

According to the EFCC charges, the stolen funds were diverted between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.

Timeline of the alleged diversions:

1. February 11, 2014: N67,500,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

2. August 28, 2014: N486,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

3. October 14, 2014: N900,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited

4. August 4, 2015: N279,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited

5. February 10, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited

6. February 10, 2016: N200,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited

7. February 10, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Pramif International Limited

8. February 11, 2016: N243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited

9. February 12, 2016: 243,000,000  conspiracy between Mr Okorocha, Mr Nyerere, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

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Meanwhile, as searches showed, Mr Nyerere remains a director of Consolid, Pramif, and Legend World even as he holds a public office, potentially breaching Nigerias code of conduct laws.
President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill any moment from now, his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, has assured.

Mr Adesina stated this on Tuesday while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.

He (Buhari) will sign it (the Electoral Bill) any moment from now. It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be anytime, but within 30 days, he said.

It could be signed today, it could be signed tomorrow, In a matter of hours, not days. Hours could be 24 hours. It could be 48 hours, not days or weeks.

The assurance by the presidential spokesperson comes as some civil society organisations embarked on protests to pressure Mr Buhari to sign the reworked bill transmitted to him on January 31.

Some of the organisations are Partners for Electoral Reform, Nigeria Civil Society Room, Yiaga Africa, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, International Press Institute, Cleen Foundation, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Enough is Enough and the Electoral Hub.

The organisations gathered at the Unity Fountain on Tuesday despite a warning by the Presidency on Monday, berating them for planning the protest.

The Presidency had, in a statement by Mr Adesina, said, Some interest groups are cashing in on what they consider a delay in the signing of the Electoral Bill into law by the President to foment civil disorder and muddy the waters.

One can just pity their ignorance of Constitutional requirements A proposed legislation that has to do with the electoral fortunes of the country needs to be thoroughly scrutinised, and be made as near-perfect as possible.

Those playing cheap politics with it are, therefore, encouraged to hold their peace, knowing that the right thing will be done within the lawful time, part of the statement read.

Mr Buhari had, in December, refused to assent to the Electoral Bill because of the adoption of direct primaries as the only legally approved procedure for the nomination of candidates.

Last month, both the Senate and House of Representatives amended the bill making provision for direct, indirect and consensus modes of primaries. It was transmitted to the president for assent a week later.

He is yet to do so.

The president had, on four previous occasions, declined to assent to the bill.

In March 2018, he rejected the bill on grounds that it could usurp the powers of the electoral umpire, INEC. In July of the same year, he rejected the bill citing drafting issues.

In September, he failed to act on the bill until the time frame elapsed. In December, his reason was that it was too close to the 2019 general elections.
The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) says it will comment on the postponement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, disclosed this after its meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

The forum is the platform of all APC governors.

The APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) postponed the partys national convention from February 26 to March 26.

It released a new timetable and schedule of activities for the National Convention and Zonal Congresses on Monday.

According to the new timetable, activities for the national convention will begin on February 24, with the publication of committees for the zonal congresses.

The sale of forms to aspirants for elective offices will begin on Wednesday, March 9 and end on Friday, March 11.

As a forum, we met on Monday and agreed to meet with President Buhari on Tuesday for further discussion on the national convention and other issues, Mr Bagudu, said.

We will rather not comment on any timetable or any activities until we meet with the president.

Mr Bagudu said Mondays meeting discussed developments in states and reviewed recent council elections in the FCT and Saturdays Osun State governorship primary.

He added that the meeting also discussed the court judgement that resolved the 2021 Kano State congress issue and preparations for the partys national convention.

We had briefings from the chairman of the CECPC, Governor Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe, he said.

Mr Bagudu assured that APC governors would continue to earn the confidence of Nigerians by delivering on their electoral mandates transparently.

He appreciated Nigerians for showing interest in happenings within the partys rank and file, adding that the forum would continue to work with other stakeholders to enthrone good governance.

He said the forum was conscious of the fact that Nigerians held the APC in high esteem, and would not disappoint them.

All APC governors have met, and as always, we appreciate the need to work with other stakeholders.

We had always been humble to acknowledge that we are not the only stakeholders in the party.

We will work with other stakeholders to ensure that we deliver transparently and honestly, national executives that will continue to earn the confidence of all party members and of Nigerians, he said.

(NAN)
The Senate will vote on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution in March 1.

The lawmakers will vote on the recommendations by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, made this known during plenary on Tuesday.

The lawmaker, who is also the chairperson of the panel, said the report of the Constitution Review Committee would be laid on Wednesday during plenary, and copies distributed to the lawmakers on the same day.

The comment was a sequel to an announcement made to invite members of the committee to a meeting scheduled to hold by 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

He appealed to his colleagues to study the report ahead of its consideration and ensure they are present during plenary next Tuesday to avail themselves of the opportunity to vote on it.

He also reminded the senators that some provisions of the report require the mandatory two-thirds and four-fifth requirements of the membership of the entire Senate, to be considered and voted on.

The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution will meet today, Tuesday, 22nd day of February, 2022, immediately after plenary sitting at room 221 of the Senate building.

Please, this meeting is very crucial. Tomorrow, the Senate President will announce that the report of the Constitution Review Committee will be laid on Wednesday tomorrow and, thereafter, we will take our vote on March 1st which will be Tuesday.

That will give us about four to five days to review the report, consult as we deem fit and be prepared to vote. It is imperative that all of our colleagues be present on that day.

As you know, there are certain amendments that will require the two-thirds majority of all our colleagues  the entire Senate  not two-third of those who are present, but two-thirds of the entire membership of the Senate and, indeed, there are some other provisions that would require four-fifths of the entire Senate.

So, please, it is my appeal without prejudice to the announcement the Senate President will make tomorrow, in my capacity as the Chairman of the Committee, to urge that all of our members be prepared to be present to cast their vote on Tuesday.

The report will be laid tomorrow and be made available to all members, which report you will take home and we expect you to bring back to the chamber on Tuesday to cast your vote.

The ongoing review is the fifth that will be made to the constitution since the commencement of the current democratic dispensation. Tomorrows voting on the alterations will be the final stage of the current process.

While some Nigerians have condemned the entire process, describing it as a waste of time and resources, other Nigerians said it is timely and long overdue.

READ ALSO:

Some major recommendations made by individuals and civic groups range from state police, restructuring and devolution of powers, robust electoral reforms, gender inclusiveness and financial autonomy for the judiciary and local governments.

Many, like the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who demanded a new constitution, explained that the current one is outdated.

He had called for an insertion of a clause to pave the way for a rewritten constitution, which would continue to be in operation until a fresh one is ready.

A former presidential aspirant, Oby Ezekwesili, also made a similar call when she said the current constitution, which has been altered four times, is outdated.

Others like the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, called for devolution of powers at the public hearings as they demanded that more powers be given to state and local governments.

This, he said, is necessary because the existing structure overburdens the federal government with too many responsibilities which it cannot handle efficiently. And that each state of the federation should decide the model of democratic local government that best suits it.

In the same vein, he called for state policing as well as the autonomy of the judiciary in states.

The creation of new states and state policing are some other major demands that came up during public hearings  a point President Muhammadu Buhari has openly opposed.

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The Senate has joined other Nigerians to complain about the hike in airline tickets.

It lamented that local airfare in Nigeria has, in the past few days, risen by 63 per cent in response to a spike in the price of aviation fuel and attendant cost of operation.

To this regard, the lawmakers asked the federal government to immediately release the funds required by the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA)  in order to enable the agency carry out its primary responsibility of rehabilitating federal roads, especially in the face of the astronomical increase in airfares.

The lawmakers made the call on Tuesday after they deliberated on a Point of Order raised by Gershom Bassey (PDP, Cross River South)  to draw their attention to the increase in airfare and the implication for Nigerian roads.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how many Nigerians have criticised the sudden spike in the prices of airlines tickets.

Many domestic airlines like Airpeace, Ibom Air, Max Air, Aero contractors, Dana, Azman air among others, pegged their minimum fare at N50,000 ( for one way economy tickets) which formerly ranged between N23,300 and N35,000.

In his debate, Mr Bassey worried that the increase in airfares would increase the pressure on the neglected and dilapidated Nigerian roads and further worsen their state.

FERMA, he said, had a budgetary approval of just 20 per cent of the funds it requires for the rehabilitation of about 35,000km of federal roads in 2022. And the sum of about N850 billion naira that is to accrue to FERMA by virtue of the five per cent User Charge on pump price of petrol, diesel and international vehicle transit charges provided for in Section 14 of FERMA (Amendment) Act 2007, is still being owed FERMA by the Federal Government.

The humongous debt owed FERMA by the federal government has hampered the effective discharge of FERMAs primary responsibility of road maintenance and rehabilitation, he said.

In his contribution, Jigawa senator, Hassan Hajedjia, said the reasons given for this price increase are not tenable.

I understand there are now 30 new licenses being processed for new airlines into the country. Apart from the bad roads, I think the biggest factor that drives people to the airline is insecurity.

We are seeing state-owned airlines like Ibom Air bringing in brand new aircraft. This administration has actually removed duties on aircraft. For airlines to say their profits are being affected, I think we need to look at it and because you are forced to fly there is nothing you can do than continue to pay.

We should look at the efforts being made by the federal government to reconstruct and rehabilitate the roads in the country. We also have to understand the efforts by the Federal Ministry of Works to generate funds to rehabilitate the bad roads we have.

While he noted that Nigeria is spending so much in rehabilitating the roads in the country, he reminded the Senate of the current exchange rate and that 90 per cent of aviation is funded by foreign exchange  hence another reason for the hike.

The lawmakers, thereafter, called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on the nations federal roads.
The UK minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, on Monday announced a 10 million pounds concessional aid for the Nigerian energy sector.

According to Ms Ford, the fund will help reduce the risk for pension and insurance funds when they are investing in energy access projects and support Nigerias COP26 commitments.

The financing will help Nigerian investors focus on low carbon energy, supporting off-grid, low-carbon energy projects. It will also be blended to de-risk transactions and mobilise domestic institutional investment from local pension funds, insurance firms and other local institutional investors.

This will help scale up domestic financing for eligible off-grid clean energy infrastructure, such as solar mini-grid and home systems, clean cooking infrastructure and SME cold storage infrastructure in Nigeria.

This is a clear demonstration of the strong partnerships between our countries and the UKs commitment to supporting Nigeria, especially in your low carbon energy sector, Ms Ford said.

The UK is committed to increasing both renewable energy and energy access in Nigeria, driving clean, sustainable and resilient growth. As the world looks to transition to clean growth, we are witnessing an era-defining opportunity for the private sector. This transaction is particularly exciting as it brings together UK government support with the institutional capital which is essential to grow the sector at scale, she added.

Godwin Jedy-Agba, Nigerias minister of state for power, in his remarks, noted that Nigeria started its clean energy transition in 2014 with the first solar energy hybrid project executed in Lagos, Kaduna and Borno states.

According to Mr Jedy-Agba, whereas all efforts have been geared towards unlocking private sector activity in the clean energy transition, one major challenge continues to be private sector access to local currency financing.

The mobilisation of both funds will be done alongside InfraCredit, a Nigerian entity that provides local currency (Naira) guarantees to enhance the credit quality of debt instruments issued by eligible infrastructure project sponsors.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Chairman of InfraCredit, Uche Orji, said, InfraCredit is pleased to be working with FCDO to mobilise private investment from domestic pension funds and other institutional investors into such an important developmental area as low carbon energy access. This programme is aligned with NSIAs other clean energy initiatives which aims to deliver up to 250-500MW of renewable energy capacity in Nigeria that will reduce annual CO2 emissions, alleviate poverty, create jobs and support local economic growth.

Present at the event were Ahmad Ahmad, Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and Lamido Yuguda, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
KHARTOUM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Monday rejected what it described as "unilateral step" by Ethiopia the start of electricity production from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

"Ethiopia's decision to unilaterally begin operation of the GERD constitutes a violation to the Declaration of Principles signed by the three parties," Sudan's acting Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Daw Al-Bait Abdul-Rahman said in a statement.

"Before the move, the Ethiopian side should have provided the other parties with enough information, such as the volume of water expected to exit from behind the dam, to know if the Sudanese reservoirs would be able to absorb it to adopt the necessary precautions," he said.

Abdul-Rahman stressed that Ethiopia had never informed Sudan of the beginning of electricity production, saying that "this has been done unilaterally, and therefore it is an unacceptable move, regardless of its justifications."

The Sudanese minister stressed the need for all parties to sit together to reach a unified vision on the GERD file, saying "Sudan's interest is a red line."

On Sunday, the Ethiopian government announced its grand hydroelectric dam has started generating electricity, where the country's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the first power generation of the GERD, which is set to be the largest hydroelectric plant in Africa.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the African Union over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Sudan proposed a mediation quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and the African Union regarding the GERD issue, while Ethiopia rejected the proposal.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources. 
A Civil Society Organisation, Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED), has called on the Edo State Government to separate funding for Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) programmes from that meant for other projects and programmes.

The coordinator of Edo State PAWED, Vivian Evbotokhai, made the call at a one-day policy dialogue organised to reflect on WEE intervention and programmes in the state on Tuesday.

Ms Evbotokhai said money meant for the WEE project is being diverted for other purposes due to lack of segregation.

She said it is necessary for the state government to segregate the budget for WEE, especially the budget earmarked for empowerment.

She said there should be a certain percentage for women, so it will be easy for monitoring and evaluation of how the money is spent.

The Edo State Government is doing their best. I still feel its not good enough because a lot can still be achieved.

They should also segregate because as it is from what we know, there are always lumping of activities together which makes it difficult to monitor and evaluate the impact of those activities as it concerns women.

Lumping means same activities for men, women and youths. We want to know how many of these activities are for women, then we will be able to evaluate the impact of those programmes in the lives of the women, she said.

About WEE

WEE is an intervention sponsored by the Gates Foundation, which believes that womens economic empowerment is beneficial not only to individual women but also to their children, households, and communities.

The programme aims to help women and girls move from limited power, voice, and chores at home and in the economy to having the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to compete equitably and benefit from economic gains.

The Nigerian government had earlier inaugurated a technical working group for the pilot monitoring and evaluation framework for the WEE interventions.

About PAWED

PAWED is a coalition that aims to build and nurture sustainable Nigerian Civil Society (CSO) advocacy to support leading WEE interventions at the national and states level.

The PAWED project works at the national level and in selected states in each of the six geopolitical zones to increase the salience of WEE amongst policymakers in Nigeria.

The Edo State PAWED held a policy dialogue in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Tuesday, to discuss ways to promote WEE among government officials and to catalyse the state government to fulfil its commitments to WEE.

The dialogue was supported by the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC).

Involving private sector

Mrs Evbotokhai said programmes carried out in collaboration with the private sector are more coordinated and delivered.

She said there is ownership and accountability for programmes organised by the private sector.

But most times, programmes with government are just done haphazardly. Apart from that, programmes involving government is always politicised.

They look for those in their political parties, wards, political atmosphere forgetting that every woman can be involved politically.

So a lot of women are left out of these programmes because they do not belong to any political party or they do not attend ward meetings.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES at the end of the dialogue, a member of PAWED advocacy coalition, Bliss Ojeruse, said there are several government interventions supporting women but no impactful results out of them.

It is important for them to work with credible development partners, CSOs if they are to achieve their aim of impacting positively on womens lives in Edo State.

This will also tackle issues of ghost beneficiaries of government-sponsored programmes, she said.

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The Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has convicted a former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, and two others for money laundering involving N450 million traced to funds said to have been fraudulently distributed by an ex-petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in 2015.

According to a statement by the EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, Ms Ochekpe and two others were jailed six years with an option of fine.

The judge, H. M. Kurya, sentenced the convicts after finding them guilty of three charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

The two other convicts are Evan Jitong and Raymond Dabo. While Mr Jitong served as a deputy director for the Goodluck/Sambo 2015 election campaign, Mr Dabo served as an acting chairman of PDP in Plateau State.

The three convicts were accused of N450 million from Fidelity Bank Plc through cash and wire transfer by some oil companies and former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

In the courts judgement, the judge convicted on a count of conspiracy to accept cash payment above threshold under the anti-money laundering law. They were sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of N2 million fine each.

The judge also convicted and sentenced them to three yearss imprisonment with an option of N2 million fine each on the second count.

The sentences are to run consecutively.

But the court discharged and acquitted them on the third count of retention of funds.

Investigation

The commission said investigation showed that on March 26, 2015, the N450 million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by Fidelity Bank Plc, Jos main branch, and it was handed over to the defendants in cash after they signed for its collection.

Though the defendants claimed that they handed over the money to late Senator Gyang Pwajok, the Plateau State PDP governorship candidate in 2015, they however failed to provide any evidence to support the claim, the statement said.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is believed to have escaped to the United Kingdom and remained there after her exit from public office, ran the petroleum ministry which superintends over the opaque Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Her name has featured either as the main defendant or an accomplice in numerous corruption cases filed in court by the EFCC since her exit from office.

Bringing her back to Nigeria to face pending charges against her has proved to be a hard nut to crack for the EFCC.
President Buhari should be more interested in keeping his promise that he intends to leave Nigerias electoral framework better than he met it. He has nothing to lose for doing so. He would be remembered for moving the needle forward in the direction of public good. The dilly-dallying notwithstanding, INEC also cannot give the excuse that it is waiting on the president. Irrespective of the extant law, arrangements should be made for the next elections.

Hopefully, by the time this commentary is in print, on February 22, President Muhammadu Buhari should have given his assent to the re-amended Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which was transmitted to him on January 31. If so, the president would have laid to rest all speculations and conspiracy theories about why he does not want to sign the Bill or the possibility of what happened ahead of the 2019 elections repeating itself. If the president does not sign the Bill into law, however, he would raise concerns about his commitment to leaving a legacy of credible elections behind and would deepen tension and uncertainties within the polity. The president does not need the stress. It is in everyones best interest for him to grant his assent to the piece of legislation. He can subsequently send further amendments to the National Assembly, as he did with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Appropriation Act 2022. In 2018, President Buhari rejected the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2010, four times, citing as justification  all kinds of irregularities, including drafting issues, sequence of elections, and even the phrasing of words in parts of the then proposed Bill.

In the end, no amendment took place and Nigerians went into the 2019 general elections with the same old electoral framework that stakeholders had wanted the legislature to amend. The final excuse given by the government in 2019 was that there would be no time to effect the amendments before the general elections, whereas it was the back-and-forth over the granting of assent that was the problem. After the 2019 elections, the process of amending the Electoral Act began afresh under the ninth National Assembly. In November last year, an amended Electoral Act Bill was forwarded to the president for his assent. Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides for a window of 30 days within which the president can grant assent or withhold it, and in the event of the latter, he can be vetoed by the National Assembly.

The president exhausted the entire 30-day window only to object to the National Assemblys restriction of political parties to direct primary as their mode of selecting candidates for elections. He cited insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance, as reasons. He promised that if this could be reviewed to allow for both direct and indirect primaries, he would grant his assent. The National Assembly threatened to veto the president, but it did no such thing. Instead the National Assembly reviewed the contentious Clause 84 of the Electoral Bill (originally Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010), and replaced direct primaries, with an option of direct primaries, indirect primaries and consensus candidacy, with a strict definition of what constitutes consensus and the other two options. The Committee of the Whole of the National Assembly then decided to insert in Clause 84, a provision that any one holding a political office  Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers and others  must relinquish such a position before he or she can be eligible to participate in the electoral process, either as a candidate or as a delegate. Previously, government appointees and political office holders could serve as delegates, go into elections, lose and then return to their jobs. In other words, the National Assembly modified and went beyond the presidents request.

The newspapers reported yesterday that the president wants this clause removed before he can grant his assent. He reportedly met with the leadership of the National Assembly over the weekend. Some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are also said to be uncomfortable with this, as well as the definition of consensus by the national legislature and they are purportedly putting pressure on the president not to grant his assent. This is the main source of agitation and concern among Nigerians who think that an old, familiar script is about to be played out again. If the president does not grant assent, the Bill will go back to the National Assembly, the lawmakers would huff and puff, then they would re-amend the law again and add new things for effect, transmit the new twice re-amended Bill to the president, and he or the governors would again pick issues with some clauses, wait till the last minute to register objections and then the process would begin again, until time and resources would have been wasted.

whereas the President still has up till March 2, by virtue of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill, if he fails to do so, by today, February 22, INEC would be forced to reschedule the 2023 elections, or at best, use the extant law, which is the Electoral Act 2010. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) object to such a possibility. It is not only the 2023 general elections that would be affected. Off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun States too.

This is the mischief that concerned Nigerians do not want. The objection to Clause 84 as phrased is that it automatically infringes upon the fundamental rights of political office holders to participate in the electoral process and it is to that extent illegal. What has not been pointed out is that the same Clause 84 allows any aggrieved person under that Section to approach the Federal High Courts to seek redress. Whereas Clause 84 may not derive directly from the public hearings conducted ahead of the Electoral Act amendment process, it stands to reason that the express objective is to create a level playing field for everyone who takes part in the party nomination or candidate selection process. Hitherto, political office holders use government resources and access to state privileges to dominate party primaries within the ruling party. They are also ready tools in the hands of their principals, especially the governors. They are expected to do the masters bidding, since in any case they need the opportunity to return to where they came from if they fail in their bid. I see no problem with Clause 84, as it provides a recourse to the courts, and ensures a level playing field for all parties involved.

The other issue is the fear that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be left with no option than to change the dates for the 2023 elections if the president does not sign the Electoral Bill as proposed by today, February 22. For now, INEC is yet to issue guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 general elections on the ground that it is waiting for a new Electoral Act. According to Section 28(1) of the proposed Electoral Act 2022, INEC is required to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the appointed date for an election. INEC has since scheduled the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections for February 18, 2023. To meet up with that provision and date, the deadline is February 22. So, whereas the President still has up till March 2, by virtue of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill, if he fails to do so, by today, February 22, INEC would be forced to reschedule the 2023 elections, or at best, use the extant law, which is the Electoral Act 2010. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) object to such a possibility. It is not only the 2023 general elections that would be affected. Off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun States too. The investment in coming up with an Electoral Act Amendment Bill would have been wasted and all the more positive sides of the Bill would have been discarded needlessly.

Hence, about 26 civil society organisations have threatened to embark on a protest today. They insist that President Buhari must sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 as a matter of urgent national importance. I cant immediately think of any other piece of legislation that has generated this level of intentionality in recent memory. Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform, the umbrella group of the CSOs, argue that Clause 84 is not a problem, it can be amended at any time but there are more important provisions in the Bill that must not be thrown away. Enough is Enough (EiE), one of the CSOs identified these critical provisions in an advertorial titled Top Provisions in the Electoral Bill, 2022 on page 53 of ThisDay newspaper of Sunday, February 20. EiE argues that Granting Presidential assent to the Electoral Bill 2022 on or before February 22, 2022 is in the best interest of our electoral democracy. Any amendments can be sent to the National Assembly later.

According to Enough is Enough (EiE), we should not throw away the baby with the bath water, for the following reason that we need to be reminded of: 1. Clause 3(3)  early release of election funds to INEC. Indeed if all funds required for a general election are released a year ahead, INEC would be more financially independent. 2. Clause 50: Electronic transmission of results. This again is in order. Nigerians have always asked for electronic transmission of results to prevent fraud and manipulation. 3. Clause 65: Power to Review Election Results Declared Under Duress. This particular clause truly empowers the INEC. There are persons who became governors in this country simply because there was no clause such as this in the extant Electoral Act, thus subjecting the electorate to the excruciating impact of a stolen mandate. 4. Clause 8(5): Political Neutrality of INEC Personnel. Here, it is proposed that any INEC official who is affiliated to a political party, if caught is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for two years or both. This is a very essential provision. Too many electoral officials, including INEC staff, security personnel and ad hoc staff are embedded partisan gladiators. They help to thumb-print ballot papers. For a fee, they switch results. This particular provision puts them on notice that there are consequences for bad conduct. For far too long, they have been getting away with sheer impunity. 5. Clause 47: Legalising Electronic Accreditation of Voters. Nigerians have been clamouring for this: How technology can be used to upgrade the Nigerian electoral system. INEC may have introduced some technology in the form of Smart Card Readers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in previous elections but because these are not provided for in the extant Electoral Act, they have been declared inadmissible by the courts in a number of cases.

Clause 54 (2)  Inclusion of Persons with Disability. If nothing else moves President Buhari to sign the Electoral Bill 2022, into law, this should. This is about the rights of persons living with Disability and it is a matter of public record that it was President Buhari that signed the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons Living With Disabilities into Law in 2019. He should be seen to be more interested in their inclusion, not the rights of political office holders pursuing selfish interests and their own stomachs.

Otherwise, Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would have been governor of Abia State in 2015. He won at the Court of Appeal when he challenged the 2015 Abia State gubernatorial election victory awarded to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ikpeazu was removed. But Alex Otti later lost at the Supreme Court, in part, because there was no provision for electronic accreditation or the use of smart card readers in the enabling law. The ruling of the Court of Appeal was accordingly set aside on technical grounds. Clause 47 in the proposed Bill would make electronic accreditation admissible as evidence, and help check fraud and manipulation. 6. Clause 54 (2)  Inclusion of Persons with Disability. If nothing else moves President Buhari to sign the Electoral Bill 2022, into law, this should. This is about the rights of persons living with Disability and it is a matter of public record that it was President Buhari that signed the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons Living With Disabilities into Law in 2019. He should be seen to be more interested in their inclusion, not the rights of political office holders pursuing selfish interests and their own stomachs. 7. Clause 51: Redefined Over-voting  Great provision. Only the total number of accredited voters at a polling unit will determine the validity of the voters. Hitherto, nobody paid enough attention to this. Nigeria is a country where ghosts show up on election day, including ghosts from other countries as far away as Brazil, and they vote and their votes are made to count. 8. Clause 29 (1): early conduct of party primaries and submission of list of candidates. The thing speaks for itself here and it is better to quote the EiE statement: Every political party shall, not later than 180 days (-6 months) prior to election day, submit the list of its candidates, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party, to INEC.

Nigeria must be one of those strange countries where the electorate doesnt even have the opportunity to know the candidates in an election. Some political parties boast that if they put up a goat as candidate, Nigerians would vote for that goat without knowing, because the extant law weighs more heavily on the mandate of political parties. It is important that Nigerians begin to know the candidates well in advance. 9: Clause 94  Early Commencement of Campaigns. In this section, political parties now have more time for campaigns, from 90 days to 150 days, before polling day and 24 hours before election day. This is likely to increase the cost of campaigns but on a positive note, it provides the electorate a better opportunity to know the aspirant or candidate. Finally, 10: Clause 34  Substitution of Candidate in the event of Death in an election. This is to correct the debacle in Kogi State about succession under such circumstances, following the death of Alhaji Abubakar Audu of the APC, in 2015.

It may be argued that all things taken together, the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 is the most comprehensive and pragmatic effort that the National Assembly of Nigeria has embarked upon since it was resolved that having a credible electoral framework is crucial for the integrity of elections and the leadership recruitment process. The issues identified by EiE are practical responses to the realities of the Nigerian electoral experience, as distilled by stakeholders, processed by the legislature, and codified into legislation to raise the quality of Nigerias democracy. Whatever anyone may have said to President Buhari about Clause 84, relevant as it is to the interest of a self-seeking, alimental minority, the feelings of the larger majority, and the future of Nigerias democracy, should be more important to him. President Buhari should be more interested in keeping his promise that he intends to leave Nigerias electoral framework better than he met it. He has nothing to lose for doing so. He would be remembered for moving the needle forward in the direction of public good. The dilly-dallying notwithstanding, INEC also cannot give the excuse that it is waiting on the president. Irrespective of the extant law, arrangements should be made for the next elections. When the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 is eventually passed, necessary adjustments can be made. INEC, by conduct or inaction, passive or otherwise, must not give credence to the speculation that it may be part of a hidden agenda to compromise the democratic process. The president must be encouraged to leave a legacy of just and credible elections that he himself can be proud of. Mr President, sign the Bill. History should not repeat itself.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
I guess that history will be very kind to Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (GCFR), (May 9, 1936 January 11, 2022). Why? Because his tenure was the shortest, just eighty-two days. While his colleagues have been brutally treated by history, either for action or misaction, I am sure history will treat Chief Shonekan lightly because he did not do much. Infact, he was overthrown on November 17, 1993 by General Sani Abacha (GCFR), on the very day he was to move into THE VILLA and take residence. I do not know whether the happiest day of his life was November 17, 1993, but he felt relieved after that day.

After his tenure, his wife, Mrs Margaret Shonekan, born in Gusau, capital of Zamfara State, on October 8, 1940, rejoined the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on April 1, 1994 as its senior deputy. She was then hired as WAECs Head of National Office on October 30, 1995, defeating five male colleagues who also sought the position. Mrs Shonekan served as the Head of National Office at WAEC from October 30, 1995 until her retirement on September 30, 2000. She described her time as Head of National Office as her most difficult years with WAEC, due to the examination boards lack of adequate funding and its empty treasury at the time.

The couple resumed their regular attendance of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, with no funfare but as ordinary worshippers. Chief Shonekan talked less after his overthrow, carrying to his grave his opinion on what led to his removal and how he felt after this.

He neither wrote a book nor granted any interview till he died on top of it all as the Abese of Egbaland. He was buried in far away Lagos.

His voyage into government started in January 1993 when he was made the Chairman of the Transitional Council appointed by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (GCFR). His cabinet members at that time were General Sani Abacha (Defence Secretary), Dr Garba J.A. Abdulkadir (Secretary for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development), Alhaji Isa Mohammed (Secretary of State for Agriculture), Alhaji Inuwa Zakari (Secretary for Commerce and Tourism), Alhaji Bello Dogondaji (Secretary of State for Commerce and Tourism), Alhaji Umaru Baba (Secretary of State for Defence), Professor Ben Nwabueze (Secretary of State for Education and Youth Development), Alhaji Zarma Gogoran (Secretary for Establishments and Management Services), and Major-General Gado Nasko (rtd) (Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory). Also, there were Oladele Olashore (Secretary for Finance), Chief Matthew Mbu (Secretary for Foreign Affairs), Alhaji Saidu Isa (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), Dr. C.Okogie (Secretary for Health and Human Services, Dr.(Mrs.) Laraba Daggash (Secretary of State for Health and Human Services), Alhaji Aminu Saleh (Secretary for Industry and Technology), Uche Chukwumerije (Secretary for Information and Culture), Alhaji Abdulrahman Okene (Secretary for Internal Affairs), Clement Akpamgbo (Secretary for Justice and Attorney-General), Francis John Ellah (Secretary for Labour and Productivity), and Alhaji Mustapha Umaru (Chairman of the National Planning Commission). Shonekans cabinet also included Chief Phillip Asiodu (Secretary for Petroleum and Mineral Resuorces), Francis Oji (Secretary for Police Affairs), Air Vice-Marshal Nura Imam (Secretary for Power, Mines and Steel), Alhaji Hassan Hadeja (Secretary for Petroleum Resources), Alhaji Oladunni Ayandipo (Secretary of State for Power, Mines and Steel), Alhaji Maccido Dalhat (Secretary for States and Local Government Affairs), Mrs Emily Imoukhuede (Secretary of States and Local Government Affairs), Chief Oluwole Adeosun (Secretary for Transport and Communications), Yusufu Galadima (Secretary of State for Transport and Communications) and Chief Barnabas Gemade (Secretary for Works and Housing).

When Chief Shonekan became Head of State in August 1993, the following were the members of his cabinet Defence Secretary: General Sani Abacha; Secretary of State (Defence), Alhaji Umaru Baba; Agriculture/Natural Resources, Professor Jerry Gana; Commerce/Tourism, Chief Mrs Kuforiji Olubi; Communications, Chief Dapo Sarumi; Education and Youth Development, Professor Abraham Imogie; Finance, Alhaji Aminu Saleh; FCT Administrator, Major General Gado Nasko; Foreign Affairs, Chief Matthew Mbu; Secretary of State (Foreign), Alhaji Saidu Isa; Health and Human Services, Prince Adelusi Adeluyi; Internal Affairs, Chief Ezekiel Yesufu; Industries, Chief Ignatius Kogbara; Information and Culture, Mr. Uche Chukwumerije; and Justice, Mr Clement Akpamgbo (SAN). There were also the following cabinet members: Petroleum/Mineral Resources, Chief Donald Etiebet; Secretary of State (Petroleum), Alhaji Ibrahim Al; Labour and Productivity, Prince Bola Afonja; Power and Steel, Alhaji Hassan Adamu; Secretary of State (Power and Steel), Alhaji Oladunni Ayandipo; Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Mahmud Koki; Science and Technology, Professor Bartholomew Nnaji; Transport/Aviation, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu; Water/Rural Development, Alhaji Isa Mohammed; Works/Housing, Mr. Barnabas Gemade; Chairman, National Planning Commission, Mr. Isaac Aluko-Olokun; and Establishment/Management Services, Mr. Innocent Nwoga. In addition, the caibent had: States and Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Sule Unguwar Alkali; Secretary to Interim National Government, Alhaji Mustapha Umara; National Assembly Liaison Officer, Alhaji Abba Dabo (House of Representatives); National Assembly Liaison Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogboghodo (House of Representatives); and National Assembly Liaison Officer, Senator George Hoomkwap (Senate).

The only person appointed into that Cabinet by Chief Shonekan was Ambassador Isaac Agboola Aluko-Olokun from Ilesa, Osun State, who died in March 2011 at the age of sixty-six. He was the Head of Chief Shonekans think-tank group.

I and Dr Goke Adegoroye, retired Federal Permanent of the Federal Capital Territory were extremely close to Ambassador Aluko-Olokun in the last ten years of his life. He confided in us and told us many stories about Chief Shonekans tenure in government.

For the present day generation, they must read a book titled Soldiers of Fortune by Max Siollun, I am sure they will have a better understanding of Chief Shonekans emergence as Head of State.

Let us start from page 262 to 270, it captured the events that led to the emergence of the Interim National Government, according to Max Siollun General Babangidas speech of June 26, 1993 asked the SDP and NRC to submit two new presidential candidates by the end of July for a new presidential election. The rules for the new election were carefully crafted to prevent Abiola from contesting again.

Candidates for the new election had to: (i) be at least 50 years old (ii) have been members of their party for at least one year, and (iii) not have an, personal, corporate and business interests that conflict with the national interest. Criteria (ii) and (iii) were designed to exclude Abiola since he had not been a member of the SD P for a full year and the government owed vast sums of money to his business empire.

While the SDP prepared for its July 4 convention, the Abiola family met and held private discussions with the Babangida family in Abuja. Abiolas wife Kudirat, eldest son Kola, Babangidas wife Maryam and older children also attended. Kudirat told Babangida and Abiola: you are friends, whatever your differences, please sort them out: Abiola was convinced that Babangida had the power to rescind the annulment and told him: I know you. If there a mountain in front of you, you can go through it: However Babangida replied No. I cannot go through a mountain, but 1 can go around it,? Babangida also informed Abiola that his quest for

the presidency was endangering the lives of both the Abiola and Babangida families. Babangida warned him that These people will, kill me. They will kill you.

The meeting failed to persuade Abiola to drop his quest for the presidency. Moreover, news of the meeting was leaked to SDP members, and it made Abiola look bad. While his party was meeting, Abiola was fraternising with the man who voided his electoral victory just a few days earlier. At its July 4 convention in Benin, the SDP reaffirmed its refusal to engage in a fresh election, and insisted on the full release of the Iune 12 election results. It argued that it had a valid mandate stemming from its victory at the June 12 election, and that in any case, it did not have time to produce a new candidate before the end of July.The SDPs decision was communicated to Babangida on July 5 when SDP and NRC leaders met him. Knowing it had lost the June 12 election, the NRC favoured fresh elections that would give it a second chance to get into power.

On July 5, Babangida issued the SDP and NRC with a 48 hour ultimatum to find a common position and accept fresh elections, failing which he would dissolve all democratic structures created during the Transition. This raised the spectre of the dissolution of the SDP and NRC, the Senate, House of Representatives and the offices of all the elected officials such as the state governors. By issuing this threat, Babangida jeopardised the jobs of thousands of officials elected during the Transition, and dragged all of them into the crisis. It was no longer just about Abiola, but about the continued office and livelihood of every politician in the system.

Political positions were seen by many politicians as an investment. They were opportunities to acquire wealth, and determine the future direction of wealth. Moreover, continuing in office was the only way that politicians could quickly regain the massive sums they had spent to fund their election campaigns.

Babangidas threat had the desired effect of sowing panic among the politicians. Elected officials of the two parties pressurised their party leaders to reach a, compromise with the FMG in order to save their jobs. The SDP was thrown into a state of confusion and became polarised into pro-Abiola and anti-Abiola factions. If the SDP continued to insist on Abiolas mandate, it would jeopardise its existence and the well-being of thousands of its members, for the sake of one individual. If it agreed to fresh elections, it would forfeit its convincing electoral victory, and risk losing in a new election.

While the SDP squirmed, the FMG was ready to go ahead with fresh elections, with or without the SDPs cooperation.

In his speech of June 26, Babangida had also lifted the ban on all persons who had previously been disqualified from the presidential race (except those with criminal records). He said this was with a view to enriching the quality of candidature for the election and at the same time tap the leadership resources of our country to the fullest: It seems astonishing that Babangida felt that individuals whom he earlier disqualified from the Transition for electoral malpractice, rigging and corruption would enrich the political process. He was re-admitting into the political process individuals whom he previously described as having imbibed the worst culture of the Nigerian political class:

The real reason for re-admitting disqualified candidates was to create a cleavage in the political support for Abiola. Babangida played on the greed, opportunism and power hunger of Nigerian politicians. He hoped that powerful disqualified candidates would ditch Abiola in the hope of another shot at the presidency. This was a typically brilliant divide-and-rule tactic by Babangida to isolate Abiola, whose previous mistakes came to bear. YarAdua (the political godfather of Abiolas party) was still angry that Babangida had stopped him from becoming president by disqualifying him in 1992. Abiola was an outsider to the SDP so YarAdua and powerful party members had no incentive to support or take risks for him. Many SDP members who laid the groundwork and campaigned for six years resented the way that Abiola walked into the party at the last moment and used his wealth and high powered contacts to emerge as the partys presidential candidate, ahead of party members who were there before him. Now Babangida had opened a back door that would give them and YarAdua another shot at the presidency. YarAdua also had a grievance with Abiola for ignoring his choice of Atiku Abubakar as vice-president. Additionally, the SDP was effectively YarAduas party and was packed with his acolytes. YarAduas new political lifeline placed his interests in direct competition with Abiolas. To support Abiola would mean forfeiting his second chance to run for president.

Many disqualified candidates from the SDP and NRC took the same view. Some of them had even canvassed the military to annul the election, and felt no sympathy for Abiola, whose misfortune they regarded as no different from their own in 1992. Some politicians also ditched Abiola after being given very generous financial settlements by Babangida. Abiola found himself having to financially match or exceed Babangidas settlement of these politicians in order to retain their support. However, the military had totally exhausted its goodwill and had little credibility left. Few believed it would or could organise a fresh election, and instead believed that the idea of another election was just a ruse to buy the military more time in office. Even if it could conduct another election in such a condensed time frame, such election would lack credibility and the winner would be haunted by the ghost of the annulled June 12 election. Although they had threatened Babangida and severely weakened his authority, the military clique behind the annulment were willing to give Babangida breathing room to negotiate his own exit  so long as this did not entail Abiola as president.

Abiolas stubborn insistence on his mandate further enraged senior officers and stiffened their opposition to him. Babangida decided to bypass Abiola and SDP party members to negotiate directly with the SDP and NRC leadership. After Babangidas meeting with the national chairmen of the SDP and NRC (Tony Anenih and Hammed Kusamotu respectively) in Abuja on July 7, 1993, the SDP and NRC issued a joint statement announcing their decision to cooperate fully with the FMG, and their acceptance of the FMGs proposal to form a national government. The parties decided: To cooperate fully with the Federal Military Government to ensure the speedy resolution of the present political impasse. To this end, the two parties accepted in principle the second option of a national government proposed by the Federal Military Government, but would suggest that in view of the implications of the option, a committee comprising representatives of the Federal Government and representatives of the two political parties should be set up to work out the

composition, tenure and other issues pertaining to the setting up of the national government.

The NRC thought a national government would allow them to circumvent their defeat on June 12, and provide the opportunity of getting some of its members into the government. It is not clear where the idea of a national government originated. Although the parties joint statement of July 7 claimed that the national government was proposed by the FMG, Brigadier Shagaya and the Director-General of the CDS denied that the idea emanated from the military (although they disagreed on whose idea it was). Both Abiola and Omoruyi believe that former Head of State General Obasanjo proposed to Babangida the idea of handing over to a civilian national government which would conduct fresh elections. However, the biography ofShehu Musa YarAdua claimed that it was Lateef Iakande (former Governor of Lagos State) who suggested a

national government. According to the biography (based on the recollections of YarAduas colleague A.B. Borisade): Lateef [akande tabled a suggestion for an interim national government at a meeting with secretary of the party Su1e Lamido, Chief Anenih and others. IBB said he shouldnt swear in Abiola if Aso Rock was burning because he did not want him dead. Jakande tore off a piece of paper and wrote, Why dont we try an interim government? He handed the paper to Lamido  he probably still has it.

There does seem to be a consensus that the idea of forming an Interim National Government (ING) originated from a civilian source. Opportunists and pragmatists decided to back the ING proposal for different reasons. Opportunists thought it was their best chance for another attempt at the presidency. Pragmatists knew that the military would never reverse the annulment, so started considering other avenues to force Babangida to stand down. Their objective changed from trying to validate Abiolas victory, to one of finding a face-saving way to manoeuvre Babangida out of power. Reversing the annulment would almost certainly have triggered

a violent coup. Senior military officers repeatedly vowed that they would leave office only on their own terms and would never be humiliated out of office by civilian agitation. With the military unwilling to reverse the annulment, the ING became a way to get the military to give up political power without losing face.

The pragmatists knew that confronting a military government populated by soldiers trained and experienced in combat would end in disaster and bloodshed. They also wanted to avoid playing into the hands of hard core Babangida loyalists who were trying to manipulate the crisis to create enough chaos to justify leaving Babangida in power as the least daunting of frightening alternatives.

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Shehu Musa YarAdua became a pivotal figure in the planning to force Babangida to relinquish power by August 27. He joined efforts to construct an ING to succeed Babangida, telling his SDP colleagues that as a former military officer, he knew and understood the mentality of a military government.

When the ING proposal was first presented to senior officers, they initially opposed it. However, they were eventually won over. Babangida was finally convinced of the need to step down by the insistence of his own generals, who concluded that his name had become so synonymous with the pain of the annulment that his position was untenable. Even respected retired military officers became exasperated by Babangida. In a rare moment of indiscretion, the normally taciturn General Bali later revealed that he gave his fellow Langtang Mafia member Brigadier Shagaya the green light to force Babangida out:

I think the biggest blunder he [Babangida] made was to annul that election. Personally I think it was the freest and most orderly conducted election in this country and it was clear that Abiola was winning  So when that happened, I told General Shagaya (he is a Langtang man: he was then the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 15t Division); I said Babangida has lost the credibility to remain as head of state of this country. So, they must remove him. If he doesnt leave, they must remove him because he will never again stay as head of state.

On July 31, 1993, Babangida inaugurated a Tripartite Committee headed by Vice- President Aikhomu to formulate the INGs composition, duration and operational details. The Tripartite Committee comprised representatives from the FMG and the two political parties.

FMG Representatives: Vice-President Aikhomu, Lt-General Dogonyaro, Lt-General Aliyu Mohammed, Brigadier Mark, Brigadier Shagaya, Brigadier Ukpo, Ernest Shonekan, Clement Akpamgbo, Alhaji Abdulrahman Okene. NRC Representatives: Adamu Ciroma, Bashir Dalhatu, Tom lkimi, Eyo Ita, John Nwodo. SDP Representatives: Major-General YarAdua (retired), Dele Cole, Jim Nwobodo, Abubakar Rimi, Olusola Saraki, Dapo Sarumi, Joseph Toba.

After seven years on a long, winding road to civilian rule, the Transition hit a dead end. The election winners sat down in conference halls and hotel suites to negotiate away their electoral

victory with the same people who voided their victory.

On August 2, Lt-General Ibrahim briefed senior officers at the Command Mess, 1 Marina, Lagos. Senior officers were asked to submit recommendations on the lNGs composition. The officers considered three structures for the ING: (i) a full civilian government with equal representation from the SDP and NRC (ii) a hybrid military and civilian government, or (iii) a full military government.

Shehu YarAdua demanded that a civilian should head the lNG, and that Babangida, Aikhomu and all the service chiefs should resign. The demand was accepted with one exception. General Abacha was the only military officer named to serve in the ING. Obasanjo was asked to head the ING but declined. He contacted YarAdua and urged him to stand firm and resist Abachas retention in the ING. YarAdua reluctantly agreed to Abachas retention as he did not want to give Babangida a pretext to remain in power.

The Tripartite Committee recommended an ING to be led by civilians, but with military representatives. The head of the ING was to be the head of state and chairman of the ING. Nebulously, the ING chairmans powers as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces were to reside in the National Defence Council and the National Security Council. The ING was to commence on or before August 27, 1993, and would stay in office until December 31,1994. However, its duration was shortened, with its terminal date being brought forward to March 1994. The NDSC accepted the Tripartite Committees recommendations with a few amendments.

A small band of hardliners urged Babangida to stay on. Some planned to use the Senate to pass a motion calling for an extension of Babangidas tenure. The Senate president, Iyorchia Ayu, was impeached by the Senate for opposing moves to extend Babangidas tenure beyond August 27.9 This was the first time that a Senate president had been impeached in Nigerias history. Politician Mohammed Arzika said that it is a sad commentary on the political environment of the country  that being principled and honest is considered something unbecoming that should be gotten rid of.

Finally out of options, Babangida announced on August 17, 1993 that he would step aside as a personal sacrifice: The following Tripartite Committee members and stakeholders signed a document agreeing to create the ING.

On behalf of the FMG: Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (retired)  Vice President; Lt-General Joshua Dogonyaro  Commandant of the Command and Staff College, Jaji; Lt -General Aliyu Mohammed  National Security Adviser; Brigadier David Mark  National War College, Abuja; Brigadier John Shagaya  GOC, 1st Division, Kaduna; Brigadier Anthony Ukpo  Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; Alhaji Abdurrahman Okene  Secretary for Internal Affairs in the Transitional Council.

On behalf of the SDP: Major-General Shehu Musa YarAdua (retired); Tony Anenih  SDP National Chairman; Alhaji Sule Lamido  National Secretary of the SDP; Dr Okechukwu Odunze  SDP National Treasurer; Jim Nwobodo; Alhaji Olusola Saraki; Dapo Sarumi; Dr Patrick Dele Cole; Amos Idakula; Alhaji Abubakar Rimi.

Prominent among those who signed for the NRC were: Dr Hammed Kusamotu  NRC National Chairman; Okey Nzoho  NRC National Publicity Secretary; Tom Ikimi; Alhaji Adamu Ciroma; Joe Nwodo; Theo Nkire; Professor Eyo Ita; Dr Bawa Salka; Prince Bola Afonja; Alhaji Y. Anka; Abba Muritala; Halilu Maina; Alhaji Muktari A. Mohammed. Other signatories: Alhaji Ramalam, Ahaji Halimu Maina, Joseph Toba.

A remarkable aspect of the INGs emergence is that many of those behind its formation were unelected, while the majority of those who had been elected (Abiola, the National Assembly and state governors) played little or no part in its creation. The ING was superimposed on the polity and nation without the consent of the overwhelming majority of both constituencies.

The ING was unique. It was the only government in Nigerias history that was not the product of a coup or election. On August 26, 1993, Babangida stepped aside. He stood down after eight years in power and retired with his service chiefs (Lt-General Ibrahim, Air Vice-Marshal Akin Dada, Vice-Admiral Dan Preston Omatsola and Aliyu Attah). He left the crisis-racked country to an uncertain future in the hands of an ING headed by the chairman of the Transitional Council, Ernest Shonekan.

Shonekan was the former chief executive of the multi-national United Africa Company (UAC). His selection was strategic. Like Abiola, he was an Egba Yoruba from Abeokuta. The military knew that Shonekan would be regarded as a traitor by other Yorubas for agreeing to lead the ING after the voiding of an election won by a fellow Yoruba. Even though Babangida had officially retired, Shonekan was perceived as a puppet being controlled by Babangida from behind the scenes.

In a last-ditch attempt at continuity, Babangida left his loyalists in charge of key military units. Lt-Generals Joshua Dogonyaro (Chief of Defence Staff), Aliyu Mohammed (Chief of Army Staff) and Brigadier John Shagaya (GOC, 11 Division) were left behind to watch Shonekan. The Defence Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Sani Abacha, also retained his position and was the only military member of the ING.

Babangida stood down with the militarys reputation at an all time low. When he came to power he was seen as a visionary benevolent leader with foresight, a reform agenda, finesse and a forward thinking economic blueprint. Yet, he left office eight years later with his reputation mutilated and became (at that time) the most unpopular military leader in Nigerias history.

Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, writes from Lagos.
The Health System consists of all organisations, institutions, resources and people whose primary purpose is to improve the health of the people. Therefore, for a health system to function well, it needs staff, funds, information, supplies, transport, communications and overall guidance and direction. These are collectively referred to as the health system building blocks. Strengthening health systems thus means addressing key constraints in each of these areas.

A decayed and poorly functional health system owing to years of neglect of this very important sector by past administrations was inherited by the Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya-led administration in 2019. Hence, the governor a state of emergency in the sector upon assuming office and set up a comprehensive agenda for the holistic

overhaul of the system.

Starting with service delivery as a key pillar entails making available the needed health services for people to access. This includes but not limited to the availability and distribution of health facilities (physical infrastructure) for service delivery, availability of needed equipment including beds, laboratories, adequate rooms for key services such as child birth, family planning, ante-natal consultation etc.

In order to prepare the system to be able to provide the needed services to the people, the government accomplished the following within two years: Complete renovation and upgrading of one public health centre (PHC) in each of the 114 wards of the state. Each of the PHCs was thoroughly renovated, provided with basic equipment, 24-hour light through the installation of solar power system across all the facilities and drilling of

boreholes to ensure availability of uninterrupted water supply critical for quality health service delivery.

Then government embarked on the upgrading of the state specialist hospital including the installation of relevant equipment that were hitherto lacking such as Xrays and Ultrasound machines, ECG, Echo, Endoscopy and equipping of the dialysis centre constructed by the past administration but left unequipped.

In addition to that, one general hospital in each of the three senatorial zones was upgraded in order to make available to the people specialized services and reduce the burden on the state specialist hospital. The general hospital in Kumo is being completely reconstructed while those of Kaltungo and Bajoga are undergoing a state-of-the-art transformation. Other cottage hospitals/health clinics are also gradually being renovated and upgraded such as the cottage hospitals in Mallam Sidi, Bojude and Kuri as well as the General Hospital in Nafada.

The government has also embarked on the construction of a cottage hospital in Filiya, Shongom Local Government Area, the only local government area without any secondary health facility in the state. Furthermore, the State Government has established a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the SSH, Gombe.

Human Resource is as critical as the service delivery pillar in the provision of health services to the people. It entails making available all the needed manpower to man the clinics and hospitals. It includes the doctors, nurses, midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists, laboratory scientists, community health workers etc.

The major strides recorded by this administration under this pillar are as follows:

Ensuring the commencement of housemanship at the specialist hospital where at least 30 young doctors have been engaged to undergo their internship training. This was a strategic move considering the fact that the housemanship quarters located at the specialist hospital was abandoned for over 20 years. Its construction started in 1999 and all previous governments abandoned the project. The successful completion of the quarters in addition to the employment of specialist consultants enabled the state to secure accreditation to commence this programme. With this singular achievement, it means having at least 30 doctors every year undergo their training at the hospital thereby boosting the human resource availability at the facility.

Employment of consultants and senior registrars is also significant. For the first time in the history of the state, there are close to 20 specialist consultants working at the state specialist hospital. Before the coming of this administration, there were only two or three consultants. This was made possible because of the governors approval of the upward review of consultants salary in the state. This has made consultants in the state to earn

more than their colleagues at the Federal Teaching Hospital. This has greatly resulted in drawing specialists to the state civil service.

The state government also secured accreditation to commence residency training in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Family Medicine. Securing this accreditation would not have been possible if the necessary infrastructure, equipment and consultants are not available. With this now, the state will attract doctors from all over the country to come for specialist training in these fields of medicine thereby significantly increasing the available manpower to provide services.

The deployment of 147 nurses/midwives to all the 114 renovated PHCs in the state has been quite revolutionary in the state. This move has made available at least one nurse/midwife at all the PHCs located in the various wards of the state and drastically reduced the referral rate from the PHCs as well as reduced the incidence of maternal

deaths associated with pregnancy and childhood morbidity/mortality.

For the first time in the history of the state, the PHCDA engaged not less than 15 Youths Corps doctors and posted them to the major PHCs across the state. This singular effort has multiplier effects. Apart from making available doctors at the grassroots level, these doctors will also build the capacity of the existing health workers in their areas of assignment. This will ensure the provision of quality service to the people. In addition, engagement of laboratory and pharmacy technicians to provide services at the PHCs and construction of a new school of nursing will significantly boost the schools production capacity thereby increasing the availability of nurses and midwives in the state. The new school has a 640-student capacity as against the current 150 students.

Critical to all the above is the requisite financing which aims to ensure that all people can access health services without suffering catastrophic expenditure. The result has been very positive in the sense that for the first time in over 10 years, the state has consistently maintained its budgetary allocation to health at two digits nearing the Abuja Declaration of 15%. This has improved from 12% in 2020, 13% in 2021 and 14% in 2022. This means increased funding to revitalize this sector which was neglected and left comatose by the past administrations.

The state government further established the State Contributory Health Scheme (GoHealth) to ensure all residents of the state can access quality health services without suffering financial hardship. So far, the state civil servants have been enrolled into the scheme where the individual employee contributes 3.5% of his salary and the government also contributes same percentage to take care of his or her needs and that of his family. Over 300,000 people are expected to be protected from financial hardship associated with huge medical bills under the formal sector programme

Among other steps, the governor also approved the earmarking of at least one percent consolidated revenue of the state as health equity fund to cater for the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable members of the society.

So far, over 25,000 poor and vulnerable individuals across the 114 wards have been enrolled and are enjoying free health service delivery without spending a dime out-of-pocket.

The net effect of these invaluable and pragmatic innovations is a well-functioning health system that ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy and cost- effectiveness, and their scientifically sound and cost-effective use.

From loads of medical supplies to proper storage of drugs and vaccines to actual strengthening of the existing Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme, the state has witnessed a remarkable improvement of health care services to the people.

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The credit goes to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and his team for the huge successes recorded within two years of his administration in the health and other vital sectors. The people of Gombe have seen the correlation between leadership and governance. Governance in health is being increasingly regarded as a salient theme on the development agenda. Leadership and governance in building a health system involve ensuring that strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight, coalition-building, regulation, attention to system design and accountability.

The need for greater accountability arises both from increased funding and a growing demand to demonstrate results. Accountability is therefore an intrinsic aspect of governance that concerns the management of relationships between various stakeholders. If there is one area one could vividly see the exemplary demonstration of political will and determination to provide the necessary strategic direction and oversight is the governors ability to take the centre stage whenever issues related to governance and leadership in the health system are concerned.

This has seen the renewal of MOU with multilateral, bilateral and international donor organisations such as the World Bank, UN Organisations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI), German International Cooperation (GIZ) and a host of others. These organisations are currently implementing programmes and projects at the grassroots level to improve the health of Gombe State citizens.

* Muhammad D. Hassan is a final year medical student at the Gombe State University.
A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun, loyal to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says it would appeal the outcome of last Saturdays primary election in the state.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the faction, Abiodun Agboola, on Monday in Osogbo, quoted the factional Chairman, Rasaq Salinsile, as saying this at a meeting in Osogbo.

Mr Salinsile, who described the primaries as a charade, ruse, and sham, said the faction would approach the Appeal Committee to be set up by the National Secretariat to seek redress.

He said the faction rejected the result of the primary election and was convinced that justice had not been served

We put it on record the fact that there were so many anomalies, all of which incidentally, we have made known before Saturdays event, he said.

We put on record that as at the day of the election, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, our governorship aspirant, was not allowed to have access to the membership register by which the exercise took place.

By this, he was denied knowledge of how many members the party had as at the day of the election which is contrary to morality and the law.

We put on record the fact that many people were disenfranchised as APC members who trooped to the election centres with their membership slips, could not find their names on the register.

Contrary to the guidelines, accreditation did not take place in many election centres, while result sheets were unavailable.

We are, therefore, convinced that justice has not been served and therefore rejects the result and will be approaching the Appeal Committee to be set up by the National Secretariat.

In a related development, a Coalition Of Civil Societies Of Nigeria said the primary lacked international best practices and fell short of the appreciable standard.

Addressing a news conference at the NUJ Correspondents Chapel office, the leader of the team, Patrick Usman, of the Centre for Development of Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria, said the election was not fair.

Mr Usman recommended that the national secretariat of the APC should investigate the irregularities reported in the election.

Our team observed and noted that there was generally non-availability of result sheets at the wards where we observed the election.

In some cases, ordinary A4 papers and official letterhead of the party were used instead.

The primary election cannot stand the scrutiny of parameters for a free and fair election, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Gboyega Oyetola, won the partys primary on Saturday.

Mr Oyetola, who is seeking re-election, polled 222,169, votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Adeoti, the preferred candidate of Mr Aregbesola, who scored 12,921.

The governor won in all the 30 Local Government Areas of the state in the direct primary election.

He also defeated Lasun Yusuf, a former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, who scored 460 votes.

(NAN)
Chima Igwe, a former acting director-general of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), did not obtain the PhD certificate he presented to the institute, a prosecution witness, Vera Esideme, told the Ikeja Special Offence court on Tuesday.

Mr Igwe was arraigned in November 2021 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged certificate forgery to which he pleaded not guilty.

He did not actually obtain the certificate which he presented to FIIRO in 2002 which he used in getting to a level of a director in FIIRO and which also gave him the privilege of even being an acting DG of FIIRO, Ms Esideme, an investigator with the ICPC, said.

Ms Esideme who began her testimony on Monday said one Mr Olusanya (late) was sent to the University where he claimed to have acquired the doctoral degree in the Benin Republic to enquire about the certificate and our findings revealed that the defendants completed the coursework in 1999-2002 but, however, he failed to defend his thesis publicly.

And also the findings revealed that he had applied to the university for him to be enlisted to defend the thesis as it was a condition for him to be issued a certificate and the findings also revealed that they had given him a date to make a public defence.

Cross-examination

Earlier in the hearing, Ms Esideme said Mr Igwe was invited to make some statements regarding the petitions that were submitted against him.

When Mr Igwe came to the commission, he came in the company of a friend of his, and he volunteered statements under caution and this he did on several occasions, Ms Esideme said.

He volunteered statements about six times  in 2019, he came twice and in 2020 he came about four times to volunteer statements.

The court admitted the statements.

During his first statement, he informed the team that he had applied for approval to proceed for a Ph.D. programme at the University of Abomey Calabi.

Afterwards in 2002, he wrote to FIIRO notifying FIIRO of completion of (the) programme attaching an attestation and it was in French interpreted in English by one Lawrence, she said.

The investigator said during the investigation they also retrieved an extract from the body of FIIRO the minutes (of meeting) that was held on April 15, 2019.

In our finding from the minutes, the body (FIIRO) had given the defendant an ultimatum of 30 days to present his certificate which he had failed. In that meeting, they discussed his inability to present his certificate.

However, the defendants lawyer, C. Nwonu, objected to the admissibility of the minutes of the meeting.

Mr Nwonu said it was not signed by the secretary and the names of the attendees were there.

Responding, the prosecution lawyer, Henry Emore, said one Alhaji signed the meeting as the chairman.

But the judge, Sherifat Solebo, said the chairman is different from the secretary.

However, Mr Emore argued that the document was gotten in the course of the investigation, adding that it was signed by one of the concerned parties, my Lord.

But the judge pointed out that because it was retrieved in the course of the investigation does not mean it should not comply with the law. She, however, rejected the document.

Mrs Esideme further said that they got a resolution from the governing board of FIIRO addressed to the defendants and our finding shows that the certificate which he claimed he had obtained in 2002 would not suffice

The resolution was addressed to the defendant, the certificate would take effect from 13th of February 2020 as against the date he had earlier written to notify the institute of completion of the programme in 2002.

The prosecution lawyer applied that the resolution is submitted as evidence but Mr Nwonu objected.

He said that it should be  a matter for tradition for such document emanating from FIIRO to its staff to be acknowledged.

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But Mr Emore said at the time the defendant had ceased to come to the office and it was put in his file for record and when we requested for it FIIRO retrieved it from his file.

In her ruling, the judge sustained the objection and adjourned to Wednesday, February 23.
Plattsburgh, NY (12901)

Today

Periods of rain. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A bomb blast hit a police van deployed for polio vaccination in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, leaving at least five policemen injured, police officials said.

The policemen were deployed with a polio eradication team for security in Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district of the province when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded and injured at least five cops, District Police Officer Najmul Hassan told the local media.

The police vehicle was completely destroyed in the attack, said the official, adding that several suspicious persons were arrested from the spot.

Following the explosion, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

Security forces cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation in the surrounding areas.

Earlier on Monday, a five-day anti-polio campaign targeting over 1 million children up to five years of age was launched in the province. 
Southbury, CT (06488)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 61F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low around 50F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
To meet the needs of travellers, UNGUESS conducted the study "The state of digitalisation of European tourism: a challenge between destinations" , in collaboration with Osservatori Digital 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 Luca Manara, 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

SOURCE UNGUESS
MOSCOW, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) today announced that the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan has authorized the use of Sputnik M Russian vaccine for adolescents aged 12-17.

Thus, Kazakhstan has become the first country outside Russia to authorize the use of Sputnik M.

In contrast with some international producers offering their vaccines in the same dosage for both adults and adolescents, the Gamaleya Center has developed Sputnik M specifically for adolescents.

Sputnik M is a two-shot vaccine based on the same human adenoviral vectors platform, which is safe and has been widely studied for over 30 years. The only difference between Sputnik M and Sputnik V is a lower concentration of viral particles per dose: Sputnik M for adolescents has 5 times less concentration in comparison with the original Sputnik V in both shots.

Russian Ministry of Health registered Sputnik M on November 24, 2021 based on data from clinical trials confirming the high safety and immunogenicity profile of Sputnik M among adolescents. During the trials there were no serious adverse events registered following vaccination with Sputnik M. Current results are corresponding with those obtained during clinical trials and real-world data on Sputnik V after vaccinating adults.

Sputnik V has been authorized in 71 countries with total population of over 4 billion people. It induces stronger and longer lasting immune response against COVID (including the Omicron variant) than many other vaccines, which is further strengthened by Sputnik Light booster. A unique comparative study1 conducted at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Italy by a team of 12 Italian and 9 Russian scientists has shown that Sputnik V vaccine demonstrates more than 2 times higher titers of virus neutralizing antibodies to Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant than 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine (2.1 times higher in total and 2.6 times higher 3 months after vaccination).

The study was conducted in the equal laboratory conditions on comparable sera samples from individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V and Pfizer with a similar level of IgG antibodies and virus neutralizing activity (VNA) against Wuhan variant. Sputnik V showed significantly smaller (2.6 times) reduction of virus neutralizing activity against Omicron as compared to reference Wuhan variant than Pfizer vaccine (8.1-fold reduction for Sputnik V in contrast to 21.4-fold reduction for Pfizer vaccine).

Based on the data collected by the Spallanzani Institute and results of Gamaleya Center's studies Sputnik V provides for strong immune response against Omicron, which is further strengthened by boosting with one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine (the first component of Sputnik V).

1 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.15.22269335v1

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1698158/Russian_Direct_Invest_Fund_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Russian Direct Invest Fund (RDIF)
Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers', both existing shareholders in PDG, also invest in this round

SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group (PDG) has closed an equity investment from Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) as a lead investor for $350M. Both existing shareholders in PDG, Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), also invested in this round, with the total exceeding half a billion dollars.

Established in 2017, PDG is a leading Pan-Asia data center operator with an unrivalled footprint across key Asian digital economies. PDG has a portfolio of 20 data centers with over 600MW of secured capacity and spanning five countries. The company serves hyperscalers, internet and cloud companies, and financial institutions with scalable and reliable internet infrastructure and world-class data center services to meet their increasing demand across Asia.

The funds will enable PDG to consolidate its position as the leading Pan-Asia data center operator, by deepening its presence in Japan, India, Singapore, China, and Indonesia and accelerating its expansion plans into other markets. Asia is one of the fastest growing data center regions in the world, driven by strong market fundamentals such as a large base of internet users, the growth of digitalization, high levels of data usage and an increasing tech-savvy young population.

Commenting on Mubadala's investment in PDG, Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate and Infrastructure Investments at Mubadala, said: "We are thrilled to be the lead investor in PDG's fundraise and partner with the company on its growth journey. PDG is a leading data center infrastructure platform operating in an attractive market with strong tailwinds and catering to rising demand from the hyperscale segment and more broadly Asia's digital economies. We look forward to working with PDG's management team to capitalize on the growth opportunities and create not only sustainable, long term value creation, but also support Asia's digital infrastructure development as a vital enabler to economic progress."

"We are excited to have a leading sovereign fund Mubadala as another blue-chip investor in PDG. Mubadala's track record of long-term investments combined with extensive know-how in the digital infrastructure space makes it a great partner as we continue to scale our business. We are also heartened by the continued trust and confidence placed by both Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers' in PDG," said Rangu Salgame, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of PDG.

"Since making our initial investment we have been very impressed with the management team's ability to successfully execute a highly differentiated strategy and focus on value creation. We are pleased to make a second investment in PDG to help accelerate their growth and look forward to partnering with Mubadala and Warburg Pincus on this journey," said Ben Chan, Senior Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at Ontario Teachers'.

"Since backing the founders in PDG's formative days, we have been impressed by their leadership and execution of a strong thesis. We are excited to continue to be part of PDG's journey and believe that the company is best poised to take advantage of a truly transformative market opportunity." said Ellen Ng, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus.

About PDG

Princeton Digital Group (PDG) is a leading investor, developer and operator of Internet infrastructure. Headquartered in Singapore with presence and operations in China, Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Japan, its portfolio of data centers powers the expansion of hyperscalers and enterprises in the fastest-growing digital economies across Asia. For more information, visit www.princetondg.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Mubadala Investment Company

Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio, aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Mubadala's $243.4 billion (AED 894 billion) portfolio spans six continents with interests in multiple sectors and asset classes. We leverage our deep sectoral expertise and long-standing partnerships to drive sustainable growth and profit, while supporting the continued diversification and global integration of the economy of the United Arab Emirates. Mubadala's Digital Infrastructure unit invests in physical assets around the world underpinning the global trend of digitalization and increasing demand for connectivity, data storage and compute power.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Mubadala has offices in London, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, New York, San Francisco and Beijing. For more information about Mubadala Investment Company, please visit: www.mubadala.com

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $73 billion in assets under management. The firm's 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.

About Ontario Teachers'

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with C$227.7 billion in net assets (all figures at June 30, 2021 unless noted). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region offices are located in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as at January 1, 2021, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 331,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit otpp.com.

Media Contacts

Princeton Digital Group

Grace Chen

PR@princetondg.com

PRecious Communications for Princeton Digital Group

PDG@preciouscomms.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1747916/PDG_primary_logo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Princeton Digital Group (PDG)
StePac's automated modified atmosphere packaging solutions for bulk and retail cherries help relieve labor shortages

TEFEN, Israel, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- StePac Ltd.'s lean, automated Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) solutions gained rave reviews among Chilean cherry packers and exporters especially during the recent China cherry export season ahead of the recent Chinese New Year celebrations. The novel packaging formats have proven instrumental in helping the packers make the transition from manual to faster and more efficient automatized processes to counter the recent labor shortage hurdles.

StePacs Automated Packaging Formats Reign on the Chile- China Route

In response to the boom in Cherry exports from Chile to China and the rest of Asia, Chilean Packers are turning to StePac's novel, lean Xflow proprietary films inbuilt with properties specifically tailored for automated bulk-packaging and long-term storage and shipment of cherries. Packers proclaim Xflow has drastically lowered the dependency on labor and has enhanced food safety by minimizing handling during the packing process. Beyond the boost in operational efficiency, the packaging represents a considerable reduction in plastic packaging and stakeholders are enjoying the benefits of MAP technology namely the extension of product shelf life, reduction in food waste and lowered shipping costs associated with sea freight.

The fresh produce packaging innovators have been working with Chilean distributor Empack to diversify its portfolio of bulk and retail packaging to meet the evolving logistical needs for this high-demand fruit and to preserve its full freshness, flavor and nutritional value as it makes the lengthy journey from Chile to Chinese consumers which can last 35 days.

The versatile film is especially suited to 2.5kg and 5kg packages and is easily adapted to automatic fillers and packaging lines, allowing for reduced handling and thus significantly less manpower. The lean film also effectively reduces plastic consumption by up to 40%. This product was successfully used by more than a dozen exporters of cherries during the 2021/22 Chilean cherry season.

"The exponential growth in cherry exports, coupled with major labor shortages, created major challenges for Chilean cherry packing houses, calling for more sophisticated packing operations to accommodate both jump in volume and the short and intensive packing season for cherries," explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for StePac.

With more than 44,000 hectares (almost 110,000 acres) of land dedicated to cherry cultivation yielding more than 300K tons in annual cherry exports, Chile is the leading global exporter of cherries and is on a trajectory for further year-to-year growth. More than 95% of cherries grown in Chile are exported to the Far East, mainly China, with the bulk of shipments timed to arrive in time for the Chinese New Year. Cherries are considered an ideal gift for the Chinese New Year, as their red color and round shape represent fortune, prosperity, and eternity in Chinese tradition.

Meanwhile in China, StePac's Xgo resealable top-seal/lidding film has been making waves in the E-commerce and retail sectors since the last Chilean cherry season. "This attractive, functional retail packaging solution was designed to take the value of StePac's MAP technology all the way to the consumer and has been eagerly embraced by our customers in China," enthuses Guillermo Perez, category manager for Empack. "We currently supply 20 Chilean exporters cherry punnets sealed with personalized printed-lidding films that house smaller 500g-2kg cherry volumes for the Chinese retail sector."

Xgo's advanced, lightweight top seal is infused with StePac's MAP life-extension properties. That preservation activity is regenerated each time the label is resealed, making it ideal for multiple cherry servings. The films can also be easily integrated into automated cherry packing lines and save the need for repacking in China.

"The two novel products have garnered excellent feedback from our Chilean partners. They have reported up to 50% reduction in labor costs associated with sealing, while the customers in China welcomed the boost in customer experience owed to the new lidding film," adds Ward. "We found a strong partner in Empack, who massively invested in flowpack and topseal machinery to propel the smooth transition to automation and to support customers that don't have their own. Based on these unqualified successes, we are eyeing the northern hemisphere cherry market and expect our products to be adopted widely there in the forthcoming season."

StePac's full line of advanced MAP products will be showcased at the upcoming Fruit Logistica 2022 in Berlin, April 5-7.

Company Contact:

StePac

Ms. Hila Nagel

Marketing Communications

Tel: +972.4.612.3500

info@StePac.com

www.StePac.com

@StePac_Xtend



Press Contact

NutriPR

Ms. Liat Simha

liat@nutripr.com

www.nutripr.com

Twitter: @LiatSimha

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751491/StePac_Xflow_flow_pack_Cherries.jpg

SOURCE StePac
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 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%.

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%, reduce delivery TAT by 30%, increase net promoter score by 18%, and curb order allocation time by 45%. It's empowering enterprises to ensure sustainable logistics operations and lower carbon emissions by reducing distance traveled and trip volumes by 5% and 6%, respectively.

The SaaS provider is also enabling manufacturers and exporters/importers to reduce freight costs by 10%, reduce person-hours invested in shipment handling by 75% and provides end-to-end visibility around container movement, thereby curbing incidental costs by up to 90%.

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.

Media Contact:

Shipsy Media Team

[email protected]

+91-9867999866

SOURCE Shipsy
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: [email protected]

for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: 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, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751566/Artmarket_Artworks.jpg

SOURCE Artmarket.com
NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Vascular Access (AVA) and B. Braun Medical Inc. (B. Braun) announced the launch of the second of three courses that will provide pre-licensure students in approved nursing, medical and allied health care academic programs hands-on training for insertion of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs). The Fundamentals of Peripheral Intravenous Vascular Access academic curriculum is free to qualified universities and colleges in the U.S. and Internationally.

PIV 201, which is available for the Spring 2022 semester, builds on the PIV 101 foundational course that launched for the Fall semester of 2021. The final course, PIV 301, is a certificate course to be launched in October 2022 that will focus on advanced concepts of vascular access, improving patient outcomes and critical thinking in vascular access. The comprehensive curriculum on the placement of PIVCs are offered free to medical, nursing, respiratory therapy, and other allied healthcare schools. Colleges and universities that want to include the free curriculum in their Spring 2022 semester can sign up now through AVA. The curriculum is being developed by U.S. and internationally recognized subject matter experts on vascular access, infection prevention and legal liability.

Vascular access is the most common invasive procedure performed in healthcare,1 with more than 380 million placements of PIVCs in patients annually in the United States.2 However, between 33 percent and 69 percent of PIVCs fail before the completion of treatment and more than 50 percent of adults describe insertion as moderately painful or worse. 3 Collectively, this can lead to serious implications for patients, including increased costs and length of treatment.3 Peripheral vascular harm was named to ECRI's top 10 patient safety concerns in 2021.4 ECRI is an independent non-profit organization focused on healthcare quality, patient safety and evidence-based healthcare guidance.

"As the recognized thought leader for the specialty of vascular access, the Association for Vascular Access is committed to providing clinical education and improving patient safety and outcomes, which starts with educating pre-licensure students," said AVA President Tonja Stevens, BSN, RN, VA-BC. "Insertions of PIVCs are performed by many different clinicians and professionals from nurses, physicians, advanced practice practitioners and allied healthcare professionals. This is reflective of AVA's membership that work in various work settings such as hospitals, care centers/clinics, and alternate care and community settings. We are proud to partner with B. Braun in the development and offering of this innovative, e-learning curriculum to students, faculty and clinicians to ensure quality patient care and best clinical practice of this important skill."

"The PIV curriculum will elevate the knowledge and skill of nursing students and nurses across the U.S. and beyond. I am thrilled to incorporate this evidence-based curriculum in our pre-licensure BSN program." Christine Vandenhouten, PhD, RN, Chair, Professor of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

"AVA's goal is to elevate the knowledge and skills of all healthcare providers who routinely insert PIVCs, mid-lines and central lines as part of their in-patient, out-patient and home care practices," said Judy Thompson, MSNEd., RN, VA-BC, AVA Director of Clinical Education. "AVA and B. Braun partnered on this free academic curriculum because patients deserve a safe, infection-free, comfortable VA procedure from novice clinicians. We want to take the fear and discomfort out of the equation for both patients and providers."

"As a leader in infusion therapy, B. Braun believes the failure rate of PIVC insertions is not acceptable," said Dr. Stephanie Pitts, DNP, RN, CPN, VA-BC, Director, Strategy, Therapy Solutions and Programs at B. Braun. "We are pleased to partner with AVA in offering this comprehensive curriculum to improve training in this important area of patient care, and we look forward to broad participation by schools across the country. Narrowing the knowledge gap will be critical to raise the bar in PIV care."

AVA is compiling data on the pilot program and the full curriculum under an IRB-approved research study conducted by principal investigator Andrea Owens MSNEd., RN, CRNI, VA-BC. "Studies have demonstrated that current training programs are not consistent across pre-licensure programs and employer-based continuing education," said Owens. "The IRB study will be used to make any necessary changes in the Fundamentals of Peripheral Vascular Access curriculum as a result of the findings."

AVA has committed that the 3-part Fundamentals course will always be free to college and university healthcare pre-licensure programs through the AVA Vascular Access Education program. When schools include the curriculum in their programs, enrolled students and teaching faculty receive a free membership to AVA, allowing unlimited access to continuing education on advanced topics in vascular access.

The Fundamentals of Peripheral Intravenous Vascular Access will be available to practicing clinicians in October 2022 on AVA Academy for a fee. Continuing education credits will be awarded.

About:

The Association for Vascular Access (AVA) is the dominant thought leader in the vascular access specialty and has a long-standing commitment to educating clinicians and pre-licensure students who represent a broad spectrum of healthcare professions around the globe. Founded in 1985, AVA is at the forefront of protecting and saving lives by establishing best practices and promoting patient advocacy. AVA's multidisciplinary membership advances research provides professional and public education to shape practice and enhance patient outcomes, and partners with the device manufacturing community to bring evidence-based innovations in vascular access. To learn more about AVA and the Fundamentals of Peripheral Intravenous Vascular Access, visit avainfo.org.

B. Braun Medical Inc ., a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry. Other key product areas include nutrition, pharmacy admixture and dialysis. The company is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety. B. Braun Medical is headquartered in Bethlehem, PA and is part of the B. Braun Group of Companies in the U.S., which includes B. Braun Interventional Systems, Aesculap and CAPS.

Globally, the B. Braun Group of Companies employs more than 64,000 employees in 64 countries. Guided by its Sharing Expertise philosophy, B. Braun continuously exchanges knowledge with customers, partners and clinicians to address the critical issues of improving care and lowering costs. To learn more about B. Braun Medical, explore our website.

Citations

Tripathi S, Gladfelter T. Peripheral intravenous catheters in hospitalized patients: Practice, Dwell times, and factors impacting the dwell times: A single center retrospective study. J Vasc Access. 2021 Mar 30:11297298211000874. doi: 10.1177/11297298211000874. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33784876. iData Research. (2020). US Market Report Suite for Vascular Access Devices and Accessories. Cooke, M., Ullman, A., Ray-Barruel, G., Wallis, M., Corley, A., Rickard, C. (2018). Not "just" an intravenous line: Consumer perspectives on peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC). An international cross-sectional survey of 25 countries. Plos One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193436 ECRI https://www.ecri.org/press/racial-ethnic-health-disparities-top-patient-safety-concern-for-2021

SOURCE B. Braun Medical Inc.
SYDNEY, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- While conducting research on the Australian magpie, a team of researchers made an unexpected discovery of cooperative behaviour as the intelligent birds helped one another remove their tracking devices.

The new findings were published in a paper in Australian Field Ornithology journal and released to the public on Tuesday.

Contributing author and animal ecology professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Dominique Potvin told Xinhua on Tuesday that this was one of the first times altruistic, social problem-solving behaviour had been observed in birds.

"It was just interesting because none of us had ever heard of any animals cooperating to remove trackers... we found out that this is like the first time that this has actually happened," said Potvin.

Magpies live in social groups of up to a dozen birds, which breed and raise their young cooperatively. The territorial birds are known to swoop unsuspecting passers-by and for their loud, aggressive call.

Originally the team had planned to conduct experiments on the social relationships among groups of the Australian magpie. The tracking devices were fixed on to the birds with a light-weight harness designed to cause minimal impact.

Within an hour all the birds had worked together to remove their harnesses.

"At first, we were devastated. Because not only did it mean that the birds are behaving differently, trying to get the trackers off, but that the trackers were probably influencing their behaviours."

Interestingly, even the magpies that were not equipped with the tracking advice were helping those that were. Potvin said such "rescue behaviour" raised the question of the species potential for altruism -- helping others at their own expense.

"It's a combination of a really sophisticated social behaviour, as well as a problem-solving behaviour... not only are they problem solving as a team, but the magpie helping isn't actually getting any reward."

Potvin also highlighted the importance of understanding the behaviour of wildlife when it comes to conservation efforts, as behavioural changes are animals' most immediate response to stressors such as habitat destruction and climate changes.

"Understanding how animals react to particular changes in their environment can help us understand whether they will be able to cope long term, whether they'll be able to stick around, or whether we really need to help them or change our practices." 
HANGZHOU, China, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) ("BEST" or the "Company"), a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China, today announced that Mr. Jun Chen has resigned from his position as a director of the Company, effective February 17, 2022. Mr. Chen was nominated by Alibaba Group Holding Limited ("Alibaba") and Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited ("Cainiao Network") as an Alibaba Director under the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of incorporation.

"On behalf of the Company and the Board, I would like to express our sincerest gratitude to Mr. Jun Chen for his contributions and service since joining the Company as a director in 2015," commented Mr. Shao-Ning Johnny Chou, Chairman and CEO of BEST. "We wish him the best of success in his future endeavors."

The Company today also announced that Alibaba (including Cainiao Network) has appointed Ms. Xiao Hu as an Alibaba Director under the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of incorporation.

Ms. Hu is a managing director of Strategic Investments at Alibaba Group Holding Limited. She joined Alibaba in 2017 and previously served as an investment director of Strategic Investments. She served as vice president and then director at Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Limited from 2012 to 2017 and associate and then vice president at Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited from 2008 to 2012. She also served as an assistant equity research analyst at China International Capital Corporation Limited from 2003 to 2006 and an auditor with KPMG Huazhen LLP from 2002 to 2003. Ms. Hu holds an MBA degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a bachelor's degree from Peking University.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BEST's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BEST may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about BEST's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: BEST's goals and strategies; BEST's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; BEST 's ability to maintain and enhance its ecosystem; BEST 's ability to compete effectively; BEST 's ability to continue to innovate, meet evolving market trends, adapt to changing customer demands and maintain its culture of innovation; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and other countries in which BEST operates, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in BEST's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and BEST does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

ABOUT BEST INC.

BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain and logistics solutions provider. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-add services, including supply chain management, freight delivery, and international logistics. BEST's mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://www.best-inc.com/en/.

SOURCE BEST Inc.
TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BlueRush Inc. ("BlueRush" or the "Company") (TSXV: BTV) (OTCQB: BTVRF), an emerging personalized video Software as a Service (SaaS) company, is pleased to announce preliminary financial results for the second quarter of 2022, ending January 31, 2022, including significant recent growth in subscription and service bookings.

"We are pleased to report to shareholders that this was an exciting and fruitful quarter full of milestones. Net growth in recurring revenue bookings was $314,000, we secured a number of exciting new customers in the financial services category and sold our first deals in the Telco and Utilities verticals," said Steve Taylor, CEO.

The Company also previously announced a significant professional services contract with an alternative lender in the quarter.

Snapshot of achievements during Q2, Fiscal 2022:

Net New CARR bookings of $314,000

bookings of Anticipated Gross Margins to exceed 90%

Total CARR now exceed $3.1 Million

now exceed Professional Services bookings of $956,000

Gross Margins on services expected to exceed 40%

New CARR of $219,000 from a number of international customers

of from a number of international customers Two new major North American Insurance customers



One new financial services customer



Addition of BlueRush's first North American energy customer



Addition of BlueRush's first telco customer

Net Expansion CARR of $95,000 came from several existing customers

of came from several existing customers Major European bank



South American bank



North American Insurance provider

The Company achieved positive Net Dollar Retention (NDR) in the Quarter

NDR is a significant sign of health in the business and means the company is growing before the addition of new customers



Management attributes our continued success in growing our customers base to the excellent results achieved and investment in a dedicated Customer Experience Management team

BlueRush is also pleased to report new CARR into two important new verticals that represent significant opportunity - Telco and Utilities.

"Our IndiVideo platform is very well suited to add value in these new verticals," continued Steve Taylor. "Our Utilities customers will use IndiVideo to explain changes to statements month over month, make personalized recommendations on how to reduce the energy bill, divert expensive calls from the call centre, and over time, reduce the costs associated with sending printed bills in the mail."

This project was secured through BlueRush's partner, Nikia DX. Nikia has developed a significant footprint creating an opportunity to replicate this first Utilities project into a large number of additional Utilities customers.

The Telco vertical opportunity also has significant potential and was sold through a South American partner, Percus. Len Smofsky, Chief Customer Success Officer with BlueRush commented, "with Telcos, the bill or statement is an excellent opportunity to deliver a superior customer experience, reduce customer service and print costs and cross-sell to other products with targeted and personalized offers."

"Video Sales and Marketing is a fast-growing category, and we have unique capabilities that help our customers sell more of their products and services through the digital channels. Our partners are delivering revenue and new verticals, our direct team is firing on all cylinders and the market is providing a tailwind for the business," Steve Taylor went on to say.

About BlueRush

BlueRush develops and markets IndiVideo, a disruptive, award-winning interactive personalized video platform that drives return on investment throughout the customer lifecycle, from increased conversions to more engaging statements and customer care. IndiVideo enables BlueRush clients to capture knowledge and data from their customers' video interaction, creating new and compelling data driven customer insights.

For more information visit: http://www.bluerush.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including the anticipated results of customers use of the Company's IndiVideo platform, and the results of Q2 2022, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; a novel business model; dependence on key suppliers and local partners; competition; the outcome and cost of any litigation; the general impact of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com . Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Discussion on Non-IFRS Measures and Key Metrics

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). However, the Company may refer to a number of measures and metrics which we believe are meaningful in the assessment of the Company's performance including Contracted Annual Recurring Revenue ("CARR"). CARR is the subscription revenue of a given period calculated as an annual run rate for all contracts including those that were signed in the same period. Many of these measures and metrics are non-standard measures under IFRS, do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS, and are unlikely to be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. These measures, which it believes are widely used by investors, security analysts and other interested parties to evaluate its performance and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies, nor should they be construed as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. Readers are cautioned that the disclosure of these items is meant to add to, and not replace, the discussion of financial results or cash flows from operations as determined in accordance with IFRS. The purpose of these non-IFRS measures and key metrics is to provide supplemental information that may prove useful to readers who wish to consider the impact of certain non-cash or uncontrollable items on the Company's operating performance. Management uses both IFRS and non-IFRS measures when planning, monitoring and evaluating the Company's performance.

Preliminary Financial Metrics

This press release contains certain pre-released second quarter financial metrics. The second quarter financial metrics contained in this press release are preliminary and represent the most current information available to the Company's management, as financial closing procedures for the second quarter ended January 31, 2022 are not yet complete. The Company's actual consolidated financial statements for such period may result in material changes to the financial metrics summarized in this press release (including by any one financial metric, or all of the financial metrics, being below or above the figures indicated) as a result of the completion of normal quarter and year end accounting procedures and adjustments, and also what one might expect to be in the final consolidated financial statements based on the financial metrics summarized in this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in this press release are based upon reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from these expectations.

SOURCE BlueRush Inc.
BRUNSWICK, Maine, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowdoin College's groundbreaking Digital Excellence Commitment (DExC) will provide every current student and all future students with a suite of the latest Apple technology and access to a full range of course-specific software designed to advance learning, inspire innovative teaching, and create digital equity across the student body in the use of tools essential for success in the twenty-first century.

DExC will build on the success of Bowdoin's iPad Initiative by equipping all students with a 13-inch MacBook Pro powered by M1, an iPad mini, and an Apple Pencil, along with access to software used across the range of courses at the College, beginning in fall 2022. The cost of the program will be covered entirely by Bowdoin.

"During the pandemic we witnessed firsthand the power of a common technology platform for teaching and learning, along with the substantial and differential benefits that come with the combination of a MacBook Pro and an iPad with an Apple Pencil," said Bowdoin College President Clayton Rose.

"Our Digital Excellence Commitment allows us to level the playing field so that every student has the opportunity to fully benefit from the technology that plays an essential and growing role in the learning experience at Bowdoin. Our central mission is to deliver an exceptional liberal arts education along with the knowledge and skills students need to lead in our increasingly digital world."

Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff have been engaged with digital technology and tools for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the importance of these digital skills. In summer 2020, the College issued each student an iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cellular (activated and funded by the College for those students who had internet connectivity needs), an Apple Pencil, and an Apple Magic Keyboard.

"At Apple we believe education can be a profound force for equity, and that the right technology can enhance and extend teaching and learning," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of education and enterprise product marketing.

"The expansion of Bowdoin's Digital Excellence Commitment is a testament to the College's forward thinking and the results already seen from providing its students with powerful Apple products."

While initially intended to ensure that every student had the tools necessary for learning in the remote environment caused by the pandemic, the experiences of Bowdoin students and faculty with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil during the past eighteen months spurred numerous and unexpected learning and teaching innovations.

At the same time, there has been the recognition that students and faculty continue to rely on laptops for certain aspects of their academic workin particular, discipline-specific software and other needsand that an inequity of access to these tools creates challenges for students and faculty.

Entering first-year students will receive all new equipment and software; returning students will use the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil they have already received, supplemented by a new 13-inch MacBook Pro powered by M1, with a full software suite.

Bowdoin's transformative Digital Excellence Commitment will ensure that every student has consistent access, dependable support, a shared learning experience, and the tools they need to collaborate, innovate, and thrive in a digital world.

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin is a residential liberal arts college with approximately 1,850 students from across the country and around the world. The College is committed to access and equity, and about half of all enrolled students receive need-based financial aid. Bowdoin is one of approximately twenty colleges and universities in the country that provide the combination of need-blind admissions with financial aid that consists only of student employment and grantsnot loansand is designed to meet the need of students over their four years.

For interviews with Bowdoin College President Clayton Rose and/or current Bowdoin students, contact Doug Cook, director of media relations, at [email protected].

SOURCE Bowdoin College
Starlee Sykes, bp senior vice president Gulf of Mexico and Canada said: "bp continues to grow its position in the Gulf of Mexico by bringing online high-quality projects. Like other recent start-ups in the Gulf of Mexico, with Herschel we are tying into existing infrastructure to produce some of the most efficient barrels in the world. Focusing our hydrocarbons business on the highest quality resources such as these sits at the heart of bp's strategy. Doing so safely, ahead of schedule and under budget is testament to the caliber of the team."

The bp-operated well, drilled to a depth of approximately 19,000 feet, is located southeast of the Na Kika platform, approximately 140 miles off the coast of New Orleans. The project provides infrastructure for future well tie-in opportunities. bp and Shell each hold a 50 percent working interest in the Herschel development.

Ewan Drummond, bp senior vice president, projects, production and operations said: "Herschel is a great example of the type of fast-payback, high-return tie-back opportunities we continue to deliver as we focus and high-grade our hydrocarbons portfolio. I would like to thank the team for their commitment in the safe and early execution of this project."

About bp

bp's ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. bp is America's largest energy investor since 2005, investing more than $130 billion in the economy and supporting about 230,000 additional jobs. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bp.com/us.

Note to editors

The Herschel Expansion field is located in the Mississippi Canyon block 520, southeast of the bp-operated Na Kika platform in approximately 6,700 feet of water.

bp is a leading producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico , operating four production platforms  Thunder Horse, Atlantis, Mad Dog and Na Kika  with a fifth platform, Argos, expected to come online in 2022.

, operating four production platforms  Thunder Horse, Atlantis, Mad Dog and Na Kika  with a fifth platform, Argos, expected to come online in 2022. bp anticipates growth in its production in the US Gulf of Mexico to about 400,000 boe/d net by the mid 2020s.

Further information

bp press office, US, [email protected]

bp privacy statement

https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/privacy-statement-press.html

Cautionary statement

In order to utilize the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the 'PSLRA'), bp is providing the following cautionary statement. This press release contains certain forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements  that is, statements related to future, not past, events and circumstances which may relate to one or more of the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of bp and certain of the plans and objectives of bp with respect to these items. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as 'will', 'expects', 'is expected to', 'aims', 'should', 'may', 'objective', 'is likely to', 'intends', 'believes', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'we see' or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will or may occur in the future and are outside the control of bp. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F under 'Risk factors'.

Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F is available on our website at www.bp.com, or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov

SOURCE BP PLC
Permits have been granted for up to 4,000m of diamond drilling in 25 holes (Target Areas A-D; Figure 1). Four main priority areas have been defined for drill testing: i) the Grnskard, Kjli, and Guldalsgruva targets located along the main prospective horizon for VMS deposits, and ii) a large (>2km strike length), deep (>350m) electromagnetic ("EM") conductor at Kjli Deeps, which is interpreted by the Company to represent a buried, NW-dipping massive sulfide body.

Initial logistical planning for the Kjli drill program assumed 100% ground support for the drill rig, with key off-road permits having already been obtained from both the Holtalen and Tydal municipalities. However, excessive winter snowfalls have hindered access to some of the target areas and, as a result, helicopter support will now also be required. The Company has applied for the additional approvals required for helicopter-supported operations, and these will potentially allow for the initiation of drilling by mid-March.

Eric Roth, Capella's President and CEO, commented: "I am pleased to be reporting that we have received approval from the Directorate of Mining for our inaugural diamond drill program at Kjli. In parallel, strong community support for the project is evidenced by the approval of key off-road permits from both the Holtalen and Tydal municipalities. However, recent inclement winter conditions have required the Company to apply for additional permits for helicopter-supported operations, with these permits expected to be obtained by mid-March.

As reported previously, our drill target generation activities at Kjli have been focused on the definition of high-grade Cu-Zn-Co targets located both along strike from, and adjacent to, the past-producing Kjli and Killingdal copper mines. However, a significant new target has also been defined at Kjli Deeps and will be a priority for our drilling. I look forward to keeping the market updated on our progress at Kjli."

About the Kjli Project

The Kjli copper project is located within the northern extension of the Rros mining district, which saw production from a number of high-grade copper-rich VMS deposits from the mid-1600's until low copper prices in the mid-1980's resulted in their closures. Kjli represents a brownfields/greenfields exploration project covering the former Kjli and Killingdal copper mines, together with some 20km strike of underexplored but highly prospective stratigraphy for the discovery of new copper-rich VMS deposits. Historical copper grades from the former Kjli mine were reported to be 2.9% Cu1.

Exploration activities completed at the Kjli project in 2021 included a systematic soil sampling program (2,800 samples) and a gravity survey (a common exploration tool utilized in VMS exploration programs globally but utilized for the first time in Norway at Kjli). Results from these field programs were combined with results obtained earlier from the CARDS AI/Data Mining target generation work and have allowed for the definition of 25 drill sites in 4 main target areas. The Company will also evaluate cobalt concentrations, an important battery/EV metal, in the Kjli mineralization in economic evaluations going forward.

1 Historic production figures are from Birkeland, A. (1986) Mineralogisk og geokjemisk undersokelseav Killingdal gruver, Sor-Trondelag. M. Scient. Thesis, University of Oslo in Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 53 pg. 86.

Figure 1. Priority target areas for the Kjli diamond drill program. A: Kjli Deeps; B: Grnskard mine area; C: Kjli mine area; D: Guldalsgruva-Rrosmena mine area.

Incentive Stock Option Grant

The Company also reports that it has granted an aggregate 4,400,000 incentive stock options exercisable at $0.10 per share until expiry on February 18, 2025. Directors and Officers of the Company have been granted an aggregate 1,900,000 of the option grant. Each stock option will allow the holder to purchase one common share of the Company. All stock options granted are subject to staged vesting periods, in accordance with the Company's incentive stock option plan.

Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement

The technical information in this news release relating to the Kjli copper project has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in Canadian National Instrument NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a Director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation.

On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd.

"Eric Roth"

___________________________

Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM

President & CEO

About Capella Minerals Ltd

Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on high-grade gold and copper deposits. The Company's copper focus is currently on the discovery of high-grade VMS-type deposits within 100%-owned, district-scale land positions around the past-producing Lkken and Kjli copper mines in central Norway. The Company's precious metals focus is on the discovery of high-grade gold deposits on its newly-acquired Finnish properties (Katajavaara, Aakenus), the 100%-owned Southern Gold Line Project in Sweden, and its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV-ECC) at Savant Lake (Ontario) and Yamana Gold Inc. at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also retains a residual interest (subject to an option to purchase agreement with Austral Gold Ltd) in the Sierra Blanca gold-silver divestiture in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

The Company also holds 3,000,000 common shares in Ethos Gold Corp. providing Capella shareholders with indirect exposure to exploration success at both the Savant Lake Project and elsewhere within Ethos' extensive Canadian project portfolio.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. 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. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

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.

SOURCE Capella Minerals Limited
FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) ("Chico's FAS" or the "Company") today announced that Eli Kumekpor of NIKE, Inc. has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") as a new independent director, effective February 21, 2022.

Mr. Kumekpor currently serves as Global Vice President and General Manager of Men's for the Jordan Brand at NIKE, Inc., where he has responsibility for driving the vision, strategy, and differential growth for this multibillion-dollar omnichannel retail business. Previously, he served as Vice President and Global Chief Financial Officer of the Jordan Brand and Vice President of Finance for Global Nike Women.

Mr. Kumekpor is a global business leader with more than 20 years of financial, strategic, commercial, and operational leadership experience across multiple industries. Prior to joining NIKE, Inc., Mr. Kumekpor held division and business unit chief financial officer roles at public companies including AstraZeneca and Alcon/Novartis and brings deep expertise in scaling complex businesses. His earlier experience spans multiple industries including management consulting and he possesses significant experience in Mergers and Acquisitions and business transformation.

"We are thrilled to have Eli join the Chico's FAS Board," said Bonnie Brooks, Executive Chair of the Board. "He brings a unique combination of financial acumen along with expertise developing and executing strategy for a growing vertically integrated retailer that we are confident will be valuable as Chico's FAS continues its turnaround. We look forward to drawing on his insights and experience as we build on the Company's strong momentum, drive profitable growth, and deliver value to our shareholders."

Mr. Kumekpor said, "It's an honor to join the Chico's FAS Board of Directors at such a pivotal time. The Company has demonstrated strong results while continuing to deliver for its incredibly loyal base of customers across all three of its brands  Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma. I look forward to working alongside my fellow directors and the talented Chico's FAS leadership team to help guide the Company on its path for continued success in the retail industry."

Mr. Kumekpor is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and received his Master of Business Administration in Finance at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Company also announced that Stephen E. Watson will not stand for re-election to the Board at the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. As required by the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, Mr. Watson, who turned 75 in 2020, submitted a letter following the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting offering to resign from the Board. After considering the mix of tenured and newer directors, the Company's progress on various strategic matters, and the appointment of Mr. Kumekpor, the Board accepted Mr. Watson's offer to resign. Mr. Watson has served on the Board since 2010. The Board greatly appreciates his deep commitment, leadership and many contributions to the Board and to the Company's growth and progress during his years of service.

Following the changes announced today, effective February 21, 2022, the Company's Board will comprise ten members, eight of whom are independent.

ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC.

Chico's FAS is a Florida-based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, Fla. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy.

Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through StyleConnect, the Company's proprietary digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer.

As of January 29, 2022, the Company operated 1,266 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 59 international franchise locations in Mexico and 2 domestic franchise airport locations. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com, and www.soma.com as well as through third-party channels.

To learn more about Chico's FAS, please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain statements contained herein, including without limitation, statements addressing the beliefs, plans, objectives or expectations of Chico's FAS regarding future growth and success, and the quotations from Ms. Brooks and Mr. Kumekpor, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully execute and achieve the expected results of our business and brand strategies, awareness, merchandising and marketing programs. There can be no assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements will occur. Investors using forward-looking statements are encouraged to review Chico's FAS' latest annual report on Form 10-K, including management's discussion and analysis included therein, for a description of other important factors that may affect Chico's FAS' business, results of operations and financial condition. Chico's FAS does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.

Investor Relations Contact:

Tom Filandro

ICR, Inc.

(646) 277-1235

[email protected]

SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc.
DULLES, Va., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Children of Fallen Patriots' emphasis on financial stewardship and unrelenting focus on its mission to provide college scholarships to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty has earned it a perfect Encompass rating from Charity Navigator , a nationally recognized nonprofit evaluation site.

In receiving this rating, Children of Fallen Patriots joins a select group of less than one percent of the thousands of charities rated by Charity Navigator. Nonprofits are analyzed annually in terms of their financial health, accountability, and transparency. In 2022, Charity Navigator awarded a perfect score to just six nonprofits in the category of education.

Since its inception, Children of Fallen Patriots has awarded more than $51 million in support to over 2,200 children, proudly funding undergraduate studies while creating a pipeline of aid for future children in need.

The organization's strong financial health derives, in part, from the generous support of its Board of Advisors and private donors, allowing the non-profit to streamline 95% of third-party donations to support programs and scholarships for gold star students.

"It's an honor to receive this recognition of our efforts towards financial strength, accountability, and transparency," said David Kim, co-founder and CEO of Children of Fallen Patriots. "We consider it our sacred duty to support the children of America's heroes, and we strive to maximize the impact of those who endorse our mission."

To learn more about Children of Fallen Patriots or to support the organization's mission, visit fallenpatriots.org .

About Fallen Patriots

Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes by ensuring the success of their children through college education. Since 2002, we have provided over $50 million in support to over 2,100 military children from all branches who lost a parent in the line of duty. We estimate there are approximately 25,000 such children, and they will need $625 million to complete college. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, and due to generous Board donations, 97% of third-party donations go to programs. Help today by visiting www.fallenpatriots.org.

Media Contact

Josh Anderson | Punch PR | [email protected] | (512) 963-8224

SOURCE Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chip Ingram, President and Founder of Living on the Edge, an international ministry, announced today that he is offering a new, 10-Day Challenge aimed at helping Christians move beyond coping and, instead, learn how to flourish, no matter what hardship they may encounter. Available exclusively at LivingontheEdge.org , Daily Discipleship: The A.R.T. of Survival is for any Christian that wants to learn the clear, Biblical steps to thriving. "I believe that every Christian should be equipped with Biblical truths they can live out during the most challenging times," Ingram noted.

Take the 10-Day Challenge - Daily Discipleship: The A.R.T. of Survival - with Chip Ingram. Navigate Divisiveness and Uncertainty In Today's World Through This 10-Day Challenge. Visit http://lote.me/dd for details. Your Faith Should See You Through Hardships. Join The 10-Day Challenge That Will Help You Face Life's Adversity Head On // At the end of 10 days together, you'll understand God's blueprint for thriving even in chaos. Visit http://lote.me/dd for details. Develop a habit of devotion and prayer. Every day during the 10-day Challenge, Pastor Chip Ingram will share a 10-minute or less teaching video, which will be followed by 10 minutes of your own personal study. Prayer is the primary tool for growth in adversity. Receive a leather-bound Prayer Journal as a gift when you register while supplies last. Visit http://lote.me/dd for details.

"We've heard from a lot of people that they are nervous about the direction of the country, or they are unsure of how to survive a world that feels so topsy-turvy," said Ingram. "Through this 10-Day Challenge, we hope to help Christians feel confident, equipped, and ready to thrive, despite an unpredictable world."

According to Ingram, the 10-Day Challenge is hyper-focused on empowering Christians with Biblical truths while helping them build a habit of daily prayer and meditation.

"At Living on the Edge, we know Christians want to improve their lives and the lives of those around them using Biblical principles," said Pastor Ingram. "In order to do that, you can follow the helpful steps laid out in James 1. Some challenges or studies don't deep-dive into these clear steps. When we don't understand the Biblical steps for surviving hardship, we feel unsettled or concerned."

Anyone who is interested in the no-cost, 10-Day Challenge, can register to join at LivingontheEdge.org . Starting March 7, Living on the Edge will provide daily guided video sessions with Chip Ingram, study supplements, and audio resources for the Daily Discipleship: The A.R.T. of Survival Challenge.

Everyone who registers, today through March 18, will receive a leather-bound Prayer Journal that can be used for personal reflection during the 10-Day Challenge. The journal will be shipped at no cost to each registrant as long as supplies last.

Details and registration for this new 10-Day Challenge with Chip Ingram are available at LivingontheEdge.org .

ABOUT LIVING ON THE EDGE

Living on the Edge is the international ministry founded by Pastor Chip Ingram. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that equip and challenge spiritually hungry Christians worldwide to become mature disciples of Jesus.

The ultimate vision of Living on the Edge is to be a catalytic movement of Christians living out their faith in ways that transform families, churches, and communities for the common good and the glory of God. More details can be found at LivingontheEdge.org . Media inquiries welcome; Suzan Packee can be reached via [email protected] or 888-333-6003.

SOURCE www.LivingontheEdge.org
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

SOURCE Clickatell
NEW YORK and ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard General L.P. and Cox Media Group (CMG) today announced four transactions in which, first, CMG will acquire the station group currently owned by Standard General's affiliate, Community News Media LLC (CNM), and, in a second, subsequent transaction, a Standard General affiliate will acquire CMG's WFXT/Boston as the anchor of a new station group. Following the close of those two transactions, the Standard General affiliate will acquire TEGNA, in a take-private deal that Standard General and TEGNA separately announced today.

CMG Logo

In a subsequent transaction that would follow the Standard General affiliate's acquisition of TEGNA, CMG will acquire TEGNA's Austin, Texas station, KVUE-TV, its Dallas stations, WFAA and KMPX, and its Houston stations, KHOU and KTBU.

Soo Kim, Founding Partner of Standard General L.P., said, "We are delighted to be acquiring WFXT/Boston, which will serve as a foundation for our new station group and provide our new company with a historic legacy from its very start."

With respect to Standard General's sale of its CNM stations to CMG, Kim added, "We appreciate the many contributions of our dedicated station employees and are confident that they will have great futures at CMG, an exceptional broadcast group with a strong commitment to the communities it serves."

CMG's President and CEO, Dan York said, "We will be pleased to welcome the strong talent at CNM and at TEGNA's stations in Austin, Dallas and Houston into the CMG family. The opportunity to grow in these CNM and Texas markets further complements CMG's existing core strengths."

Of the sale of the Boston station, York added, "We will miss the dedicated team at WFXT Boston25, but we know they will form an ideal foundation for Standard General's new company and its further growth."

The CNM stations to be acquired by CMG are:

KBSI (Fox)  Cape Girardeau, Missouri

KLKN (ABC)  Lincoln, Nebraska

WDKA (MyNet)  Paducah, Kentucky

WLNE-TV(ABC)  New Bedford, Massachusetts

An affiliate of Standard General will hold substantially all of the voting, common equity in the new entity that is acquiring TEGNA, with CMG and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, to hold securities in the new entity that will be non-voting and non-attributable and with other investors holding non-voting interests. Mr. Kim will serve as Chairman and Deb McDermott will become CEO of the new entity that will own and operate the new station group.

The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. The parties expect to close the announced transactions in the second half of 2022.

Advisors

RBC Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Standard General and Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP are acting as its legal advisors. CMG and the Apollo funds are being advised by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, as well as by Cooley LLP, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, and Sidley Austin LLP.

About Standard General

Standard General was founded in 2007 and manages capital for public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Standard General is a minority-controlled and operated organization. Mr. Kim is supported by a diverse, highly experienced 17-person team, including seven investment professionals with over 120 years of investing experience.

About CMG

CMG Media Corporation (d/b/a Cox Media Group) is an industry-leading media company with unparalleled brands, award-winning content, and exceptional people. CMG provides valuable local content to viewers in the communities in which it serves. The company's operations primarily include 33 high-quality, market-leading television stations in 20 markets, 53 top-performing radio stations delivering all genres of content in 11 markets, and numerous streaming and digital platforms. CMG's portfolio includes primary affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and MyNetworkTV, as well as several valuable news and independent stations. Additionally, the company also offers a full suite of national, regional, local and digital advertising services with CMG Local Solutions, CoxReps and Gamut. For more information about CMG, visit www.coxmediagroup.com.

About Apollo Global Management

Apollo is a global, high-growth alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three business strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2021, Apollo had approximately $498 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

For media inquiries, contact:

Standard General

Andy Brimmer/Jamie Moser

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

CMG

Mary Ellen Marcilliat-Falkner

Executive Vice President

Cox Media Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Standard General
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday that massive forestation is crucial for Pakistan owing to the country's vulnerability to climate change, urging citizens to join the government's efforts in securing a protected environment for future generations.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a nationwide spring tree plantation campaign here, Khan said that Pakistan could not cope with climate risks, particularly floods, desertification and heat waves which have become increasingly frequent due to global warming and reduced tree cover.

"Our future is linked with a green Pakistan and we all need to join hands in achieving this goal," the prime minister said, adding that it is the responsibility of every citizen to contribute towards protecting the environment.

He said that his government has been taking measures to protect the environment and launched several initiatives including the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami program which has gained international recognition.

The country has set a target of planting over 540 million trees during the current spring season from February to April, according to the Ministry of Climate Change. 
ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- East Fork, the 120-person Asheville, North Carolina-based ceramic manufacturer and homegoods retailer known for its contemporary dinnerware informed by traditional Southern Appalachian pottery, announces that starting April 1, 2022, the company will instate a $22 minimum wagerealizing their ongoing commitment to create meaningful employment opportunities that support financial well-being for their Western North Carolina community, while remaining financial solvent.

On February 22, 2022, customers will notice a $2 increase on two of the company's most popular itemsThe Mug and The Everyday Bowl. "While we're proud of this wage increase, the win can't be celebrated without the sobering acknowledgement of the gaps it won't fill; with the City of Asheville's ongoing prioritization of the tourist industry and an influx of new residents leaving metropolises, East Fork's workers are finding themselves priced out of their homes" say Connie Matisse, the brands CEO. Early this year, Just Economics of WNC adjusted Asheville's living wage to $17.70/hr. Neither the state's minimum wage nor the federal minimum wage has increased from $7.25/hr for 12 years.

The wage increase comes just one year after the brand raised the minimum pay to $20/hr and on the tail end of a series of changes to support the brand's mission of having direct and measurable positive impact on their community. This includes receiving their B Corp Certification, becoming climate-neutral certified, and a realignment of their leadership team, with CMO Connie Matisse moving into the CEO position, and Alex Matisse, East Fork's Founder, serving as Board Chair to steer the company's long term vision.

"Everyone's circumstances are different, but healthy communities depend on caretaking, and we wanted our living wage math to extend beyond the typical expenses of an individual with no dependents. We use MIT's living wage calculator to help us sync our entry-level wage with the needs of a theoretical 2 working adult / 2 child household," says John Vigeland, the company's CFO and Co-Founder. In addition to their new starting pay for entry-level roles, East Fork also offers a 4% match to employee contributions to their 401(k), education around investments, 8-weeks paid parental leave, 8-week paid medical leave, health, vision, dental, and life insurance as well as a 50% discount on company products.

Matisse says, "Federal and state governments are failing to do their part in addressing growing wage disparity in our country. While we advocate for the government to do its job, the onus is on businesses to account for their workforce's financial reality, and for consumers to make thoughtful choices about where they spend their disposable income. " Connie Matisse, CEO

East Fork pottery and homegoods can be purchased on East Fork's website, www.eastfork.com . For images and additional press inquiries contact jefferson.ellison @eastfork.com .

SOURCE East Fork Pottery
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 Sharon Bakalash, EyeYon Medicals Chief Medical Officer

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.

Contact:

Nahum Ferera

[email protected]

www.eye-yon.com

SOURCE EyeYon Medical
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 100GROUP, a FinTec concierge platform, acquires ReCo Cashiering system from Norton Technologies (NORTECH) USA, Inc.

For the past 20 years ReCo (short for Revenue Collections) has been the leading revenue collections software for local and state government municipalities, who collect revenue for items such as: property taxes, motor vehicle fees, parks and rec and more.

Through the formation of ReCo LLC, a Georgia based LLC, the legacy ReCo team will join forces with the 100GROUP team to increase the product suite of offerings, and to build upon the great infrastructure and support ReCo clients have loved over the years.

With 100GROUP's Luxury Business Concierge Platform, the team will integrate ReCo's core product set with 100GROUP's advanced technology product suite, giving all current and new ReCo clients access to best-in-class technology.

ReCo LLC, will continue to be led by Gary Norton and Benjamin Latimer - as the frontline support and integration team.

This acquisition fits perfectly into the 100GROUP's core business model of aligning with FinTec leaders in niche markets who have a dominant presence in their space. With concierge style support being the core value of ReCo over the years, this made it a perfect fit to increase 100GROUP's presence in the Government space.

"After working with the ReCo team for the past 4 years, we got firsthand experience on how dedicated they are to their clients, and how much their clients loved their product," says Jeff Brodsly, CEO of 100GROUP. "We are thrilled when we find like-minded entrepreneurs who have built an amazing product and share the desire to grow their technology, as that is one of our core focuses at 100GROUP," Brodsly says. "I look forward to building upon what the team has accomplished over the last 20 years, and I am excited to get to know our clients on a personal level," says Brodsly.

"Aligning with the 100GROUP team is exactly what we were looking for to help take our business to the next level," says Gary Norton, Founder and President of Norton Technologies USA, Inc. "Our clients are special to us, and we want to deliver more as technology is constantly evolving. With 100GROUP's infrastructure and leadership, collectively ReCo will continue to be the best-in-class software for the local and State Government offices," Gary Says.

About 100 GROUP:

We are the first and only business services concierge. We offer various business products/services that are essential to all business owners. With a personal concierge at your fingertips, the days of managing several vendor relationships, without any VIP level treatment, are over! We are 100GROUP, who deliver 100% in everything we do!

We offer a single platform for: Payment Processing, VoIP/Business Phone Systems, Business Insurance, Human Resources, Financial Planning, Software Integration, and more. Imagine receiving all these products/services from one company, with a personalized concierge dedicated to you 24/7!

www.100group.com

About ReCo:

For more than two decades ReCo has been the leader in providing state of the art technology solutions to County and City Governments across the United States. Our revenue collections software offers local governments opportunities to improve services and reduce costs in ways that could not have been imagined a few short years ago. Cashiering and bill payments, financial interfaces, image processing, check processing, credit card processing, courts, law enforcement, utilities, citizen permits and more  is what ReCo clients depend on us for.

www.recoanywhere.com

Contact: Kacy Waxman, [email protected]

SOURCE 100GROUP
DALLAS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

What's the news? AT&T* is America's public safety communications partner. In the nearly 5 years since we were selected by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) to build and operate FirstNet, we have moved quickly to bring more coverage, boost capacity and drive new capabilities for first responders and the communities they serve  rural, urban and tribal. And now the public safety community on FirstNet has access to the nation's largest coverage footprint, reaching more than 2.81 million square miles across the country. That means we cover 50,000+ more square miles than the largest commercial networks (about the size of Alabama)  giving more first responders access to an entire ecosystem of innovative solutions to keep them mission ready.

Public safety agencies and organizations in thousands of communities across the country are staying connected with FirstNet, Built with AT&T. And now, more first responders are gaining access to a one-of-a-kind 5G experience on FirstNet. 5G connectivity on FirstNet has launched in 10 new areas  Savannah (Georgia), Western Kansas, Lansing (Michigan), Minneapolis (Minnesota), Toledo (Ohio), Charleston (South Carolina), Hilton Head (South Carolina), Sioux Falls (South Dakota), Richmond (Virginia) and Redmond (Washington)  to further support public safety's unique mission needs. These areas join 10 other previously announced cities. Public safety also has access to 5G+ (mmWave) spectrum in parts of more than 40 cities and 35 stadiums and venues. And we're continuing to roll out additional 5G connectivity for FirstNet in more communities nationwide.

We've also deployed Band 14 spectrum nationwide. Band 14, public safety's VIP lane, is nationwide, high-quality spectrum licensed to the FirstNet Authority for public safety specifically on the FirstNet network. In an emergency this band  or lane  can be cleared and locked exclusively for first responders and the extended public safety community. This is vital because, as seen at this year's Big Game, a first responder used 2+ times more data for their critical communications as compared to a general consumer.

Tens of thousands of communities are benefitting from the unique capabilities of Band 14. Since launching public safety's network, we've upgraded tens of thousands of existing AT&T cell sites with public safety's Band 14 spectrum, helping to surpass 95% of our Band 14 coverage target with the FirstNet Authority, as well as reaching several hundred thousand additional square miles that exceed our contractual target commitment. And we continue to roll out Band 14 to help provide public safety with dedicated connectivity when needed.

Strengthening Public Safety's Network Infrastructure

But we aren't stopping there. The FCC estimates that over 10,000 lives could be saved each year if public safety were able to reach callers just 1 minute faster. And since 80% of wireless calls take place indoors, the need for in-building dedicated public safety connectivity is essential to public safety operations and overall safety. That's why we are collaborating with Safer Buildings Coalition, the nation's leading industry advocacy group focused on advancing policies, ideas, and technologies that ensure effective in-building communications capabilities for public safety personnel and the people they serve.

And we know there's no connection more important than one that can help save a life. In 2021, the U.S. experienced more than 60 extreme weather and climate events coupled with increasing instabilities in the commercial power infrastructure landscape. While we've made significant investments to increase network resiliency, these unprecedented events have reinforced the need to take further action for today's changing environment. That's why we're leading the industry by establishing a 3rd "emergency" pathway to each mobility network hub (MTSO). And as public safety's partner, we'll continue to set the bar on what success looks like for network resiliency now and in the future.

Further reinforcing the reliability of FirstNet, we've gone farther than anyone in the industry to secure public safety's communications. FirstNet is now the first-ever nationwide network with comprehensive tower-to-core network encryption. And since FirstNet is designed with a defense-in-depth security strategy that goes well beyond standard commercial network security measures, first responders have superior protection without sacrificing usability or impacting public safety's missions.

Why is this important? In less than 5 years, 56 states and territories unanimously opted-in to FirstNet; we launched the highly secure, dedicated FirstNet network core to give first responders their own connectivity platform; and added so many square miles to the FirstNet service area that it was like we added the entire state of California nearly 3 times over.

Today, FirstNet is solving for common and long-standing communications challenges that first responders face  things like interoperability, network congestion and commercial network providers slowing public safety's data connection. FirstNet is giving them superior coverage for day-to-day response and life-saving missions. While commercial wireless offerings remain available to public safety, FirstNet continues to grow because it offers distinct advantages from those commercial offerings. FirstNet comes with unique features, functionality and dedicated spectrum when needed for the public safety community. That's why public safety fought for their own, separate, dedicated platform, championing the vision that led to the creation of FirstNet.

How does FirstNet help bridge the digital divide? Over the past 5 years (20172021), AT&T's total investment in the United States, including capital investment and acquisitions of wireless spectrum, was more than $130 billion. And the FirstNet network expansion is one way we are helping ensure all of public safety  and the communities they serve  have access to critical connectivity to help meet the urgent challenges of today and tomorrow.

We already cover more than 99% of the U.S. population today, but FirstNet is built for all public safety. That means every first responder  career or volunteer; federal, tribal, state or local; urban, suburban or rural, and those that support them. We are working closely with local telecom providers across the country to more quickly address rural and tribal coverage needs and expand the reach of FirstNet for the public safety community. For example, thanks to these collaborations we were able to nearly quadruple our coverage in Nebraska since launching FirstNet. And we've deployed Band 14 across nearly 100 cell sites on the Navajo Nation.

And with FirstNet, it's about where first responders need connectivity. That's why the build is being done with direct feedback from public safety and local stakeholders. This feedback has been instrumental in deploying Band 14 spectrum nationwide. And it's helped to launch nearly 1,000 new sites in rural, remote and tribal areas so far  including areas where emergency responses have been previously challenged.

From collaborating with local providers to building out new, purpose-built cell sites in rural and remote locations, this new infrastructure will help improve the overall coverage and network capacity experience for public safety on FirstNet and AT&T wireless customers in the area. Residents, visitors and businesses can take advantage of the AT&T commercial spectrum bands, as well as Band 14 when not being used by FirstNet subscribers.

What makes 5G on FirstNet "one of a kind?" FirstNet is not a commercial network. And that means our approach to 5G for public safety must be different from the way your friends and family experience 5G. With FirstNet, we're taking the right steps for public safety in a way that meets their unique mission needs. While 5G connectivity will ultimately bring a combination of benefits like ultra-low latency and ultra-high speeds to support all kinds of users, it's essential we approach 5G in a different way for first responders. That's why first responders maintain voice communications with priority and preemption on LTE, while the FirstNet network determines the best route for data traffic, whether that's 5G or LTE spectrum.

What is FirstNet? FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet stands above commercial offerings. It is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)  an independent agency within the federal government. With more than 19,500 agencies and organizations  accounting for more than 3 million connections nationwide1  the FirstNet network is providing public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption, and high-quality Band 14 spectrum. These advanced capabilities enable FirstNet to help fire, EMS, law enforcement and more save lives and protect their communities.

Where can I find more information? For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com. And go here for more FirstNet news.

What people are saying:

Jason Porter

President, Public Sector and FirstNet, AT&T

"Interoperable connectivity is the foundation of FirstNet and the entire public safety-centric ecosystem it is driving. As public safety's partner, we've moved faster than anyone to deliver more coverage across tribal, rural and urban areas, powering the connections first responders count on most. And we're doing it all with a hyper focus on the unique security, resiliency and reliability that their missions demand. Public safety is our priority and we'll continue to be there for this vital community  no matter where their mission takes them."

Edward Parkinson

CEO, FirstNet Authority

"We are pleased to see FirstNet continue to grow and deliver coverage and capacity where public safety said they need it the most. The FirstNet Authority has taken a public-safety-first approach that is unlike commercial networks. As we head into the 5th year of network deployment with our partner AT&T, we will continue to keep public safety at the forefront of everything we do."

Jonathan Nez

President, Navajo Nation

"The Navajo Nation continues to work with the FirstNet Authority and AT&T to build out FirstNet coverage throughout the Navajo Nation as part of a large collaborative effort to better serve our Navajo people, especially those in underserved areas. Ninety FirstNet towers sites have launched on the Navajo Nation so far, and we're continuing to work together with the FirstNet Authority and AT&T to get additional sites launched. The FirstNet buildout represents a historic investment in broadband infrastructure for the Navajo Nation. Our first responders have used FirstNet mobile technology during wildfires, large public events and for COVID-19 mitigation efforts. We look forward to expanding our telecommunications capabilities further to provide more resources for our frontline warriors with the help of FirstNet."

Jeanine Sterling

Industry Director, Frost & Sullivan

"As weather events intensify and commercial power grids flicker in and out, first responder communications can become less reliable just when it becomes most critical. AT&T recognizes that secure, reliable communications are paramount, and Frost & Sullivan is impressed with the network resiliency measures that AT&T continues to take to help public safety personnel stay connected even under the most trying conditions. One of AT&T's latest moves, establishing a tertiary linka backup for a backupis an extensive process that injects even more reliability and further differentiates AT&T and FirstNet as custodians of Public Safety's network."

1 As of EOY 2021

*About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives.

AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Communications
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global flame resistant fabrics market is prognosticated to register growth at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2031.

Manufacturers in the flame resistant fabrics market are increasing efforts to spread awareness on advantages of their products, including the ability of flame resistant fabrics to help in fulfilling occupational safety standards of government authorities of several nations. Moreover, products are in high demand, as they offer high level of safety to the workers. These factors are resulting in lucrative opportunities in the flame resistant fabrics market.

Flame resistant fabrics are being increasingly used in the defense industry, owing to severe risk of fire outbreaks in the industry. Hence, flame resistant fabrics are being used in order to protect employees working in this industry. This factor is generating expansion opportunities in the global flame resistant fabrics market.

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Flame Resistant Fabrics Market: Key Findings

The oil & gas industry is one of the key end-use industries of flame resistant fabrics. These products are widely utilized, owing to high possibilities of fire outbreak in the industry. Major companies in the oil & gas industry are providing clothing with flame resistant fabrics to their workforce in order to prevent any untoward incident due to fire. Hence, rise in oil & gas exploration activities is anticipated to boost the sales growth in the global flame resistant fabrics market.





Flame resistant fabrics find wide application in law enforcement & firefighting services, home furnishing, industrial protective clothing, and transportation industry. Moreover, industrial protective clothing is gaining traction, owing to their ability to serve as an inert barrier between fire and skin. Hence, these clothing work as highly efficient protection layers when an individual is exposed to high temperature and flames, states a TMR report on the global flame resistant fabrics market.

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Flame Resistant Fabrics Market: Growth Boosters

Rising focus on worker safety among companies from varied industry verticals such as the defense, construction, and oil and gas sectors is driving the sales growth in the global flame resistant fabrics market





Surge in the need of advanced rail networks, railways, and metros is leading to revenue-generation opportunities in the market





Increase in incidents of fire in commercial & residential sectors is propelling the global flame resistant fabrics market

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Flame Resistant Fabrics Market: Regional Analysis

The flame resistant fabrics market in Europe is projected to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period, owing to many factors such as rising product demand from the regional transportation industry. Furthermore, nations such as Italy and Germany are projected to provide sizable business opportunities for companies operating in the flame resistant fabrics market, owing to surge in the product use in car-racing activities.





is projected to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period, owing to many factors such as rising product demand from the regional transportation industry. Furthermore, nations such as and are projected to provide sizable business opportunities for companies operating in the flame resistant fabrics market, owing to surge in the product use in car-racing activities. The Asia Pacific flame resistant fabrics market is expected to gain promising sales prospects in the upcoming years, owing to rising product demand from the regional industrial sector, notes TMR study

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Flame Resistant Fabrics Market: Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are:

Evonik Industries AG

DuPont

Huntsman International LLC

Gunei Che Flame Resistant Fabrics Industry Co., Ltd.

Lenzing AG

Kaneka Corporation

PBI Performance Products

Milliken & Company

Koninklijke Ten Cate nv (TenCate)

Solvay

Teijin Aramid

Toyobo Co., Ltd.

Flame Resistant Fabrics Market Segmentation

Application

Industrial Protective Clothing

Law Enforcement & Firefighting Services

Transport

Others (Defense, Mining, etc.)

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's largest and most admired automotive retailer, today announced that Gianluca Camplone, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer Precision Parts Business, and Executive Vice President, Head of Mobility, Business Strategy, and Development, effective, March 1, 2022. Mr. Camplone will join AutoNation's Executive Committee and he will be responsible for overseeing the Company's business strategy, corporate development, and Precision Parts teams. Mr. Camplone will report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Mike Manley.

"We are excited to have Gianluca join the AutoNation team. Gianluca is a 25-year progressive high-impact leader," said Mike Manley. "With his broad and extensive experience in mobility, business strategy and development, and mergers and acquisitions, Gianluca will be a great addition to the executive team, as we continue our focus on growth and the expansion of the AutoNation brand."

Mr. Camplone joins AutoNation from McKinsey & Company, where he most recently served as a Senior Partner and leader of the Advanced Industries global practice and the Private Equity Industrial practice in North America. Mr. Camplone orchestrated a company-wide $1 billion digital business building program, and has spearheaded a global team on a $200 billion merger in the automotive sector. He has led a major dealer performance transformation at a leading North American commercial vehicle manufacturer. Additionally, Mr. Camplone redesigned the multi-billion dollar used car business and multichannel environment for a global auto manufacturer.

Mr. Camplone stated, "I am very excited to be joining AutoNation at this time - there is no doubt the next few years will be transformative for the industry and its major players. I believe this will offer significant opportunities for AutoNation and I am delighted to join the leadership team to help shape and drive the future."

Camplone holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Bologna  Bologna Business School and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Bologna.

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, a provider of personalized transportation services, is driven by innovation and transformation. As one of America's most admired companies, AutoNation delivers a peerless customer experience recognized by data-driven consumer insight leaders, Reputation and J.D. Power. Through its bold leadership and brand affinity, the AutoNation Brand is synonymous with "DRVPNK" and "What Drives You, Drives Us." AutoNation has a singular focus on personalized transportation services that are easy, transparent, and customer-centric.

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, and www.twitter.com/AutoNation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com, AutoNation's automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.

SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.
Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

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Edition: 8; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 44749

Companies: 208 - Players covered include ABB Ltd.; Accenture plc; ANSYS, Inc.; AT&T Inc.; AVEVA Group plc; Bentley Systems, Incorporated; Bosch.IO GmbH; Cal-Tek Srl; Capgemini SE; Cityzenith; Dassault Systemes SE; General Electric (GE Digital); Hexagon AB; Honeywell International Inc.; IBM Corporation; Lanner Group Limited ; Mevea Ltd.; Microsoft Corporation; Oracle; PTC Inc.; Rescale, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; SAP SE; Siemens AG; TIBCO Software Inc.; XenonStack and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (System, Product, Process); End-Use (Residential & Commercial, Manufacturing, Automotive & Transport, Energy & Utilities, Agriculture, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Digital Twins Market to Reach US$35.5 Billion by the Year 2026

Digital twin technology is an advanced concept that bridges the gap between digital and physical worlds to help users coordinate and consolidate product lifecycle management. Digital twins technology was first implemented in the aerospace industry, but is now finding application in various other sectors such as energy, automotive, manufacturing, and engineering. The technology is gaining significant attention due to its ability to expedite product development and support innovations. The market would be primarily driven by the growing applications of digital twin technology in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries spurred by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing use of digital twins for enabling predictive maintenance, and the accelerated adoption of digital twin solutions for addressing the challenges associated with the pandemic. Digital twin technology has been witnessing notable progress in its capabilities owing to support from emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and computing power. The technology is gaining from machine learning that enables the use of data to simulate and predict future conditions and performance of assets. The increasing adoption of digital twins in the energy industry is expected to expedite transition towards renewable energy and pave way for net-zero emissions. The technology presents significant opportunities for companies in the healthcare and life sciences domains to improve efficiency and gain an edge over competitors.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Digital Twins estimated at US$9.1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$35.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 36.9% over the analysis period. System, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 36.4% CAGR to reach US$23 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Product segment is readjusted to a revised 38.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 31.7% share of the global Digital Twins market. Digital twins are expected to transform product development, supply chains and manufacturing. Manufacturing organizations have been leveraging DTs technology to speed-up digital transformation efforts for product development.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $3.5 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $6.5 Billion by 2026

The Digital Twins market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.5 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 39.6% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$6.5 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 51.4% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 30.9% and 37.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 32.3% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$3.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. North America represents the largest regional market for digital twins, attributed to a significant economic growth, massive investments in research and development activities, presence of a large number of digital twin vendors, and significant developments and early adoption of advanced digital technologies, including digital twin, 3D printing, edge analytics, and smart sensors, in the region. Growth in Asia-Pacific region is attributed to the dense population, rising per capita income with large-scale urbanization and industrialization, and growing adoption of IoT technology, primarily in countries, such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan.

Process Segment to Reach $5.6 Billion by 2026

In the global Process segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 35% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$778.5 Million will reach a projected size of US$6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$607.2 Million by the year 2026. More



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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced it has completed the acquisition of Union City-based Daylight Foods, one of California's largest food service companies, which provides produce, dairy, specialty items, dry goods and more to a wide range of business customers, including restaurants, large grocery and retail chains, corporate offices and cafeterias, hotels and universities.

Founded nearly 50 years ago as a small San Jose Farmers Market by original owner Bob Vlahopouliotis, Daylight Foods is now run by Bob's son, Chris Vlahopouliotis, who became president of the company in 2003. Today, Daylight Foods is a full-service food wholesale and delivery business with a warehouse over 100,000 square feet in size that includes processing rooms, state-of-the-art coolers, repacking areas and loading docks. Daylight Foods is also committed to sustainability. In addition to conventional items, it sources seasonal, organic and locally grown produce and deploys eco-friendly hybrid diesel-electric delivery trucks. In 2021, Daylight Foods packed and delivered several million USDA Farmers to Families food boxes to households and homeless shelters across the San Francisco Bay Area. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current experienced and mission-driven leadership team.

"We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by joining GrubMarket. With GrubMarket's robust technology platform and strong eCommerce supply and demand network, we will continue to be Northern California's premier food service provider. We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares our long-term goals and has built out such a well-integrated and much-needed eCommerce and technology-enabled platform to bring fresh food to so many people across the country. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and bringing more premium and farmer-direct fresh food to our customers," said Chris Vlahopouliotis, CEO of Daylight Foods.

According to Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket: "Daylight Foods' reputation in California's farmer-direct food supply chain ecosystem is unmatched. It has been incredible to see how the business has grown with over 50 years of hard work and passion. Chris and the outstanding team at Daylight Foods have scaled the company to hundreds of millions in sales with high gross margins and profitability. In addition, they are mission-driven with strong ESG practices around food waste and carbon footprint reduction, which aligns with our sustainability goals. This acquisition enables GrubMarket to further strengthen our customer base across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. We are excited to welcome the Daylight Foods team to the GrubMarket family."

As a part of GrubMarket's portfolio, Daylight Foods will now utilize GrubMarket's innovative and proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, the company's software-as-a-service platform that provides food industry wholesalers and distributors with seamless financial management, easy-to-use sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics tools.

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and British Columbia (Canada), with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world.

For Media Inquiries:

GrubMarket Media Team

[email protected]

(510) 556-4786

GrubMarket Inc.

1925 Jerrold Ave.

San Francisco, CA, 94124

SOURCE GrubMarket
LISBON, Portugal, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione, the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, announced today a strategic partnership with Zerion Pharma to market and commercialize Dispersome, Zerions proprietary solubility enhancement technology platform.

Zerions innovative Dispersome technology builds on a new concept of increasing drug solubility by using natural protein-based excipients to formulate APIs into amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) by spray drying. By combining Dispersome technology with Hovione's unique spray drying capabilities, experience in development, scale-up and GMP manufacturing, Hovione further strengthens its leadership in amorphous solid dispersions and shows its commitment to innovative solutions to overcome one of the most prevalent challenges faced by the industry: low drug solubility.

"We are extremely pleased to have entered into this partnership with Zerion whom we recognize as a very innovative company in the field of oral drug formulations. By joining forces, Zerion and Hovione will be able to bring Dispersome to the market faster. We look forward to applying the technology in collaboration with our customers and partners in our effort to develop novel drugs with strong benefits to patients.", comments Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hoviones Chief Operating Officer. "Hovione will continue to pursue opportunities to enhance its offering around core areas of expertise such as particle engineering and inhalation by partnering with companies and research institutions developing innovative drug formulation technologies, like Dispersome".

Zerions CEO, Ole Wiborg, sees a strong synergy in the partnership and expects it to generate new pharma partnerships. "We consider Hovione the global leader in the field of producing amorphous solid dispersions by spray-drying. More importantly for us, this leadership has resulted in Hovione being, over the last 5 years, the main commercial manufacturer of novel FDA-approved drugs formulated as amorphous solid dispersions. Incorporating these competencies in our offering to the pharma industry both validates the strength of our Dispersome platform and provides us and our pharma partners immediate access to the highest quality in upscaling and commercial GMP manufacturing." says Ole Wiborg.

The announcement of this partnership follows Hovione's communication on a further expansion with an expected investment of $170 million in assets worldwide and shows the company's commitment to also expand its technology platforms. Hovione is investing both in new assets and innovative technologies to meet customer demand for integrated and differentiated services in drug substance manufacturing, particle engineering and most recently drug product manufacturing.

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a fully integrated offering of services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solution across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione is a company with a culture based on innovation, quality and delivery. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to become a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.

About Zerion Pharma ApS

Zerion has pioneered the Dispersome technology that greatly enhances the solubility of poorly soluble, oral drugs and improves bioavailability and therapeutic outcomes for the patients. The Dispersome technology is based on preparing stable amorphous formulations by mixing high loads of the drug compound with beta-lactoglobulin, a sustainable and biodegradable by-product from cheese production. Zerion develops proprietary drug formulations and offers the Dispersome technology to established pharma companies as a means to solve their most challenging drug solubility problems.

Zerion was established in 2019 as a spinout from the University of Copenhagen based on almost a decade of research.

(Dispersome is a trademark of Zerion Pharma A/S)

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1686008/Logo_Hovione_Logo.jpg

For more information, please visit www.hovione.com or contact:

Isabel Pina | Director External Communications | [email protected] |Tel.: +351 21 982 93 62

SOURCE Hovione
"Print is having a renaissance and top brands, especially in industrial manufacturing, are leveraging the print experience from in-store spec sheets to complete printed catalogs that are distributed via PDFs to tell their product stories across channels," said Johan Bostrom , co-founder and chief product officer, inriver. "The advantage of inriver Print is a configurable solution that's integrated into the PIM solution and streamlines the entire process, making it faster and more efficient at a fraction of the cost. That's modern Print."

Integrating Print into the PIM makes it faster and more efficient at a fraction of the cost. That's modern Print.

The inriver Print solution helps customers:

Accelerate print projects with less customization

Deliver consistent, accurate messaging across all multilingual channels

using a single source of truth

using a single source of truth Speed up print production time to minutes, not weeks

Create custom catalogs, specs sheets, or safety records for unique

audiences with minimal effort.

Inriver Print shortens resource-intensive production time needed for catalogs, spec sheets, brochures, or in-store materials. Connecting with InDesign and powered by the EasyCatalog plugin, inriver Print empowers design talent and supporting teams to access the latest product information within the existing application, streamlining workflows and processes.

Learn more about how inriver helps the world's best brands turn product content into strategic assets that drive revenue.

About inriver

Inriver empowers organizations to deliver revenue-driving product information at every touchpoint. Inriver's Digital-first PIM enables organizations to bring compelling product stories to life for highly customized purchases, obtain actionable guidance on what influences buying decisions, and then quickly adapt to put insights into action. Inriver helps B2B and B2C organizations turn product information into strategic assets to drive revenue for over 1,600 brands and 700 customers globally. Headquartered in Malmo, Sweden, inriver has offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Davao, London, Manila, and Stockholm. For more information visit inriver.com.

SOURCE inriver
BERLIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- German exports to countries outside the European Union (EU) increased by 10.5 percent in January year-on-year to 56.3 billion euros (63.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to provisional data published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday.

Compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, German exports to the non-EU countries were even 19.3 percent higher than in February 2020, the month before restrictions were imposed because of the pandemic in Germany, according to Destatis.

The United States remained the largest market for German exports, as goods worth 9.9 billion euros were exported to the country in January, which increased by 17.6 percent compared to January 2021.

German exports to China rose by 7.2 percent year-on-year to 8.1 billion euros, according to Destatis, and exports to the UK rose 23.4 percent year-on-year to 5.3 billion euros.

Meanwhile, the ifo Institute for Economic Research said on Tuesday that sentiment in the German economy "improved appreciably" as the ifo Business Climate Index rose from 96.0 points in January to 98.9 points in February.

German companies were "more satisfied with their current business," while expectations even improved significantly, according to the monthly survey of around 9,000 companies from all economic sectors. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) 
CLAREMONT, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expert Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD, President of LMA Consulting Group Inc., has released a Special Report, "Thriving in 2022: Learning from Supply Chain Chaos." This special report includes supply chain insights and perspectives from Ms. Anderson, as well as 22 advisor experts who have walked side by side with clients during their supply chain upheavals. LMA Consulting Group works with manufacturers and distributors on strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation to maximize the customer experience and enable profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth.

Lisa Anderson

"Manufacturers and distributors struggled in 2020 and 2021 with supply chain disruptions. Supply chain risks were exposed and aggravated as our clients experienced extended lead times, stock-outs, and increased levels of demand and supply volatility. We learned a lot in 2021. One thing is for certain, supply chain volatility is not going away any time soon. So, it is imperative that manufacturers and distributors learn from 2021 and include the supply chain in strategic discussions and plans," comments Ms. Anderson.

The Special Report centers on the effects of supply chain disruptions, what companies did to mitigate customer fallout, and what the experts see for 2022. "We tapped experts from many disciplines to get different perspectives. We included experts in Finance, HR, and IT, and from specialties like Data, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), Regulatory, and Transportation. We also included global as well as national perspectives. Experts review some aha moments, opportunities and risks still pending with today's supply chains, and strategies to succeed in 2022," she added.

'Thriving in 2022: Learning from Supply Chain Chaos' is available at no charge from the LMA Website. "The supply chain is critical to the success of every company. We want to make sure that we make our findings available for anyone interested," Anderson said.

About LMA Consulting Group  Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD

Lisa Anderson is the founder and president of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., specializing in manufacturing strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation. She focuses on maximizing the customer experience and enabling profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth. Ms. Anderson is a recognized Supply Chain thought leader by SelectHub, named a Top 40 B2B Tech Influencer by arketi group, a Top 50 ERP Influencer by Washington-Frank, one of the most influential in Supply Chain by SAP, and a woman leader in Supply Chain by RateLinx. She was recently interviewed on Fox News, has published special reports with supply chain focus: Thriving in 2022: Learning from Supply Chain Chaos, Emerging Above & Beyond: 21 Insights from Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Technology Executives, and the ebook, Future-Proofing Manufacturing & the Supply Chain Post COVID-19, as well as her primer, I've Been Thinking, strategies for creating bold customer promises and profits. A contributor on topics including a superior customer experience with SIOP, advancing innovation, and making the supply chain resilient, Ms. Anderson is regularly interviewed and quoted by publications such as Industry Week, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. For information, to sign up for her Profit Through PeopleTM Newsletter, or for a copy of her book, visit LMA-ConsultingGroup.com.

Media Contact

Kathleen McEntee

(760)2624080

[email protected]

SOURCE LMA Consulting Group
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Managed Health Services (MHS), an Indiana health coverage provider, is committed to supporting and advancing health equity through local innovation across the communities where we live, work, and serve. To that end, MHS has partnered with the South Bend Heritage Foundation to support Hope Avenue Homes in South Bend. MHS will provide permanent supportive housing with onsite case management, wraparound services, and community events. MHS is providing a $100,000 grant for the construction.

"Housing instability is one of the greatest risks to an individual's ability to live a healthy life," said Kevin O'Toole, MHS President and CEO. "MHS has always recognized social determinants of health as part of our whole-person approach to healthcare. We're pleased to expand our housing focus to Hope Avenue Homes in South Bend."

Scheduled to open in late spring 2022, Hope Avenue Homes will feature 22 apartment units exclusively for individuals who previously experienced homelessness or chronic homelessness. Residents will be selected from a prioritized list of people experiencing homelessness that are pursuing housing. Hope Avenue Homes will operate as Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), an innovative, evidence-based approach to engage & rapidly house chronically homeless, who may be unable to meet requirements of other types of shelters or temporary housing. It provides intensive and flexible services to stabilize and support housing tenure while utilizing housing retention plans.

"We are grateful for MHS' support of Hope Avenue Homes," said Marco Mariani, Executive Director of the South Bend Heritage Foundation. "This investment will ensure that formerly homeless individuals can live in the best possible apartment community. The impact of the development will be significant and long-lasting."

To learn more about Hope Avenue Homes, please visit https://sbheritage.org/spaces/hopeavenuehomes/.

About MHS

Managed Health Services (MHS) is a managed care entity that has been proudly serving the state of Indiana for over 25 years through the Hoosier Healthwise and Hoosier Care Connect Medicaid programs and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Medicaid alternative program. MHS also offers Ambetter from MHS in the Indiana health insurance marketplace, and Wellcare by Allwell, a Medicare Advantage plan. All of our plans include quality, comprehensive coverage with a provider network you can trust. Visit mhsindiana.com to learn more. MHS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services.

SOURCE MHS
Lohscheller's career has included leadership roles in finance, technology, purchasing and logistics at Volkswagen, before becoming Volkswagen Group of America Executive Vice President. Lohscheller was named CEO of Opel, both under GM and Stellantis ownership. Under his leadership, Lohscheller led Opel to sustainable profitability. He also oversaw Opel's transformation into a respected electrified car brand. Most recently Lohscheller served as CEO of VinFast, the global electric automotive brand from Vietnam.

"As Nikola moves into global production, an experienced and respected industry veteran like Michael strengthens the Nikola team," said Stephen Girsky, Nikola Corporation board chair. "He knows his way around the manufacturing floors, board rooms and showrooms and has worked with the latest technologies throughout his career. We are pleased to welcome Michael to the team."

"It goes without saying that hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric zero-emission vehicles are the future of mobility, and I am extremely proud to be joining a company that is paving the way for this global transformation," stated Lohscheller. "My career has prepared me well to achieve the ambitious milestones needed to make this happen."

About Michael Lohscheller

Michael Lohscheller graduated from Osnabruck University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and the University of Barcelona (Spain) in 1992. During his working years, Lohscheller completed a Master's Program in European Marketing Management and obtained his M.A. at Brunel University London in 1996.

Having been active in the automotive industry for more than 20 years, Lohscheller has held a variety of high-ranking positions: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Mitsubishi Motors Europe, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Volkswagen Group of America, Chief Executive Officer at Opel Automobile GmbH and Member of the Board at PSA Group and Global CEO of VinFast.

In his tenure as Opel CEO, Lohscheller was presented with several prestigious awards including Eurostar 2019 (Automotive News), Manbest 2019 (Autobest) and Manager of the Year 2019 (AutoZeitung).

ABOUT NIKOLA CORPORATION

Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor .

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS OF NIKOLA CORPORATION

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of Mr. Lohscheller's employment at Nikola. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Nikola's management. We cannot assure you that forward looking statements will be achieved and forward-looking statements are not predictions of actual performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the agreement; design and manufacturing changes, challenges and delays; economic, financial, legal, supply chain, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the potential effects of COVID-19; the outcome of legal, regulatory and judicial proceedings to which Nikola is, or may become a party; demand for and customer acceptance of Nikola's trucks; risks associated with development and testing of fuel cell power modules and hydrogen storage systems; risks related to the rollout of Nikola's business and the timing of expected business milestones, including delivery of trucks for sale; the effects of competition on Nikola's future business; the availability of capital; risks associated with changes in accounting treatment or accounting standards; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Nikola's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and other documents Nikola files with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Nikola specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Nikola Corporation
Navigating healthcare can be confusing, frustrating and costly for everyone involved. Trott founded Quantum Health in 1999 with the belief that no one should have to navigate the healthcare experience alone. By putting healthcare consumers first, she launched the first-of-its-kind consumer care coordination and navigation company focused on providing employees of self-insured employers a more effective and satisfying healthcare experience. With Quantum Health, Trott created a new category of navigation and concierge platforms  which today is a rapidly growing, multibillion-dollar market.

"I am very honored to be named by Modern Healthcare as one of 2022's Top 25 Women Leaders," Trott said. "Healthcare continues to grow in complexity, and it's gratifying to join other innovative leaders dedicated to transforming the healthcare landscape. Consumers are at the heart of everything we do at Quantum Health, and we continue to innovate and grow to ensure they have the best possible experience and achieve the best possible outcomes."

Trott created Quantum Health's unique, research-driven platform that combines the power of robust data, proactive insights and technology with empathetic expert guidance. These tech-enabled experts, known as Healthcare Warriors, work directly with both providers and employees, ensuring that they engage with the right healthcare services at the right time, in alignment with their benefits plans.

By leveraging data through its proprietary Real-Time Intercept technology, Quantum Health engages in most cases before a first claim is even incurred. This early intervention drives better consumer engagement and experience, enhances clinical outcomes and reduces healthcare costs for both the consumer and the employers sponsoring their benefit plans.

Under Trott's leadership, the company has grown steadily, with more than 1,600 employees serving more than 400 self-insured employer clients and more than two million members. Annual revenue growth has consistently exceeded 20 percent, demonstrating the ongoing need for solutions that both simplify and improve the healthcare experience for consumers and providers, while also helping employers gain better engagement and retention, improve overall benefits utilization and manage costs.

As Quantum Health has continued its growth trajectory, it has correspondingly expanded its leadership team, recently adding Zane Burke as CEO. "I joined Quantum Health because of Kara's vision and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on healthcare," said Burke. "With Quantum Health, Kara created one of the only consumer engagement platforms that consistently delivers results: engagement, experience and ROI. Every day, we work together to build on her vision and provide even more value to our members, clients and provider stakeholders, with the goal of serving even more consumers and improving more lives."

Burke continued, "I am thrilled that Kara is being recognized for her innovation and dedication to creating a better and more effective consumer healthcare experience. By creating Quantum Health, she transformed the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare could not have chosen a more deserving leader."

About Modern Healthcare's Top Women Leaders

Modern Healthcare's Top Women Leaders program honors female executives from all sectors of the healthcare system. These high achievers are developing policy, leading change, and guiding healthcare delivery improvement across the country. The program recognizes women in a variety of leadership roles, spotlighting their administrative and professional accomplishments.

About Quantum Health

Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Health's proprietary Real-Time Intercept model identifies opportunities for early intervention in a member's healthcare journey, resulting in better engagement, outcomes and cost efficiencies. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ohio. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, and a Great Place to Work by Fortune magazine and Entrepreneur magazine. The Women Presidents' Organization has ranked Quantum Health as one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Columbus Business First has honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work. To learn more about the company, visit www.Quantum-Health.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For more information about Quantum Health or to set up an interview, please contact:

Cadie Connors, Parris Communications, 816-352-8504, [email protected]

Susan Simkins, Quantum Health, Corporate Communications, 800-257-2038 x 13494, [email protected]

For information on the Top Women Leaders Awards Program, contact:

MH Events, [email protected]

SOURCE Quantum Health
Inaugural Report Highlights Groundbreaking Impact of Removing Barriers for Americans with Criminal Records

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - As part of a nationwide, grassroots effort to improve social justice through legal relief, National Expungement Works (N.E.W.) released its inaugural Impact Report, highlighting its successful 2021 efforts to repair the harms of the criminal justice system through free legal and wraparound services for individuals with a criminal record.

"The mere existence of a criminal record  no matter the circumstances  has forced millions of mostly Black and brown Americans to face systemic racial discrimination, poverty, and housing insecurity," said Alicia Brown, Director of Development & Benevolent Partnerships, N.E.W. "I continue to be impressed by the community activation and dexterity of our volunteers and their ability to remain malleable to the immediate needs of the communities we serve."

Over 48,000 barriers exist for formerly incarcerated individuals upon release from prison or jail. These obstacles often prevent over 70 million Americans who have an arrest or conviction on their record from finding employment, housing, voting, education, and other opportunities. N.E.W. works to end this cycle by providing year-round programming including legal relief, wraparound services, and advocacy to alleviate the impact of these barriers.

On the heels of a challenging year, N.E.W.'s 2021 Impact Report outlines the progress made over the past year. Highlights of the report include:

Generated over $700M in public benefit including increased wages, reduced public spending, and other benefits in the next two years.

in public benefit including increased wages, reduced public spending, and other benefits in the next two years. Supported policy efforts that resulted in helping over 65,000 Americans begin the process to expunge or seal their records and held dozens of events across the country to provide wraparound services including legal relief, employment workshops, food and produce giveaways, health screenings, and voter registration.

Supported Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon in identifying nearly 66,000 cannabis convictions that will be dismissed as part of his ongoing efforts to reverse the injustices of drug laws

in identifying nearly 66,000 cannabis convictions that will be dismissed as part of his ongoing efforts to reverse the injustices of drug laws Hosted several successful events including annual Week of Action & Awareness (WOAA) featuring 21 events (virtual and in-person) across 10 cities with over 1,500 attendees

Created N.E.W. Fellowship Program, partnering with non-profit organizations to create online platforms for resources, information, and eligibility sessions that were provided to over 1,300 individuals in 19 cities across the country.

"Staying true to the mission, 2021 was about tapping into our organizers because I know they do this healing work 24/7, with or without N.E.W. I challenged myself to get better with my actions with, for, and beside them. 2022 is the year we can kick our 5-year wealth plan up a notch with our fellowship program. From learning how to lobby in your community to becoming a building owner, we are the ones that heal and keep each other safe as we continue forward in our process for reforming systems that were built against us. It's my belief that if there is a presence of N.E.W. in your community, and you have been systemically impacted or affected, and you need a safe haven to release; come talk it out with us, it's on us." - LaTorie Marshall, N.E.W. Founder

Additionally, N.E.W. spotlighted key partnerships that lead to a successful year of achievements, including Canopy Growth Corporation, a presenting sponsor since the organization's inception.

"The cannabis industry has a responsibility to equity-deserving communities, and at Canopy Growth, we are committed to this work through our investment in partnerships with community organizations such as N.E.W.," said Hilary Black, Chief Advocacy Office at Canopy Growth Corporation. "As we evolve our social impact strategy with the support of our community partners, we continue to learn about the injustices faced by equity-deserving communities. This includes the difficulties faced by people impacted by the criminal justice system - including the potential for the accumulation of additional progressive charges. The comprehensive, wrap-around services, such as N.E.W.'s Brake Light Clinics, are a direct response to the barriers and experiences of justice-impacted communities."

Since 2018, N.E.W. has generated tangible results in the lives of over 65,000 people who have begun the expungement process. In addition, over 7,000 have received wrap-around services such as voter registration, job support, health screenings, and assistance with housing and food insecurity, and 950 have had fines reduced or cleared.

N.E.W's 2022, Brake Light Clinics will begin February 27th, 2022, in Maryland at Autozone of 7755 Landover Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20785

About National Expungement Works

National Expungement Works (N.E.W.) is a collective of 632 volunteers, individuals, and organizations who have come together to emancipate justice-impacted communities which have been exploited by systemic inequities and injustices brought about by the War on Drugs. We build and restore pathways for generational healing and wealth. For more information, please visit newxnow.org or follow N.E.W. on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Canopy Growth Corporation

Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis and cannabinoid-based consumer product company, driven by a passion to improve lives, end prohibition, and strengthen communities by unleashing the full potential of cannabis. Leveraging consumer insights and innovation, we offer product varieties in high-quality dried flower, oil, softgel capsule, infused beverage, edible, and topical formats, as well as vaporizer devices by Canopy Growth and industry-leader Storz & Bickel. Our global medical brand, Spectrum Therapeutics, sells a range of full-spectrum products using its colour-coded classification system and is a market leader in both Canada and Germany. Through our award-winning Tweed and Tokyo Smoke banners, we reach our adult-use consumers and have built a loyal following by focusing on top quality products and meaningful customer relationships. Canopy Growth has entered into the health and wellness consumer space in key markets including Canada, the United States, and Europe through BioSteel sports nutrition, and This Works skin and sleep solutions; and has introduced additional hemp derived CBD products to the United States through our First & Free and Martha Stewart CBD brands. Canopy Growth has an established partnership with Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.

SOURCE National Expungement Works
"Malocclusion is one of the most common dental problems, and it impacts approximately two out of three people in the United States 3 ," said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO, Bausch Health. "With the availability of OraFit, dental professionals have a new custom aligner option that can easily fit into their patients' daily routines as it aligns their teeth into position with improved comfort due to the gentle, consistent pressure OraFit applies 2 ."

Compared to many other aligners, the plastic material OraFit is made with has been proven to stay clearer longer and is highly crack-resistant1. The OraFit system also includes an intuitive, user-friendly online resource that allows dental professionals to easily submit cases and approve treatment plans.

"Many of my patients with malocclusion are reluctant to use braces or aligners as a result of the impact they can have on their appearance," said David J. Wohl, DDS, PC, general dentist, Fairfield, Conn. "The clarity of OraFit may help to increase patient acceptance and compliance while also offering a meticulous fit. These benefits, along with the seamless integration that the online resource provides for my aligner wear protocols, has made OraFit a welcomed addition to my practice and to my patients."

Additionally, during the 2022 Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, which takes place Feb. 24-26, 2022, two presentations will feature OraPharma products, including:

"Adjunctive Periodontal Therapy"

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. , 11 a.m. , 1 p.m. , 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. CT ;

Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. , 12 p.m. , 2 p.m. , 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT ; and Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. , 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. CT at McCormick Place West (2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago , in the OraPharma booth #5029)

Timothy Donley , DDS, MDS, will discuss the state of periodontal disease (gum disease) in the 21st century including risk factors, diagnosis guidelines and treatment options. This presentation will also discuss data on the efficacy and uses for OraPharma's treatment for periodontal disease, Arestin(minocycline HCI) Microspheres, 1mg.

"General Dentistry Guide to Clear Aligners"

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 from 10:30  11:30 a.m. CT and Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 from 10:30  11:30 a.m. CT at McCormick Place West (2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago , in the Corporate Learning Theater)

Dr. Wohl will lead a discussion on the state of the aligner market, including the oral benefits they offer, patient identification and the considerations clinicians should take when selecting aligners such as OraFit.

For more information on the OraFit aligner system, visit www.myorafit.com.

About Malocclusion

Malocclusion typically occurs when teeth are either crowded, too large for the mouth or are crooked. This can also happen if the upper and lower jaws aren't aligned. Malocclusion is typically treated with orthodontics or braces, although more serious cases may require surgery. Aside from causing dental problems, such as tooth decay, losing teeth or developing gum disease, malocclusion can affect one's speech and impact how food is chewed4.

Indication and Important Safety Information for OraFit

INDICATION:

The OraFit Custom Clear Aligner System is used for the straightening of crooked or misaligned permanent teeth through orthodontic treatment.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Do not use the OraFit Custom Clear Aligner System if you:

Are allergic to plastics

Have active periodontal disease

Precautions and Potential Risks

Always follow the order and wear of your aligners as prescribed. Aligners worn out of sequence can result in delayed treatment and complications, including discomfort.

Sensitivity and tenderness of your teeth may occur during treatment, especially when moving forward from one aligner step to the next.

Aligner wear may temporarily affect your speech, resulting in a slight lisp. Patients typically adapt quickly to the aligners within a week or two.

Extended treatment time may occur if you do not follow your doctor's instructions, wear aligners less than the prescribed hours, miss appointments, have poor oral hygiene, or use broken aligners.

Irritation of the gums, cheeks, tongue, and lips may occur. Tell your doctor if you have any irritation that persists.

The health of your gums and bone, both of which support your teeth, can be affected by wearing aligners.

Your bite will change throughout the course of treatment and may result in temporary discomfort in your jaw joint. Although rare, you may experience joint pain, headaches or ear problems. You should let your doctor know if you experience any of these symptoms.

At the end of treatment, it may be necessary for your doctor to make adjustments to your bite.

Once your treatment has been completed, teeth may shift positions if proper and consistent wear of retainers is not followed.

THIS IS NOT ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. Please ask your dentist if the OraFit Custom Clear Aligner System is right for you.

Important Safety Information for ARESTIN

INDICATION

ARESTIN (minocycline HCl) Microspheres, 1mg is used in combination with scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures to treat patients with adult periodontitis (gum disease). ARESTIN may be used as part of an overall oral health program that includes good brushing and flossing habits and SRP.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take ARESTIN  if you are allergic to minocycline or tetracyclines. Ask your dentist or pharmacist for a list of these drugs if you are not sure. Swelling of the face, itching of the skin, fever and enlarged lymph nodes have been reported with the use of ARESTIN  . Some of these reactions were serious. Tell your dentist right away if you have any signs of allergic reaction, such as skin reactions or trouble breathing, or if you have an exaggerated sunburn reaction.

if you are allergic to minocycline or tetracyclines. Ask your dentist or pharmacist for a list of these drugs if you are not sure. Swelling of the face, itching of the skin, fever and enlarged lymph nodes have been reported with the use of ARESTIN . Some of these reactions were serious. Tell your dentist right away if you have any signs of allergic reaction, such as skin reactions or trouble breathing, or if you have an exaggerated sunburn reaction. THE USE OF TETRACYCLINE CLASS DRUGS, INCLUDING ARESTIN  , DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH, AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CHILDREN OR IN PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN.

, DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH, AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CHILDREN OR IN PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN. ARESTIN  has not been studied in patients with weakened immune systems (such as patients with HIV infections or diabetes, or those receiving chemotherapy or radiation). Tetracyclines, including oral minocycline, have been associated with the development of autoimmune syndrome with symptoms such as joint pain, muscle pain, rash, swelling, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and general body weakness. Tell your doctor about any health problems you have, including whether you have had oral candidiasis ("thrush") in the past, and about all medications you are taking.

has not been studied in patients with weakened immune systems (such as patients with HIV infections or diabetes, or those receiving chemotherapy or radiation). Tetracyclines, including oral minocycline, have been associated with the development of autoimmune syndrome with symptoms such as joint pain, muscle pain, rash, swelling, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and general body weakness. Tell your doctor about any health problems you have, including whether you have had oral candidiasis ("thrush") in the past, and about all medications you are taking. In clinical studies, the most frequently reported non-dental side effects were headache, infection, flu symptoms, and pain.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for full Prescribing Information.

About OraPharma

OraPharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to partnering with dental professionals to improve oral health. Founded more than 25 years ago, OraPharma includes a curated portfolio of treatments for periodontal disease, malocclusion and multiple regenerative solutions for oral surgery. More information can be found at https://www.orapharma.com/.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. For more information, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking Statements



This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch Health's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear of that pandemic and its potential effects, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on Bausch Health, including but not limited to its project development timelines, launches and costs (which may increase). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

References

Zendura XL Design Verification Report- Stain Resistance #18-05 Rev1 (v0.1) Zendura Dental (2022). Zendura FLX Properties. Accessed Feb. 16, 2022 . https://www.zenduradental.com/pages/zendura-flx-properties Neely ML, Miller R, Rich SE, Will LA, Wright WG, Jones JA Effect of malocclusion on adults seeing orthodontic treatment Cleveland Clinic (2022). Malocclusion. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22010-malocclusion. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022 .

/ are trademarks of OraPharma's affiliated entities.

 2022 OraPharma's affiliated entities.

OFT.0045.USA.22

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.
NEW YORK and MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Foundation has announced $60,000 in grant funding for the Physical Therapy Faculty Award and Nurse Faculty Award. The 2022 recipients, all graduates of The Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program or the Physical Therapy Faculty Program, will receive up to $10,000 each from the Foundation to launch individual projects that aim to make life better for people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

The number of people living with PD in the U.S. is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. In order to meet this challenge, the Parkinson's Foundation provides professional training to prepare the next generation of nurses, and physical therapists to care for the growing population of people with PD. This includes the Foundation's Physical Therapy Faculty Program and The Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program  both designed with a curriculum that provides training to faculty leaders on how to educate their students by equipping them with best practices and the latest PD information.

"Recognizing how essential nurses and physical therapists are in the care of people with PD, the Parkinson's Foundation has been diligent in bolstering the healthcare teams that care for the PD community," said John L. Lehr, Parkinson's Foundation President and CEO. "These awards support exceptional professionals in the development of projects that enhance Parkinson's care."

The four 2022 Physical Therapy Faculty Award recipients include:

Anne Marie Dupre, PT, DPT, NCS: Dupre's project will provide weekly Parkinson's Exercise Groups (PEG) organized and delivered by Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students with faculty supervision. In addition to measuring the overall experience, the project will measure the students' learning experience and potential changes in function for participants. Dupre is a Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Clinical Education at the University of Rhode Island.

Alicia Flach, DPT, NCS: Flach's project further expands an existing program  Parkinson's Disease.Resources.Education.Vitality.+ (PD REV+)  by building on the education and exercise support provided to improve the South Carolina PD community's access to exercise opportunities. Flach is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, Physical Therapy Program.

Jennifer Hale, PT, DPT, NCS: Hale's project will contribute to research efforts and knowledge of the bidirectional associations of physical activity and PD in women by examining data from the Women's Health Study (WHS), one of the largest cohorts in the world investigating health outcomes in women. Hale is a Clinical Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Jennifer Penn, PT, DPT, NCS and Patti Berg-Poppe, PhD: This project will gather and synthesize information to develop materials that promote the safe and feasible implementation of effective home exercise programming that drives optimal performance from physical therapy intervention. Penn is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, and Berg-Poppe is a Professor and Department of Physical Therapy Chair at the University of South Dakota.

The two 2022 Nurse Faculty Award recipients include:

Diane Ellis, MSN, RN, CCRN: Ellis' research will further her prior works on Medication Safety in PD during transitions. Prior research indicates hospitalized persons with PD often do not receive their medications on time or as prescribed, with 61 percent of individuals suffering poor outcomes. To improve quality and safety for this population, a study focusing on the omission of time-sensitive medications will be conducted at large academic healthcare institutions. Ellis is a research scholar at Villanova University.

Carey Heck, PhD: Heck's project serves as the first of a three-part series consisting of a learning module and simulation for training nurse practitioner (NP) students on discussing difficult news in PD. Diagnosis and prognosis discussions are often new skillsets for nurses transitioning to an NP role, and current curricula offer little formal training. This project will provide learners with a robust, simulated experience with faculty oversight. Heck is the director of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Program at Thomas Jefferson University.

"This funding allows us to expand our impact and build sustainability to the established PD.R.E.V.+ program that brings education and exercise opportunities to the South Carolina PD community," said Alicia Flach, Parkinson's Foundation Physical Therapy Faculty Award recipient. "The program will now be able to involve and better equip physical therapy students and training exercise professionals to work with people with Parkinson's."

Applications for the 2022 Physical Therapy Faculty Program are being accepted now through March 21. The program will be hosted at three locations, including Boston University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Oregon Health & Science University. In addition to the Physical Therapy Faculty Program and The Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program, the Foundation strives to make a difference for health professionals by offering Parkinson's Foundation Team Training and other resources such as online courses, publications, webinars and fact sheets.

For more information on best-practice care training and faculty award opportunities from the Parkinson's Foundation, please visit Parkinson.org/Professionals.

About the Parkinson's Foundation

The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. Since 1957, the Parkinson's Foundation has invested more than $400 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care. Connect with us on Parkinson.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).

About Parkinson's Disease

Affecting an estimated one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson's and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Marissa Cruz

Parkinson's Foundation

[email protected]

305-537-9926

Parkinson.org

SOURCE Parkinson's Foundation
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Porte Brown LLC, www.portebrown.com, a Chicagoland accounting firm providing accounting, audit, tax, technology, and wealth management services, announced today that they have won the Best of Accounting Award for providing superior service to their clients. ClearlyRated's Best of Accounting Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality, based entirely on ratings provided by their clients. On average, clients of 2022 Best of Accounting winners are 60% more likely to be satisfied than those who work with non-winning firms. Porte Brown received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 85.3% of their clients, significantly higher than the industry's average of 53% in 2021.

Best of Accounting

"Porte Brown works extremely hard to make client service a top priority, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts in this way," said Joe Gleba, Porte Brown's Chief Executive Officer. "The feedback we receive from our clients is incredibly important and helps us develop new ways to improve the firm, which is a continuous and ongoing process."

"Winners of the 2022 Best of Accounting award for client satisfaction have demonstrated their commitment to delivering exceptional client service, even as Covid-19 has forced them to reimagine and rebuild their approach to business," said ClearlyRated's CEO and Founder, Eric Gregg. "These service leaders have kept the client experience at the heart of their business strategy, and it's my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2022 Best of Accounting winners alongside feedback from their actual clients on ClearlyRated.com!"

About Porte Brown

Porte Brown LLC is a full-service accounting and consulting firm headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. For more than 75 years, Porte Brown has focused on providing the highest level of service to individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the region. In addition to the traditional accounting services, such as tax planning and preparation, audit, business valuations, and retirement plan administration. Porte Brown also provides strategic consulting and leading-edge technology implementation for clients in cloud and non-cloud environments. Wealth management services provided by Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC.*

*Wealth Management Services provided by Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC. Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM. Insurance services offered through an Avantax affiliated insurance agency.

About ClearlyRated

Rooted in satisfaction research for professional service firms, ClearlyRated utilizes a Net Promoter Score survey program to help professional service firms measure their service experience, build online reputation, and differentiate on service quality. Learn more at www.clearlyrated.com/solutions .

About Best of Accounting

ClearlyRated's Best of Accounting Award recognizes accounting firms that have demonstrated exceptional service quality based exclusively on ratings provided by their clients and employees. The award program provides statistically valid and objective service quality benchmarks for the accounting industry, revealing which firms deliver the highest quality client and employee experience. Winners are featured on ClearlyRated.coman online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated client ratings and testimonials.

Media Contact:

Pam Metzger

[email protected]

847-956-1040

www.portebrown.com

SOURCE Porte Brown
DENVER, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RMAX), parent company of RE/MAX, one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, and of Motto Mortgage, the first national mortgage brokerage franchise brand in the U.S., announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share of Class A common stock.

The dividend is payable on March 16, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2022.

"We are pleased to continue returning capital to our shareholders through a quarterly cash dividend as well as through the common stock repurchase program that we recently announced," said Karri Callahan, RE/MAX Holdings Chief Financial Officer. "As part of our longstanding strategy, we continue to evaluate our capital deployment priorities, balancing the needs of our business while at the same time driving value for shareholders. We remain well positioned to grow and generate substantial amounts of free cash flow in the future."

About RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RMAX) is one of the world's leading franchisors in the real estate industry, franchising real estate brokerages globally under the RE/MAX brand, and mortgage brokerages within the U.S. under the Motto Mortgage brand. RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Now with more than 140,000 agents in almost 9,000 offices and a presence in more than 110 countries and territories, nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by total residential transaction sides. Dedicated to innovation and change in the real estate industry, RE/MAX launched Motto Franchising, LLC, a ground-breaking mortgage brokerage franchisor, in 2016. Motto Mortgage has grown to over 175 offices across almost 40 states.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "believe," "intend," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," "project," "anticipate," "may," "will," "would" and other similar words and expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements include statements related to: dividends, the Company's ahre repurchase program, generation of free cash, and the Company's strategic and operating plans and business models. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily accurately indicate the times at which such performance or results may be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, (1) the global COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to pose significant and widespread risks and ongoing uncertainty for the Company's business, including the Company's agents, loan originators, franchisees and employees, as well as home buyers and sellers, (2) changes in the real estate market or interest rates and availability of financing, (3) changes in business and economic activity in general, (4) the Company's ability to attract and retain quality franchisees, (5) the Company's franchisees' ability to recruit and retain real estate agents and mortgage loan originators, (6) changes in laws and regulations, (7) the Company's ability to enhance, market, and protect its brands, including the RE/MAX and Motto Mortgage brands, (8) the Company's ability to implement its technology initiatives, (9) risks and uncertainties related to the share repurchase program, including the timing, amount and price at which share repurchases may occur in connection with the program, (10) risks related to the Company's leadership transition including the change in the CEO role, (11) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and (12) those risks and uncertainties described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and similar disclosures in subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the investor relations page of the Company's website at www.remaxholdings.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

SOURCE RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.
SHELTON, Conn., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RightCapital, the fastest-growing financial planning solution* that provides modern, interactive features for today's financial advisors, announced RightIntel, a business intelligence feature designed for independent financial advisors.

The RightIntel feature is comprised of three main components:

Dashboard  See a clean, simple snapshot of key business metrics such as the total number of clients, total invested assets, top clients by net worth and more.

 See a clean, simple snapshot of key business metrics such as the total number of clients, total invested assets, top clients by net worth and more. Client Overview  Sort clients using metrics such as net worth, invested assets and open tasks; see different types of insurance coverage across clients; and view recent client activities.

 Sort clients using metrics such as net worth, invested assets and open tasks; see different types of insurance coverage across clients; and view recent client activities. Opportunities  Anticipate potential client needs based on their current cash on hand, assets held away, debt, expiring insurance policies and key events such as reaching retirement or RMD age.

"We're thrilled to see RightIntel providing timely, actionable information to advisors to help them grow their practices," said Shuang Chen, co-founder and CEO of RightCapital. "Ever since we started releasing the RightIntel feature in November, the feedback from our advisors has been immediate and incredibly positive."

"RightIntel has been very useful in identifying growth opportunities for our financial planning practice," said Andrea Clark, founder and financial planner at The Table Financial Planning. "For example, I can quickly see which clients have too much cash on hand and can benefit from increasing their invested assets, send helpful information to clients when they reach an important financial milestone, and identify clients who need more help managing their debts and high-interest loans."

"When I open up my RightIntel Dashboard, it serves as a quick check-in to see how my overall planning practice is doing," said Douglas E. Richards, founder and financial planner at Crest Financial LLC. "The RightIntel data also helps me see if the prospects that I'm speaking with are a good fit with my practice, gives a high-level picture on the types of assets I am working with, and allows me to sort and export clients based on different filters. Best of all, it's all very clear and easy to understand."

RightIntel's full functionality is included with RightCapital's Premium and Platinum subscriptions. To learn more, schedule your RightCapital demo at https://www.rightcapital.com/book-demo.

About RightCapital

RightCapital's mission is to create Right Plans for Real People. RightCapital is used by thousands of financial advisors to grow their practices and set their clients on the path to financial success. Founded in 2015, RightCapital is the fastest-growing financial planning software with the highest user satisfaction among advisors*. Our modern, intuitive features make the financial planning process a breeze. From interactive retirement scenarios and tax-efficient distributions to insurance evaluation, student loan management and estate planning, we simplify the complexity of financial planning so anyone can understand how to plan for their future. For more information visit www.RightCapital.com.

*Source: The Kitces Report Volume 1, 2021 and Volume 1, 2020

SOURCE RightCapital Inc.
ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With workers in firm command of the labor market for the first time in decades, salaries for in-demand positions in key industries are rising at staggering rates, according to a new report from Randstad USA. For example, wages in engineering are rising as much as 19 percent. The report found increases across all eight measured industries as Americans quit their jobs at an unprecedented rate to pursue new, more lucrative opportunities.

Randstad USA's 2022 Salary Guide found salary gains were most prominent amongst mid-level employees whose track records and proven skills make them desirable candidates for companies looking to bolster their workforces.

"After working through the pandemic for almost two years, American workers have used this time to evaluate their priorities and are seeking personal and professional improvement at unprecedented levels," said Karen Fichuk, CEO of Randstad North America and Randstad N.V. executive board member. "Workers are demanding better pay, more flexible work arrangements and safe workplaces. Our Salary Guide is a one-stop shop for smart business leaders who want to understand labor trends in 2022 so they can compete for talent in the tightest labor market in generations."

Randstad's annual Salary Guide is one of the most trusted sources of compensation data for hiring leaders, and it covers eight of the industries for which Randstad hires workers in hundreds of U.S. markets every day. It provides detailed compensation ranges for specific jobs within those industries.

The 2022 Salary Guide also provides in-depth analysis of the trends driving changes in compensation and benefits during this unprecedented labor environment. Among its key findings:

The report found that there is a disconnect between workers' demands and C-suite expectations about remote work amid the pandemic, which will make salary become more important for companies that cannot provide the level of flexibility some workers are seeking.

Salaries are soaring in the financial services industry. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have recently raised annual first-year pay to $110,000 . As of Q3 2021, Morgan Stanley first-years were taking home $85,000 a year, while JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Barclays, Bank of America and Deutsche Bank have all bumped entry-level investment bankers' pay to $100,000 . Meanwhile, Ally Bank is raising salaries and bonuses and increasing its contribution to employee 401(k)s  all in the wake of losing candidates to other offers.

. As of Q3 2021, Morgan Stanley first-years were taking home a year, while JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Barclays, Bank of America and Deutsche Bank have all bumped entry-level investment bankers' pay to . Meanwhile, is raising salaries and bonuses and increasing its contribution to employee 401(k)s  all in the wake of losing candidates to other offers. Accountants are in especially high demand. The report notes that there were 228,661 entry-level accounting jobs posted during the previous year, but fewer than 125,000 accounting degrees were awarded during the same period.

The report notes that the healthcare industry "has hemorrhaged nearly half a million workers in total since the start of the global pandemic," 18 percent of the total healthcare workforce.

There has been an absolute explosion in the number of tech jobs. The past four years have seen a 443 percent increase in DevOps positions, a 417 percent increase in machine learning positions, a 69 percent increase in software engineering positions and a 67 percent increase in data science positions.

Mid-level employees in manufacturing and logistics are among the biggest winners. Those in production (CNC programmers, molders, etc.) and management (production managers, plant managers and logistics managers) roles are seeing significant salary increases.

These findings are from the Randstad USA Salary Guide, an annual report that includes pay rates for a variety of job titles or positions within accounting and finance, engineering, clinical and non-clinical healthcare, human resources, information technology, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics and office and administration. The benchmark data and insights offered in the Randstad USA Salary Guide can be used by companies to measure their compensation against the broader market.

To read the full report and see a summary of its findings, click here .

About Randstad's Salary Guide

Every year, Randstad USA publishes its salary guide to highlight compensation information across many fields and industries in key geographic markets.

Salaries in specific regions may vary based upon local market conditions and position-specific requirements such as experience levels, professional certifications or knowledge of certain software. In addition, the salary data has been drawn from multiple industries and may not accurately portray a company's specific situation.

The salary data is a combination of proprietary Randstad USA information and data provided by Emsi, Burning Glass and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About Randstad

Randstad North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad N.V., a 20.7 billion global provider of flexible work and human resources services. As a trusted human partner in the technology-driven world of talent, we combine the expertise and passion of our employees with some of the most innovative HR technologies on the market today to advance the careers and business success of our candidates and clients.

Randstad's North American operations comprise 5,700 associates and a deployed workforce of more than 86,000 in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to staffing and recruitment, Randstad offers outsourcing, consulting and workforce management solutions for generalist and specialist disciplines, including technology, engineering, accounting and finance, clinical and non-clinical healthcare, human resources, legal, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, office and administration and sales and marketing. Global concepts available to North American client companies include RPO, MSP, integrated talent solutions, payrolling and independent contractor management and career transition services. Learn more at www.randstadusa.com or www.randstad.ca .

SOURCE Randstad US
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SeMI Technologies, developer of the open-source Weaviate vector-search database, has closed a $16 million Series A financing co-led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Cortical Ventures. This investment follows a previously unannounced $1.6 million seed financing led by Zetta Venture Partners with ING Ventures also participating, in August 2020.

The new infusion of capital acknowledges the value of SeMI Technologies' leading position in vector databases, a new type of database opening up a new era of AI-first database technologies. Previous databases just stored raw data; Weaviate stores data that is processed by machine learning models, allowing users to better index and search through their data. The investment will allow SeMI to grow its team, user community, and roster of partners; increase the number of use cases; and to create and fine-tune its ML models and modules.

SeMI Technologies was originally spun out of ING Labs. The founders, CEO Bob Van Luijt, CTO Etienne Dilocker, and COO Micha Verhagen set out to democratize search capabilities that have, until now, been closely guarded by a handful of huge tech companies. The Weaviate vector search database is open source and SeMI gives customers the option of running it on their infrastructure (allowing them to maintain control of their data, safely behind their own firewalls) or as a managed SaaS offering with one-click access.

"We represent a third wave in database technology," says van Luijt."Oracle's SQL dominance was followed by open-source NoSQL databases pioneered by companies like MongoDB. Weaviate gives any enterprise the advantage of databases built with ML and deep learning at their core. The first use cases have been natural-language ones but we are also exploring images, videos, audio, and even esoteric cases such as graph or gene embeddings."

SeMI Technologies offers products and services around its Weaviate open-source solution. These include managed services, a service license agreement, and support. Weaviate has already been downloaded over 700k times (a number growing about 30% per month!) Hundreds of users have applied Weaviate in more than 100 different use cases in technology, finance, media, cybersecurity, health care, and many other industries.

"We've been closely watching ML and AI advancements and waiting for the right team and product to reinvent how we work with data," said Tony Florence, Managing General Partner, Technology at NEA. "The Weaviate Vector Database enables users to interact with unstructured data as vectors, across text, audio, and images, which unlocks incredibly powerful use cases. We're thrilled to partner with Bob and the SeMi Technologies team to democratize access to new data applications from neural semantic search to vector-based recommender systems and more."

"This investment will allow us to focus on making Weaviate the de facto standard in open-source vector search," says SeMI's van Luijt. "As a bonus, both NEA and Cortical bring valuable knowledge and experience from OSS "deep tech" companies that will catalyze our growth and product development."

"Over the next decade, AI-driven applications will transform every industry and every part of our lives, creating trillions of dollars of market value," said Igor Taber, General Partner at Cortical Ventures. "Weaviate has the potential to be a core database technology powering these applications. We are excited to work with Bob and the entire SeMI team to build the category-defining company."

With pandemic restrictions finally easing, van Luijt and the SeMI team are happy to have more opportunities to meet with and grow the open source community around the Weaviate project. To learn more visit: www.semi.technology

About SeMI Technologies

SeMI Technologies builds core software infrastructure for AI-first applications. The Weaviate vector-search engine is their open-source flagship. SeMI was founded in 2019 by Bob van Luijt, Micha Verhagen, and Etienne Dilocker. It is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. www.semi.technology  www.weaviate.io

About NEA

New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. With nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm's founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company's lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm's track record of investing includes more than 260 portfolio company IPOs and more than 430 mergers and acquisitions. www.nea.com

About Cortical Ventures

Cortical Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs building the next generation AI Companies. The firm was started by DataRobot founder Jeremy Achin and Igor Taber, who previously led Corporate Development at DataRobot and was an early investor in the company while he was at Intel Capital. Cortical Ventures was started to invent, incubate and invest in the companies leading the AI revolution. The firm is backed by leading VC firms and partners, AI luminaries and top founders and operators in the industry. www.cortical.vc

SOURCE SeMi Technologies
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - South Star Battery Metals Corp. ("South Star" or the "Company") (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBF), is pleased to announce that it has hired key team members for Phase 1 construction and subsequent operations of the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine in Brazil. The Company has appointed Mr. Julio Jose Da Silva as the General Mine Manager, Ms. Marcia Cota as controller and finance manager, Mr. Antonio de Assis as the Sales and Marketing Director, Mr. Marcelo Castro as the Construction Project Manager and Mr. Luciano Lazaro as supply chain/procurement manager.

Mr. Julio Jose Da Silva (General Mine Manager) : Mr. Da Silva is a mechanical engineer and project manager with over 22 years of experience in mining and mineral resource sector in Brazil . His expertise includes operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, open-pit mining, metallurgy, placing plants on care and maintenance, mine start-up, QA/QC, inventory controls, security, logistics and the general operations of mine management. He has held various senior management positions at Mineracao Morro Verde, Luna/Trek/Equinox Gold, Yamana, and Aura Minerals. He has degrees in mechanical engineering and project management and is a native Portuguese speaker with intermediate English.

: Mr. Da Silva is a mechanical engineer and project manager with over 22 years of experience in mining and mineral resource sector in . His expertise includes operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, open-pit mining, metallurgy, placing plants on care and maintenance, mine start-up, QA/QC, inventory controls, security, logistics and the general operations of mine management. He has held various senior management positions at Mineracao Morro Verde, Luna/Trek/Equinox Gold, Yamana, and Aura Minerals. He has degrees in mechanical engineering and project management and is a native Portuguese speaker with intermediate English. Ms. Marcia Cota (Controller and Finance Manager): Ms. Cota is a finance professional with more than 20 years of experience in controls, treasury, finance, data analysis, ERP implementation, tax, audits, cashflow management, logistics, budgeting and forecasting. She has held several senior management positions in Brazil and overseas with Net Brasil, W Torre S/A, Genea Angola, Locar Guindastes e Transportes S/A, and Mineracao Morro Verde. She has degrees in Business Administration, MBA and specialization in Advanced Finance Analysis. She is a native speaker in Portuguese and fluent in English.

Ms. Cota is a finance professional with more than 20 years of experience in controls, treasury, finance, data analysis, ERP implementation, tax, audits, cashflow management, logistics, budgeting and forecasting. She has held several senior management positions in and overseas with Net Brasil, W Torre S/A, Genea Angola, Locar Guindastes e Transportes S/A, and Mineracao Morro Verde. She has degrees in Business Administration, MBA and specialization in Advanced Finance Analysis. She is a native speaker in Portuguese and fluent in English. Mr. Antonio de Assis (Sales and Marketing Director): Mr. Assis has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience with much of that time spent in the natural flake and synthetic graphite markets. He has a long successful career and held various senior sales, marketing and business development positions with Syrah Resources, Nacional de Grafite, Technografit GmbH and Grupo Unimetal. Throughout his career he has worked on overseeing sales teams, creating marketing plans to increase exposure and sales, and developing extensive commercial relationships in the industrial and value-add graphite markets in more than 50 countries around the world. His expertise includes prospecting, B2B & B2D sales, marketing, customer relations, technical performance, customer support, contracts and negotiations. He has degrees in Business Administration as well as Marketing and Sales and is fluent in Portuguese, English & Spanish.

Mr. Assis has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience with much of that time spent in the natural flake and synthetic graphite markets. He has a long successful career and held various senior sales, marketing and business development positions with Syrah Resources, Nacional de Grafite, Technografit GmbH and Grupo Unimetal. Throughout his career he has worked on overseeing sales teams, creating marketing plans to increase exposure and sales, and developing extensive commercial relationships in the industrial and value-add graphite markets in more than 50 countries around the world. His expertise includes prospecting, B2B & B2D sales, marketing, customer relations, technical performance, customer support, contracts and negotiations. He has degrees in Business Administration as well as Marketing and Sales and is fluent in Portuguese, English & Spanish. Mr. Marcelo Castro (Construction Project Manager): Mr. Castro is a mechanical engineering with over 25 years of engineering, design, construction, and project management, with most of that experience being in the mining and mineral resource space in Brazil . Mr. Castro has been involved with large construction projects with CAPEX up to several U$100M, as well as overseeing large teams associated with EPCM projects. He has held various senior project management positions with Lyon Engineering, Beadell, Luna/Trek, and Ausenco. He has degrees in mechanical engineering, business administration for engineers, and workplace safety engineering. He is native Portuguese speaker and fluent in English.

Mr. Castro is a mechanical engineering with over 25 years of engineering, design, construction, and project management, with most of that experience being in the mining and mineral resource space in . Mr. Castro has been involved with large construction projects with CAPEX up to several U$100M, as well as overseeing large teams associated with EPCM projects. He has held various senior project management positions with Lyon Engineering, Beadell, Luna/Trek, and Ausenco. He has degrees in mechanical engineering, business administration for engineers, and workplace safety engineering. He is native Portuguese speaker and fluent in English. Mr. Luciano Lazaro (Supply Chain/Procurement Manager): Mr. Lazaro is an experienced supply chain manager with more than 30 years of experience with supply chain, procurement, logistics, COMEX, contracts and planning and controls. He has held several senior positions with Vale, Ericsson Telecommunications, Brazilian Pipeline Carriers, Anglo Ferrous, Aura Minerals, Ferrous Resources, Luna/Trek/Equinox, and Mineracao Morro Verde. He has degrees in Economic Sciences, Urban and Regional Planning as well as Project Management. He is a native speaker of Portuguese and fluent in English.

"We are excited and fortunate to have these talented key members on board at a critical time for the future success of South Star and the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine as we move from development into production," commented Richard Pearce, President and CEO of South Star. "I have personally known Julio, Marcelo, Marcia and Luciano for many years and had the privilege to work together on the construction and subsequent operations of a couple different projects over the years. Antonio is a fantastic new addition to the team and key to us getting our products introduced into the marketplace. I'd like to personally welcome them all as part of our team that will lead us through construction and into becoming the first new graphite mine put into production in the Americas in more than a decade. 2022 and 2023 will be a transformative time for us. This industry requires great people, and we now have the core nucleus of a talented team in place to be very successful at getting Phase 1 built and into operations. Construction and operations bring a new challenge every day, and I am proud to have very capable people of great character, persistence, and experience on the team. No one does anything big by themselves."

ABOUT SOUTH STAR BATTERY METALS CORP

South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star's Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial and battery metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (>30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is carrying its development plan towards Phase 1 production projected in Q1 2023, pending financing.

South Star's next project in the pipeline is a development project in Alabama located in the middle of a developing electric vehicle, aerospace and defence hub in the southeastern United States. The Project is a historic mine active during World Wars I & II. Trenching, sampling, analysis and preliminary metallurgic testing has been completed. The testing indicated a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit achieved grades of approximately 96-97% with approximately 86% recoveries. and South Star is executing on it's plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery metals company with near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF.

South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com .

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals.

On behalf of the Board,

Mr. Richard Pearce

Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

South Star Investor Relations (Canada IR)

Email: [email protected]

RBMG  RB Milestone Group LLC (IR US)

Trevor Brucato, Managing Director

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/southstarbm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/

YouTube: South Star Battery Metals - YouTube

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

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 press release.

This news release and the Updated Technical Report contain references to inferred resources. The Report is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements".

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

SOURCE South Star Battery Metals Corp.
BEIJING, Feb. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TAL Education Group (NYSE: TAL) ("TAL" or the "Company"), a smart learning solutions provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 ended November 30, 2021.

Highlights for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022

Net revenues decreased by 8.8% year-over-year to US$1,020.9 million from US$1,119.1 million in the same period of the prior year.

from in the same period of the prior year. Loss from operations was US$108.4 million , compared to loss from operations of US$127.4 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to loss from operations of in the same period of the prior year. Non-GAAP loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$67.6 million , compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of US$73.4 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of in the same period of the prior year. Net loss attributable to TAL was US$99.4 million , compared to net loss attributable to TAL of US$43.6 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to net loss attributable to TAL of in the same period of the prior year. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$58.6 million , compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of US$10.4 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of in the same period of the prior year. Basic and diluted net loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were both US$0.15 . Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were both US$0.09 . Three ADSs represent one Class A common share.

. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were both . Three ADSs represent one Class A common share. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled US$2,837.2 million as of November 30, 2021 , compared to US$5,937.5 million as of February 28, 2021 .

Highlights for the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2021

Net revenues increased by 22.9% year-over-year to US$3,849.8 million from US$3,133.1 million in the same period of the prior year.

from in the same period of the prior year. Loss from operations was US$615.2 million , compared to loss from operations of US$141.0 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to loss from operations of in the same period of the prior year. Non-GAAP loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$440.5 million , compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of US$16.4 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of in the same period of the prior year. Net loss attributable to TAL was US$1,028.0 million , compared to net income attributable to TAL of US$53.0 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to net income attributable to TAL of in the same period of the prior year. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$853.3 million , compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of US$177.6 million in the same period of the prior year.

, compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of in the same period of the prior year. Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were both US$1.60 . Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS, excluding share-based compensation expenses, were both US$1.33 .

Financial DataThird Quarter and First Nine Months of Fiscal Year 2022

(In US$ thousands, except per ADS data and percentages)



Three Months Ended

November 30,

2020 2021 Pct. Change Net revenues 1,119,135 1,020,932 (8.8%) Loss from operations (127,389) (108,429) (14.9%) Non-GAAP loss from operations (73,354) (67,611) (7.8%) Net loss attributable to TAL (43,608) (99,368) 127.9% Non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to TAL 10,427 (58,550) (661.5%) Net loss per ADS attributable to TAL  basic (0.07) (0.15) 114.5% Net loss per ADS attributable to TAL  diluted (0.07) (0.15) 114.5% Non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  basic 0.02 (0.09) (628.5%) Non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  diluted 0.02 (0.09) (647.5%)











Nine Months Ended

November 30,

2020 2021 Pct. Change Net revenues 3,133,066 3,849,755 22.9% Loss from operations (141,014) (615,160) 336.2% Non-GAAP loss from operations (16,407) (440,463) 2,584.6% Net income/(loss) attributable to TAL 53,012 (1,027,992) (2,039.2%) Non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to TAL 177,619 (853,295) (580.4%) Net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  basic 0.09 (1.60) (1,914.2%) Net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  diluted 0.08 (1.60) (1,985.8%) Non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  basic 0.29 (1.33) (549.4%) Non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS attributable to TAL  diluted 0.28 (1.33) (567.2%)









Financial Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022

Net Revenues

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, TAL reported net revenues of US$1,020.9 million, representing an 8.8% decrease from US$1,119.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Operating Costs and Expenses

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, operating costs and expenses were US$1,139.3 million, representing a 9.3% decrease from US$1,255.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were US$1,098.5 million, representing an 8.6% decrease from US$1,201.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Cost of revenues increase by 0.8% to US$519.5 million from US$516.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP cost of revenues, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, increase by 0.8% to US$519.2 million, from US$515.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 35.0% to US$273.6 million from US$420.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, decreased by 36.4% to US$258.6 million, from US$406.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

General and administrative expenses increased by 5.7% to US$300.0 million from US$283.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, increased by 12.2% to US$274.4 million, from US$244.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Total share-based compensation expenses allocated to the related operating costs and expenses decreased by 24.5% to US$40.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 from US$54.0 million in the same period of fiscal year 2021.

Impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill was $46.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$35.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased by 16.9% to US$501.4 million from US$603.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations was US$108.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to loss from operations of US$127.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP loss from operations was US$67.6 million, compared to Non-GAAP loss from operations of US$73.4 million in the same period of the prior year.

Other Income

Other income was US$9.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to other income of US$45.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Impairment Loss on Long-term Investments

Impairment loss on long-term investments was nil for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$11.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Income Tax Benefit/(expense)

Income tax expense was US$25.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$13.9 million of income tax benefit in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Net Loss/(income) Attributable to TAL Education Group

Net loss attributable to TAL was US$99.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to net loss attributable to TAL of US$43.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$58.6 million, compared to Non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of US$10.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were both US$0.15 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were both US$0.09, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments

As of November 30, 2021, the Company had US$1,347.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and US$1,489.3 million of short-term investments, compared to US$3,243.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and US$2,694.5 million of short-term investments as of February 28, 2021.

Financial Results for the First Nine Months of Fiscal Year 2022

Net Revenues

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, TAL reported net revenues of US$3,849.8 million, representing a 22.9% increase from US$3,133.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Operating Costs and Expenses

In the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, operating costs and expenses were US$4,480.0 million, a 36.1% increase from US$3,291.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were US$4,305.3 million, a 35.9% increase from US$3,166.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Cost of revenues increased by 36.7% to US$2,005.3 million from US$1,467.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP cost of revenues, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, increased by 36.7% to US$2,004.3 million from US$1,466.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 0.5% to US$1,014.7 million from US$1,019.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, decreased by 3.7% to US$951.2 million from US$988.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

General and administrative expenses increased by 28.5% to US$987.6 million from US$768.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, increased by 29.6% to US$877.3 million from US$676.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Total share-based compensation expenses allocated to the related operating costs and expenses increased by 40.2% to US$174.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022 from US$124.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2021.

Impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill was US$472.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$36.0 million for the same period of fiscal year 2021.

Gross Profit

Gross profit grew by 10.7% to US$1,844.5 million from US$1,666.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations was US$615.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to loss from operations of US$141.0 million in the same period of the prior year. Non-GAAP loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$440.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to non-GAAP loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$16.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Other Income

Other income was US$17.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to other income of US$132.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Impairment Loss on Long-term Investments

Impairment loss on long-term investments was US$178.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$18.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was US$367.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to US$10.6 million of income tax expense in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Net Loss/(income) Attributable to TAL Education Group

Net loss attributable to TAL was US$1,028.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to net income attributable to TAL of US$53.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$853.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to Non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was US$177.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per ADS

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS were both US$1.60, in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022. Non-GAAP basic and Non-GAAP diluted net loss per ADS, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were both US$1.33, in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022.

Recent Development

On November 12, 2021, the Company issued a press release to announce that in response to the regulatory developments relating to after-school tutoring services, including the Opinions on Further Alleviating the Burden of Homework and After-School Tutoring for Students in Compulsory Education, published in July 2021 by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council (the "Opinion") and the related implementation rules, regulations and measures promulgated by competent authorities, the Company decided to cease offering academic subjects to students from kindergarten through grade nine ("K9 Academic AST Services") in the mainland of China by the end of December 2021.

The Company has completed the cessation by the due date and expects that the cessation will have a substantial adverse impact on the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022 and subsequent periods. In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021, the revenues from offering K9 Academic AST Services accounted for a substantial majority of the Company's total revenues in the year. Therefore, the Company believes that the financial results for the fiscal periods ended November 30, 2021 would not be indicative for its performance going forward.

By leveraging its leading-edge education technology, high quality content and extensive experience, the Company will continue to operate and develop the portion of its business other than K9 Academic AST Services, and will also explore other opportunities to provide learning solutions in accordance with relevant rules and regulations.

The Company will continue to seek guidance from and cooperate with government authorities in various provinces and municipalities in China in connection with its efforts to comply with the policy directives in the Opinion and any related implementation rules, regulations and measures. The Company will further adjust its business operations as required, and provide updates to its shareholders as appropriate.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, TAL Education Group's strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's ability to continue to provide competitive learning services and products; the Company's ability to continue to recruit, train and retain talents; the Company's ability to improve the content of current course offerings and develop new courses; the Company's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; the Company's ability to maintain and continue to improve its teaching results; and the Company's ability to compete effectively against its competitors. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's reports filed with, or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and TAL Education Group undertakes no duty to update such information or any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About TAL Education Group

TAL Education Group is a smart learning solutions provider in China. The acronym "TAL" stands for "Tomorrow Advancing Life", which reflects our vision to promote top learning opportunities for students through both high-quality teaching and content, as well as leading edge application of technology in the education experience. TAL Education Group offers comprehensive learning services to students from pre-school to the twelfth grade primarily through three flexible class formats: small classes, personalized premium services, and online courses. Our learning services mainly cover enrichment learnings programs and some academic subjects in and out of China. Our ADSs trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TAL".

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating its business, TAL considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, non-GAAP cost of revenues, non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL, non-GAAP basic and non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release.

TAL believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. TAL believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to TAL's historical performance and liquidity. TAL computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. TAL believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charges that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the Company's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

TAL EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands of U.S. dollars)



As of February 28,

2021

As of November 30,

2021 ASSETS













Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,242,953

$ 1,347,934 Restricted cash-current 1,758,937

1,110,112 Short-term investments 2,694,555

1,489,245 Inventory 38,675

22,239 Amounts due from related parties-current 2,964

2,093 Income tax receivables 15,641

20,926 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 403,110

178,349 Total current assets 8,156,835

4,170,898 Restricted cash-non-current 16,094

377,898 Property and equipment, net 511,415

358,914 Deferred tax assets 317,189

8,524 Rental deposits 102,555

94,234 Intangible assets, net 66,041

16,776 Land use right, net 216,702

216,942 Goodwill 454,413

18,836 Amounts due from related parties- non-current -

63 Long-term investments 667,636

557,974 Long-term prepayments and other non-current assets 57,694

19,943 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,545,735

828,980 Total assets $ 12,112,309

$ 6,669,982







LIABILITIES AND EQUITY













Current liabilities





Accounts payable $ 353,778

$ 150,867 Deferred revenue-current 1,387,493

538,979 Amounts due to related parties-current 3,488

312 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 911,283

928,463 Income tax payable 65,138

33,297 Current portion of long-term debt 270,000

- Operating lease liabilities, current portion 382,671

247,344 Total current liabilities 3,373,851

1,899,262 Deferred revenue-non-current 30,005

20 Deferred tax liabilities 10,333

17,898 Bond payable 2,300,000

- Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion 1,193,564

634,295 Total liabilities 6,907,753

2,551,475 Mezzanine equity





Redeemable non-controlling interests 1,775

- Equity





Class A common shares 148

166 Class B common shares 67

49 Additional paid-in capital 4,369,125

4,358,131 Statutory reserve 121,285

111,151 Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) 624,883

(392,975) Accumulated other comprehensive income 86,321

68,888 Total TAL Education Group's equity 5,201,829

4,145,410 Noncontrolling interest 952

(26,903) Total equity 5,202,781

4,118,507 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity $ 12,112,309

$ 6,669,982











TAL EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data)



For the Three Months Ended

November 30,

For the Nine Months Ended

November 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021 Net revenues $ 1,119,135

$ 1,020,932

$ 3,133,066

$ 3,849,755 Cost of revenues (note 1) 515,560

519,483

1,467,112

2,005,252 Gross profit 603,575

501,449

1,665,954

1,844,503 Operating expenses (note 1)













Selling and marketing 420,747

273,629

1,019,598

1,014,666 General and administrative 283,827

299,963

768,719

987,595 Impairment loss on intangible

assets and goodwill 35,727

46,247

36,031

472,437 Total operating expenses 740,301

619,839

1,824,348

2,474,698 Government subsidies 9,337

9,961

17,380

15,035 Loss from operations (127,389)

(108,429)

(141,014)

(615,160) Interest income 28,879

12,747

79,065

84,644 Interest expense (2,714)

(1,821)

(9,378)

(7,871) Other income 45,507

9,520

132,948

17,611 Impairment loss on long-term

investments (11,472)

-

(18,357)

(178,063) (Loss)/income before provision

for income tax and income

from equity method investments (67,189)

(87,983)

43,264

(698,839) Income tax benefit/(expense) 13,887

(25,562)

(10,556)

(367,120) Income from equity method

investments 411

6,423

6,352

10,471 Net (loss)/income (52,891)

(107,122)

39,060

(1,055,488) Add: Net loss attributable to

noncontrolling interest 9,283

7,754

13,952

27,496 Total net (loss)/income

attributable to TAL

Education Group $ (43,608)

$ (99,368)

$ 53,012

$ (1,027,992) Net (loss)/income

per common share













Basic $ (0.22)

$ (0.46)

$ 0.26

$ (4.79) Diluted (0.22)

(0.46)

0.25

(4.79) Net (loss)/income per ADS (note 2)













Basic $ (0.07)

$ (0.15)

$ 0.09

$ (1.60) Diluted (0.07)

(0.15)

0.08

(1.60) Weighted average shares used in

calculating net (loss)/income

per common share













Basic 202,039,751

214,672,624

200,786,811

214,619,651 Diluted 202,039,751

214,672,624

208,710,216

214,619,651

Note1: Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating costs and expenses as follows:



For the Three Months

For the Nine Months

Ended November 30, Ended November 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021

Cost of revenues $ 404

$ 262

$ 1,158

$ 996

Selling and marketing expenses 14,322

15,008

31,644

63,440

General and administrative expenses 39,309

25,548

91,805

110,261

Total $ 54,035

$ 40,818

$ 124,607

$ 174,697























Note 2: Three ADSs represent one Class A common Share.

TAL EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) (In thousands of U.S. dollars)



For the Three Months Ended November 30,

For the Nine Months Ended November 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021















Net (loss)/income $ (52,891)

$ (107,122)

$ 39,060

$ (1,055,488) Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax 54,944

6,053

87,834

(17,796) Comprehensive income/(loss) 2,053

(101,069)

126,894

(1,073,284) Add: Comprehensive loss

attributable to noncontrolling

interest 8,581

8,106

12,872

27,855 Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to TAL Education Group $ 10,634

$ (92,963)

$ 139,766

$ (1,045,429)

TAL EDUCATION GROUP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data)



For the Three Months Ended November 30,

For the Nine Months

Ended November 30,

2020

2021

2020

2021















Cost of revenues $ 515,560

$ 519,483

$ 1,467,112

$ 2,005,252 Share-based compensation expense in cost of revenues 404

262

1,158

996 Non-GAAP cost of revenues 515,156

519,221

1,465,954

2,004,256















Selling and marketing expenses 420,747

273,629

1,019,598

1,014,666 Share-based compensation expense

in selling and marketing expenses 14,322

15,008

31,644

63,440 Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses 406,425

258,621

987,954

951,226 General and administrative expenses 283,827

299,963

768,719

987,595 Share-based compensation expense

in general and administrative

expenses 39,309

25,548

91,805

110,261 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 244,518

274,415

676,914

877,334















Operating costs and expenses 1,255,861

1,139,322

3,291,460

4,479,950 Share-based compensation expense in operating

costs and expenses 54,035

40,818

124,607

174,697 Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses 1,201,826

1,098,504

3,166,853

4,305,253















Loss from operations (127,389)

(108,429)

(141,014)

(615,160) Share based compensation expenses 54,035

40,818

124,607

174,697 Non-GAAP loss from operations (73,354)

(67,611)

(16,407)

(440,463)















Net (loss)/income attributable

to TAL Education Group (43,608)

(99,368)

53,012

(1,027,992) Share based compensation expenses 54,035

40,818

124,607

174,697 Non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable

to TAL Education Group $ 10,427

$ (58,550)

$ 177,619

$ (853,295) Net (loss)/income per ADS

Basic $ (0.07)

$ (0.15)

$ 0.09

$ (1.60) Diluted (0.07)

(0.15)

0.08

(1.60) Non-GAAP Net income/(loss) per ADS













Basic $ 0.02

$ (0.09)

$ 0.29

$ (1.33) Diluted 0.02

(0.09)

0.28

(1.33) ADSs used in calculating net (loss)/income per ADS













Basic 606,119,253

644,017,872

602,360,433

643,858,953 Diluted 606,119,253

644,017,872

626,130,648

643,858,953 ADSs used in calculating Non-GAAP income/(loss) per ADS













Basic 606,119,253

644,017,872

602,360,433

643,858,953 Diluted 627,950,637

644,017,872

626,130,648

643,858,953

SOURCE TAL Education Group
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 earlystage 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/

SOURCE TargED Biopharmaceuticals
Teneral Cellars strives to close the gender gap and advance the careers of womenespecially women of color, who are significantly under-represented in the wine industry. Only ten percent of winemakers are women, and a scant 0.1% of all winemakers are Black. In the wine industry at large, female sommeliers make only 70 cents for every dollar that their male counterparts earn. Women make 67% of all wine purchases, and the industry doesn't reflect its largest customer. These disparities inspired the Disrupt Now collection and partnership with the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation which will manage the scholarship fund for women pursuing wine industry careers and education.

"Women are more motivated than ever to fight for gender equality, but if we don't do something disruptively different, according to the World Economic Forum, it will take 208 years for women to achieve full equality in the US. We wanted to bring attention to this startling statistic and use wine as a conduit for change, opening up the necessary conversations to take action and cut this number down significantly." says Jill Osur, founder and CEO of Teneral Cellars.

Teneral Cellars creates exceptional wines and uses them as a conduit of change to elevate women in the food and wine industry. They've partnered with award winning chef, author, and restaurateur Tanya Holland to create recipe pairings for the collection. Master Sommelier Jill Zimorski will lead a virtual tasting of the 3-bottle collection, and the tasting notes were provided by Emily Wines, board-certified Master Sommelier and President of the Court of Master Sommeliers.

The Disrupt Now Collection is now available on teneralcellars.com.

About Teneral Cellars

Teneral Cellars is a women-owned and operated producer of sustainable, phenomenal wines. The company donates 10% of profits to organizations that empower women and promote gender and racial equity.

Teneral Cellars Contact:

Molly Greene

[email protected]

SOURCE Teneral Cellars
MISGAV, Israel and SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trendlines Group Ltd. (SGX: 42T) (OTCQX: TRNLY) (the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, "Trendlines" or the "Group"), the Israel- and Singapore-based investment company focused on building value through innovation-based medtech and agrifood technology investing, announced its results for the full year ended 31 December 2021 ("FY 2021") today.

FY 2021 Group Financial Highlights:

As at 31 December 2021 unless otherwise noted

Total cash, short & long-term deposits, and receivables increased 34.5% to US$27.2 million as at 31 December 2021 , from US$20.3 million as at 31 December 2020

as at , from as at Fair Value of Portfolio: US$83.0 million (31.12.2020: US$83.7 million )

(31.12.2020: ) Gain in Fair Value of Investments in Portfolio Companies: US$9.2 million (31.12.2020: Loss from change in Fair value US$11.0 million )

(31.12.2020: Loss from change in Fair value ) Net Income after Tax: US$6.0 million (31.12.2020: Net loss US$4.0 million )

(31.12.2020: Net loss ) Book value: US$102.7 million as at 31.12.2021 (31.12.2020: US$96.3 million )

as at (31.12.2020: ) NAV per share: US$0.13 ; S$ 0.17 or US$6.50 per ADR ( 31.12.2020 US$0.12 ; S$ 0.16 US$6.00 per ADR )

( ) Record portfolio company exit for 100% OrthoSpin Ltd. holdings. Total sale: US$79.5 million cash. Trendlines' net proceeds: US$15.8 million

cash. Trendlines' net proceeds: Six portfolio companies each raised more than US$4.0 million in 2021, compared to only two that raised more than that amount in 2020

Management Commentary

Mr. Steve Rhodes, Chair and CEO remarked, "We are very proud of our achievements over the past year as we reported substantial improvement in our financial position. Our portfolio companies are maturing with higher funding and more strategic investments and partnerships. We continue to support our portfolio companies and help them navigate capital markets and business development activities. We remain positive about our portfolio and its growth."

Chair and CEO Todd Dollinger added, "Fiscal Year 2021 was a remarkable year for us as we recorded our largest exit so far. The sale of OrthoSpin to a division of Johnson & Johnson demonstrates that our portfolio companies are delivering innovative technologies to the marketplace. This exit strengthens Trendlines financially, while building upon our credibility and deep relationships in the industry. We are experiencing great traction for our portfolio companies and targeting larger exits going forward. Our Agrifood Fund is developing as planned by making four new investments this year, while our Innovation Labs also entered into meaningful strategic collaborations and partnerships. We remain committed to developing medtech and agrifood technologies through continued investments in our portfolio companies and hope to provide even better returns for our shareholders in the future."

Review of FY 2021 Results

The fair value of our portfolio company holdings was US$83.0 million as at 31 December 2021, compared to the fair value of US$83.7 million as at 31 December 2020. Effectively, fair value increased but, with the exit from OrthoSpin, (valued at US$2.7 million as at 31 December 2020 and US$6.6 million at 30 June 2021) the company's value was removed from the overall portfolio value. Trendlines holds interests in 57 portfolio companies (including 13 consolidated Singapore-based companies and Trendlines Agrifood Fund companies; Trendlines is the Fund's managing partner).

Comparing 2021 to 2020, the Group recorded a gain in fair value of investments in portfolio companies amounting to a US$9.2 million gain in FY 2021, compared to a loss from change in fair value of investments of US$11.0 million in FY 2020. FY 2021 recorded an increase of US$13.3 million due to the OrthoSpin Ltd. sale. In addition, there was an increase of US$15.6 million in the fair value of various portfolio companies, based on factors such as the favourable terms on which each portfolio company completed its fund-raising exercises and portfolio companies' commercial or technological progress. Offsetting these gains were write-offs of portfolio companies due to lack of funding or ones that raised capital at a lower valuation than the prior funding. One additional offset was due to a decrease in the fair value of Stimatix GI, due to revenues being less than prior projections.

Current assets increased by US$8.8 million to US$22.2 million as at 31 December 2021, compared to US$13.5 million as at 31 December 2020. Net assets of the Group as at 31 December 2021 were US$102.5 million, compared to US$96.3 million as at 31 December 2020 and US$62.7 million as at 30 June 2015 at the Company's listing. This was due to the significant improvement in our cash position to US$14.3 million in FY 2021, as compared to US$10.7 million in FY 2020.

Cash position increased during 2021 with the OrthoSpin exit proceeds, however, the threshold required to exercise the dividend policy was not reached to declare a distribution for 2022.

Corporate/Business Developments in FY 2021:

Portfolio company OrthoSpin was acquired by DePuy Synthes (the orthopedic company of Johnson & Johnson) for US$79.5 million , generating US$15.8 million in proceeds for Trendlines.

, generating in proceeds for Trendlines. Our portfolio companies raised US$77 million in follow-on funds, with six companies raising over US$4 million each; this compares with US$43 million raised in 2020 and two companies each raising more than US$4 million .

in follow-on funds, with six companies raising over each; this compares with raised in 2020 and two companies each raising more than . Vensica Therapeutics signed a strategic partnership agreement with Merz Pharmaceuticals and raised a total of US$19 million , including from Merz, global medtech company Laborie, and Israel Biotech Fund, along with Trendlines.

, including from Merz, global medtech company Laborie, and Israel Biotech Fund, along with Trendlines. Trendlines Innovation Labs entered into partnership agreements with Rochling Medical ( Germany ) and Waston Medical ( China ).

) and Waston Medical ( ). Across our investment platforms, we invested in seven new companies.

Key Developments Subsequent to Year-end

The Group announced entry into subscription agreements with current and new investors to raise an aggregate S$20.27 million ( ~US$15.0 million ).

( ). ZygoFix Ltd. was selected to receive 5.4 million in funding from the prestigious EU EIC program.

SetBone Medical announced a US$1.6 million financing round that Trendlines participated in for its novel bone cement for the treatment of spinal vertebrae fractures and other orthopedic procedures.

For full financial information, please see our announcement to the SGX: Unaudited Financial Statement for the Full Year Ended 31 December 2021.

Conference call details

Trendlines will be holding a FY2021 Results Update to discuss the 2021 financial results and ongoing business developments with shareholders and analysts on Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Israel time); 4:00 p.m. (Singapore time). Register with this link to participate. Interested investors are encouraged to submit their questions to [email protected]. The call will be recorded and available for replay at https://www.trendlines.com/investors/investor-relations/.

About The Trendlines Group Ltd.

Trendlines is an investment company that invents, discovers, invests in, and incubates innovation-based medtech and agrifood technologies to fulfill its mission to improve the human condition. As intensely hands-on investors, Trendlines is involved in all aspects of its portfolio companies from technology development to business building. Trendlines' shares are traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX: 42T) and in the United States as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) on the OTCQX International (OTCQX: TRNLY).

Forward Looking Statement

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact Information

Israel:

Shira Zimmerman, The Trendlines Group

[email protected]

Tel: +972.72.260.7000

Singapore:

Jass Lim, Financial PR

[email protected]

Shivam Saraf, Financial PR

[email protected]

Tel: +65.6438.2990

US:

Adam P. Lowensteiner

Lytham Partners, LLC - New York

Tel: +1.646.829.9702

[email protected]

SOURCE The Trendlines Group Ltd.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UMortgage , a fast-growing national mortgage company, will be hosting its inaugural Financial Literacy Week program from Monday, March 28  Sunday, April 3. The week-long program is a major initiative of the nationwide mortgage lender, which has prioritized financial literacy as a key pillar of the service it provides borrowers nationwide.

The program kicks off Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized campaign that takes place each April to bring awareness to the need for more financial education in schools and for adults.

"Most educational systems in America from elementary school through college are putting people at a disadvantage by not making any sort of dedicated financial education courses a requisite part of their curriculum," said Anthony Casa, Chief Executive Officer of UMortgage. "Whether it's learning about homeownership or retirement, most people don't have access to this curriculum until the time has either come or it's passed - for us, that's a big deal. Our goal at UMortgage is to help fill in those gaps and power a greater sense of financial literacy amongst consumers throughout the country, especially people in underserved markets."

As part of its Financial Literacy Week program, UMortgage will host four sessions per day, covering a broad range of topics that include investing, designing a career with money in mind, student loans, and several others. The program was built to include, and extend beyond, homebuying and mortgage-related topics to provide an immersive and well-rounded education.

Training in each topic area will be provided by members of the UMortgage Learning & Development team, as well as subject matter experts from relevant industries, including GradFin , a student loan provider. Courses will be online and accessible to people of all ages and in every state.

UMortgage's consistent dedication to powering financial literacy for the borrowers it serves is evident in its mortgage industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) - a measure of customer satisfaction calculated based on the likelihood of respondents to refer friends and family to a company, product or service. The company currently holds a 93 NPS rating on a spectrum from -100 to 100.

For more information on the courses that will be offered, and to register online, visit umortgage.com/financial-literacy-week.

About UMortgage

UMortgage is a purpose-driven mortgage company committed to serving their Loan Originators and community at large. Each Loan Originator offers consumers the personalized touch of working with a Broker in their backyard while maintaining the support and resources of a nationally licensed company. Licensed nationwide, they are trailblazing a path in the mortgage industry that is streamlined, modernized, and values-driven. For more information, visit umortgage.com or email [email protected].

Media Contact:

Corie Meredith

[email protected]

SOURCE UMortgage
"It is a great honor and I am humbled to be selected to serve as the next president of one of the great Catholic Universities in our nation at this time in its institutional history, building from the tremendous success and momentum of President Garibaldi's long tenure at Detroit Mercy,"

Taylor said.

Since 2014, Taylor has served as president of Cabrini University, a private Roman Catholic University in Radnor Township, Penn., near Philadelphia. During Taylor's tenure as president, Cabrini ranked among the top 40 Most Transformative Colleges in the nation by Money Magazine. In 2019, the University was also ranked as one of the Best Northern Universities by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges Edition."

Prior to his appointment as president at Cabrini, Taylor was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill, near Chicago, from 2008-14. During his time at Benedictine, he also served as the inaugural dean of the College of Science, as well as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, and program director for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program. He joined the Benedictine faculty in 1992, and in 1997 earned recognition as the Scholl Endowed Chair in the Health Sciences. Additionally, he has received research fellowship support during his career from the Van Vleet Cancer Foundation. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Memphis.

Taylor joins Detroit Mercy at an exceptional time in the University's history. In 2022, the University was again ranked among the top 200 national universities by U.S. News & World Report for a third year in a row, earning a No. 187 rank in the National Universities category of the publication's "Best Colleges" 2022 edition.

Taylor was selected following a national search conducted by the Detroit Mercy Presidential Search Committee in partnership with Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm.

For more about University of Detroit Mercy, visit www.udmercy.edu.

SOURCE University of Detroit Mercy
DUBLIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ireland will remove the rules of mandatory mask wearing in indoor public facilities and on public transport starting from Feb. 28, said the Irish government on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the specific protective measures currently in place in primary and secondary schools as well as in early learning and school-aged childcare facilities will also be removed, said the government in a statement.

The specific measures aimed at protecting local primary, secondary and pre-school children include pods, social distancing and staggering breaks, it added.

Pods refer to the practice that students must be grouped in a limited number while participating in an activity.

The statement also said that from the end of this month on, people who show symptoms of COVID-19 will no long need to take a test except pregnant women, elders and people who have a high-risk medical condition or are immunocompromised.

But they must self-isolate themselves until 48 hours after the symptoms resolve, it said, adding that people who are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case will also no longer need to have a test except healthcare workers who are identified as a household close contact.

Following the implementation of these newly announced rules, nearly all the COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland will be removed.

The Irish Department of Health said on Tuesday that an additional 3,294 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the day, a figure not low at all for a country with a mere population of five million despite the fact the figure is only half of the level compared with a month ago.

The Irish government in the statement advised the public to continue to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare settings apparently in fear of a possible rebound of the cases following the scrapping of the rules.

But these are just advices and have no legal binding.

Irish health minister Stephen Donnelly told local media on Tuesday that he believed it is "appropriate" for the government to lift most of the remaining restrictions based on the current trajectory of the pandemic in Ireland as well as the progress of the vaccination program in the country.

Following a drastic removal of the COVID-19 restrictions by the Irish government on Jan. 22, the daily numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units in the country have remained at a much lower level for the most of the time since that date, showed the data.

As of Monday, more than 3.95 million people in Ireland have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and over 2.79 million out of these people have received the booster vaccines, according to the latest official statistics. 
UrbanLink Media intends to open the NFT Mint at 12:00 PM Mountain Standard time Tweet this

Shane Hall of UrbanLink Media explains, "I cannot think of a better way to advocate for children suffering as a result of poverty than through leveraging the cryptocurrency community. This event will also allow us to increase awareness and education surrounding NFT's while giving back at the same time."

The charity event will take place on February 26th, 2022. UrbanLink Media intends to open the NFT Mint at 12:00 PM Mountain Standard time and will be available for bid on OpenSea.io at that time.

For more information on this project, its whitelist, and how you can support this cause, please visit:

Youth Gifts NFT Event

www.urbanlinkmedia.com

About UrbanLink Media:

UrbanLink Media is a digital marketing agency focused on driving consumer behavior through industry-leading campaign design and execution. Through marketing, branding, and strategy, UrbanLink Media supports brands grow their businesses in multiple verticals including e-commerce brands, music, NFT projects, and biotech.

 Howcroft, NFT Sales hit $25 billion in 2021, but growth shows signs of slowing, 2022

 Childfund.org, Child Poverty in America, 2022

 Smith, Economic status may be a warning sign for youth suicide

SOURCE UrbanLink Media
Tensions are at an all-time high. In the USA, student debt hovers at $1.5 trillion [1], 16% of the population's age is 65 and older [2], healthcare spending nears $4.1 trillion a year [3], health and educational scores trend in the wrong direction [4]. At the same time, millions of people cannot find meaningful work, while unprecedented technological advancement and financial wealth have been created.

Ms. Fletcher's life is a testament to human strength, and that life is neither all good nor bad. At 107 years old, Viola exemplifies perseverance, surviving the Tulsa Race Massacre on Black Wall Street, one of the worst racial atrocities in our nation's history, natural disasters, epidemics, and her share of personal challenges. Yet she lives with the continued purpose to help others in need. "It's not easy to move from despair to hope, to release the shackles that bind us to troubled pasts, but it is possible to push through and live fully. Health is Wealth; let's agree upon this, find our strength, and make things better," expressed Viola Ford Fletcher.

This powerful statement frames the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation as the beacon of light to empower all people. "We are leveling the playing field, raising the bar to heights never imagined by improving personal health, access to beneficial education, mentorship, and upwardly mobile workplace opportunities. This will be accomplished with a commitment to sustainability," shared Ike Howard, the Chief Foundation Officer and grandson of Viola Ford Fletcher.

As of January 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide - 59.5 percent of the global population. Of this total, 92.6 percent (4.32 billion) accessed the internet via mobile devices [5]. Advancements have come quickly over the past 25 years, including sustainable energy potentials, global communications and information coverage, and even space tourism. "The Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation is a rallying point for stewards of advancement. They may apply their best-practice capabilities, share knowledge, and deploy wealth, power, and influence to improve, if not solve, real-world challenges," stated Kristin Raffaelle of Demosophy Advisory and Management.

The Foundation's relationship with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes it easy to contribute. To engage in support, those interested may donate through the website or formally engage via a collaborative initiative for which funds can be directly applied.

About The Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation:

The Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation (VFFF) is a newly forming 501(c)(3) non-profit. Its principles, values, and intention stem from the oldest living survivor of one of the worst race massacres in the USA's history. Taking place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, also referred to as Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre. The Foundation partnerships define new levels of trust and operate for the Good of humanity, believing we are stronger together. The VFFF aligns with leaders who serve at the front edge of noble causes. These efforts empower self-sufficiency through health, education, mentorship, and workforce opportunity. Presently, we are harnessing the best talent and ideas to produce tangible results. www.violafordfletcher.org

About Demosophy:

Demosophy is a strategic advisory and management firm chosen by the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation for its formation and sustainable advancement. The firm specializes in global high-performing alliances, applied technology, and growth initiatives. www.demosophy.com

[1} Saving for College. "Total U.S. Student Loan Debt Outstanding." Accessed Feb.1, 2022

[2] U.S. seniors as a percentage of the population 1950-2050, "Statista Research Department." Oct 28, 2021; Accessed Feb.1, 2022

[3] CMS.gov Factsheet; "National Health Expenditure Data." Accessed Feb.1, 2022

[4] National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) "Long-Term Trends in Reading and Mathematics." Accessed Feb.1, 2022

[5] Global digital population as of January 2021 "Worldwide digital population," Published by Joseph Johnson, September 10, 2021, accessed February 4, 2022.

For more information about this release, please contact: Kristin Raffaelle at [email protected] or 01-623-920-2152

Media Contact:

Kristin Raffaelle

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.Demosophy.com

01-623-920-2152

SOURCE Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation
PITTSBURGH, Pa., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnegie Mellon University today announced that alumnus and emeritus faculty member Joseph Ballay and his wife, Sue, have established The Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion in the university's School of Design through a $10 million gift, the single largest ever presented to the College of Fine Arts. The center establishes a formal presence of design expertise and outreach at CMU and also will serve as a central hub for design courses for the CMU campus community, executive education, sponsored projects and collaborations, and design research.

Establishing The Ballay Center is the culmination of his life's work, which has been a study and practice of the arts and sciences.

"There is, I believe, an artistic base in all that we do, which satisfies human needs," Joe Ballay said. "Through the center, we will continue interdisciplinary work using design thinking to solve problems. Carnegie Mellon is the right setting to make this happen."

"We are extremely grateful for Joe's vision and support. By establishing The Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion, he reinforces Carnegie Mellon's culture, in which the creative and the technical live side-by-side, strengthening each other," said Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian. "It has been our longstanding belief that the arts and technology together make us stronger as individuals. Growing out of its roots in the arts, design thinking approaches problem-solving with a transdisciplinary approach that respects the aesthetic forces of human productivity."

Ballay is a 1960 management graduate of Carnegie Mellon, then known as Carnegie Tech. He earned his second bachelor's degree in industrial design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and, in 1970, he earned his master's degree from the College of Fine Art's (CFA) Department of Design. He was named head of that department shortly after joining the faculty and swiftly rebuilt its focus, curriculum and administration, ultimately helping to establish the School of Design within CFA. He returned to teaching and research in 1985 and is an emeritus professor of design.

In 1989, along with two CMU colleagues from psychology and computer science, Ballay founded MAYA Design, Inc., an interdisciplinary design consultancy, applying design theory and practice to complex contemporary problems. In a little more than two decades, MAYA had transformed itself into a technology design lab, spun off four other companies, and had grown to 50 people.

Helping more people to learn about design thinking and the process by which it resolves the world's issues is just one goal for The Ballay Center. Built at the center's core is a blend of education, outreach and partnerships.

"The Ballay Center will be the 'front door' to design at CMU. Joe is a visionary who knows the School of Design inside out, having been one of its formative faculty. He understands exactly what is needed to infuse design thinking throughout all aspects of human endeavor and is showing us how to throw that door wide open," said Mary Ellen Poole, the Stanley and Marcia Gumberg Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

"Through Joe and Sue's incredible support, we will be able to meet the growing demand for design courses across the CMU campus community, increase our capacity for professional executive education, continue to build on our success with corporate and nonprofit partnerships, and enhance the profile of design research," said Bruce Hanington, head of the School of Design. "Having Joe's name on this center is a true honor. We are grateful for the Ballays' generosity and excited to share Joe's vision for outreach to all those who will benefit so greatly from design thinking."

Ballay's interest in design began early, when he was growing up in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, a steel town about 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. His family owned the local hardware store, and Ballay eventually took his turn at working there.

"I eventually realized that when I was waiting on customers, this was the beginning of my design education because I had to deal with the practicalities of putting things together and envisioning the needs and wishes that each person was involved in," he said. "It was solving problems, essentially."

Now, through The Ballay Center, he will help others learn to do the same. "I'm proud that the people who've come after me have continued this course of seeing design as an interdisciplinary thinking style," Ballay said.

Making this happen in Pittsburgh and at Carnegie Mellon, he said, was an obvious choice.

"Pittsburgh is a city that has had to reinvent itself several times and continues to do so," Ballay said. "With all its advances, though, Pittsburgh is still a steel town, and it reminds you that in this world, progress takes effort, it takes hard work.

"That's a lot like Carnegie Mellon, which is very special to me," he continued. "It not only has the components to make this center a reality, but also to make it happen with deep commitment. And by components, I mean a tradition of breaking rules and being willing to take chances. If you fail, you fail. But if you succeed, 'Wow!' Our goal, above all, is making the world better."

For a full biography on Joseph Ballay, visit the School of Design website.

The Ballays' gift is the latest commitment to be announced as part of Make Possible: The Campaign for Carnegie Mellon University. The multiyear effort aims to raise $2 billion in private philanthropy to support CMU's strategic priorities across the university and its seven colleges and schools. To date, more than 55,000 supporters have contributed more than $1.84 billion in support of the university.

SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

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Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 9; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 17513

Companies: 30 - Players covered include ABB Ltd.; AcBel Polytech, Inc.; Allis Electric Co., Ltd.; Cincon Electronics Co., Ltd.; Cosel Co., Ltd.; Critical Power Supplies Ltd; Eaton Corporation PLC; Emerson Network Power; EnSync Energy Systems; Johnson Controls, Inc.; Leadtrend Technology Corporation; P-Duke Technology Co., Ltd.; Robert Bosch GmbH; Secheron SA; Siemens AG; Spang Power Electronics and Others.

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Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



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ABSTRACT-



Global DC Distribution Network Market to Reach US$15.6 Billion by the Year 2026

DC power is emerging to become a standard for electricity distribution infrastructure in several applications, and is likely to take the place of AC. Currently, up to 80% of energy loads in residential and commercial structures are estimated to be natively DC. The presence of DC distribution network in a number of low-to-high voltage applications is among the major drivers of the direct current distribution market. Moreover, factors such as the growing renewable energy sector, compatibility of DC distribution with battery storage devices, and the advantages of DC distribution over AC distribution, including power sharing between power systems with varied frequencies, are expected to drive growth of the market. The DC distribution network is an important aspect for the future of smart grids. As such, the popularity of flexible DC distribution network in the power industry is due to its higher reliability, reduced energy losses, and lower construction and integration costs. The increase in the number of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), is also anticipated to boost market prospects. Further, there are also initiatives focused on improved energy access and telecom towers in the developing regions, by building new DC distribution networks in areas where an incumbent AC infrastructure is not present.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for DC Distribution Network estimated at US$12.1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$15.6 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% over the analysis period. The rising demand for electricity and the growing share of renewable energy in the overall generation mix coupled with rapidly aging infrastructure are driving need to increase investments into power grid infrastructure, which will present potential for growth in the DC distribution network market. However, the market faces some common challenges that include an innovation gap in the service of electricity in the medium voltage level in the range of 240V to 400V that is required for several microgrids as well as building-scale nanogrids; open grid architectures that could enable integration of the growing diversity of resources that are being plugged increasingly into retail power grids; and a lack of standards.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $2.4 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $3.4 Billion by 2026

The DC Distribution Network market in the U.S. is estimated at US$2.4 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 19.8% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$3.4 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 7.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.3% and 4.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.1% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$3.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period. DC distribution systems feature the potential to make power available to greater number of applications and larger areas and meet the increasing need for power in the Asia Pacific region. Other major trends driving Asia Pacific's DC distribution network market include the mismatch between demand location and renewable source, growing demand for DC-dependent infrastructure, and higher distribution efficiency of DC distribution network. More



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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 7; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 372

Companies: 53 - Players covered include Abengoa Bioenergia SA; Neste Corporation; Pacific Ethanol, Inc.; Renewable Energy Group, Inc.; Valero Marketing and Supply Company and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Technology (Industrial Biotechnology, Physico-Chemical, Thermochemical)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Biorefinery Market to Reach US$979.5 Billion by the Year 2026

Biorefineries are facilities engaged in converting biomass feedstock into bio-energy and a spectrum of various bio-based and value-added products like chemicals, feed, food and materials. Biorefineries exhibit the potential to play an important role towards the development of a carbon neutral economy. In the recent years, various companies have move ahead with encouraging developments that are anticipated to shape and drive the domain. While some of the companies are looking forward to set up new biorefineries, others are coming up with innovative technologies intended to exploit biomass for desirable bio-products. In a major development in this direction, Petron Scientech, Inc. and SBI Bioenergy, Inc. have joined hands for licensing of differentiated, sustainable, integrated and energy-efficient technologies for conversion of biomass into clean hydrogen along with production of low-carbon biofuels. Biorefineries engaged in converting biomass feedstock into biofuels and bio-products are likely to receive desirable financial impetus from government agencies. In a recent development in this direction, the US Department of Energy announced plans to come up with a second 'Scale-Up' Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Offered by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), the funding is anticipated to play an important role in expediting the scale-up of biorefineries producing biofuels and bio-products.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Biorefinery estimated at US$647.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$979.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.8% over the analysis period. Industrial Biotechnology, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9% CAGR to reach US$546.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Physico-Chemical segment is readjusted to a revised 10.2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 36.8% share of the global Biorefinery market.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $182.8 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $155.2 Billion by 2026

The Biorefinery market in the U.S. is estimated at US$182.8 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 28.3% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$155.2 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 11.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.6% and 8.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 10.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$137.9 Million by the end of the analysis period. Strict government regulations, particularly in North America and Europe, that discourage the use of synthetic and chemical-based lubricants is expected to act as a demand driver. While the US and Europe are expected to remain the key markets for biolubricants in the near future, developing regions such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America are poised to generate the fastest demand growth for these bio-based products.

Thermochemical Segment to Reach $107.2 Billion by 2026

Thermochemical biorefineries convert biomass feedstock into pyrolysis oil or synthesis gas. The thermochemical conversion process is known for high degree of complexity and uses specific operating conditions, components and configurations. The process concerts biomass into syngas that can be converted into ethanol-rich blend. In the global Thermochemical segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 12.2% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$42.3 Billion will reach a projected size of US$99.4 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$9.7 Billion by the year 2026. More



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Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.



Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

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Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
PHOENIX, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment to its network of Lars Lambrecht, CFP, CLTC, APMA, CDFA, CLU, a private wealth advisor from Ameriprise Financial Services, with $155 million in total client assets.

Mr. Lambrecht, based in Rehoboth, MA, joins Advisor Group through member firm SagePoint Financial, headquartered in Phoenix AZ. Advisor Group's network of firms also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates, Securities America, Triad Advisors and Woodbury Financial Services.

Desiree Sii, President and CEO of SagePoint Financial, said, "I'm excited to welcome Lars to our firm. With more than 30 years of experience, he has been working with clients to guide their financial decisions and build wealth through multiple market cycles over the past three decades. At SagePoint, we are building on our momentum and have seen a strong start to 2022 recruiting. Lars will be able to leverage the resources, scale and expertise of SagePoint and Advisor Group as we help him take his business to the next level as a true independent financial advisor."

"In this competitive landscape, I had many affiliation options," said Mr. Lambrecht, "but I knew the best choice for me, and most importantly, my clients, was to partner with SagePoint and Advisor Group. My mission is to inspire confidence, reduce stress and simplify life for my clients. Quite simply, no other firm has the enhanced technology, broad product shelf, value-added resources and innovative tools to do this. Moreover, their financial structure also allows me to reduce fees for my clients."

Going forward, Mr. Lambrecht is rebranding his business as Island Time Financial Services. His business provides clients with comprehensive financial planning and wealth management, in addition to estate and tax planning. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Mr. Lambrecht also specializes in guiding clients through the complex financial issues surrounding divorce. His business associates, Paige Horn, Client Service Manager, and Lynne Gordon, Client Service Specialist, also joined his practice.

Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President, Advice & Wealth Management, said, "On behalf of the entire Advisor Group network of firms, it's great to welcome an exceptional professional like Lars Lambrecht to our team. His success throughout his long career is a testament to his dedication to doing right by his clients. We are committed to ensuring his ongoing success. Congratulations to Desiree Sii and her team for another great addition to SagePoint."

About SagePoint Financial

SagePoint Financial, Inc. is part of one of the nation's largest independent broker-dealer organizations and a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA and SIPC. SagePoint is supported by Advisor Group, one of the largest truly independent broker-dealer networks in the industry. The firm has approximately 1,400 advisors across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sagepointfinancial.com.

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $450 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Donald Cutler

Haven Tower Group

[email protected] or [email protected]

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4864

SOURCE Advisor Group
Seven New Routes launching from three Canadian hubs

Restoration of 41 North American routes, return to 11 North American cities

Air Canada offers the most seats, frequencies of any Canadian carrier with 90% of its pre-pandemic North American capacity this summer

Air Canada's leadership and unique extensive network will stimulate the recovery of the travel and tourism industry

MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Air Canada today announced an expansion of its North American network for Summer 2022 as the carrier's recovery from COVID accelerates. With the launch of new service on four transborder and three domestic routes, as well as the restoration of 41 North American routes, Air Canada will operate to 51 Canadian and 46 U.S airports this summer and offer customers the largest network and most travel options of any Canadian carrier.

New services will be launching to the U.S. from Montreal to Atlanta and Detroit, Toronto to Salt Lake City, and Vancouver to Austin. Within Canada, three new routes will begin between Montreal and Gander, Calgary and Fort St John, and Vancouver and Halifax. Additionally, service will be restored on 41 North American routes, including: 13 routes from Toronto, nine from Montreal, five from Ottawa, five from Vancouver, four from Calgary, three from Halifax, and two from Edmonton. The routes are timed to connect with Air Canada's domestic, U.S. and international network at the airline's global hubs in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

"Canadians are ready to travel, and we're excited to be offering a very significant growth in our schedule this summer. With our recovery accelerating and North American flying reaching 90% of pre-pandemic levels this summer, we are offering more options across the continent, including seven new city pairs from our Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver hubs, and the resumption of 41 suspended or previously announced new routes. These changes will also grow and cement our position as the leading carrier of choice in the transborder market, with the most non-stop flying between Canada and the U.S. and as the foreign carrier with the most service to the U.S. Moreover, our revitalized North American network, designed to connect easily with our global network, gives customers by far the widest choice of routings and destinations of any Canadian carrier this summer," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

"To match our unrivalled network, we are also enhancing our award-winning airport and onboard services. All 23 of our Maple Leaf Lounges are now open, with new features such as ordering from your seat for safety and greater convenience, and we have introduced a range of touchless airport services that make the check-in and boarding process more convenient. Customers can also benefit from our transformed Aeroplan program, which offers members greater value and flexibility when redeeming reward travel. And, of course, all customers will enjoy Air Canada's industry leading customer service, recognized at the most recent Skytrax World Airline Awards, where our people won for Best Airline Employees in Canada and in North America."

Award Winning Service

Select routes will feature wide-body aircraft with Air Canada Signature Class, with lie flat seating, and Premium Economy. Seats in all cabins are available for purchase now at aircanada.com, via the Air Canada App, Air Canada's Contact Centres, and travel agents.

Air Canada's onboard services on flights greater than two hours feature new Economy Class Bistro selections, including products by Canadian brands and partners, such as meals inspired by celebrated Montreal Chef Jerome Ferrer.

All customers can collect and redeem points through Aeroplan, Canada's leading loyalty program, when travelling with Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding and other benefits.

New Transborder and Domestic Routes

Flight From To Frequency Start Date AC 799 Toronto Salt Lake City Thu, Sat, Sun 02 JUN AC 8567 AC 8569 Montreal Atlanta Double Daily 01 JUN AC 8581 AC 8583 Montreal Detroit Double Daily 01 JUN AC 1062 Vancouver Austin Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 01 JUN AC 7900 Montreal Gander Daily 25 JUN AC 362 Vancouver Halifax Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 01 MAY AC 8453 Calgary Fort St. John Daily 01 MAY

Returning and Previously Announced New Routes

Flight From To Frequency Start Date AC 8680 AC 8682 Toronto Baltimore Double Daily 15 MAY AC 8745 AC 8747 Toronto Charlotte Double Daily 01 MAY AC 8705 AC 8707 Toronto Cincinnati Double Daily 01 MAY AC 8895 AC 8897 Toronto Indianapolis Double Daily 15 MAY AC 513 Toronto Portland Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 27 JUN AC 8795 AC 8797 Toronto St. Louis Double Daily 07 MAY AC 8590 Toronto Hartford Daily 01 JUN AC 8917 Toronto Milwaukee Daily 01 JUL AC 8677 Toronto New Orleans Daily 01 JUL AC 8865 Toronto Kansas City Daily 01 JUL AC 1941 Toronto Fort McMurray Tues, Thu, Sat 03 MAY AC 1975 Toronto Nanaimo Mon, Wed, Fri 29 JUN AC 8410 Toronto Gander Daily 01 JUN AC 8791 Montreal Pittsburgh Daily 01 JUN AC 8735 Montreal Raleigh Daily 01 JUN AC 8759 Montreal Baltimore Daily 01 JUN AC 8771 Montreal Nashville Thu, Fri, Sat 02 JUN AC 1285 Montreal Phoenix Tue, Sat 03 MAY AC 527 Montreal San Diego Wed, Fri, Sun 20 MAY AC 515 Montreal Seattle Daily 31 MAY AC 1685 Montreal Victoria Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 03 JUN AC 8543 Montreal Regina Daily 01 MAY AC 8545 Montreal Saskatoon Daily 01 MAY AC 532 Vancouver Boston Daily 04 JUN AC 8596 Vancouver Sacramento Daily 01 JUN AC 539 Vancouver Anchorage Daily 07 MAY AC 8482 Vancouver Yellowknife Daily 01 JUN AC 1870 Vancouver Quebec Mon, Wed, Fri 02 MAY AC 8869 Ottawa Washington-Reagan Daily 01 MAY AC 8109 Ottawa Winnipeg Daily 01 JUN AC 8182 Ottawa Charlottetown Daily 01 JUN AC 8098 Ottawa Quebec City Daily 01 JUN AC 7701 AC 7705 AC 7709 AC 7711 Ottawa Toronto Island Up to 4 times Daily 01 MAY AC 8661 Halifax Boston Daily 24 JUN AC 8549 Halifax Goose Bay Daily 30 APR AC 584 Calgary New York-Newark Daily 01 MAY AC 392 Calgary Halifax Daily 30 APR AC 1872 Calgary Quebec Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 01 MAY AC 8289 Calgary Castlegar Daily 01 MAY AC 8563 Edmonton San Francisco Daily 01 MAY AC 8113 Edmonton Yellowknife Daily 01 JUN

Air Canada may continue to adjust its schedule as more opportunities arise or based on COVID-19's trajectory and the further easing of government travel restrictions.

Travel Policy: Book with confidence

Air Canada's new refund policy is applicable to all tickets purchased. It offers customers the option of a full refund to the original form of payment, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or the equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours.

To book your next trip and for most updated schedule, visit aircanada.com.

Travelling internationally? Visit our Travel Ready Hub for the latest government entry requirements. Customers are responsible for ensuring they meet all government entry requirements, including holding the correct travel documents, visas, any required health certificates, and all other eligibility requirements for any flights they purchase. Government requirements may change with little notice.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking from the independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which in 2021 also named Air Canada as having the Best Airline Staff in North America, Best Airline Staff in Canada, Best Business Class Lounge in North America, as well as an Excellence award for its handling of COVID-19. Also in 2021, Air Canada was named Global Traveler's Best Airline in North America for the third straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX's Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow Air Canada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com

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RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs, announces a Champion Sponsor level gift from The Kennel Club of Philadelphia.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia's $100,000 donation will help support CHF's robust portfolio of canine health research grants that seek to prevent, treat and cure canine disease. The Foundation is currently managing 164 active research grants studying diseases such as cancer, atopic dermatitis, diabetes, glaucoma, and more.

"The AKC Canine Health Foundation has a long and valued relationship with The Kennel Club of Philadelphia (KCP)," says Dr. Darin Collins, CHF Chief Executive Officer. "This generous gift made possible by Mr. Wayne Ferguson, President of The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, and all the KCP membership will be used to further advance our funding of research that promotes the health of all dogs, everywhere. Thank you, KCP."

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has been a member of the American Kennel Club since 1913. In partnership with Purina and NBC, KCP hosts the annual National Dog Show, which airs on NBC on Thanksgiving Day. It is the most widely watched canine event in the world, reaching nearly 20 million dog-lovers.

"Once again this year, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia is thrilled to make a donation in support of the mission of the AKC Canine Health Foundation," said Wayne Ferguson, KCP president. "The National Dog Show, NBC, and Purina help make it possible for the club to recognize CHF's ongoing important and significant work for our dogs and their people."

Thanks to the generous support of donors such as The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, CHF will continue to invest in quality canine health research so that all dogs can live longer, healthier lives. Learn more at akcchf.org.

About CHF

Since 1995, the AKC Canine Health Foundation has leveraged the power of science to address the health needs of all dogs. With more than $63.5 million in funding to date, the Foundation provides grants for the highest quality canine health research and shares information on the discoveries that help prevent, treat and cure canine diseases. The Foundation meets and exceeds industry standards for fiscal responsibility, as demonstrated by their highest four-star Charity Navigator rating and GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. Learn more at www.akcchf.org.

SOURCE AKC Canine Health Foundation
DENVER, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alta Trust Company and Altigo are proud to announce their collaboration to deliver high-quality private offerings through Alta Trust using Altigo's streamlined electronic subscription processing platform.



Alternative investments are a high demand area for registered investment advisers (RIAs). Unfortunately, the processing systems available for RIAs to bring on an investor to their funds are often slow, disjointed and challenging to navigate.



"For years, Alta Trust has been focused on developing a streamlined process to guide advisers through the fund formation process, so they can offer alternative investments to their clients," said Adam Ponder, CEO of Alta Trust Company, "We've continued to seek improvements on making the subscription process easier for RIAs and their clients. Altigo's platform is the final piece of the puzzle, and the subscription process has become a highlight of our offering."



With the alternative investment space growing quickly, advisers must be equipped with the best partners and technology to meet demand from high-net-worth investors. The collaboration between Altigo and Alta Trust provides both trusted partners and reliable technology to RIAs.



"Our vision is to make alternative investments as easy to own as a mutual fund. Working with Alta Trust to bring our Altigo subscription automation technology along with their fund formation and fund administration services is a valuable benefit to our mutual adviser clients," said Mat Dellorso, Co-Founder of WealthForge.



Now, when Alta Trust works with an adviser to create a fund, investors will benefit from Altigo's simple, secure, electronic subscription process. Advisers can view Altigo's transaction activity dashboard to manage the subscription process, showcase investment opportunities, and see dollars move in real time.



ABOUT ALTIGO

WealthForge provides technology solutions developed by experienced regulatory professionals to streamline investments into alternative securities. Altigo, the company's electronic order entry and subscription processing platform, was built to address common industry roadblocks, enable marketplace connections, and facilitate alternative investment transactions between representatives, advisers, asset managers, custodians and transfer agents. With over a decade of experience processing alternative investments and developing technology solutions, WealthForge has built a reputation as an innovator in the market.



Learn more at wealthforge.com/altigo-for-rias



ABOUT ALTA TRUST COMPANY

Alta Trust Company is a South Dakota chartered trust company with over a decade of success in the industry. They provide innovative, turn-key solutions for establishing private funds . The company also offers collective investment trusts (CITs) and personal trust services.



Learn more at trustalta.com.

CONTACT INFO

Alta Trust Company

[email protected]

SOURCE Alta Trust
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen's national Alzheimer's nonprofit organization, HFC, held a free, virtual event to empower Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers as well as impacted families. CareCon took place on February 18th, 2022, in celebration of National Caregivers Day, connecting over 2,000 caregivers and supporters across the world through an interactive two-hour event hosted on Social Hour.

"Alzheimer's has had a huge impact on my life as both of my grandparents and mom were diagnosed with the disease. My mom was an amazing teacher for 35 years who was always present and taking care of our family. As she got older, she started to need our care for every aspect of her life," said Lauren Miller Rogen, co-founder of HFC. "The emotional toll of caregiving often goes unmentioned, so we created CareCon as a safe space to celebrate and support caregivers."

Returning for its second year, HFC's CareCon featured booths with resources for viewers, expert-led workshops, and celebrity-filled panels. Celebrity moderators Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation, SNL, Mean Girls), Dan Fogelman (This is Us), Ben Feldman (Superstore, Drop Dead Diva), Steve Aoki, (DJ and Producer), Susan Schneider Williams (advocate and wife of the late Robin Williams), Adam Shapiro (Never Have I Ever), Pamela Adlon (Better Things), Caitlin Reilly (Comedian), Richard Lui (MSNBC), and T.J. Oshie (Washington Capitals, NHL) shared their own experiences with Alzheimer's, caregiving, and brain health to celebrate and inspire caregivers with knowledge and tools to support their caregiving journey.

"I'm thrilled to have participated in HFC's CareCon. Any event that makes science and personal health fun and engaging is critical to reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias - especially in individuals with a family history of these diseases," said Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, Director of the FAU Center for Brain Health at the Schmidt College of Medicine and HFC Science Advisory Board Member. "The more awareness we bring to brain health, the better outlook we will enjoy for disease treatment and prevention."

For the first time, HFC presented the inaugural Scotty Caregiver Award, named after Lauren's father, Scott Miller, who was the primary caregiver to her mom, Adele. The award honors an unpaid caregiver with an HFC Recharge Relief Care Grant of 50 hours of professional in-home respite care.

The virtual event was made possible by the generous support of sponsors including: Kensington Senior Living, Eli Lilly & Co., Home Instead, English Meadows, Care.com, Total Care Services, The Todd & Stephanie Shnick Foundation, Hamilton Insurance Agency, Prothena Biosciences, Banko Design, Remo Health, Acadia, Oasis Senior Advisors, Circle Of, and Picnic Health.

About HFC:

Founded in 2012 by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, HFC is a national non-profit organization on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease, inspire the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates, and be leaders in brain health research and education. HFC is accelerating progress in Alzheimer's care, prevention, and support all while bringing many laughs and light to the Alzheimer's space. The movement is also bringing much-needed awareness to the disease through celebrity-driven signature events. In addition to providing caregiver respite, HFC organizes online support groups to build caregiver community and connectivity, engages young people across the country to become Alzheimer's advocates, funds prevention-focused and brain-health research, and teaches people how to care for the health of their brains today, so they can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's and dementia tomorrow.

While there isn't a cure, there is care.

www.wearehfc.org

SOURCE HFC
MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, on Tuesday approved Russian President Vladimir Putin's request for the use of military abroad.

"Senators unanimously supported the adoption of the relevant Resolution," said a statement published on the website of the Federation Council.

Putin on Tuesday submitted a proposal that the Federation Council approve a resolution authorizing the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation abroad on the basis of the generally accepted principles and norms of international law, according to the Kremlin.

Earlier in the day, Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, ratified the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" during a plenary session.

Putin inked the treaties on Monday, together with the heads of the LPR and DPR. The president also signed two decrees recognizing the LPR and the DPR as independent and sovereign states on Monday.

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. 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- America First Political Committee Chairman KW Miller set to primary RINO Carlos Gimenez (FL-26). Florida RINO Carlos Gimenez has betrayed Republican Voters far too many times. RINO Gimenez will be replaced in Congress with a true Constitutional Republican to represent residents in Southern Dade County and Monroe County Florida.

AMERICA FIRST TARGETS RINO CARLOS GIMENEZ (FL-26) FOR REMOVAL FROM CONGRESS VOTERS WANT RINO'S CARLOS GIMENEZ AND LIZ CHENEY OUT

Gimenez is NOT supported by America First or the Republican voters in Florida's 26th Congressional District. RINO Carlos Gimenez has openly voted with Nancy Pelosi and the radical leftists in Congress on critical 'Unconstitutional Issues'.

RINO Gimenez openly supported and 'Voted for Hillary Clinton' in 2016. Gimenez also defended disgraced RINO Liz Cheney after she voted in favor of the 'Sham Impeachment' against Donald Trump.

RINO Gimenez doubled down in defending Cheney after the Republican Caucus censored and removed RINO Liz Cheney from Republican Party Leadership.

RINO Gimenez also voted for the 'January 6' Socialist Democrat witch hunt against American Citizens and Republican voters. Gimenez, like RINO Liz Cheney openly votes and sides with the Socialist and Radical Democrats.

Some other notable examples of Gimenez Socialist votes include:

RINO Gimenez voted with Nancy Pelosi on H.R. 550, to allow the federal government to create a database, track unvaccinated Americans, who could be targeted, segregated, discriminated against, and forced to comply with vaccination mandates;

RINO Gimenez voted with Nancy Pelosi on Anti-Second Amendment legislation HR-8, making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm;

RINO Gimenez voted with Nancy Pelosi on H.R. 6 for 'Open Borders and Amnesty' to over 20 million criminal illegal aliens, which would permanently avoid deportation, obtain a pathway to citizenship, and full voting rights;

RINO Gimenez also voted with Nancy Pelosi to strip Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of all Congressional Committee positions.

About America First Political Committee:

Our mission is to protect the integrity of the U.S. Constitution, promote conservative political candidates and policy that puts America First.

America First Contact:



Contact: J. Stephens

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.americafirstpc.org

Phone: 202-495-1505

SOURCE America First Political Committee
BALTIMORE, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) announced a milestone in its implementation of key diversity and inclusion initiatives that reaffirm the AUA's commitment to being a fully inclusive, deliberately diverse and equitable organization that respects and values its membership, staff and the urologic communities it serves worldwide.

The AUA's Diversity & Inclusion Task Force.

The AUA Board recognizes that a culturally aware and diverse membership is integral to the evolution and growth of the organization as well as the specialty of urology. To that end, in December of 2020, the AUA announced the formation of a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Task Force with a charge to develop actionable recommendations for the Board by February 2022. The Task Force was made up of 14 AUA members representing the breadth, depth and diversity of urology. Tracy M. Downs, MD, chaired the Task Force and Simone Thavaseelan, MD, was vice-chair.

At the February 2022 AUA Board meeting, the D&I Task Force presented, and the Board approved, a series of high-level recommendations to enhance diversity and inclusion in various aspects of the AUA and the urologic community. These recommendations were organized into five focus areas (Just and Inclusive Environment, Diversity in the Workplace, Structural Competence, Advocacy and Research).

A key outcome of the Task Force's recommendations is the establishment via the AUA Bylaws of a formal, standing AUA Diversity and Inclusion Committee to advise the Board and other AUA leadership on D&I initiatives and help implement other Board-approved recommendations. The chair of the committee will hold the position of AUA Chief Diversity Officer and will consult regularly with the AUA Board. Details of the structure, composition and mission of this committee will be developed and announced in the coming months. Other key areas of focus will include:

establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) award to recognize members' efforts and achievements in DEI;

enhancing AUA surveys and databases to include collection of voluntary demographic information;

creating mentorship opportunities for underrepresented individuals in urology;

establishing a DEI abstract category for the AUA Annual Meeting;

incorporating DEI and health disparities in AUA educational programming; and

increasing diversity among researchers at every stage of the career journey.

"The Board made an intentional decision to ensure that the AUA would be a leader in advancing D&I initiatives in the urology community. Key to that leadership was the commitment to lead by example," stated AUA President Raju Thomas, MD, FACS, FRCS, MHA. "The work that Drs. Tracy Downs and Simone Thavaseelan and the entire D&I Task Force did was indeed impressive, and in line with the entire AUA organization's expectation. The Board is inspired by their recommendations and looking forward to implementing them over the coming years."

As evidence of this commitment, the AUA is proud to adopt the Diversity Statement developed by the D&I Task Force (www.AUAnet.org/Diversity-Statement). "I am proud of the work that the Task Force did and the recommendations we put forth to the AUA Board. I am also honored to be part of an association that is willing to face the gaps in diversity and inclusion within the organization and the community and commit to being a force of change," said Tracy M. Downs, MD, chair of the AUA D&I Task Force. "The adoption of this Diversity Statement and the creation of a standing Diversity & Inclusion committee are the first of many steps we will be making together to ensure the urologic community is a diverse and inclusive one."

The AUA will work as an organization and with others in the urologic community to implement the recommendations presented by the D&I Task Force and approved by the Board. The AUA recognizes that the strength of any community is rooted in diversity and is committed to leading the way in advancing diversity and inclusion within urology.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Media Contact:

Caitlin Lukacs, Corporate Communications and Media Relations Manager

410-689-4081, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association
SHANGHAI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Westwin launched its simplified social media solution, www.Wreach.net , which enables international companies to easily setup on Chinese social media, such as WeChat and Weibo. Wreach provides professional localization services and translates all content that customers want to post on China's biggest social media platforms. Chinese-native-speakers will help to translate and localize content to make it more consumable and attractive to new Chinese followers.

With 1.2 billion monthly active users, WeChat is the place for Chinese users to talk to family, friends and colleagues. Brands can create an official account here and post articles regularly to keep followers updated, inform them of new product launches, and direct them to more owned media links. Wreach helps brands to create quality articles which attract more fans and followers in China.

Different from WeChat, Weibo (the Chinese version of twitter) is a lot livelier with hot topics and viral trends. People like to express themselves, follow trending news and discuss hot topics and up-and-coming brands. Brands can post short form content with pictures, hashtags, videos and links to a website. Wreach enables the scheduling of posts in advance, and the posts will be auto-broadcast on the date and time of choice.

Are these social media platforms safe? For brands aiming to enter the China market, these concerns can affect them while seeking a reliable promotion platform.

"Chinese social media apps do not have end-to-end encryption, it's true, and can be monitored by Chinese officials, it has never claimed otherwise. All social medias are monitored globally by different governments of course, it's part of the course. The problem we have currently is to do with our western narrative, where we a fed a regular course of anti-privacy China media stories, as this is currently the chapter of our global human story," says Alain de Maurier, Sales & Marketing Director at Westwin UK, "However, the truth is much simpler, that Chinese social media apps are safe as a tool of public communication. Like anything, it is how you use it that means it is safe or otherwise. This is why Chinese social media platforms are safe."

"Wreach is a very easily operated and cost-effective way to do social media promotion in China. Wreach and Westwin have quickly understood our requirements and developed compelling content to attract our target audience in China," a client of Wreach said.

To book a live demo of Wreach or download our free WeChat and Weibo Guide, please visit the following link: https://www.wreach.net/contact

About Westwin:

Formerly known as Microsoft Online (MSN China), Westwin is a marketing agency specializing in cross-border digital advertising / marketing solutions. In August 2016, Westwin acquired the majority business of Microsoft Online (MSN China) to better serve the unique China market. As one of Microsoft's core partners in China, Westwin focuses on driving business through Bing Ads. Westwin also inherited the branding and marketing consultancy business of Microsoft Advertising to help Chinese enterprises build brand globally. Apart from that, Westwin maintains partnerships with Baidu, Weibo and other Chinese digital platforms to offer one-stop digital marketing solutions to foreign businesses.

SOURCE Westwin
Highlights:

Additional investment of US$25M towards exploration expenditure and US$2.4M in cash payments to earn-in and retain 51% ownership stake in the joint venture company holding Pegasus A & B

towards exploration expenditure and in cash payments to earn-in and retain 51% ownership stake in the joint venture company holding Pegasus A & B US$3.9M of the US$25M invested in exploration expenditure as of December 31, 2021

of the invested in exploration expenditure as of Drilling planned to commence in H2 2022

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV: LR) (OTCQX: LUMIF) (the "Company" or "Luminex") is pleased to announce receiving notice from Anglo American that it is exercising the first of its options under the earn-in agreement entered into on September 21, 2018 ("Earn-In Agreement") to earn the right to retain 51% of the joint venture company holding Pegasus A & B.

As of December 31, 2021, Anglo American had invested US$13.9 million in exploration expenditures and US$2.4 million in cash payments, for a total of US$16.3 million. Under the Earn-In Agreement the next ownership retention threshold is 51%, which occurs when Anglo American has completed an additional aggregate investment of US$25 million towards exploration expenditure by the sixth anniversary of the Earn-In Agreement and US$4.8 million of cumulative cash payments to Luminex, payable in two instalments on the fourth and fifth anniversary of the Earn-in Agreement.

Anglo American is working with local communities as part of its social engagement plan. This work includes increasing awareness of the project and advancing with social investment initiatives to identify wider economic opportunities for the communities, in support of the social license at Medusa, part of Pegasus A, to drill test multiple quality copper, gold and molybdenum targets in H2 2022.

About Luminex Resources

Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV:LR,OTCQX:LUMIF) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on gold and copper projects in Ecuador. Luminex's inferred and indicated mineral resources are located at the Condor Gold-Copper project in Zamora-Chinchipe Province, southeast Ecuador. Luminex also holds a large and highly prospective land package in Ecuador, including the Tarqui, Pegasus and Orquideas projects, which are being co-developed with BHP Group plc, Anglo American and JOGMEC respectively.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminexresources.com/.

To receive news releases please sign up at https://www.luminexresources.com/contact/contact-us/.

LUMINEX RESOURCES CORP.

Signed: "Marshall Koval"

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director

Luminex is solely and entirely responsible for the contents hereof. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor any other person, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements about future work and drilling at Pegasus A and B. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the prices of gold and copper, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Luminex Resources Corp.
The CYBERVERSE Bundle was created in collaboration with Tmall, graffiti artist SHEK and VR artist Alice.S. The bundle included the CYBERBLADE Prelude Edition, which makes its first appearance in the CYBERVERSE Bundle, SHEK's hand-painted retro AM HATSU, a beta version of CYBERBOARD R2 Le Smoking in Psychedelic, CYBERMAT R2 wireless charging mat, CYBERCHAGE 90W GaN charger and other hard-core Angry Miao products. The unique "Into the CYBERVERSE" inspired by the Classic of Mountains and Seas NFT collection created by VR artist Alice.S is also included.

As one of the artists from our four-way collaboration bundle, SHEK is a graffiti artist who has formed his own strong personal style over the years by combining graffiti and pop art in a distinct way. He is one of China's few emerging trendy artists who hope to bring underground culture into mainstream art galleries. SHEK used his iconic punk-style graffiti to hand-paint and add a special artistic flavor to AM HATSU, this bundle's blockbuster product. Inspired by Westworld and featuring a 3D curved metal body, SHEK's rich graffiti colors beautifully collide while its retro details accommodate a sharp contrast between classic and modern.

VR artist Alice.S is widely loved by fans for unique oriental style. For this collaboration bundle, Alice.S combined the white tiger from Classic of Mountains and Seas with cyberpunk aesthetic. This embodies Angry Miao's Chinese New Year blessings for everyone in the Year of the Tiger. The artistic creation from Alice.S is available as an NFT collection, a first for Tmall. Named "Into the CYBERVERSE", this NFT collection can be experienced in VR, exploring new possibilities in the NFT and VR world.

It must be noted that 90% of the proceeds from this auction will be donated to the SEE Foundation's "Free Flying Wings" ecological conservation project through the official Alibaba Philanthropy auction platform. This project funds comprehensive ecological protection, surveying and scientific research on migratory birds and their habitats.

In addition to CYBERVERSE Bundle auction, CYBERBOARD R3 and TIME MACHINE Artisan Keycaps were also available as dedicated stock on the opening day. Limited-edition souvenirs were also provided.

In January, Li Nan, the founder of Angry Miao, mentioned that Angry Miao was planning to launch an official Tmall store to accommodate the release of CYBERBLADE, Angry Miao's first TWS earphones. As for the launch day's CYBERVERSE Bundle, the biggest surprise is the inclusion of the CYBERBLADE Prelude Edition, embodying the hard work on both Angry Miao's and Tmall's side. A pre-order event for CYBERBLADE was launched simultaneously, providing an opportunity for eager early-birds to be the first to experience CYBERBLADE.

Angry Miao has not yet announced the official release date of CYBERBLADE. According to information disclosed so far, one of CYBERBLADE's key features is its ultra-low latency support and its unique triangular design inspired by the Horizon video game series. Accompanied by dynamic flowing RGBs, CYBERBLADE once again makes a design statement with Angry Miao's cyberpunk aesthetic. Completely different from other TWS products, CYBERBLADE incorporates a charging case and dock - Unibox, with a larger space enabling new technologies and features. The innovation behind Unibox will be officially announced at a later date.

SOURCE Angry Miao
CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcalea announced today that it has been named the agency of record across several Marketing and Advertising disciplines by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. As Medill seeks to grow enrollment of top students for two of its graduate degree programs, Arcalea will support the institution's goals by leading paid media, consulting, and advertising strategies.

"Arcalea's depth of experience and quantitative approach stood out in the selection process, and will help Medill to reach the next generation of leaders," said Sara Brazeal, Director of Marketing, Communications and Special Events at Medill. "We have already experienced great efficiencies in our paid media efforts. We're excited to continue working with Arcalea to reach our marketing and advertising goals."

Arcalea, headquartered in Chicago, is a consultancy focused on Marketing and Data Science. The firm provides a strategic approach to assessing the market and addressing tactical implementation. Arcalea will create and develop Medill's marketing strategies through a variety of digital channels, all enhanced by Arcalea's proprietary Quantitative Market Assessment and machine learning technologies.

"We are excited for the opportunity to continue our relationship with Northwestern, specifically with Medill," said Mike Stratta, CEO of Arcalea. We are excited to build upon the tremendous Medill brand and communicate value to new prospective students."

About Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

Medill is a leader in education and research in both journalism and integrated marketing communications. Our innovative teaching and research focus on enduring skills and values as well as new techniques and technologies that are changing the way stories are told and consumed in today's digital world. Now in our 101st year, our experience in leading these disciplines is unparalleled.

For more information, visit https://www.medill.northwestern.edu/.

About Arcalea

Arcalea is an industry leader in Marketing. As a strategic consultancy, Arcalea combines formal Marketing frameworks with proprietary AI analyses, leading today's digital initiatives with data science and machine learning. In 2021, Arcalea was named to the Inc. 5000 list for the third consecutive year, and in 2020, ranked #51 on the Financial Times list of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies. The firm serves brands in a diverse array of industries including pharmaceutical, CPG, defense, transportation, retail, and higher education, among others. Learn more at arcalea.com.

SOURCE Arcalea
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ARMP) ("Armata" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has cleared Armata's Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a clinical trial of its optimized lead therapeutic candidate, AP-PA02, in a second indication, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis ("NCFB"). The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in 2022.

In patients with NCFB, lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often associated with frequent pulmonary exacerbations, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality, and may require hospital admission for treatment. Although chronic inhaled antibiotics are recommended for long-term management of NCFB with frequent exacerbations, there is currently no approved therapy.

"We are excited to gain FDA clearance to advance AP-PA02 into second respiratory indication," said Brian Varnum, Chief Executive Officer of Armata. "With this regulatory approval and our recent financing, we are well positioned to explore the clinical benefit of AP-PA02, and to advance AP-SA02 for prosthetic joint infections and AP-PA03 for pneumonia."

In addition to the upcoming trial of AP-PA02 in NCFB, Armata is also conducting a Phase 1b/2a trial ('SWARM-P.a.') of AP-PA02 targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients, and a Phase 1b/2a trial ('diSArm') of AP-SA02 targeting Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

About Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Armata is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of precisely targeted bacteriophage therapeutics for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections using its proprietary bacteriophage-based technology. Armata is developing and advancing a broad pipeline of natural and synthetic phage candidates, including clinical candidates for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens. In addition, in collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, Armata is developing proprietary synthetic phage candidates to target an undisclosed infectious disease agent. Armata is committed to advancing phage with drug development expertise that spans bench to clinic including in-house phage specific GMP manufacturing.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking" statements, including, without limitation, statements related to the use of proceeds from the securities offering and the sufficiency of such proceeds to finance the entire development process of AP-PA02 and AP-SA02, Armata's bacteriophage development programs, Armata's ability to meet expected milestones, Armata's ability to be a leader in the development of phage-based therapeutics, and statements related to the timing and results of clinical trials, including the anticipated initiation and advancement of clinical trials of AP-PA02 and AP-SA02, Armata's ability to develop new products based on bacteriophages and synthetic phages, and Armata's expectations for performance of Armata's therapeutic candidates based on Armata's recent nonclinical work. Any statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Armata's current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Armata's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the ability of Armata's lead clinical candidates, AP-PA02 and AP-SA02, to be more effective than previous candidates; Armata's ability to expedite development of AP-PA02; Armata's ability to advance its preclinical and clinical programs and the uncertain and time-consuming regulatory approval process; Armata's ability to develop products based on bacteriophages and synthetic phages to kill bacterial pathogens; the Company's expected market opportunity for its products; Armata's ability to sufficiently fund its operations as expected, including obtaining additional funding as needed; and any delays or adverse events within, or outside of, Armata's control, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to Armata and its business can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Armata's filings and reports with the SEC, including in Armata's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021, and in its subsequent filings with the SEC.

Armata expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Armata's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Media Contacts:

At Armata:

Steve Martin

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

858-800-2492

Investor Relations:

Joyce Allaire

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

[email protected]

212-915-2569

SOURCE Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Automotive Lighting Market by Light Type (Halogen, Xenon/HID, and LED), Vehicle Type (Passenger ICE Vehicle, Commercial ICE Vehicle, and Electric Vehicle), Position (Front Lighting, Rear Lighting, Side Lighting, and Interior Lighting), and Sales Channel (Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030." As per the report, the global automotive lighting industry was accounted for $32.31 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $58.59 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2030.

Major determinants of the market growth

Increase in the implementation of government regulations, rise in automobile production, and growing emphasis toward road safety have boosted the growth of the global automotive lighting market. On the contrary, fluctuating prices of raw materials and high cost of LED lights hinder the market growth. However, increased application in light commercial vehicles and rise in demand for advanced technology in vehicles are expected to open lucrative opportunities for the market players in the coming years.

Download Report (199 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/646

Covid-19 scenario-

The outbreak of Covid-19 severely impacted the global automotive lighting industry, as several automotive industries have stopped their operations or delayed their projects to curb the spread of the virus.

Due to the imposed lockdown across the globe, automobile & transportation activities came to halt, thus affecting the automotive industry across the globe.

Due to the pandemic the global supply chain has disrupted and various manufacturing industries have halted their production activities, thus hampering the global automotive lighting market.

Request for Customization at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/646

The LED segment to dominate by 2030-

Based on light type, the LED segment contributed to nearly half of the global automotive lighting market share in 2020, and is anticipated to rule the roost by 2030, due to its longer life and better efficiency as compared to other lighting technologies to be used in vehicles. Moreover, this segment is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 7.4% throughout the forecast period.

The passenger vehicle segment to maintain the dominant share-

Based on vehicle type, the passenger vehicle segment accounted for more than half of the global automotive lighting market revenue in 2020, and is expected to lead the trail by 2030, owing to wider application of automotive lighting in passenger vehicles to provide a better view ofthe inner and outer environment. The electric vehicle segment, however, would register the fastest CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period. This is due to the introduction of electric vehicle concept as a vehicle type to be used in the future.

Interested to Procure the Data with Actionable Strategy & Insights? Inquire here at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/646

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, garnered the major share in 2020-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, garnered the major share in 2020, holding nearly half of the global automotive lighting market. This is attributed to the growing production and sales of vehicles across the region. However, the market across LAMEA would cite the fastest CAGR of 8.4% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to the increased demand for advanced vehicles with advanced safety features such as adaptive lighting to be present in vehicles running across the region.

Key players in the industry-

Hyundai Mobis

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

ROBERT BOSCH GmbH

Valeo

ZKW

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.

DENSO Corporation

Osram Licht AG

Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Stanley Electric Co. Ltd.

Purchase This Full Research Report Now! https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/e35a99c4215b749b8398c863ad904b3b

Similar Report We Have on Automotive Lighting Industry:

India Automotive Lighting Market by Technology (Halogen, Xenon, LED), Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, Tractors), Sales Channel (OEM, Aftermarket Product) - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014  2030.

Train Lighting Market by Light type (Fluorescent, Halogen, LED, and Xenon), Position (Interior and Exterior), Rolling Stock (Diesel, Electric, DMU, EMU, Metros, Light Rail, Passenger, and Freight Wagon): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192030.

Aircraft Lighting Market by Interior Lights (Emergency Lights, Specialty Lights, Wash Lights, Reading Lights, and Lavatory Lights), Exterior Lights (Aircraft Visibility Lights, Pilot Lights, and Specific Purpose Lights), Aircraft Application (Commercial, Business Jets, Military, and Helicopters), and Light Type (LEDs and Fluorescent): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030.

Marine Lighting Market by Application (Floodlights, Searchlights, Berth Lights, Rope & Strip Lighting, Navigation Lights, Cockpit & Flood Lights, Utility & Engine Room Lights and Underwater LED Lights), Installation (Interior and Exterior), Technology (LED and Non-LED) and End-Use (Military and Commercial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030.

Automotive LED Lighting Market by Technology (Halogen, LED, and Xenon), Application (Headlamp, DRL, Sidelights, Turning Lights, CHMSL, Tail Light, Brake Light, Interior Illumination Light, and Interior Indication Light), Sales (OEM and Aftermarket), and Vehicle (Passenger Car, Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), Bus, and Truck): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030.

Automotive Intelligent Lighting System Market by Technology (Halogen, LED and Xenon), Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle), Product Type (Adaptive Headlight and Intelligent Ambient Lighting) and Sales Channel (OEM and Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030.

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
In-Scope:

Semi-autonomous vehicle:

The autonomous military vehicle market share growth by the semi-autonomous vehicle segment will be significant during the forecast period. A semi-autonomous vehicle is controlled by a human operator from a remote location via an established communication network. All cognitive movements are processed based on the inputs provided by the operator. The vehicle operator analyses the sensory feedback captured from the line-of-sight visual observation or from remote sensory inputs. Thus, such applications may contribute to segment growth during the forecast period.

Out-of-Scope:

Fully autonomous vehicle

To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments Request for a FREE sample

Moreover, the report also provides Value Chain Analysis which helps companies gain a competitive advantage in the market. The Value Chain of the Autonomous Military Vehicle Market includes the following core components:

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Outbound logistics

Marketing and sales

Service

Support activities

Innovation

Highlights-

Segmentation- The report extensively covers market segmentation by Product (semi-autonomous vehicle and fully autonomous vehicle) and Geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , MEA, and South America ).

The report extensively covers market segmentation by Product (semi-autonomous vehicle and fully autonomous vehicle) and Geography ( , APAC, , MEA, and ). Key Companies- BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corp., Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Oshkosh Corp., Polaris Inc., Rheinmetall AG, and RUAG International Holding Ltd. among others

BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corp., Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Oshkosh Corp., Polaris Inc., Rheinmetall AG, and RUAG International Holding Ltd. among others Driver- Increasing concerns over the IED blast incentivizing government-funded development to drive the market.

Increasing concerns over the IED blast incentivizing government-funded development to drive the market. Challenge- System reliability and uncertainty in user acceptance of autonomous features to hamper the market growth

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Vendor Insights-

The autonomous military vehicle market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as contract acquisitions, product and aftermarket service quality, reliability, and cost to compete in the market.

BAE Systems Plc- The company offers autonomous military vehicles which provide crucial insights into the capabilities of integrated autonomous technologies on future battlefields.

The company offers autonomous military vehicles which provide crucial insights into the capabilities of integrated autonomous technologies on future battlefields. Elbit Systems Ltd.- The company offers autonomous military vehicles such as Elbit Systems' Stereo Vision System (SVS) allows unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to autonomously detect and classify image-based objects.

The company offers autonomous military vehicles such as Elbit Systems' Stereo Vision System (SVS) allows unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to autonomously detect and classify image-based objects. General Dynamics Corp.- The company offers autonomous military vehicles such as Multi-utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) and Tracked Robot 10-ton (TRX).

Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Download Free Sample Report

Learn More about Key Driver & Challenge of the Market-

Autonomous Military Vehicle Market Driver:

Increasing concerns over the IED blast incentivizing government-funded development:

The use of IEDs is highly regulated and necessitates full adherence to international humanitarian law. Although the indiscriminate use of IEDs against civilians or civilian objects is strictly prohibited, their unlawful use, particularly by non-state armed groups and rogue individuals, is rapidly rising. Meanwhile, complementing technologies installed in autonomous vehicles will help ensure that in case an IED is missed by one scan, it is picked up by another. However, the researchers are trying to create an algorithm to make the identification of IEDs and other targets more effective with the help of the data collected by cameras and sensors. At the same time, the DARPA has invested considerably in developing similar technologies. Therefore, organizations coming forward to invest in such developing technologies will drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Autonomous Military Vehicle Market Challenge:

System reliability and uncertainty in user acceptance of autonomous features:

As the military vehicle market is likely to register a high number of repeated users of autonomous technologies, customers must be assured of the reliability factors associated with such new technology-enabled systems and sub-systems. Though semi-autonomous vehicles use advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to prevent accidents and assist the driver, the safety aspect is still unclear. At the same time, the purpose of the autonomous vehicle technology system is defeated if the technology is tuned to generate only high-risk alerts. Therefore, the rapidly growing autonomous military vehicle market may pose challenges for players operating in ADAS and new technologies like semi-automated vehicles.

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Autonomous Military Vehicle Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11.10% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 457.09 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 10.84 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 53% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Russian Federation, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corp., Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Oshkosh Corp., Polaris Inc., Rheinmetall AG, and RUAG International Holding Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization preview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

Semi-autonomous vehicle - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Fully autonomous vehicle - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Product

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

BAE Systems Plc

Elbit Systems Ltd.

General Dynamics Corp.

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corp.

Northrop Grumman Corp.

Oshkosh Corp.

Polaris Inc.

Rheinmetall AG

RUAG International Holding Ltd.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

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Technavio Research

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Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Technavio
Hospitals today are faced with the challenge of doing more with less. A recent study found that 30% of healthcare workers had quit or been laid off since the pandemic began, while 31% of the remaining workforce was thinking about finding another job. Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated that more than 1 million registered nurses would leave the workforce by 2030, most to retirement. With resourced care delivery at the bedside in jeopardy, adverse events are increasing, including patient falls. Nearly 1 million patient falls occur in healthcare settings, with a third being preventable, costing the U.S. healthcare system nearly $34 billion annually, studies show. With an aging population, hospital operating expenses rising, nurse safety and patient experience are at risk without the integration of new models that extend access to resources such as telehealth.

Working together, Equum and AvaSure will provide an affordable, easily adoptable and highly effective virtual monitoring solution. Equum will host monitoring services from its new Virtual Care Collaboration Center in Nashville. The service will utilize AvaSure's hardware and software solutions, including a greater choice of room monitoring devices that provide uninterrupted uptime from thousands of hospital rooms across any geographic area.

"This partnership of telehealth leaders responds to customer demand for cost-effective solutions that make the most of increasingly scarce nursing resources," said Lisbeth Votruba, MSN, RN, AvaSure's chief innovation officer. "We want to free nurses to practice at the top of their license, providing clinical care instead of worrying constantly about fall-risk patients or responding to routine patient requests."

This form of patient monitoring, in which highly trained patient safety specialists keep 24-7 watch via video and intervene via audio or alarms to stop risky behavior, comes amid a sudden rise in adverse events in hospitals nationwide, as exhausted hospital staff struggle just to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

"Equum has been helping hospitals with clinical expertise virtually for a number of years, so this is both a natural extension of our core telehealth services and a new way to address a worsening situation in patient safety," said Corey Scurlock, MD, MBA, Equum's CEO "We look forward to broadening and deepening this offering to include specialist care and improve patient flow throughout the hospital." In August, growth funding by Heritage has enabled Equum Medical to further enhance its service model and broaden the reach of its experienced team of clinicians to support new telehealth care offerings such as TeleSitter.

The companies share a common commitment to patient safety and an approach to change management within organizations that is evident in the design of the partnership. They came together to help hospital systems that may not have had the funds in the past to implement a comprehensive TeleSitter program with all the elements to implement and manage care.

Scurlock and Votruba will discuss the nurse staffing crisis and the joint solution in a webinar on March 29th. You can register at avasure.com/event/avasure-equum-webinar. Additionally, members of the new venture team will be on hand at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Meeting April 11-14 in San Antonio to discuss the solution.

About AvaSure

AvaSure is the leader in providing virtual monitoring solutions. Implemented in over 900 hospitals and having delivered virtual monitoring for more than 2 million patients, AvaSure's virtual solutions are intuitive, easy to implement, and can integrate with EHR. They are also effective. With over 200 million monitoring hours, and expert 24/7 clinical and IT support, AvaSure is a solution healthcare organizations can rely on to make their lives easier. A name they can trust for peace of mind. For more information, visit www.avasure.com.

About Equum Medical

For over 10 years, Equum Medical has provided acute care telehealth-enabled care teams to address the challenges hospitals and health systems face when trying to fill gaps in coverage. Equum Medical's flexible, customized approach helps clients improve the lives of on-site clinicians, extending patient care in specialty areas and offering program leadership. Equum Medical enables hospitals and health systems to enhance care and serve more patients, while delivering a positive clinical, operational and financial impact. For more information, visit www.equummedical.com.

Contacts:

AvaSure

Holly Martin

813-846-6285

[email protected]

Equum Medical

Karsten Russell-Wood

410-409-7376

[email protected]

SOURCE Equum Medical
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the Ukraine issue and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue at the latter's request.

Blinken briefed Wang on U.S. views and position on the current situation in Ukraine.

Wang said China is concerned about the development of the Ukraine issue and its position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent.

Any country's legitimate security concerns should be respected and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld, he added, attributing the Ukraine issue to the delay in the effective implementation of the new Minsk agreement.

Wang said the Chinese side will continue to keep contacts with all parties in accordance with the rights and wrongs of the issue itself.

Noting that the situation in Ukraine is getting worse, Wang said that China once again urged all parties to exercise restraint, recognize the importance of implementing the principle of indivisible security, and de-escalate the situation and reslove differences through dialogue and negotiation.

Blinken also updated Wang about the latest relations between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Wang said the problem between the United States and the DPRK is at the heart of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, noting that the U.S. side should attach importance to the DPRK's legitimate and reasonable concerns and take substantial actions.

China stands for direct talks between the United States and the DPRK, and will as always play a constructive role in promoting the resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. 
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aware Recovery Care now offers its innovative, in-home detox program called In-Home Withdrawal Management (IHWM) to Indiana residents, the first program of its kind in the state. IHWM provides an individualized, flexible, one-on-one, in-home treatment option for those with substance use disorder who may need a medically supervised withdrawal (detox) program.

The program was piloted in Connecticut in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield over the last 18 months. Preliminary data shows 100 percent of participants completed the treatment, and 97 percent were admitted into the Aware Recovery Care In-Home Addiction Treatment (IHAT) program, with 88 percent remaining abstinent 90 days post-IHWM. The average length of stay in IHWM was six days.

"In-Home Withdrawal Management is a unique, one-of-a-kind service created to eliminate all barriers to detox. It allows clients who meet criteria to safely and effectively detox in the comfort of their own homes, avoiding pathogens that they may be exposed to in a facility, and averting the trauma of leaving loved ones for essential treatment of the disease," said Dr. Shelley Halligan, VP Integrated Health Services for Aware Recovery Care. "We are honored to serve those suffering from this chronic disease in Indiana and proud to be part of Anthem's strategy to treat those in need."

IHWM provides access to in-home detox, increasing the continuity of care when patients initially enter the Aware program. As patients dependent on substances such as alcohol, opiates, or benzodiazepines may require a medically supervised withdrawal, Aware has developed evidence-based protocols and training to ensure flexible treatment that is tailored to each patient's unique needs.

"There's no one-size-fits-all solution to treating substance use disorder, and that's why Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield works closely with healthcare providers to build new programs that increase access to various types of treatment in the state," said David Lee, M.D., vice-president of provider solutions for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana. "We're proud to provide coverage of Aware's new in-home withdrawal management program for our members and offer another evidence-based program to improve care for our Indiana consumers with substance use disorder."

Aware commits to extend its IHWM and IHAT services to additional states so that people who want to recover can do so from their own homes, safely.

About Aware Recovery Care:

Aware Recovery Care provides team-based In-Home Addiction Treatment (IHATTM) in Indiana, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Florida, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The IHAT model has been validated by years of patient outcomes and health plan data, demonstrating that the home is the optimal modality for most patients seeking recovery from substance use disorders. Aware Recovery Care is an in-network provider for Anthem. For more information, please visit www.awarerecoverycare.com.

Contact: Peter Gold / [email protected] / 860.874.7743

SOURCE Aware Recovery Care
KATY, Texas, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Azure Midstream Energy ("Azure Midstream"), a natural gas midstream company operating in North Louisiana and East Texas, announced today that it has closed on its sale to Clearfork Midstream. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Clearfork Midstream partnered with EnCap Flatrock Midstream ("EFM") for the transaction. Investment banking firm Jeffries served as sole financial advisor and Porter Hedges LLC served as corporate counsel to Azure Midstream.

"We are delighted to complete this transaction and looking forward to building upon the work Chip and his team have accomplished," said Kipper Overstreet, Clearfork CEO.

"I have known Mr. Overstreet for over a decade, and I can think of no finer example of the strong leadership needed to develop these assets to the next level," Azure CEO Mr. Berthelot said. "I have the utmost confidence in Clearfork and EFM and their ability to maximize value while maintaining the safety-first culture we developed at Azure."

Azure was founded in 2012 by veteran industry professional, I.J. "Chip" Berthelot, II, who brings a two-decade record of successful deals with over $2 billion in assets transacted. Berthelot successfully founded, financed, developed, operated, and sold multiple natural gas midstream companies including Laser Midstream Company, Laser Northeast Gathering Company, and now Azure Midstream.

"I am deeply grateful to our investors, team and other stakeholders who supported us through this challenging decade for the industry," said Mr. Berthelot. "I especially appreciate our bank group currently lead by Capital One who stood behind us and worked creatively with us every step of the way, and Latham & Watkins LLP, who provide legal advice on our credit related transactions."

At Azure, Mr. Berthelot built a team of industry veterans including Chief Operating Officer,

John Loiacono, Chief Financial Officer, Mandy Bush, Vice President of Business Development,

Jay Carter and Vice President of Commercial Operations, David Garrett. Together they have over a century of combined experience in the energy industry and worked together as a cohesive, collaborative unit through the most severe downturn in the last two decades.

The team is now positioned to solely focus on Laser Midstream Energy, LLC, the latest entrepreneurial undertaking cofounded by Mr. Berthelot and team. Laser has reloaded with longtime private equity partner, Energy Spectrum, and is "hitting the ground running" in pursuit of both acquisitions and gas infrastructure development deals.

For more information about Mr. Berthelot's next venture, please visit: http://www.laser3.com

Azure Midstream

Azure Midstream's natural gas gathering and treating platform spans the core areas of the Haynesville Shale formation and includes more than 500 miles of pipeline and 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of treating capacity across systems in North Louisiana and East Texas. Azure Midstream has nine downstream interconnects offering access to major market hubs, including Henry Hub, Houston Ship Channel/Katy, Carthage, Columbia Gulf Mainline, Perryville and Agua Dulce (via TETCO and NGPL). The Haynesville natural gas play is well positioned with proximity to large end-use markets and the growing U.S. Gulf Coast LNG export complex.

Clearfork Midstream

Based in Fort Worth, Clearfork is a growth-oriented midstream company that was formed in 2020 to provide comprehensive midstream solutions for oil and gas producers in basins across North America, with a specific emphasis on unconventional natural gas production in the Haynesville/Bossier Shale formation in North Louisiana and East Texas.

For more information, please visit https://clearforkmidstream.com/

Contact:

Clearfork Midstream

[email protected]

SOURCE Azure Midstream
DULUTH, Ga., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Blanton, the founder and chairman of CINC Systems, has been recognized as one of the Georgia TItan 100, a premier honor for business leaders. The honor was announced Feb. 22, 2022.

"This is a well-deserved honor for a true pioneer," said Ryan Davis, Chief Executive Officer at CINC Systems. "Bill's expertise in technology, real estate, and banking allowed him to identify a need for comprehensive software to help homeowner (HOA) and condominium associations management companies to better serve their communities.

Beyond being a visionary, he's also an incredible mentor, and is directly responsible for the career growth of many influential leaders within the industry."

As a third-generation banker, Mr. Blanton recognized the value of homeowners associations to financial institutions. His desire to develop better community experiences is why he launched CINC Systems in 2005 - the first internet-based solution for accounting and property management in the industry. The company still sets itself apart with deepest bank integrations of any software in the industry. Those integrations create numerous efficiencies for the HOA management companies utilizing CINC.

"Because of Mr. Blanton's leadership, CINC Systems has built a client base that is incredibly loyal and grateful for the ways in which the company has helped them grow their management business," said Mike Farrell, Managing Director of Spectrum Equity. "It's one of the many reasons why we invested in Bill and CINC Systems."

The Titan 100 is a premier program that recognizes 100 CEOs and C-level executives in various regions, including Colorado, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Georgia. The Titans of industry are selected based on their leadership, vision, passion, and influence within their field. The select group of Titans are recognized in various publications and have the opportunity to connect with one another through private events and roundtables.

"Those who are chosen in the Georgia Titan 100 represent an incredible group of leaders who are making a huge impact," said Darren Pettapiece, Program Manager at TITAN CEO. "I'm very excited that we were able to showcase Mr. Blanton through his leadership at CINC Systems."

About CINC Systems

CINC Systems is the largest provider of SaaS solutions for the community association industry. Founded in 2005, CINC Systems became the industry's first Internet-based integrated accounting and property management system. CINC Systems is backed by founder Bill Blanton, a third-generation banker, and Spectrum Equity. The company serves more than 20,000 homeowners associations and 2 million homes. Learn more at www.cincsystems.com .

Resources

Learn more about CINC Systems here

Connect with us on social: LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook

, , and Meet the CINC Systems leadership team here

SOURCE CINC Systems
Bridgeway Academy is pleased to announce its accreditation status granted by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC Tweet this

"Receiving WASC accreditation displays Bridgeway Academy's commitment to outstanding educational programming and academic excellence," said Chris Hardin, Head of School. "We are honored to be recognized as meeting the requirements of (K-12) WASC accreditation and look forward to continuing to deliver our programs at the highest possible level for our students and families."

During its initial visit, the WASC visiting committee made note of the following aspects of Bridgeway Academy's commitment to excellence:

Highly supportive administrative teams empower all staff to go beyond expectations.

Highly qualified, dedicated teachers, advisors, and TAs support each student and their families.

Ample curricular choices allow families to meet their child's needs.

Intertwining mission, vision, and purpose within all aspects of the program and curriculum.

Innovative, rigorous, engaging, and challenging curriculum.

Meticulously reviewed areas of curriculum.

Individualized and supportive approach meets each student's needs, according to parents.

WASC accreditation validates the integrity of a school's program and transcripts and assures that the school's goals are appropriate and being accomplished through a viable education program. Furthermore, this accreditation is a certification that the school is a trustworthy institution of learning committed to continuous improvement, high-quality learning, and the wellbeing of all students.

In 2021, Bridgeway Academy's parent company, Edovate Learning Corp., received online course publisher accreditation from WASC. Read more here .

About Bridgeway Academy:

Bridgeway Academy is a proven, highly customized Pre-K-12th grade homeschooling option, combining the freedom of homeschooling with the expertise and support of education experts. Visit our website at: http://www.bridgewayacademy.com .

About WASC:

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is a world-renowned accrediting association and one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. To learn more, please visit the WASC website at www.acswasc.org or contact the WASC office directly.

SOURCE Bridgeway Academy
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Broad Street Realty, Inc. (OTCQX: BRST), a fully integrated and self-managed publicly owned real estate company, announced today the acquisition of Midtown Row in Williamsburg, Virginia for $122 million. The mixed-use property is a recently completed development comprised of 240 student housing units with 620 beds and a retail component of 63,573 square feet of gross leasable area.

The Midtown Row Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, and the Company expects to close the Midtown Row Acquisition by the end of the second quarter of 2022. There can be no assurances that these conditions will be satisfied or that the Company will complete the Midtown Row Acquisition on the terms described herein or at all.

"We are proud to further solidify our commitment to Midtown Row and the Williamsburg region with this acquisition," remarked Michael Z. Jacoby, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We have served as the development manager for Midtown Row and serve as the property manager and the leasing broker for the retail portion as well so this is truly a natural evolution."

Midtown Row is Broad Street Realty, Inc.'s fifth active property in Virginia and sixteenth within the overall portfolio.

For more information about Midtown Row or Broad Street Realty, Inc. visit www.broadstreetrealty.com.

About Broad Street Realty, Inc.

Broad Street Realty, Inc. is a fully integrated and self-managed real estate company that owns, operates, develops and redevelops primarily grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use properties in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Denver, Colorado markets. Broad Street is also a market-leading commercial real estate services firm that delivers cost-effective solutions for office, industrial and retail clients. The Company has extensive experience in tenant representation, landlord representation, property acquisition and disposition, real estate development, project/construction management, finance, strategic consulting, property management and asset management.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our estimates, expectations, predictions and forecasts of our future business plans and financial and operating performance and/or results, as well as statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. When we use the words "may," "should," "could," "would," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" or similar expressions or their negatives, as well as statements in future tense, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such information is necessarily subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of the Company's management. For a description of factors that may cause the Company's actual results or performance to differ from its forward-looking statements, please review the information under the heading "Risk Factors" included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

SOURCE Broad Street Realty, Inc.
Police Locate no evidence connecting Minister to prostitution; hold him in Prison for almost 3 years

TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - On April 1, 2015 Canada's National Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), arrested a Methodist Church Minister, and private school manager and principal, on charges of pimping, benefiting from prostitution, and acting as leader of an organized crime ring.

Immediately following his arrest, the RCMP held a national press conference publicly labeling Reverend Dae Gun Chun as the head of an Organized Crime Ring.

Following his arrest, Canadian courts refused to grant Reverend Chun bail multiple times. After the religious Minister spent more than 32 months in prison, the prosecuting lawyers were unable to find any evidence connecting Reverend Chun to any of the crimes he was charged with, and proceeded to release him from prison.

Canadian police refuse to explain why they targeted Reverend Chun, and Canadian government lawyers refuse to give explanation for keeping Reverend Chun in prison for almost 3 years while holding no evidence of his alleged wrongdoing.

SOURCE Northern Lights Preparatory College
ZURICH, Feb. 22, 2022 / PRNewswire/ -- Cloudname, the first-ever domain tokenization, fractionalization and trading platform, has announced that it will list its $CNAME token on cryptocurrency exchanges including PancakeSwap, DODO, MEXC and Gate.io. This comes after a successful Initial DEX Offering (IDO) on PolkaBridge, DODO and SynapseNetwork.

Below is the exchange listing schedule for $CNAME token.

PancakeSwap : 17:00 UTC on Feb. 22

: on DODO: 17:00 UTC on Feb. 22

on MEXC : 14:00 UTC on Feb. 24

: on Gate.io: 13:00 UTC on Feb. 26

For the first time, domainers can tokenize their portfolios, and unlock new opportunities in the domain investing market Tweet this Cloudname announces the listing of $CNAME token on PancakeSwap, DODO, MEXC and Gate.io

Some of the early partners of Cloudname include top crypto funds such as Ceras Ventures, YBB Foundation, DCI Group and FollowTheSeed. These players have backed successful projects such as Polkadot, Kava, Solana, Cropper, Cryowar, and a lot more.

Why Cloudname ($CNAME)?

Domain investing has been one of the internet's highest-yielding industries, with domain names resold for thousands of dollars. Consulting firm BCG estimated that dot-com (.com) domain names sell for an average of $2,000 each in the secondary market. Still, scads of domain names sell for several thousand and even millions of dollars.

However, the growth of the domain investing market is not reflective of the high potential returns on offer. That is primarily because of some inherent limitations in how the industry is currently set up.

Most of the easy-to-spot premium domains have been snagged by early investors. As a result, it is difficult for new investors with low investment capital to build high-value portfolios.

Domain investing is also a low-liquidity venture at present. Investors typically have to wait for months and sometimes years before finding the right offers for their domains. This limits the flow of capital into the space, as most retail investors cannot afford to lock up money in assets for too long.

The Cloudname domain trading platform was built to solve these challenges.

For the first time, domain investors will be able to tokenize and fractionalize their portfolios. This could provide new investors with low capital access to premium names such as one-word domains, which are considered the prime real estate of the internet. In the end, just about anyone will be able to build a portfolio of high-value names, a reality that is currently limited to the elites of the domain trading world.

Also, blockchain makes cross-border domain trading possible in real-time. First, this will provide investors with age-old portfolios exit opportunities. In addition, real-time domain trading could bring an end to the problem of low liquidity that has long plagued the domain investing space.

About Cloudname

Cloudname is a Web 3.0 marketplace for tokenizing, fractionalizing, investing and trading both traditional and blockchain domain names as NFTs. Cloudname provides simple, yet powerful tools for discovering new domain investment opportunities as well as meaningful data to help domainers make smart decisions.



CONTACT: Aniebiet Udokang, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Cloudname
BOSTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudZero, the leading cloud cost intelligence company, today announced a new, unique approach to allocating shared cloud cost, furthering their already robust capabilities for accurately mapping cloud spend to business metrics. This functionality adds an additional layer of precision and flexibility to CloudZero Dimensions , a proprietary, code-driven approach to allocating cloud spend. Unlike traditional shared cost allocation, which requires manual apportioning, CloudZero lets customers use telemetry to represent customer utilization  dynamically allocating spend and producing truly accurate results.

"Accounting for shared costs has been one of the great unsolved problems of our industry  with most companies using spreadsheets to make estimates," said Erik Peterson, CTO and founder of CloudZero. "We're excited to offer a solution that's based on real-time utilization data. It's completely dynamic and lets teams realize all the benefits of shared infrastructure without having to account for it by hand."

This new offering solves an acute pain point for many companies. According to the "State of FinOps Report 2021," an annual survey of financial operations professionals, "dealing with shared cost" is the industry's second most common challenge. Adopting cloud-native infrastructure, such as containers and Kubernetes, only compounds the challenge. With resources shared across systems, traditional tagging cannot dynamically allocate the costs associated with shared or multi-tenant systems. CloudZero's approach goes beyond tagging and allows users to organize any cost with resource and container metadata, as well as telemetry. This means users can view their spend in any way that makes sense for their business.

"Our previous solution was good at looking at resource tags  like every cost solution is  but CloudZero helped us to easily and accurately map cost to our products," said Brian Morehead, vice president of cloud operations at Malwarebytes. "Working with CloudZero has enabled our product and engineering teams to understand the costs for their respective products  empowering them to make cost-conscious decisions and share responsibility in managing the expense."

CloudZero's shared cost allocation is generally available now. For more information, visit cloudzero.com .

About CloudZero

CloudZero is the cloud cost intelligence platform that puts spend into the context of your business. By aligning engineering, infrastructure, and finance teams around metrics like cost per product feature, customer, and development team, CloudZero enables better strategic decisions, improved unit economics, and efficient spending. Trusted by top cloud-driven companies like Rapid7, Ping Identity, and Malwarebytes, CloudZero works with organizations of all sizes to take the next steps toward cloud cost maturity. Visit cloudzero.com to get started today.

SOURCE CloudZero
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year Hollywood-based Color Intelligence garnered significant attention in the filmmaking community when it released Colourlab Ai v1.0. Never before had Ai been used so effectively to radically improve the professional color grading process.

Colourlab Ai Look Designer in Colourlab Ai

Today the company is releasing the public beta of version 2.0 with major new features and an entirely new user interface created with the goal of making the color grading process faster, easier and more accessible for all content creators. In addition to the existing deep integration with DaVinci Resolve, Colourlab Ai v2.0 adds support for both Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut Pro.

There are also new subscription pricing options including Colourlab Ai Pro and the more affordable Colourlab Ai Creator.

Dado Valentic | Founder/CEO | Color Intelligence: "Our mission has always been to make the color grading process more creative and accessible for everyone. Legacy color grading tools are complex  requiring significant experience and skill to get Hollywood-quality results. Artificial Intelligence enables creators to spend more time on the creative aspects of their craft. With this v2.0 release, we have focussed on making an app that empowers creators  regardless of their level of experience with color."

In addition to the new key features, there are many general improvements including optimizations to the Cinematic Neural Engine and color matching functionality as well as overall speed and performance improvements building on capabilities of Apple's M1X processor.

Tune in on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 2:22 PM EST for the livestream with Dado Valentic demonstrating Colourlab Ai v2.0  HERE

New Key Features

- Timeline Intelligence

Dynamically sort shots based on their similar image characteristics using revolutionary Ai-based analysis from the Cinematic Neural Engine. This enables creators to work exponentially faster by "auto-sorting" shots together that require the same color grade.

- Adobe Premiere & Apple Final Cut Pro Integration

Seamlessly round trip timelines directly from Apple and Adobe professional editing systems. Users can now non-destructively color grade with Colourlab.ai even while they are still editing. Combined with traditional controls like Printer Lights and Lift Gamma Gain, Premiere and Final Cut Pro users can now benefit from a full color-managed pipeline.

- Ai Powered Auto Color

Leverage the Ai-based image analysis of Colourlab Ai's cinematic neural network to facilitate a "one-click" color adjustment with consistent and superior results across your entire project. This feature can reduce the work of a dailies colorist to a single click and save countless hours on projects with extreme shooting ratios like reality-based content.

- Color Tune

This unique and intuitive toolset that presents users with visual grading options will enable users to more quickly fine-tune color. Color adjustments are simple, fast and easy.

- Show Look Library

Colourlab Ai 2 ships with a new Show Look Library. Show Looks combine 3D LUTs with the parametric meta-data of Color Intelligence's Look Designer technology, allowing you to easily modify and create variations and leverage the film stock emulations included in Look Designer. You can also import any 3D LUTs and it will be converted into a Show Look that can be further edited in Look Designer.

- Smart LUTs

What if a color "preset" or "filter" was intelligent? What if it was parametric and could be adjusted and changed? What if it was content aware? Colourlab Ai 2 introduces Smart LUTs. Beyond a 3D LUT, Smart LUTs contain parametric values that can be adjusted in Look Designer and they also contain a unique content fingerprint created from reference frames for use with Colourlab Ai's cinematic neural network. Colourlab Ai 2 comes preloaded with a selection of stunning Smart LUTs to get users started. Users can also use Look Designer to modify these Smart LUTs in Look Designer and can even create a Smart LUT from any still image reference.

- Improved Camera Matching

Instantly color match shots from different cameras in a full color-managed pipeline. When working with multi-cam projects, Colourlab Ai's built-in camera profiles combined with it's AI-based Color Matching will save hours of manual image tweaking.

Pricing and Availability

With the Version 2.0 release, Colourlab Ai is now offered at two subscription levels.

Colourlab Creator

- Includes full Ai functionality

- Subscription for $129/year

Colourlab Pro

- Includes Look Designer, Tangent device control, SDI video output, and DaVinci Resolve integration.

- Subscription for $39/month, $99/quarter, $299/year or $599 for a Perpetual license.

Both versions come with a fully functional 7-day trial. Currently available only for macOS and fully optimized for Mac computers with Apple silicon. Windows version coming later this year.

All software product inquiries please contact:

Sales: [email protected]

Technical: [email protected]

For more information please visit the Color Intelligence website .

Press Contact:

Mark L. Pederson [email protected] 646-295-9070

About Color Intelligence

Color Intelligence creates revolutionary tools that leverage Artificial Intelligence to improve color grading, image processing and workflows for content creators and filmmakers. The company provides industry proven technologies  Colourlab, Look Designer and Grainlab software. These solutions have been deployed in the production of many television blockbuster franchises like Game of Thrones, Exodus, Marco Polo, and Jack Ryan as well as the popular rom-com movie Crazy Rich Asians.

Headquartered in Hollywood, California, Color Intelligence, Inc.Has created unique Ai-based technologies that are the culmination of years of research into human color perception, focusing on the impact that color has on our mind and emotions. The company is dedicated to transforming the tools and workflows used by all content creators and motion picture professionals.

The company's founders, Dado Valentic, Mark L. Pederson and Steve Bayes have over 80 years combined experience in professional motion picture post production and technology. Prominent clients include Activision Blizzard, Axis Studios, CBC, Comedy Central, Disney, Electronic Arts, Inc., HBO, Moving Picture Company, Netflix, NBC Universal, Warner Bros., Inc., Univision, YouTube, and many more.

 Copyright 2022 Color Intelligence, Inc. Learn more about Color Intelligence on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

SOURCE Color Intelligence
ROCKLEIGH, N.J., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crestron , the global leader in home automation, today announces new LED Light Fixtures created to meet the design, intelligence, elegance, and customization that homeowners demand. The new fully tunable light fixtures add real-time personalized lighting control into the Crestron Home operating system.

Crestron LED Light Fixtures - Product Finishes Crestron LED Light Fixtures - Lifestyle

Through the Crestron Home platform, homeowners have full control of the color of their lights including hue, saturation, color temperature, and intensity of light, or they can opt to synchronize Crestron's LED Light Fixtures with their natural circadian rhythm or utilize a Crestron SolarSync sensor to match the natural light outside. The SolarSync sensor is an outdoor sensor that communicates the outside color temperature to Crestron Home in real time.

"Lighting affects everything: mood, concentration, creativity and given the human need for health and wellness within our home, homeowners are looking to designers and technology providers for tunable LED lighting control to support this. Increased awareness of topics such as circadian rhythm, biophilia, and wellness are putting a focus on personal health as impacted by our surroundings. Crestron Home technology uniquely supports this market and can help professional designers and installers bring these coveted solutions to their customers," said John Clancy, Executive Vice President, Residential, Crestron.

With Crestron Home, it's incredibly easy for both homeowners and integrators to customize and make changes to lighting. Some examples of what you can do include:

Scene-based control - Set scenes for one-touch control and to suit an individual's preferences  Scenes can specify white light, colors, or can trigger circadian or SolarSync cycles. "One-touch warm Dim" or "One-touch Wellness" allows users to have favorites to toggle between at any time.

Easy to use whole home settings can be used for lighting to run on a homeowner's circadian rhythm, but this can be easily interrupted. For example, a Party scene could be selected to brighten lights, change colors during an event, and be easily de-selected back to the default after the event has ended. They can then switch to a dinner party scene turning off the circadian lighting but when switched back on, the setting syncs with where it should be, not with where it was turned off.

The new LED fixtures are also further customizable as a perfect addition to add focal points of light to any space in a home, such as a piece of treasured artwork, fireplace, nook, or kitchen island and that area will always have the optimal light temperature and color, regardless of other lighting in the home.

The modular design of the Crestron LED Light Fixtures makes them suitable for any room, giving unprecedented flexibility and control to complement every design or decor. Fixture options include adjustable, wall wash, fixed frame, pinhole fixtures, multiple enclosure possibilities, and square or round trims.

In tandem with the introduction of LED light fixtures, Crestron is also announcing the addition of 3rd party fixture manufactures to their partner program. Select fixtures from these partners will have native Crestron Home integration and as a result can take advantage of Crestron Home's industry-leading user experience for tunable lighting.

The LED market continues to see fragmentation and closed ecosystems that force designers and installers into proprietary solutions, limiting flexibility and choice, often forcing their customers to compromise on design or functionality. Crestron's fixture partner program addresses this challenge by establishing enabled fixtures across a wide variety of brands to integrate seamlessly into the Crestron Home platform.

"With 3rd party light fixture manufacturers partnering with Crestron for our LED Partner Program, we'll see a huge step forward in the architecture of intelligent and appealing LED light fixtures in addition to the numerous configurations available with the Crestron LED Light Fixture. Installers, designers, and homeowners will all be able to get what they want with flexible, reliable, and simple to deploy lighting solutions," noted Clancy.

In a Crestron Home system, the Crestron LED Light Fixtures work in harmony with all Crestron shading options including the newly announced battery powered shades to provide homeowners the ability to manage all aspects of lighting throughout their home. Crestron will be offering a variety of training on the topic of lighting, those interested in seeing Crestron's new LED Light Fixtures can see a demo at Crestron NEXT Road Trips. The fixtures are set to be available for the United States and Canada in Summer 2022.

Learn more at www.crestronhome.com

About Crestron

Crestron builds the technology that makes smart homes intelligent. After decades of leading the smart home category, no other company is better positioned to deliver the success dealers want and the experience clients demand. With Crestron Residential, homeowners get all the products, experience, security, and performance that Crestron technology promises to every aspect of every home. Crestron pioneered home automation and never stopped reinventing the smart home. Crestron products are backed by more than 90 fully-staffed offices that provide 24 x 7 x 365 sales, technical, and training support across the globe. In addition to its world headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Crestron has sales and support offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia. Discover Crestron at crestron.com.

All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. 2022 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

Crestron Press Contact

Caster Communications

O: 401-792-7080

[email protected]

SOURCE Crestron
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States is locked "in a political war to the death" and "American democracy hangs in the balance," U.S. news website Business Insider has reported, citing a retired U.S. federal judge.

J. Michael Luttig, who retired from the federal judiciary in 2006 but remained an influential figure in the conservative legal world, said he is deeply troubled by the Republican Party's attacks on American democracy.

"This feels like a seminal moment in America when all of what the country has witnessed and endured for these years seems to be building to volcanic crescendo," Luttig told the Los Angles Times. "We are in political war to the death -- with each other," he was quoted by Business Insider on Saturday as saying.

On Jan. 5, 2021, Luttig, at an indirect request of former Vice President Mike Pence, presented "a Twitter thread of legal analysis" explaining why Pence could not unilaterally overturn the 2020 U.S. election, as former President Donald Trump was pushing him to do, said the report.

"We Americans are, figuratively, at angry war with each other," Luttig tweeted on Jan. 7, a day after the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol last year.

"Our leaders seem incapable or unwilling to lead us in this moment when we need leadership most. If our leaders refuse to lead us to where we want to go and need to be, then we must go there ourselves -- and leave them behind," the former judge was quoted as saying. 
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curran Investment Management (CIM) has been awarded PSN Top Guns distinctions for their Curran Core Growth Equity strategy by Informa Financial Intelligence's PSN manager database, North America's longest running database of investment managers, period ending December 31, 2021.

"It's an honor to be recognized again by PSN's Top Guns. It's challenging to outperform while taking less risk than the benchmark index." ~ Kevin T. Curran, CFA, President, Curran Investment Management

Designations for Curran Investment Management's Curran Core Growth Equity Strategy Include:

Ranked #2 total return for a 5-year period in the 5-star and 6-star category among 146 firms and 244 products total within the Large Core Equity Universe.

Ranked #2 total return for a 5-year period in the 5-star category among 269 firms and 654 products total within the US Core Universe.

Ranked #5 total return for a 5-year period in the 6-star category among 269 firms and 654 products total within the US Core Universe.

Bull/Bear Master, ranked #3 within the Large Core Equity Universe among 146 firms and 244 products and #5 total return within the U.S Core Universe among 269 firms and 654 products

Top Gun firms are awarded a rating ranging from one to six stars, with the number of stars representing continued performance over time.

In the 6-star category the Curran Core Growth Equity Strategy had an r-squared of 0.80 or greater relative to the style benchmark for the recent five-year period. The top ten information ratios for the latest five-year period then become the 6 Star Top Guns.

To achieve a Bull/Bear Master ranking, managers must outperform their benchmark during periods of up markets and decline less than the benchmark during periods of down markets.

Top Guns rankings, recognize manager achievement and outperformance measured against their benchmarks. The complete list of PSN Top Guns can be located at Zephyr's PSN Universe Database.

CIM is a Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Albany, NY, serving both individual and institutional clients. CIM manages $587 million in assets.

For more information, visit www.curranllc.com

Past Performance does not guarantee future results. The information herein is considered to be obtained from reference sources deemed reliable. All Investments carry risks, including possible loss of principal.

Media Contact: Emma Pasquali

Firm: Curran Investment Management

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (518) 391-4285

SOURCE Curran Investment Management
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DALBAR is excited to announce that AIG Life & Retirement has earned DALBAR's Customer Experience Excellence Award for the third consecutive year. This award recognizes the work that AIG Life & Retirement has done to ensure an industry-leading customer experience across different service channels.

"AIG Life & Retirement continues to make an already great customer experience even better. Year after year, they are always striving for higher levels of customer servicedespite already being recognized for having the best variable annuity statements out there, having a top-ranked contact center and earning DALBAR Communications Seals for both traditional and mobile websites," explains DALBAR Director Brendan Yeager. "The superior standard of customer service being delivered by AIG Life & Retirement not only ensures a great experience for their annuity customers and distribution partners, it also lets their employees take pride in working for an organization that truly puts the customer first."

DALBAR invites all firms to check on their performance, as measured by DALBAR, by visiting their award winner page.

To earn the Customer Experience Excellence Award, AIG Life & Retirement underwent an extensive year-long audit across a variety of customer service channels which collectively comprise the majority of their customer interactions. Specifically, this included the annuity contact center, consumer-facing website, advisor web portal, mobile website and investor statement. All of these channels were judged against industry best practices and DALBAR's stringent award criteria.

DALBAR, Inc. has a 45-year history and is recognized by industry and government as an independent third-party expert in the business of providing audits, evaluations, ratings, and due diligence. DALBAR certifications are recognized as a mark of excellence in the financial services community.

SOURCE DALBAR, Inc.
This expansion and renovation is financed by an $88 million U.S. Department of Agriculture low-interest loan for rural development; $10 million from Greater Commercial Lending; and a Capital Fundraising Campaign by Deborah Hospital Foundation that has raised the necessary balance of funds. The Project will benefit all residents within Deborah's service areas.

DEBORAH100: The Project will bring a completely reimagined experience to patients and staff, with all aspects of the design focused on their comfort and convenience. "Deborah clinical and support staff were fully engaged in the planning of the new and renovated space," said Joseph Chirichella, President and CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center. "Our Facilities Team created a simulated patient room to the exact drawing specifications where staff was able to provide their suggestions for how the space should be designed. When completed, all patient rooms will be private, all new rooms will be critical care and isolation capable, and there will be a floor of dedicated respite space for staff with indoor and outdoor covered lounges as well as quiet rooms."

Deborah worked with Ewing Cole, Architects and Engineers, to plan for the expansion and renovation, and awarded a contract to Torcon, Inc., as the General Contractor for the job. New construction includes a three-story vertical addition to existing hospital space, having a total of 36 private patient rooms. Three existing patient care units will be renovated following the new construction, bringing the Hospital's total licensed bed count to 95. Also included are upgrades to the Hospital's cardiac catheterization labs, a new pharmacy clean-room, and new robotic technology in the electrophysiology labs. Throughout the new construction and renovations, the most advanced digital and electronic systems have been integrated.

"We are excited to begin this new construction," said Chirichella. "Building towards the future has always been a Deborah underpinning, and with our 100th anniversary this year, it is fitting that we are embarking on a bold new chapter in the Hospital's future."

Joseph Manni, Deborah Executive Vice President and COO, who is overseeing the project, added: "This project, which began prior to COVID, was aimed at increasing our total number of critical care beds, enhancing patient privacy and well-being, along with the well-being of our Clinical and Support Team. The Pandemic has served to reinforce our vision of these needs, and fortify our resolve to continue providing the highest quality cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular care in the region."

Deborah Heart and Lung Center is New Jersey's only specialty heart, lung, and vascular Hospital, and is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and national leader throughout its storied history. From performing the first open heart surgeries in New Jersey, to, today, running one of the highest volume Left-Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all-the-while never wavering from its founding mission, "There Is No Price On Life," which includes Deborah never having rendered a bill to a patient for 100 years.

"Unveiling new patient care units and modernizing existing space is an exciting anniversary present to share with the community," said Chirichella. "Deborah has long been a beacon of hope, research, innovation, and medical miracles that have saved hundreds of thousands of lives over the decades. All of this has been accomplished with our hallmark of kindness and compassion, and without causing financial distress to our patients."

"We are certain our patients and staff will be delighted in the new spaces we are creating for them. This new construction will continue to burnish and build Deborah's legacy long into the future."

SOURCE Deborah Heart and Lung Center
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deer Park Road Management Company ('Deer Park'), an alternative asset management firm, announced today that it has made a $125,000 donation to the Yampa Valley Housing Authority ('YVHA'). The purpose of the donation is to afford YVHA additional financial resources to develop a housing master plan for the 536-acre Brown Ranch and 11-acre south Steamboat Springs parcels recently donated to the YVHA.

"We are delighted to receive this donation from Deer Park in support of our affordable housing initiatives in the Yampa Valley," said Jason Peasley, Executive Director of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority. "As we announced last year, the donation of these two parcels of land offer a tremendous opportunity to address the affordable housing crisis in our community. Bringing on these additional resources to expand the Authority's capacity will enable us to meet our housing crisis head-on and make the best of these opportunity for our community."

"Deer Park Road is pleased to support the YVHA and its critical mission to address the affordable housing needs of Steamboat Springs and Yampa valley communities," said Scott Burg, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner of Deer Park. "As a business based in Steamboat, we recognize what a beautiful and unique mountain community we enjoy and one that we all wish to protect and preserve. A critical piece of preserving the culture and community is to enable all residents a safe, affordable place to call home within the community in which they work, live, and raise their families. We are gratified to assist YVHA in their efforts and look forward to the housing solutions they will bring to our community."

About Deer Park Road Management Company:

Deer Park Road Investment Management Company is an alternative asset management firm based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Deer Park was founded by Michael Craig-Scheckman in 2003 and currently has approximately $4.5 billion of assets under management. The Firm offers institutional and individual investors from around the globe a range of investment funds to meet their specific needs and objectives including, its flagship STS Master Fund, the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund (a daily liquidity mutual fund) and customized separately managed accounts (SMAs). For more information visit www.deerparkrd.com

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund. This and other important information about the Fund is contained in the Prospectus, which can be obtained by contacting your financial advisor, or by calling 1.888.868.9501. The Prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC and Deer Park Road Management Company are not affiliated.

6149-NLD-02042022

SOURCE Deer Park Road Management Company
"Partnering with MX is transformative in advancing our ongoing mission of financial inclusion for the underbanked and underserved," said Deposits.com CEO, Joseph Akintolayo. "Our goal is to eliminate the barriers to entry for digital banking, deliver exceptional experiences with money, and reshape the banking access narrative for underserved communities. As a Black founder, I celebrate Black History all year with a passion to ignite our financial futures. Our partnership with MX moves this future into the present."

According to the FDIC's How America Banks biennial survey, the average percentage of unbanked minority households is significantly higher than non-minority unbanked households  and as high as 13% and 14% in the Latino/Hispanic and Black American communities. Deposits.com, a member of the fintech equality coalition and African American credit union coalition, empowers community banks, credit unions, and community developers access to compete, without compromise, with national brands in the markets they serve.

"By creating a digital banking experience that will provide accurate, personalized financial advice for Black American and Latino communities, we're furthering the advancement of financial inclusion, a joint mission of MX and Deposits.com," said Jane Barratt, Chief Advocacy Officer at MX.

MX helps organizations everywhere connect to the world's financial data and turn raw, unstructured data into their most valuable asset to deliver intelligent and personalized money experiences for their customers. To learn more, visit: https://www.mx.com/financial-wellness/

About MX

MX, the financial data platform and leader in modern connectivity, helps organizations everywhere connect to the world's financial data and turn raw, unstructured data into their most valuable asset to deliver intelligent and personalized money experiences. MX connects more than 16,000 financial institutions and fintechs providing the industry's most reliable and secure data connectivity network. Additionally, MX powers 85% of digital banking providers, as well as thousands of banks, credit unions, and fintechs, with a combined reach of over 200 million consumers. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @MX or visit www.mx.com .

About Deposits.com

Deposits.com delivers cutting edge technology and unmatched CX to create the most welcoming home for consumer deposits and payments. Our low-code fintech platform seamlessly blends payments, software, and banking to level the playing field for community banks, credit unions, and community developers looking to deliver exceptional financial services to their members. Unlock the speed and scale necessary to compete with national brands and create a competitive advantage in your market with Deposits.com. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn Deposits.com or visit www.deposits.com .

Contact:

Tom Cook

[email protected]

SOURCE MX
Canada's leading dealer to dealer digital automotive auction creates the first end-to-end, cross-border solution, along with launching EBlock's Midwest marketplace

TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - E Automotive Inc. d/b/a E INC (TSX: EINC) (the "Company" or "E INC") and sub-brand, EBlock - announced today that it has acquired FastLane Auto Exchange ("FastLane"), an independent dealer only auction marketplace that transacted approximately 24,000 vehicles in 2021. FastLane is a midwest-focused, full-service auction marketplace located in Mount Morris, Michigan, 75 miles from Detroit and the Canadian border.

"The acquisition of FastLane Auto Exchange uniquely strengthens our wholesale marketplace, EBlock, in both Canada and the U.S., allowing it to offer the only cross-border dealer to dealer digital auction platform with an end-to-end solution for cross-border buyers," said Jason McClenahan, President and CEO of E INC. "FastLane's relentless focus on its clients' changing needs is demonstrated by its strong hold in the U.S. Midwest. The acquisition expands our platform and enhances the customer experience and services we can offer as we continue to develop innovative and streamlined auction solutions."

Nearly 1 in 5 vehicles within EBlock's Canadian marketplace crosses the border to the U.S. and is re-sold through auctions, making FastLane's physical location prime real estate for enabling a seamless end-to-end experience for our buyers to resell vehicles once they have crossed the border. E INC management expects the transaction to be accretive to E INC immediately based on the margin profile of FastLane. EBlock intends to integrate FastLane's 70-acre facility, seasoned team and strong existing customer base as its initial foothold in the U.S. Midwest market. FastLane will be the anchor asset for EBlock to expand its reach by enabling digital dealer to dealer buying and selling, positioning EBlock for further expansion in the U.S. Midwest including the IA, IL, IN, MI, MO, MN, OH, WI markets and beyond.

"EBlock and FastLane share a dedication to the customers we serve, making this a big win for all," said FastLane's managing partner Greg Price. "EBlock has a proven track record for supporting the dealers' culture within the brick-and-mortar facility and empowering them with a digital marketplace that replicates live physical auctions in a completely virtual format. We are excited to join EBlock's highly experienced team and look forward to providing new digital options for our customers to accelerate growth in our market."

EBlock is ranked as one of the fastest growing technology companies in North America, earning a spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and holding in the top 50 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 in Canada.

About EBlock

EBlock, an E INC brand, provides a real-time dealer-to-dealer digital auction empowering today's most innovative dealerships and wholesalers to buy and sell inventory in less time on a platform that creates the same energy and urgency of a live auction. With set auction times, run lists, and cars bought and sold in 60-seconds, EBlock simulates the physical auction environment with a powerful end-to-end experience in a completely digital format. Find out more about EBlock at eblock.com.

About E INC

EBlock's publicly-traded parent company, E INC, is an automotive technology company on a mission to optimize the online vehicle buying, selling, and management experience.

About FastLane Auto Exchange

FastLane Auto Exchange is an independent dealer only automotive auction located on a 70-acre facility in Mount Morris Michigan serving the Midwest and beyond. Offering 8-lanes of auction activity, a state-of-the-art reconditioning facility, mechanical services, and an international title and remarketing program, FastLane is a full-service auction house for both US and Canadian clients. Through a family of previous auction owners, FastLane Auto Exchange has been the fastest growing auction in the Midwest over recent years and will celebrate its 44th anniversary in 2022. The family, customer-centric culture of FastLane Auto Exchange is apparent in a tenured, experienced staff of professionals.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding; integrating FastLane's business as EBlock's initial foothold and anchor asset in the U.S. Midwest market; future expansion and growth; and the extent to which the transaction is expected to be accretive. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or, "will", "occur" or "be achieved", and similar words or the negative of these terms and similar terminology. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information.

Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. This forward-looking information is based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered by the Company to be appropriate and reasonable as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the risk that the FastLane business will not perform in accordance with expectations and past history; the risk that FastLane may not be efficiently integrated or that synergies will not be realized; and those other risks discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of our initial public offering prospectus, which is available under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

SOURCE E Automotive Inc.
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Analysts at TMR estimate the enhanced oil recovery market to reach the valuation of US$ 80.5 Bn by 2031. The burgeoning demand for oil & gas for industrial, commercial, and domestic use is compelling to employ enhanced oil recovery methodologies in mature oil wells. Players in the enhanced oil recovery market are focused on recovery and extension of the production of mature oil fields by using enhanced oil recovery technologies.

Factors such as increasing number of aged wells and declining production from existing oilfields are fueling the adoption of enhanced oil recovery methodologies. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a tertiary method employed after primary and secondary oil recoveries to extract crude oil production from mature and aged oil fields. EOR increases penetrability of the reservoir so that hydrocarbons can move through the pathways easily, and can be recovered in the respective targeted oil well. The use of enhanced oil recovery method enables 35% to 75% recovery of oil from oil fields against 5% to 15% and 20% to 60% from primary and secondary recovery methods, respectively.

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North America is a key region in the enhanced oil recovery market. Tax benefits and subsidies offered by governments are attracting oil companies to adopt enhanced oil recovery methodologies. Furthermore, initiatives in the exploration of unconventional oil resources in the Gulf of Mexico along, and continuous exploration of shale reserves in the U.S. are fueling the expansion of the enhanced oil recovery market in the region.

Enhanced Oil Recovery Market  Key Findings of Report

Initiatives for the exploration of heavy oil reserves in Canada , Mexico , China , Venezuela , and Colombia are fueling the adoption of enhanced oil recovery methodologies. Rapid decline in conventional light oil is leading to the adoption of enhanced oil recovery technologies for the exploration of heavy oil reserves that are predominantly present in Canada and Venezuela .

, , , , and are fueling the adoption of enhanced oil recovery methodologies. Rapid decline in conventional light oil is leading to the adoption of enhanced oil recovery technologies for the exploration of heavy oil reserves that are predominantly present in and . Thermal injection technology is widely used in heavy oil reservoirs to extract huge amount of heavy crude oil. Thermal injection technology uses hot water and steam, and reduces the temperature of heavy viscous oil that cannot flow on its own.

In-situ combustion and steam injection are commonly used thermal injection methodologies for enhanced oil recovery

Steam assisted gravity drainage and cyclic steam simulations are key types of steam injection methods that are majorly used on oil sands. Initiatives for further recovery of shale gas from newly found reserves are driving the expansion of the steam segment of enhanced oil recovery market.

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CO2 injection technique is emerging attractive in the enhanced oil recovery method. The technique uses CO2 released in the atmosphere via power generation and industrial sector to extract crude oil, which would otherwise pollute the environment.

Advantages of environment conservation of oil recovered via CO2 injection technology is favoring the adoption of the technique. Theoretically, CO2 obtained from the air or from combustion of biomass if injected in sufficient quantities could even lead to negative emissions oil recovery. Hence, CO2 injection favors the growth of the EOR market.

Role of governments in North America to provide financial incentives and tax benefits is supporting the growth of enhanced oil recovery market in the region

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Enhanced Oil Recovery Market  Growth Drivers

Exploding demand for oil and gas for operational needs of industrial, commercial, and domestic processes fuels the growth of enhanced oil recovery market

Attractiveness of the CO2 injection technique to capture CO2 discharged during industrial processes and use it to extract crude oil favors adoption of enhanced oil recovery methodologies

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Enhanced Oil Recovery Market  Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the enhanced oil recovery market are;

Cenovus Energy Inc.

BP Plc

ExxonMobil Corporation

Statoil ASA

Chevron Corporation

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Royal Dutch Shell Plc

The enhanced oil recovery market is segmented as follows;

Enhanced Oil Recovery Market, by Technology

Thermal

Gas

Chemical

Enhanced Oil Recovery Market, by Region

North America

U.S.



Canada



Europe



Germany



U.K.



Russia & CIS

& CIS

Norway



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



Australia



India



ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa

Energy & Natural Resources Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Energy & Natural Resources:

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microbial-enhanced-oil-recovery-market.html

Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/chemical-enhanced-oil-recovery-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

Contact

Mr. Rohit Bhisey

Transparency Market Research

State Tower,

90 State Street,

Suite 700,

Albany NY - 12207

United States

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/enhanced-oil-recovery.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
EBS' intellectual property portfolio can withstand the scrutiny of challenge even before the EPO. Tweet this

EBS Chairman & CEO Stephen Gatto discussed the opposition: "We are very pleased with the outcomea total winthe Opposition Division upheld all of the original claims in the issued patent. This decision protects EBS' ability to commercialize its amino acid formulations designed to address radiation-induced pulmonary conditions. Our technology addresses a long sought unmet need by providing a therapy that prevents and/or treats radiation-induced complications that can lead to debilitating and fatal conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis. This is a multibillion-dollar market worldwide, of which Europe represents a large market share."

Gatto explained that this win reinforces the strength of our entire global family of patents and patent applications in the lung irradiation-induced damage program and demonstrates that EBS' intellectual property portfolio can withstand the scrutiny of challenge even before the EPO, one of the most demanding patent offices in the world.

Gatto added that this decision demonstrates EBS's resolve to rigorously defend its intellectual property. "We have a strong IP team to combat these challenges and will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to win."

In addition to this capstone ruling by the EPO in Q4 of 2021, EBS's intellectual property position was greatly strengthened in 2021 by the issuance of US Patent Number 10,940,137 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office relating to our exclusively licensed technology in amino acid formulations for gastrointestinal indications.

About Entrinsic Bioscience

Entrinsic Bioscience (EBS) is a pioneering life science company that combines its proprietary IP platform and discovery engine to deliver patented next generation therapeutic compositions, functional ingredients, and product innovations designed to provide multiple consumer health and wellness benefits. Through proprietary bio-mapping and electrophysiology techniques, the EBS platform harnesses the body's natural processes to restore, protect, and enhance health and wellness.

Contact: Joe Del Regno, [email protected]

SOURCE entrinsic bioscience
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rise in demand for different types of vehicles from across the globe is projected to create promising revenue gain prospects in the global commercial vehicle steering column market. Hence, the market is projected to register growth at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2032, according the research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR).

Major companies operating in logistics and transportation industries are inclining toward the use of vehicles that offer next-gen and cost-effective solutions, which can help enterprises to increase their efficiency, thereby boosting their revenues. As a result, many automakers globally are using power steering systems in their vehicles, states TMR report on the global commercial vehicle steering column market. Hence, the expansion of logistics and transportation industries is prognosticated to create substantial business prospects in the market.

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The commercial vehicle steering column market is estimated to gain profitable avenues in Asia Pacific due to many factors, including presence of several emerging economies and increase in the production & sales of commercial vehicles in countries. Moreover, the regional market is expected to be driven by increase in the number of R&D projects, which are focused on the development of technologically advanced steering column systems. Furthermore, rapid expansion of construction industry and increase in industrialization in many regional nations are fueling the demand for commercial vehicles, which, in turn, is creating lucrative opportunities in the Asia Pacific commercial vehicle steering column market.

Commercial Vehicle Steering Column Market: Key Findings

 Increase in industrialization has resulted in rise in the need of transportation of different products manufactured by varied industrial sectors, including steel, energy, food & beverage, and construction materials. Hence, the demand for heavy commercial vehicles has been increased tremendously in the past few years. Thus, rise in sales of such vehicles is propelling the global commercial vehicle steering column market.

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Players in the commercial vehicle steering column market are increasing focus on incorporating next-gen technologies in their products in order to stay competitive. For instance, several enterprises are offering electro-hydraulic steering systems that provide speed-dependent steering support together with active reverse abilities. These systems are gaining immense popularity, owing to their ability to allow automated driving functions, notes a TMR report on the global commercial vehicle steering column market.

Vehicles with custom commercial steering columns are being increasingly adopted across countries with extreme temperature conditions, owing to striking designs and minimum maintenance requirements of custom commercial steering columns. Hence, rise in demand for such advanced vehicles across many countries with hot climates (such as Australia & Middle East ) and nations with sub-zero temperatures (including Canada ) is estimated to propel the commercial vehicle steering column market.

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Commercial Vehicle Steering Column Market: Growth Boosters

Increase in sales of commercial vehicles due to rising transportation and logistics activities is bolstering the global market

Surge in demand for heavy load carrying capacity trucks for construction and mining activities is estimated to propel the global commercial vehicle steering column market

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Commercial Vehicle Steering Column Market: Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are:

Continental AG

Bosch Germany

C.O.B.O International

Denso Corporation

Italy

Delphi Automotive PLC

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA

Knorr-Bremse AG

NSK

ThyssenKrupp

JTEKET Corporation

TRW Automotive

Commercial Vehicle Steering Column Market Segmentation

Column Type

Adjustable Steering Columns

Non-adjustable Steering Columns

Vehicle Type

Class 6 (GVWR - 19,501 to 26,000 pounds)

Class 7 (GVWR - 26,001 to 33,000 pounds)

Class 8 (GVWR - Above 33,000 pounds)

Sales Channel

OEM

OES

Aftermarket

Steering System

Manual Worm & Roller Steering System

& Roller Steering System Power Steering System

Manual Recirculating Ball & Nut Steering System

Manual Rack and Pinion Steering System

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

& Latin America

Browse Latest Automotive & Transport Industry Research Reports by TMR:

Car Powertrain Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/car-powertrain-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/car-powertrain-market.html Automotive Electronic Power Steering Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-electronic-power-steering-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-electronic-power-steering-market.html Automotive Electric Power Steering Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-electric-power-steering-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

Contact :

Mr Rohit Bhisey

Transparency Market Research

State Tower,

90 State Street,

Suite 700,

Albany NY - 12207

United States

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]

Follow Us: Twitter | LinkedIn

Blog: https://tmrblog.com

Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Press Release: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/commercial-vehicle-steering-column-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
NEW YORK and HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amberwave Partners (Amberwave)  an asset manager developing financial products based on U.S. jobs, security, and growth (JSG)  today announced the formation of the company's Economic Advisory Board. Its members include leading economists with wide-ranging experience in financial markets and policymaking at the highest levels.

"As Amberwave continues to grow, our Economic Advisory Board will help guide us in developing a financial ecosystem based on jobs, security, and growth while also striving to deliver positive results for our investors," Amberwave Co-Founder Stephen Miran said. "These distinguished individuals bring enormous wisdom and experience that will help us accomplish our goal of investing in companies that make a positive impact for the United States."

Amberwave implements its JSG investing strategy through its exchange traded fund, the Amberwave Invest USA JSG Fund (iUSA/NYSE: $IUSA). Amberwave's Economic Advisory Board members help iUSA direct investors' savings toward companies that are most supportive of JSG, supporting communities across the country and driving JSG-specific returns.

Amberwave's Economic Advisory Board members are:

DR. DANIEL P. AHN

Daniel P. Ahn is a managing director, chief U.S. economist, and head of Markets 360  North America at BNP Paribas in New York. He is also a non-residential Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Until 2018, he was the Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, where he advised the Secretary of State and senior principals on a wide range of international economic and security topics relevant to U.S. foreign policy.

Prior to entering public service in 2014, Dr. Ahn was the chief economist for Energy and Commodities at Citigroup in New York and held senior positions at Citadel, Barclays Capital, and Lehman Brothers. He has held research and teaching positions at Harvard University, the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Columbia University. He is the author of Principles of Commodity Economics and Finance, from MIT Press.

He completed his A.B. in economics and finance with honors from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

THE HONORABLE MICHAEL FAULKENDER

Michael Faulkender is the Dean's Professor of Finance at University of Maryland Smith School of Business. He joined the University of Maryland in 2008 and was the Associate Dean of Masters Programs in 2017 and 2018. Dr. Faulkender left that role in 2019 to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he advised the Secretary of the Treasury on domestic and international economic issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped negotiate the CARES Act and led the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). He was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Award for Distinguished Leadership, the highest service award granted at Treasury.

Dr. Faulkender's research lies at the intersection of financial economics and public policy, including the job impacts of the PPP, corporate capital structure, risk management, corporate liquidity, and executive compensation. His work has been published in top academic finance journals and has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, among others.

Dr. Faulkender holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Northwestern and a B.S. in Managerial Economics from UC Davis. He has also served as a faculty member at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, and the Olin School at Washington University in St. Louis.

LORD MERVYN KING

Mervyn King served as Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013. He was knighted (GBE) in 2011, made a life peer in 2013, and appointed by The Queen as a Knight of the Garter in 2014. He is Lord King of Lothbury, KG, GBE, FBA.

Lord King is the Alan Greenspan Professor of Economics and Professor of Law at New York University and Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. In 2016 he published The End of Alchemy. With a new preface, it appeared in paperback in 2017. His new book (with John Kay), Radical Uncertainty, was published in March 2020.

Born in 1948, Lord King studied at King's College, Cambridge and taught at Cambridge and Birmingham Universities before acting as a visiting professor at both Harvard University and MIT. From October 1984, he was Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, where he founded the Financial Markets Group. He is a member of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee.

PROFESSOR KELLY SHUE

Kelly Shue is a Professor of Finance at the Yale School of Management. Her research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and finance.

Dr. Shue's works have been featured in numerous media outlets including Bloomberg, NPR, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and she has been awarded the AQR Insight Award, the Exeter Prize, the Wharton-WRDS Award, and the UBS Global Asset Management Award.

Dr. Shue serves as a director of the European Finance Association, an associate editor at the Journal of Finance and the Journal of Financial Economics, and previously served as an editor at the Review of Finance and at Management Science.

Before joining Yale, Professor Shue taught MBA Corporate Finance at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics and an A.B. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.

ABOUT AMBERWAVE PARTNERS

On January 20, 2022, Amberwave launched its first exchange traded fund, the Amberwave Invest USA JSG Fund (iUSA/NYSE: $IUSA), to drive impact investment centered on the universal priorities of supporting American jobs, security, and growth (JSG), an emerging asset management ecosystem strategically designed to help enhance the lives of all Americans and their communities.

The Amberwave team was co-founded and is led by Dan Katz, Stephen Miran, and Thomas Emanuel Dans, CFA  three financial professionals with decades of combined experience in markets who also formerly served as senior officials at the U.S. Treasury Department, where they assisted in the design and implementation of trillions of dollars in economic relief during the pandemic.

iUSA is available to investors through most individual brokerage firms.

To learn more about Amberwave Partners and JSG investing, visit their website at amberwavepartners.com.

Important Disclosure: While the shares of ETFs are tradeable on secondary markets, they may not readily trade in all market conditions and may trade at significant discounts in periods of market stress. ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF's net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective.

Investors should consider the investment objective, risks, and charges and expenses of the Fund(s) before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund(s) and should be read carefully before investing. The prospectus may be obtained at http://www.jsgfunds.com/iusa-etf.

Media Contact: Tyler Hernandez - [email protected]

SOURCE Amberwave Partners
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- 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. 
HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK), a leader in technology-driven, specialty green chemistry solutions, will host a conference call on Thursday March 10, at 3:30 p.m. CST (4:30 p.m. EST) to discuss the recently-announced agreement with ProFrac Holdings, LLC ("ProFrac") that, upon closing, would significantly expand the long-term supply agreement with one of ProFrac's affiliates.

Participants may access the call through Flotek's website at www.flotekind.com under "Webcasts'' or by telephone at 1-844-835-9986 approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. Following the conclusion of the conference call, a recording of the call will be available on the Company's website.

About Flotek Industries, Inc.

Flotek Industries, Inc. creates solutions to reduce the environmental impact of energy on air, water, land and people. A technology-driven, specialty green chemistry and data company, Flotek helps customers across industrial, commercial, and consumer markets improve their Environmental, Social, and Governance performance. Flotek's Chemistry Technologies segment provides sustainable, optimized chemistry solutions that maximize our customer's value by elevating their ESG performance, lowering operational costs, and delivering improved return on invested capital. The Company's proprietary green chemistries, specialty chemistries, logistics, and technology services enable its customers to pursue improved efficiencies and performance throughout the life cycle of its desired chemical applications program. Major integrated oil and gas companies, oilfield services companies, independent oil and gas companies, national and state-owned oil companies, geothermal energy companies, solar energy companies and advanced alternative energy companies benefit from best-in-class technology, field operations, and continuous improvement exercises that go beyond existing sustainability practices. Flotek is a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK." For additional information, please visit www.flotekind.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of tile Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding Flotek Industries, Inc.'s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as will, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated performance under the long-term supply agreement, the potential value of the long-term supply agreement, the consideration for the long-term supply agreement, and the closing of the contemplated transactions. Although forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to management. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact the company are set forth in the Company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (including, without limitation, in the "Risk Factors" section thereof), and in the Company's other SEC filings and publicly available documents. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect, any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release.

Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It

The Company intends to file a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the transaction described in the press release, and will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the transaction, and it is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect to the transaction. The Company's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement, the amendments thereto, and the definitive proxy statement in connection with the Company's solicitation of proxies for the special meeting to be held to approve the transaction, as these materials will contain important information about the Company and the transaction. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to the Company's stockholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the transaction. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Flotek Industries, Inc., 8846 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Houston, TX 77064. Attention: Investor Relations, ([email protected]).

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of the Company's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The Company's stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of the Company in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and in the Company's other SEC filings. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to the Company's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction when available. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement that the Company intends to file with the SEC.

SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Planning and Analysis, (SPA) Inc., is pleased to announce that Steve Landau has joined the company as Chief Engineer and Director for Naval Undersea Systems.

In a career spanning more than 33 years with the Department of Navy Strategic Systems Program (SSP) culminating with his assignment as the Chief Engineer, Mr. Landau had direct responsibility for weapon system engineering, top-level specifications and requirements, technical policies and disciplines, risk acceptance, and system authorization and safety. In addition, Mr. Landau was responsible for program execution under the United StatesUnited Kingdom Polaris Sales Agreement. Named to the Senior Executive Service in 2005, Mr. Landau oversaw Emerging Missions and Payload Integration business lines. In 2009, Mr. Landau began managing all SSP activities to design a Common Missile Compartment with the United Kingdom and to integrate the Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapons System into the COLUMBIA SSBN construction program.

In his new position with SPA, Mr. Landau will focus on enhancing SPA's portfolio supporting the Navy's undersea community and national nuclear deterrent programs.

"Steve Landau brings extraordinary depth of experience, technical expertise, and customer understanding, strengthening our high quality services," commented Dr. William Vantine, SPA President and CEO. "We're excited to welcome him as SPA continues its 50-year history of dedicated support to the Navy's undersea community and its mission of global security."

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. is a premier international provider of innovative and leading-edge solutions in support of complex National Security programs and defense priorities. SPA's capabilities include Advanced Analytics, Software Tool Development, System Engineering, Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and Program Management. SPA employees are subject matter experts in numerous domains, including Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Intelligence Community, Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Nuclear Deterrence Policy, Safety and Security; Defense Industrial Base; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Cybersecurity policy; and Hypersonics.

SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.
FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Foxit, a leading provider of innovative PDF products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents, announced Foxit PDF Editor has been named to G2's 2022 Best Software Awards , placing 4th on the Top Office Products list and was also included on the Top Global Sellers list. Foxit PDF Editor was selected based on the solution's focus on innovation, affordability and security. G2 , operating a marketplace used by 60 million software buyers, is the online destination for businesses to reach their potential through software technology.

"We are honored to be recognized by G2 as a leader in the Office Products and Top Global Seller categories," said Frank Kettenstock, Chief Marketing Officer at Foxit. "This recognition acts as further validation and proof that Foxit PDF Editor is delivering unmatched flexibility, seamless integration and lower costs to help current and future customers take charge of their document processes."

"Simply put, G2 is where you go for software," said Godard Abel, co-founder and CEO, G2. "Our annual Best Software List aims to guide buyers on their purchasing decisions, knowing they can trust in the credibility and objectivity of our scoring algorithms. We applaud those companies named to our 2022 list, as they've earned the satisfaction among their customers as well as an impressive market presence."

The top 100 software sellers are ranked based on a combination of Satisfaction and Market Presence scores for each seller, and the top 100 products are ranked based on reviews across all categories they are a part of. To be included in one of G2's Software Sellers or Software Products "Best Of" lists, a software seller or product must receive at least 50 approved and published reviews during the 2021 calendar year. Scores reflect only data from reviews submitted during this evaluation period.

Foxit PDF Editor allows users to create awesome PDFs with powerful yet easy workflows across desktop, mobile, and cloud  whether at the office, home, or on the go. Foxit PDF Editor provides a cost-effective solution for business professionals to work securely with PDF documents and forms. It provides a full featured platform to view, create, edit, collaborate, share, secure, organize, export, OCR, and sign PDF documents. Integration with Foxit eSign makes eSigning documents even easier.

Foxit PDF Editor provides unmatched benefits and features to users, including:

Quickly and easily update your own PDF documents

Integration with Foxit eSign to:

Create, edit and sign legally binding documents without leaving their PDF editor



Easily collect signatures from multiple contacts and manage an eSignature workflow

Export PDF to popular file formats

Manipulate PDF files and pages

Annotate, share, and collaborate with PDF

Create PDF docs, forms, and portfolios

Protect the information in your confidential documents

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Foxit has over 650 million users and has sold to over 425,000 customers, ranging from SMBs to global enterprises, located in more than 200 countries. The company has offices all over the world, including locations in the US, Asia, Europe, and Australia. For more information, please visit https://foxit.com.

SOURCE Foxit Software
DENVER, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gates Industrial Corporation plc (NYSE:GTES), a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions, today announced it will host an in-person investor day event beginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 8, 2022, in New York City.

The event will include a technology showcase and presentations from members of the executive leadership team, including Chief Executive Officer, Ivo Jurek, and Chief Financial Officer, Brooks Mallard, that highlight Gates' strategic priorities to drive long-term growth and value creation, followed by a Q&A session.

A live webcast, along with the accompanying slides, will be available the day of the event in the Events & Presentations section of the Gates Investor Relations website at investors.gates.com. A webcast replay will also be available on the website following the event.

About Gates Industrial Corporation plc

Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment ("first-fit") manufacturers as specified components. Gates participates in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and energy, to everyday consumer applications such as printers, power washers, automatic doors and vacuum cleaners and virtually every form of transportation. Our products are sold in 128 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India.

SOURCE Gates Industrial Corporation plc
ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia State University College of Law and Alterity ADR are proud to announce the formation of a joint venture arrangement set forth in their Memorandum of Understanding dated February 3, 2022. The purpose of the MOU is to further the education, study, practice and improvement of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Alterity CEO, Marcie Dickson, stated: "We are excited by our cooperative venture to help further the development of great ADR which can become a preferred means of dispute minimization while also developing the study and development of a pipeline of future practitioners. We look forward to our shared development of these worthy ideas."

"ADR is an important part of legal education, and this partnership will expose our law students to another powerful tool to resolve legal matters. The College of Law focuses heavily on experiential learning and having Alterity ADR events and services in-house will provide accessibility and an invaluable experience for the Georgia State Law community," said LaVonda Reed, dean of Georgia State University College of Law.

The joint program will consist of opportunities for Georgia State Law students to learn from Alterity's expert panel of former judges, experienced lawyers and teachers of ADR, actual mediations and arbitrations, planned convocations with international mediators and arbitrators hosted at the Atlanta Center for International Arbitration and Mediation located inside of the Georgia State Law building.

About Georgia State Law

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, Georgia State University College of Law was founded on the idea that a legal education should be accessible and affordable. The college offers part-time and full-time programs, numerous specialties, and an expansive experiential learning curriculum designed to prepare students for practice. The college's renowned faculty prove that lawyers are problem solvers, tackling society's most pertinent legal questions. They challenge law students to do the same, through their teaching and scholarship.

About Alterity Resolution Services (Alterity ADR) www.alterityadr.com

Alterity ADR is a leading alternative dispute resolution provider with a national panel of experienced and diverse mediators, arbitrators, and conflict resolution specialists. Alterity ADR offers a full range of dispute resolution services and innovative programs. The Atlanta-based firm also has neutrals located in Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Pensacola, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Georgia State College of Law Media Contact: Jaya Franklin, [email protected]

Alterity Contact: Kevin Sullivan, [email protected]

SOURCE Alterity ADR
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 8; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 1217

Companies: 156 - Players covered include Ai Squared; Bausch & Lomb, Inc.; Blue Chip Medical Products, Inc.; Drive Medical Design and Manufacturing; Exact Dynamics B.V.; GN ReSound Group; Inclusive Technology Ltd.; Invacare Corporation; Jabbla B.V.B.A.; Liberator Ltd.; Medline Industries, Inc.; Permobil AB; Siemens Ltd.; Sonova Holding AG; Starkey Hearing Technologies; Sunrise Medical LLC.; Tobii Dynavox; Widex Ltd.; William Demant Holding A/S; Wintriss Engineering Corporation; and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar, Door Openers); Application (Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Hospitals & Nursing Homes)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.



Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry



ABSTRACT-



Global Assistive Furniture Market to Reach US$5.3 Billion by the Year 2026

Assistive furniture makes quite a difference for individuals with long-term disabilities or injuries and the idea of assistive furniture is to assist individuals in normal day-to-day activities like standing, resting, and sitting with less effort.

The category comprises aids and technologies that enable sitting and standing in a secure and safe manner. The aids are essential for enabling people with impaired motor functioning and balance to sit and stand safety. Positioning equipment for instance is essential to ensure equal distribution of body pressure without affecting movement. Assistive furniture comprises aids and devices such as medical beds, riser reclining chairs, railings & bar, and door openers among others. The disabled and elderly assistive technologies in general and furniture in particular is being driven by rising elderly population, rising healthcare costs, and advances in technology. The growth in elderly population is straining healthcare systems across the world. Home-based care is being actively practiced as an alternative to prolonged hospital stays. Technological advances have enabled assistive products to be connected to healthcare networks, and is aiding the shift to home-based care.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Assistive Furniture estimated at US$4.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$5.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% over the analysis period. Beds, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 6.6% CAGR to reach US$2.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Riser Reclining Chairs segment is readjusted to a revised 5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 27% share of the global Assistive Furniture market. Hospital beds are available in a fully electric or manual range that enables the individuals to lower and raise the feet, head, or the entire bed with just a push of the button. Hospital beds or medical beds comprise side rails, spring support, and adjustable foot/headrests, which are a suitable option for individuals who are anticipated to be off their feet for a long time. People who have difficulty getting in and out of traditional chairs, or who simply want a practical chair for their living room, are increasingly turning to riser recliners. An electric rise and recline chair are frequently purchased by those who need greater support when sitting.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $2.1 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $320.3 Million by 2026

The Assistive Furniture market in the U.S. is estimated at US$2.1 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 51.42% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$320.3 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 6.9% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.8% and 5.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.4% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$207.1 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in North America region is due to increased demand, the growing geriatric population, and the government's increased focus on patient safety. Furthermore, well-established distribution channels and technological advancements are the prime factors propelling the growth of the disabled and elderly assistive devices market in the region. Increased disposable income and growing awareness among people regarding the usage and availability of assistive furniture like beds, riser chairs, and door openers are estimated to boost growth in Asia-Pacific region.

Railings & Bar Segment to Reach $1 Billion by 2026

In the global Railings & Bar segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$672.6 Million will reach a projected size of US$917 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$68.3 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 5.1% CAGR through the analysis period. More



MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.



Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./



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Journalists & Media

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 20; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 6203

Companies: 57 - Players covered include Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.; Daimler AG; Groupe PSA; Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.; Piaggio & C. Spa; Renault S.A.; Suzuki Motor Corporation; Tata Motors Limited; Toyota Motor Corporation and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Fuel Type (Electric, Hybrid, Petrol / Diesel); Application (Personal, Commercial)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-



Global Microcars Market to Reach US$50.3 Billion by the Year 2026

Microcars are compact fuel-efficient automobiles that are smaller in size than standard cars. Global automotive industry has undergone significant transformation in the past few decades in terms of vehicle design, features, production costs and affordability. The resultant upsurge in vehicle population and the rise in fuel prices have compelled governments to impose strict regulations and manufacturers to seek alternative options which led to the efforts to commercialize electric vehicles and other alternatives, though they have been in use since long. As the number of cost conscious customers rises and vehicular traffic becomes more congested, automotive manufacturers are rethinking business plans focused on smaller and efficient vehicles to address some of these issues. Amidst the scenario, the automotive industry globally has been looking towards microcars, which are beneficial in terms of higher fuel economy and lower carbon footprints. Rapid industrialization, increasing urbanization and expansion of construction industry would also promote market growth, especially for microcars capable of transporting cargo, particularly in countries like Japan, China and the US. Gradually reducing space for parking is also contributing to market growth. The pandemic also led to increased interest among public in owning cars instead of using public transport.

Microcars are also cost-effective and environment-friendly. Increased regulatory pressure regarding carbon emissions paved way for development of innovative automobiles for reducing air pollution. Along with full-electric and hybrid cars of standard size, electric microcars can be seen making their presence felt across the global markets owing to the growing interest of commuters, especially those in Europe and East Asia, in micro mobility. Stringent regulations pertaining to vehicle emissions are thus anticipated to promote considerable market growth for microcars over the coming years. Other market growth promoting factors include increasing demand for smaller passenger vehicles and technological advancements. Innovative solutions like rear-mid engine would push the market for microcars forward. Manufacturers are also anticipated to invest significantly in R&D for designing connected and autonomous vehicles.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Microcars estimated at US$45.7 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$50.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.1% over the analysis period. Electric, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 2.6% CAGR to reach US$22.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Hybrid segment is readjusted to a revised 1.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Hybrid cars would continue to witness popularity in the next few years compared to electrified cars owing to their high fuel efficiency and longer driving range. Though adoption of pure-battery operated electric vehicles is expected to increase in the long run, but for immediate future, hybrid cars are likely to fare better than electric vehicles. As a result, manufacturers are rolling out a combination of electric motor and conventional combustion engine to develop a micro hybrid car. Along with full-electric and hybrid cars of standard size, electric microcars can be seen making their presence felt across the global markets owing to the growing interest of commuters, especially those in Europe and East Asia, in micro mobility. Subsidies and tax incentives offered by government bodies for ramping up production of EVs is also a major contributing factor for growth of the market for microcars, especially electric microcars.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $3.9 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $5.6 Billion by 2026

The Microcars market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.9 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 8.5% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$5.6 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 2.8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 1.9% and 1.6% respectively over the analysis period. Developing economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East will continue to be a prominent regional market for automobiles. Asia-Pacific in particular represents a major market for passenger cars. China and India in particular, have been displaying high demand for new cars, primarily due to continued industrialization, growth in GDP, rising employment levels, improving standard of living, increase in discretionary spends, and development of road infrastructure.

Petrol/Diesel Segment to Reach $1.3 Billion by 2026

In the global Petrol/Diesel segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 1.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$8.6 Billion will reach a projected size of US$9.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$882.8 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 1.7% CAGR through the analysis period. More

MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.

Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./



Follow Us on Twitter

https://twitter.com/marketbytes



Journalists & Media

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Offshore Support Vessels Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global offshore support vessels market reached a value of $41.1 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach $52.1 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Offshore support vessels refer to various marine vessels that are used for transporting goods, supplies and equipment during subsea exploration and construction activities. Some of the common types of offshore support vessels include diving support, crane, and pipe laying vessels, seismic survey ships, and platform supply vessels (PSVs). These vessels are primarily used for locating and inspecting oil and gas-bearing areas, towing and positioning rigs/platforms and offering maintenance facilities. They are equipped with powerful small-sized boats that respond to emergencies at offshore installations and also provide various other services, such as transportation, anchor management and platform support.



Increasing oil and gas exploratory activities is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising demand for PSVs across the globe is also providing a boost to the market growth. PSVs are used in the production stage of offshore drilling and for the transportation of cement, casting and drilling pipes and completion fluids. Additionally, various technological advancements in the manufacturing processes of offshore support vessels and the integration of Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems in marine vessels, is acting as another growth-inducing factor. Manufacturers are emphasizing on producing computer-controlled vessels that can automatically control their propellers and thrusters to maintain a specific position.



Other factors, including rapid industrialization and extensive research and development (R&D) activities, along with growing investments in the oil and gas sector across the globe, especially in the emerging economies, are projected to drive the global offshore support vessels market further.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Bourbon, Grupo CBO, Gulfmark, Havila, Maersk, Seacor Marine, SIEM Offshore, Solstad, Swire, Tayrona Offshore, Tidewater, and Vroon Group.



Key Questions Answered in this Report

What was the size of the global offshore support vessels market in 2021?

What are the key factors driving the global offshore support vessels market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global offshore support vessels market?

What is the breakup of the global offshore support vessels market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the global offshore support vessels market based on the water depth?

What is the breakup of the global offshore support vessels market based on the fuel?

What is the breakup of the global offshore support vessels market based on the service type?

What is the breakup of the global offshore support vessels market based on the application?

What are the key regions in the global offshore support vessels market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global offshore support vessels market?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Offshore Support Vessels Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Anchor Handling Towing Supply Vessel

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Platform Supply Vessel

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Fast Supply Intervention Vessel

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Multi-Purpose Service Vessel

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast

6.5 Others

6.5.1 Market Trends

6.5.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Water Depth

7.1 Shallow Water

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Deepwater

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Fuel

8.1 Fuel Oil

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 LNG

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Service Type

9.1 Technical Services

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Inspection & Survey

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Crew Management

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Logistics & Cargo Management

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast

9.5 Anchor Handling & Seismic Support

9.5.1 Market Trends

9.5.2 Market Forecast

9.6 Others

9.6.1 Market Trends

9.6.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Applications

10.1 Oil and Gas Applications

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Offshore Applications

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region



12 SWOT Analysis



13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis



15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 Bourbon

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.2 Grupo CBO

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3 Gulfmark

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4 Havila

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5 Maersk

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5.3 Financials

15.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 Seacor Marine

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.6.3 Financials

15.3.7 SIEM Offshore

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8 Solstad

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8.3 Financials

15.3.9 Swire

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.10 Tayrona Offshore

15.3.10.1 Company Overview

15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11 Tidewater

15.3.11.1 Company Overview

15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11.3 Financials

15.3.12 Vroon Group

15.3.12.1 Company Overview

15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/286pgo

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets
CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Golden Apple Foundation , the leading Illinois nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting great educators who advance educational opportunities for students, today announced the 2022 finalists for the distinguished Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership , presented in honor of founding Golden Apple board member Stanley C. Golder.

A highly competitive award process resulted in the selection of six Pre-K-12th grade school leader finalists from more than 100 nominations received.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school, created a culture of inclusivity, and delivered dramatic student growth.

"Transformative school leaders like the finalists we are recognizing today affirm, challenge, and support, teachers and students," said Alan Mather, President of Golden Apple. "These school leaders have not only guided their school communities during the most trying of times, they have also empowered teachers and students to thrive. We recognize their leadership, resilience, and commitment to success that elevated those they serve."

View the 2022 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership Award Finalists

"Leadership matters. Highly effective school leaders design a culture of high expectations for their school communities and facilitate the integration of resources necessary to foster excellence," said Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple. "Our 2022 finalists have delivered a culture of high expectations and sustained growth for their school communities; and, we are proud to honor them."

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recipients receive a cash award of $10,000, with $5,000 for the school leader and $5,000 for the school for a project of the recipient's choosing. Award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs - which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.

About Golden Apple

Golden Apple's mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. Our leading-edge preparation delivers exceptional teachers who make an impact. We help students thrive in the classroom and in life. Since our beginning, we have recognized master educators annually; and, these master educators help prepare the next generation of teachers. Our vision is one in which every classroom has a great teacher and to realize this, we are committed to making a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage. Visit http://www.goldenapple.org for more information.

Media contact:

Shonne Fegan-Ehrhardt

847-962-9879

[email protected]

SOURCE Golden Apple
MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flip Phone Events is thrilled to announce that, Golden Fans at Sea , the ultimate Golden Girls Fan Celebration at sea, is returning in 2023. This will be the fourth voyage for Golden Girls fans.

The first Golden Fans at Sea Cruise took place in 2020, this was the first ever gathering of Golden Girls fans in the world.

Golden Fans at Sea Performers by Darin Kamnetz Golden Partiers by Darin Kamnetz

The 2023 sailing is scheduled to leave from Miami, Florida on April 8 on the recently refurbished Celebrity Summit. The five-night cruise will visit Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico.

During the cruise guests will participate in Golden Girls themed trivia, bar crawls, dance parties, costume contests, panels, beach excursions, musical shows, and more. Previous cruises have had up to 1,000 Golden Girls on board.

Past guests on Golden Fans at Sea include, Melinda McLanahan (Rue McLanahan's sister who played Blanche), Stan Zimmerman (writer of Golden Girls), Marsha Posner Williams (producer of Golden Girls), RuPaul's Drag Race's Tempest DuJour, Jim Colucci (author of Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai), and the Golden Gays NYC (Golden Girls Parody Drag Group), plus many more.

Thank you for being a friend on the high seas!

If you need any photos or other material, please contact Chad Kampe at 480-861-6427 or [email protected]

SOURCE Flip Phone Events
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Las Vegas, the self-proclaimed "wedding capital of the world," issued the 5 millionth marriage license and greeted a special Tuesday for the wedding industry.

Tuesday's date, 02-22-2022, promises to be a popular wedding date for the industry that annually generates an estimated 2.5 billion U.S. dollars for the Clark County, where Las Vegas is located.

A line of people began to form in the block where the Marriage License Bureau sits on Monday. The county's clerk predicted that couples from all around the nation planning to get married on Tuesday waited for their chance to get a license.

Previous special dates like 07-07-07 and 11-11-11 brought thousands of weddings to the place, while the Marriage License Bureau typically sees about 600 marriages on Valentine's Day.

Los Angeles residents Melissa and Carlos De Leon were quoted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal as saying that they chose Tuesday as their wedding date because they had been together for 22 years and they liked Las Vegas' celebratory atmosphere.

"It's cheaper; it's more our scene," Melissa De Leon said Monday. "We're having our bachelor/bachelorette party tonight and we'll have a party bus tomorrow."

Just two day before the special Tuesday, A lucky California couple received special congratulations for their nuptials on Sunday when they received the 5 millionth marriage license issued in Clark County.

The celebration of the couple's nuptials is part of a local wedding industry yearlong campaign, dubbed "Five Million Love Stories," to promote couples who are part of the Las Vegas tradition.

"We're so excited to be able to share this momentous occasion with Mayra and Luis, but it isn't just this one couple, but the five million love stories of all the couples that came before and made the decision to marry in Las Vegas. It is their legacy that turned us into the Wedding Capital of the World," Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya said in the Sunday release.

Last year, the county issued more than 77,000 marriage licenses, and this year, it expects to hand out more than 80,000 certificates. The process to obtain certificates only takes about 10 minutes. 
LYONS, Colo., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Women-owned body care brand Green Goo , under parent company Sierra Sage Herbs, is excited to introduce its revolutionary new line of herbal deodorants, Plants for Your Pits . Developed over a number of years and utilizing its proprietary lipid-infusion process to maximize potency and purity, Green Goo's Plants for Your Pits deodorants are formulated with a variety of specially-selected plants, herbs, and pure essential oils to not only minimize wetness and control odor, but, most notably, to help enhance cognitive function, support the immune system, and provide balance and calm.





"The Plants for Your Pits deodorants are a radical departure from traditional deodorants in the marketplace..." Tweet this Green Goo - Plants for Your Pits Deodorants: Relax + Adapt, Immunity + Defense, Clarity + Focus Sierra Sage Herbs Founders -- Jodi Scott, Jennifer Scott, Kathy Scott (PRNewsfoto/Sierra Sage Herbs)

The Plants for Your Pits deodorant line, which does not include aluminum or baking soda, is currently available in three varieties (2.25 oz. oval, MSRP $10.99):

Clarity + Focus has the bright, crisp aroma of grapefruit, a natural astringent and stimulant rich in beta carotene and lycopene. Balanced with ginger and patchouli, and fortified with a vitamin- and antioxidant-rich infusion of rosemary, sage, and ginkgo biloba, this botanical blend helps invigorate your mind, elevate your mood, and sharpen your senses.





has the bright, crisp aroma of grapefruit, a natural astringent and stimulant rich in beta carotene and lycopene. Balanced with ginger and patchouli, and fortified with a vitamin- and antioxidant-rich infusion of rosemary, sage, and ginkgo biloba, this botanical blend helps invigorate your mind, elevate your mood, and sharpen your senses. Immunity + Defense boasts the earthy and spicy aroma of Cedarwood, Siberian Fir, and Cardamom. This balancing formula, infused with adaptogenic reishi mushrooms and echinacea, helps provide natural protection, restoration, and support.





boasts the earthy and spicy aroma of Cedarwood, Siberian Fir, and Cardamom. This balancing formula, infused with adaptogenic reishi mushrooms and echinacea, helps provide natural protection, restoration, and support. Relax + Adapt features the soft floral and woody aromas of lavender and clary sage, mixed with the citrus tang of vitamin A- and C-rich bergamot. Infused with ashwagandha, holy basil, and lemon balm, this cooling, antioxidant-packed blend helps to provide calming, stress-reducing comfort, uplift, and adaptability.

"Our Plants for Your Pits deodorant line was born while exploring ways in which we could expand the overall health and wellness benefits of everyday products," said Green Goo CEO and co-founder Jodi Scott. "While studying the transdermal absorption of botanicals through the skin and understanding increased absorption rates in our armpit area, composed mainly of soft tissue and a large number of lymph nodes which are an important part of our body's immune system, we challenged ourselves to create a deodorant line that could do so much more than simply reduce wetness and manage odor. The Plants for Your Pits deodorants are a radical departure from traditional deodorants in the marketplace in that they combine botanical ingredients and essential oils to also help enhance the way we think and feel."

Green Goo proudly donates $.05 of every deodorant sold to Keep A Breast Foundation . To learn more, please visit GreenGoo.com .

www.greengoo.com

Facebook/Instagram -- @greengoohelps

About Sierra Sage Herbs:

Committed to making the best all-natural, plant-based skincare products, Sierra Sage Herbs, now part of Creso Pharma , is on a mission to spread goodness, empower change and redefine natural body care. Founded in 2008 by sisters Jodi and Jen Scott and their mother, Kathy Scott, the company's natural products brands, which are cruelty free and made in the USA, include Green Goo , Good Goo , and Southern Butter . These brands are sold across more than 90,000 points of distribution around the US including Whole Foods, Walmart, Amazon, Target.com, CVS, Walgreen's, Rite Aid, Albertsons, and Kroger, among many others. A certified B Corp, Sierra Sage Herbs aligns and partners with charities, aid organizations, and causes both in the United States and around the world. To learn more please visit: www.sierrasageherbs.com .

SOURCE Green Goo by Sierra Sage Herbs
"On the heels of the successful recalling of three San Francisco school board commissioners just days ago, I respectfully call on you Madame Mayor to end the ambiguity on DA Chesa Boudin's recall. The 15 minutes of fame for this district attorney and his failed experiment of extremist pro-crime, restorative justice ideology is over. Now comes the rebuilding of faith and trust in our city's government. Chesa Boudin is an obvious impediment to accountability as you've said yourself; he must no doubt go, preferably by your urging his resignation immediately, or take a position that you strongly encourage a yes vote for his June 7th recall. San Francisco's residents are tired and weary; we have been suffering too long from the surge in crime hitting every corner of the city, caused by Boudin's refusal to treat criminals as what they are. His refusal to reign in drug dealers is itself a most heinous breach of duty to protect our community. People are dying. Chesa Boudin has now himself become the most unpopular man in San Francisco. We cannot and should not permit his continued giving the green light to lawlessness and non-accountability as the norm. It's beyond time for you to stop avoiding this issue. Your silence and failure to commit to his removal is detrimental for our healing. For the residents, business owners and tourists alike, Chesa Boudin must go, and you, Mayor Breed, must urge his resignation or recall without further delay."
NEW DELHI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the study conducted by Astute Analytica, in terms of volume, the Global Hand Dryer market is registering a CAGR of 9.74% during the forecast period. In terms of value, the market is expected to make a major leap forward in its revenue from US$ 1,014.4 Mn in 2021 to US$ 2,928 Mn by 2030. The global marketplace is registering a growth at a CAGR of 12.82% during the forecast period 2022-2030. A hand dryer is an electric device which is used to dry wet hands by blowing air. Hand dryers are faster, economical, and more hygienic as compared to paper towels. Hand dryers are completely hygienic because it uses hot air, and you will not have to come in contact with the machine.

The market is majorly driven by factors such as growing demand for environment-friendly devices and rise in construction activities. Hand washing is an essential part of cleanliness and hand dryers takes us one step closer to hygiene. Paper towels release 162% more carbon dioxide than hand dryers. In addition, paper towels are left on the floors and sinks several times and consequently it increases the speed of germ or infection spread. Furthermore, the demand for automatic hand dryers have been increasing in schools, colleges and workplaces owing to various benefits such as cutting down on waste disposal expenses, lower carbon emissions, energy saving and durability. However, the high installation cost of hand dryers poses a big challenge to the growth of hand dryer market.

Request a Sample Report of Hand Dryer Market: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/hand-dryer-market

Hands- in dryer product segment has the highest share in the Global Hand Dryer Market

Hands-in dryer product segment has the highest share in 2021 and will continue to dominate the hand dryer market during the forecast period due to the rise in its installation at hotels, airports, restaurants, office buildings, and shopping malls. Hands in dryer efficacy comprises drying efficiency, effective bacteria eradication, and cross-contamination prevention.

Jet hand dryers dominate the Global Hand Dryer Market in terms of drying mechanism

Based on drying mechanism, the jet hand dryer segment has the highest share in the Global Hand Dryer Market in 2021 as jet hand dryers have a high efficiency and use less energy. They usually provide a more effective result in less time than hot air hand dryers. Also, due to its inexpensive prices, jet hand dryers are being installed more frequently in public restrooms, schools, shopping malls, and educational institutions. The expanding acceptance of these items is expected to be aided by rising consumer income and increased understanding of the benefits offered by these products.

Automatic hand dryers have the fastest CAGR in the Global Hand Dryer Market during the forecast period

Automation segment has the fastest CAGR in the global hand dryer market during the forecast period 2022-2030, as fully automatic devices do not require any human interaction to operate, which is the primary driver of this segment's growth. Moreover, automatic hand dryers are more hygienic than push-button hand dryers.

Wall mounted hand dryers are dominating the hand dryer market in terms of mounting technique

By Mounting technique, wall mounted hand dryers are dominating the Global Hand Dryer Market in 2021 and growing with the maximum annual growth rate during the forecast period owing to less space occupancy offered by these devices. Commercial wall-mounted hand dryers save money and are environmentally beneficial, all while making the restroom cleaner. With the right tools, mounting the hand dryer to a concrete or brick wall is simple.

Hospitality industry is the highest end user of the Global Hand Dryer Market

In 2021, hospitality industry accounted the highest share in the Global Hand Dryer Market. This can be attributed to the hospitality industry's rapid expansion due to an increase in the number of restaurants, bars, and hotels, as well as increased tourism activities around the world. However, hand dryer demand in commercial spaces is expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the projection period, owing to traders' rising emphasis on lowering operational costs and the usage of environmentally friendly devices.

Europe dominates the Global Hand Dryer Market in 2021

Europe has the highest share in the Global Hand Dryer Market in 2021 owing to the growing acceptance of environment friendly, cost-effective, and hassle-free gadgets. However, Asia Pacific records the fastest CAGR during the forecast period 2022-2030. This is due to increasing infrastructure in countries such as China, India, and Thailand, as well as increased awareness of the benefits of technologically advanced gadgets.

Request Free Sample Copy @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/hand-dryer-market

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the growth of hand dryers market as several companies round the globe are adopting changes emerging due to the new normal. Furthermore, the reopening phase from COVID pandemic resulted in greater adoption of hand dryers as part of preventive measure which positively impacted the growth of hand dryer industry.

Competitive Landscape

Bradley Corporation manufactures washroom accessories and commercial plumbing fixtures. The Company provides lavatories, wash fountains, showers, faucets, thermostatic mixing valves, toilet partitions, and security fixtures.

Dyson Technology India Private Limited is private incorporated. It is classified as a subsidiary of a foreign company. The company designs and manufactures household appliances such as heaters, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, hand dryers, bladeless fans, and lights.

American Dryer, LLC is a manufacturing company which deals in design and manufacture of laundry dryers. The company has its operations in 90 countries worldwide and designs for coin-operated, on- premises, and industrial laundry markets.

Bobrick is a designer and manufacturer of washroom accessories, cubicles, and toilet partition system. The company expertise into hand dryers, mirrors, paper towel dispensers, sanitary napkins and toilet seat covers among others.

Toto Ltd. was founded in 1917, known for developing the Washlet and derivative products. The company manufactures plumbing and bathroom and kitchen and other home products units and is engaged in the remodeling of public and private toilet systems.

Segmentation Overview of the Global Hand Dryer Market

Following are the different segments of the Global Hand Dryer Market

By Product segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

Hands-in Dryer



Hands-under Dryers



Blade





Jet





High-speed

By Drying Mechanism segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

Hot Hand Dryer



Jet Hand Dryer



Hybrid

By Automation segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

Automatic



Manual

By Mounting Technique segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

Surface Mounted



Wall Mounted

By End User segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

Healthcare



Hospitality



Hotels & Restaurants





Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs)





Others



Commercial Spaces



Industrial



Offices



Airports



Educational Enterprises



Government Spaces



Others

By Region segment of the Global Hand Dryer Market is sub-segmented into:

North America



The U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



The UK





Germany





France





Italy





Spain





Poland





Russia





Rest of Europe



 Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





Australia & New Zealand

&



ASEAN





Rest of Asia Pacific



Middle East & Africa (MEA)



UAE





Saudi Arabia





South Africa





Rest of MEA



South America



Argentina





Brazil





Rest of South America

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/hand-dryer-market

For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail Us At: [email protected]

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

Contact us:

Aamir Beg

BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India

Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4251598 (Rest of the World)

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.astuteanalytica.com

Follow US: LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Astute Analytica
SOLON, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HDT Global (HDT), the leading manufacturer of highly-engineered, mission-capable infrastructure solutions across defense, aerospace and government markets, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by Northrop Grumman to support the U.S Air Force's Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.

Northrop Grumman was selected by the U.S. Air Force to modernize the nation's aging intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system under a contract awarded in September 2020 for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the GBSD program. For the program, HDT Global will provide transportation systems.

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center announced that the EMD effort will include weapon system design, qualification, test and evaluation and nuclear certification. Upon successful completion of EMD, the Northrop Grumman-led team will begin producing and delivering a modern and fully integrated weapon system to meet the Air Force schedule of initial operational capability by 2029.

The EMD award followed a highly successful three-year technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR) phase-one effort under the GBSD competition. The Northrop Grumman team, which included HDT Global, demonstrated innovation and agility by applying a digital engineering approach and achieved all TMRR design review milestones on time and on cost.

"HDT is proud to continue our Northrop Grumman partnership on the GBSD program," said Juan Navarro, President and CEO of HDT Global. "Our support of the GBSD TMRR phase as well as our partnership with Northrop Grumman on other programs highlights our shared commitment to the men and women who protect our country."

"We are excited to leverage our engineering and manufacturing expertise in support of this critical piece of our nation's strategic deterrent capability," added Dr. Carl Pates, CTO and SVP of Engineering. "Our team's design and production knowledge allows us to meet the technical challenges of these GBSD transportation systems, a vital element in the modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad."

About HDT: Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, USA, HDT Global is widely recognized for its industry-leading production of state-of-the-art, fully integrated expeditionary solutions, including shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices, robotics, specialty transport vehicles and other engineered technologies, currently used by U.S. and allied military units worldwide, as well as civilian government and commercial customers. Proven solutions for extreme environments. We're there with you. For more information, visit www.hdtglobal.com.

SOURCE HDT Global
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HighBridge Premium Cannabis is pleased to announce the first production run of several cannabis-infused beverage products planned for the California Recreational Cannabis market at the Tinley Beverage Company Inc.'s Long Beach, California facility, under the terms of its Commercial Beverage License and Services Agreement with Lakewood Libations, Inc.

HighBridge Premium Cannabis aims to have the full line of HighBridge cannabis beverages available in California in Q2 of this year HigherLoveTM, an aphrodisiac type shot, is the first of several HighBridge beverages queued for production at the Tinley facility.

"How exciting to see the first of the HighBridge line of products going through the production process and ready for market!" said HighBridge partner Vicky Hunter. HigherLove an aphrodisiac type shot, is the first of several HighBridge beverages queued for production at the Tinley facility. HigherPower an energy shot, and LightsOut a relaxation concentrate in shot format, are next up in the production process. "Our shot products are unique to the cannabis beverage industry. We want to get these products to market as part of the initial thrust to introduce the HighBridge Brand. The other HighBridge products will then start production, and the goal is to have the full line of HighBridge cannabis beverages available in California in Q2 of this year," added Hunter.

Following the announcement of Lakewood's newly active distribution license and partnership with HardCar, Highbridge products are now set to enter the California marketplace. HardCar is an award-winning transportation and secured logistics company with a proven track record. They are unique in the industry, holding both Cash-In-Transit (CIT) and cannabis distribution licenses.

"The addition of HardCar to the team was a great choice," stated HighBridge consultant Dr. Susanne MacMahon. Adding, "The 'Premium' in HighBridge Premium does not just speak to the quality of HighBridge products, but is also descriptive of the quality of the relationships being built, and the overall HighBridge corporate culture."

HighBridge expects to replicate its success in California by entering the Arizona recreational cannabis market yet this Quarter. The HighBridge goal for 2022 is to have its products featured in 10 States plus Canada in 2022. Currently in progress: Oklahoma, Nevada, Illinois & Texas.

Our Future is Fluid

About HighBridge Premium Cannabis.

HighBridge Premium Cannabis (The Highbridge Company, LLC) is a Wyoming corporation that, in conjunction with its Consulting, Lab and Marketing partners, develops premium beverages for the recreational cannabis industry. HighBridge currently has 10 products market ready, and expects to add several more each quarter. Initial HighBridge Premium Cannabis product launch is targeted for California, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma & Illinois. The HighBridge goal is to be a Multi-State Organization with an International footprint. Our dedication is to quality and product integrity. For more information visit the company website:

www.highbridgepremium.com

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail and discussed in the Company's website: HighBridge premium.com. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the Company on the date of this press release. HighBridge assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.



Contact:

Vicky Hunter

949-201-8096

[email protected]

SOURCE HighBridge Premium Cannabis
COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, researchers discovered that magnetic fields assist gravity in directing dust and gas toward the supermassive black hole at a galaxy's center. Observations from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) showed magnetic fields feeding a ring of star formation in the innermost parts of the galaxy NGC 1097, which were complemented by radio polarimetric observations of the field spiraling toward the black hole. These observations provide evidence that the magnetic fields near black holes at the centers of galaxies may be coming from the large-scale magnetic field in the host galaxy.

SOFIA researchers studied the shape of NGC 1097's spiral arms, and found that a black hole at the center of a galaxy plays a role in the galaxy's death, eating up their surrounding dust and gas and not leaving enough matter behind for new stars to form. Gravity alone, however, is not strong enough to account for all this material transfer on its own.

Theories have proposed that magnetic fields could be helping gravity in feeding black holes, spooning matter in their direction. With the help of observations from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, these theories have now been confirmed. By mapping out the shape of the magnetic fields in the central region of NGC 1097, a spiral galaxy, researchers discovered the magnetic fields assist in directing dust and gas toward the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center.

"We can, for the first time, analyze the effect of the magnetic field in the gas flows toward [the central] star-forming regions using SOFIA and the galaxy's center using radio polarimetric observations," said Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez, lead author on the recent paper describing NGC 1097's magnetic fields, published in The Astrophysical Journal.

NGC 1097 has a region of intense star formation toward its center, known as a starburst ring. Because looking at magnetic fields in very dense areas is one of SOFIA's strengths, Lopez-Rodriguez and his team used SOFIA to probe the dense regions merging into the starburst ring. This was complemented by radio polarimetric observations within the starburst ring, a different type of astronomical observation better suited for studying sparse regions.

The researchers found a striking difference in the morphology of the magnetic fields between the two regions. The SOFIA observations show the magnetic field feeding matter into the starburst ring, while the radio polarimetric observations show the magnetic field spiraling into the galaxy's center, feeding the supermassive black hole.

But despite this striking difference, the two are not fully disconnected: The study proves that the magnetic fields in the galaxy help deliver gas and dust to the black hole at its center. Altogether, the large-scale fields follow the shape of NGC 1097's spiral arms, channeling matter from the arms to the starburst ring in its innermost regions, and from the starburst ring deeper toward the black hole, where it can eat the material up.

This confirms that it is not just gravity that helps a black hole feed on the material in its host galaxy, but magnetic fields also play a role.

"Our observations also provide evidence that the magnetic fields located in the proximity of the black holes at the center of active galaxies may be coming from the large-scale magnetic field in the host galaxy," Lopez-Rodriguez said.

This first observation of magnetic fields nourishing black holes helps answer critical questions about how galaxies evolve, and ultimately die.

ABOUT SOFIA

SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. DLR provides the telescope, scheduled aircraft maintenance, and other support for the mission. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science, and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703, in Palmdale, California.

ABOUT USRA

Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs. It engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at https://www.usra.edu.

PR Contact:

Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.

443-812-6945 (cell)

SOURCE Universities Space Research Association
NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- i80 Group, an innovative investment firm that partners with growth and venture-backed companies, announced a multi-year fund commitment from ICONIQ Capital ("ICONIQ"). This partnership will enable i80 Group to source new opportunities in a growing market and advance its mission of providing innovative companies with flexible credit solutions that help them scale more efficiently.

"Since inception, our goal has been to provide venture-backed companies with capital to grow their businesses without the need to rely exclusively on equity, thereby allowing founders and investors to maintain greater ownership of their companies," said Marc Helwani, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at i80 Group. "ICONIQ's experience, reputation and expansive global network will be invaluable as we continue providing flexible solutions that fuel sustained growth and maximize long-term value."

"We are thrilled to partner with i80 Group, which has built a unique platform designed to reduce the burdens of traditional financing models and help innovators unlock their companies' full potential," said Nugi Jakobishvili, Chief Investment Officer at ICONIQ. "i80 Group is addressing a significant need for venture-backed companies globally. We look forward to working more closely with Marc and his team as the i80 Group positions itself as a leading credit platform for entrepreneurs."

i80 Group was founded in 2016 to address a persistent lack of efficient capital available to growth and venture-backed companies. With investment offices in New York and San Francisco, i80 Group provides bespoke credit solutions that are designed to scale with a company's accelerating growth plans. These solutions enable founders and investors to retain greater ownership and extend the runway to the next financing round, typically leading to substantially higher valuations. Since inception, i80 Group has successfully committed over $1.3 billion in total credit commitments to companies such as Capchase, Divvy, Dragonfly and MoneyLion, and plans to accelerate commitments over the next several years.

About i80 Group

i80 Group is an investment firm designed to propel the innovation economy forward by empowering growth. Our bespoke financing solutions are unique to each partner's needs, advancing them through critical growth milestones. Like the I-80 freeway from which it takes its name, we operate at the intersection of Silicon Valley innovation and Wall Street finance. For more information, please visit www.i80group.com.

SOURCE i80 Group
CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In Mind Cloud , the independent digital sales platform built for manufacturers, today announced it has entered a five-year strategic partnership with VAG , a leading international valve manufacturer. In Mind Cloud will continue to power VAG's global go-to-market (GTM) sales operations in the market of industrial valves for the water and wastewater sector.

From designing prototypes to market production, every aspect of the manufacturing industry has its unique set of challenges. In Mind Cloud is helping thousands of manufacturers worldwide worry about one less thing: sales. In Mind Cloud is the only scalable digital sales platform purpose-built for manufacturing, making sales simple, and has become a highly specialized and reliable technology partner for manufacturers. The company has been digitizing and optimizing sales processes for global companies like VAG.

VAG is a prominent global supplier of valves for water treatment and distribution, wastewater management, dams, power stations, and the energy industry. The company has six production facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, China, India, South Africa, and the United States, as well as 14 sales offices that sell VAG's products and services in more than 100 countries. VAG became an In Mind Cloud customer in 2020, and after a successful system implementation, the two companies have entered the next phase of a long-term strategic collaboration. The new partnership highlights In Mind Cloud's domain expertise in manufacturing go-to-market and VAG's commitment to customer excellence.

"We are proud to support VAG, a globally recognized industry leader, on their journey towards a fully digitized go-to-market process on one unified platform," said Karan Sood, CTO at In Mind Cloud. "VAG's exceptional customer-centricity paired with our high-performance digital sales platform paves the way for their continued growth and we are honored to contribute towards that."

Prior to In Mind Cloud, VAG was experiencing several challenges that often come with complex manufacturing sales. Aside from the mounting pressure due to competition in a dense market, a fragmented go-to-market (GTM) approach to quoting and pricing was leading to costly errors and longer sales cycles, dragging on sales as well as margins. Customer expectations for a better user experience and demands for customized engineering solutions were also increasing. The legacy IT system that the company relied on had limited margin calculation and demand forecasting options. It was clear that many sales processes needed to be automated but there seemed to be a limited number of trustworthy domain experts with whom to partner until the company found In Mind Cloud. Powered by a native CPQ solution that makes the broader sales platform highly intelligent, In Mind Cloud's Digital Sales Platform allowed VAG to digitize, scale, and optimize their sales operations.

In Mind Cloud's digital sales solution for VAG:

Fast, accurate, and convenient quoting for go-to-market (GTM)

Global transparent pricing and margin control empowered by real-time data and paired with end-to-end sales automation, creating a highly efficient and scalable sales process

Deep ERP and Salesforce CRM integration enabling a 360-degree view of customers and products for optimal planning and detailed production forecasting to increase competitive advantage

Digitized engineering and production data accessible 24/7 via cloud to VAG's global sales force enabling faster time-to-market and the seamless launch of product and feature innovations

"Since working with In Mind Cloud for the last two years, we've already been able to achieve amazing results, so we are thrilled to enter a long-term partnership that centers around a highly specialized feature set for our industry," said Michael Rawus, Head of Global IT at VAG. "We're confident in the continued maturation of our efficient sales operations with In Mind Cloud as our valued partner."

In Mind Cloud's Chief Technology Officer, Karan Sood added, "Innovation requires diverse skill sets and multiple points of view. Our co-innovation partnership with Daniel Ripke, Director Group Supply Chain, and Michael Rawus from VAG has enabled us to move faster in bringing the best-in-class processes and features for the industrial solutions industry into our Digital Sales Platform."

To learn more about In Mind Cloud and its Digital Sales Platform, visit: https://www.inmindcloud.com .

About In Mind Cloud

In Mind Cloud is an independent provider of a cloud-based manufacturing sales platform with the mission to make sales simple. The In Mind Cloud Digital Sales Platform is designed to streamline manufacturing sales processes to achieve maximum efficiency, reduce costs, gain competitive advantage, and increase revenue. Since 2012, In Mind Cloud has been serving a global customer base of leading manufacturers through its offices in Singapore, Germany, and the US. Learn more at www.inmindcloud.com

About VAG

The VAG-Group is known and valued worldwide for its cutting-edge know-how in product development and spreads the quality label "Engineering made in Germany" all over the world. For over 145 years, the modern company with a long tradition has been present wherever water is treated, stored, and distributed and has six production locations in Germany, Czech Republic, China, India, South Africa, and the USA as well as 14 sales offices at its disposal. VAG's quality products and services are sold in more than 100 countries through the Group's own sales organization as well as numerous agencies and distribution partners worldwide. In financial year 2017/18, the Mannheim-based company generated a turnover of almost EUR 200 million with about 1,200 employees. As a provider of solutions and systems, VAG sets new standards in water and wastewater technology - comprising both the company's international project business with customized solutions and the manufacture and sales of standard valves. Learn more at https://www.vag-group.com/en/ .

Media Contacts

Danielle Perez

[email protected]

1-888-317-4687 ext 705

Sabine Kempe

Head of Marketing, In Mind Cloud

+65 6908 4350, SGT

[email protected]

SOURCE In Mind Cloud
The indoor air quality meters market is driven by increased health concerns. However, a lack of awareness regarding indoor air pollution might impact the market growth adversely during the forecast period.

Access our detailed 120-page report on "Indoor Air Quality Meters Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025". View Our Report Snapshot

Major Five Indoor Air Quality Meter Companies and Their Offerings:

3M Co. - The company offers indoor air quality meter namely 3M indoor air quality monitor kit with CO sensor 1 kit.

The company offers indoor air quality meter namely indoor air quality monitor kit with CO sensor 1 kit. Camfil AB - The company offers an indoor air quality meter, namely Air Image Sensor, to measure PM1, PM2,5, humidity (RH), and the temperature in the room.

The company offers an indoor air quality meter, namely Air Image Sensor, to measure PM1, PM2,5, humidity (RH), and the temperature in the room. Carrier Global Corp. - The company offers indoor air quality meters such as air monitors, whole home air purifiers, room air purifiers, among others.

The company offers indoor air quality meters such as air monitors, whole home air purifiers, room air purifiers, among others. Daikin Industries Ltd. - The company offers an indoor air quality meter, namely Daikin IAQ Sensor.

The company offers an indoor air quality meter, namely Daikin IAQ Sensor. Fluke Corp. - The company offers Fluke HVAC professional indoor air quality testing tools and monitoring equipment.

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Indoor Air Quality Meters Market Product Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2025)

Fixed - size and forecast 2020-2025

Portable - size and forecast 2020-2025

The portable segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period. PM 2.5, M10, microbial growth due to humidity and temperature, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon, and other toxic gases are some of the common pollutants that are found indoors. These pollutants can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and frequent sickness. This is driving the need for service providers to install portable indoor air quality monitoring equipment. These products monitor and maintain the quality of air whenever required.

Indoor Air Quality Meters Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2025)

North America - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - size and forecast 2020-2025

APAC will account for the highest market growth share during the forecast period. China and Japan are the key countries for the indoor air quality meters market in APAC. Moreover, market growth in APAC will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. The advent of technologically advanced indoor air quality solutions and the growing presence of global companies will facilitate the indoor air quality meters market growth in APAC over the forecast period.

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Related Reports:

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Indoor Air Quality Meters Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.22% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 1.60 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 7.12 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 31% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Japan, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled 3M Co., Camfil AB, Carrier Global Corp., Daikin Industries Ltd., Fluke Corp., Honeywell International Inc., Kanomax USA Inc., Parker Hannifin Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and TSI Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

Fixed - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Portable - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Product

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

3M Co.

Camfil AB

Carrier Global Corp.

Daikin Industries Ltd.

Fluke Corp.

Honeywell International Inc.

Kanomax USA Inc.

Inc. Parker Hannifin Corp.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

TSI Inc.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Large Format Printer Market (2021-2026) by Application Type, Offering Type, Print Material Type, Printing Technology Type, Print Width Type, Ink Type, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Large Format Printer Market is estimated to be USD 8.9 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 11.63 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%.



The Global Large Format Printer Market is driving due to the growing demand for large format printing by various industries such as textiles, advertisement, and packaging. Increasing adoption of UV-curable inks in different applications such as outdoor advertising, CAD, and technical printing with improved productivity and high-quality images is fuelling the market's growth. Additionally, the importance of digital document production increases in commercial printing applications, which will also be helping the need to grow. On the other hand, growing digital advertisement media popularity and e-platforms for advertising will be hampering the market's growth. Apart from this, specific challenges faced by a large format printer's market are high initial investment, huge operation cost, and high electricity consumption, which may slow down the market's growth.



The rising focus on manufacturing varieties of large format printers for different applications with different pricing strategies creates potential opportunities for the market to grow. Furthermore, the market creates specific opportunities due to the growing adoption of large format printers in home furnishing, decor, vehicle wrap application, increasing opportunities in the in-plant market. Moreover, technological advancement with quickly printing of pages, suitability for the low-volume environment, and versatility for various applications from tile murals signage to CDA applications helps boost the market in the forecasted period.



The Global Large Format Printer Market is segmented based on Application Type, Offering Type, Print Material Type, Printing Technology Type, Print Width Type, Ink Type, and Geography.



Company Profiles

Some of the companies covered in this report are Agfa-Gevaert N.V, Canon, Inc, Durst Phototechnik, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Konica Minolta, Inc, Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd, Ricoh Company Ltd, Roland Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, and Xerox Holdings Corporation, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Large Format Printer Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Influencers

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Demand Growing for Large Format Printers by Industries

4.1.2 Growing Adoption of UV-Curable Inks in Various Printing Applications

4.1.3 Rising Importance of Digital Document Productions

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Growing Digital Advertising Media

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Increasing Varieties of Printers Manufacturing at Different Price Levels

4.3.2 Increasing adoption for Various Applications and In-Plant Market

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 High Cost Associated with Initial Investment and Operations



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.2 Impact of COVID-19

5.3 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Application Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Apparel & Textile

6.3 Signage

6.4 Advertising

6.5 Decor

6.6 CAD & Technical Printing



7 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Offering Type

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Printers

7.3 RIP Software

7.4 After-Sales Services



8 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Print Materials Type

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Porous/Corrugated Materials

8.3 Non-Porous Materials



9 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Printing Technology Type

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Ink-Based (Inkjet) Printers

9.3 Toner-Based (Laser) Printers



10 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Print Width Type

10.1 Introduction

10.2 17-24"

10.3 24-36"

10.4 36-44"

10.5 44-60"

10.6 60-72"

10.7 72" and Above



11 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Ink Type

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Aqueous

11.3 Solvent

11.4 UV-Curable

11.5 Latex

11.6 Dye-Sublimation



12 Global Large Format Printer Market, By Geography



13 Competitive Landscape

13.1 Competitive Quadrant

13.2 Market Share Analysis

13.3 Strategic Initiatives

13.3.1 M&A and Investments

13.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

13.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



14 Company Profiles

14.1 Agfa-Gevaert N.V

14.2 Arc Document Solutions, Inc

14.3 Big Systems, LLC

14.4 Canon, Inc

14.5 Colourjet India Limited

14.6 Dilli Illustrate, Inc

14.7 Dover Corporation

14.8 Durst Phototechnik

14.9 Electronics for Imaging, Inc

14.10 FLORA Digital Inkjet Printers

14.11 Hewlett Packard Enterprise

14.12 Konica Minolta, Inc

14.13 Kyocera Corporation

14.14 Lexmark International, Inc

14.15 Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd

14.16 Mutoh America, Inc

14.17 Oki Electric Industry

14.18 Pannier Corporation

14.19 Rena by Quadient

14.20 Ricoh Company Ltd

14.21 Roland Corporation

14.22 SAE Manufacturing Specialities Corp

14.23 Shenyang Sky Air-Ship Digital Printing Equipment Co Ltd

14.24 Seiko Epson Corporation

14.25 Seiko Instruments, Inc

14.26 SwissQprint

14.27 TRUMPH Group

14.28 Xaar plc

14.29 Xerox Holdings Corporation

14.30 Zhengzhou Audley Digital Control Equipment Co Ltd



15 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8lk91g

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The three white men convicted of murdering African American Ahmaud Arbery were found guilty of hate crimes by a federal jury in the southeastern U.S. state of Georgia on Tuesday.

The jury found father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan guilty of all the federal charges they individually faced, including hate crimes, attempted kidnapping and the use of a firearm to commit a crime.

The McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery, a 25-year-old African American man who was jogging on the public streets of a Brunswick neighborhood in Georgia, in trucks on Feb. 23, 2020.

The three men cornered Arbery and Travis McMichael fatally shot him with a shotgun.

Arbery was running with his hands empty and in plain view while never did he speak a word to his killers, nor make any threatening sound or gesture, according to court documents.

All three men were previously convicted of murder in a Georgia state court and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting.

"We as a family will never get victory because Ahmaud is gone forever," Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick.

"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," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The state of Georgia declared Feb. 23 Ahmaud Arbery Day to mark the gravity of his death and the subsequent criminal and federal cases. 
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International Isotopes Inc. (OTCQB: INIS) ("International Isotopes" or "INIS") is pleased to announce it has completed an asset purchase agreement with Pharmalogic Holdings Corp. for assets contained within most of the square footage of INIS's new contract manufacturing facility.

Pharmalogic Holdings Corp. is a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners and MedEquity Capital, (the "investors"). The Investors have a large pool of capital committed within the healthcare sector and have extensive experience in specialty compounding facilities. In addition to the acquisition of assets, Pharmalogic Holdings Corp. plans to sublease contract manufacturing space from INIS for the duration of INIS's lease. The purchase price for the acquired assets was 4 million dollars, which was paid in full at closing. INIS acquired the new contract manufacturing facility with all installed assets in December 2020 as a part of a settlement agreement with another company.

Steve Laflin, CEO of INIS commented, "The contract manufacturing space and assets are a state of the art 21 CFR Part 211 compliant manufacturing facility. We are pleased to see these spaces being utilized by a qualified and experienced company such as Pharmalogic Holdings Corp., We look forward to working with them to establish their separate Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing and support their start-up of this contract manufacturing facility. In addition, we believe this asset acquisition and subleasing arrangement could lead to additional collaborative opportunities between our companies. The capital raised by the asset sale has put INIS in a much stronger financial position. It has been a very long process shifting the historical business from a contract manufacturer for RadQual, a supplier of radiochemicals, and performing radiological field services to where we are presently. Today, we are healthcare focused, with RadQual wholly owned and a radiopharmaceutical business anchored by our FDA approved treatment for thyroid cancer and diseases of the thyroid. These are much higher margin business's and one's we believe have a long growth runway in front of them. Now that we have the business lines we want, the next step was to access capital to grow them. We expect that this transaction provides us the capital to do just that."

About International Isotopes Inc.

International Isotopes Inc. supplies sodium iodide I-131 as an FDA approved generic drug product and manufactures a full range of nuclear medicine calibration and reference standards. The Company also provides cobalt-60 products for medical and industrial applications.

International Isotopes Inc. Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements with respect to the Company's future growth expectations. Information contained in such forward-looking statements is based on current expectations and is subject to change. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements of International Isotopes Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Other factors, which could materially affect such forward-looking statements, can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Investors, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and International Isotopes, Inc. and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

David Drewitz

Creative Options Communications

Investor and Public Relations

[email protected]

www.creativeoptionsmarketing.com

Phone: 972-814-5723

SOURCE International Isotopes Inc.
CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardor Travels is forever changing the business travel industry by introducing its all-new, technologically advanced travel and expense platform. It offers everything small and mid-sized businesses and their employees need, such as user-friendly hotel, flight and car booking, reporting and expensing completely accessible at their fingertipsall while being entirely customizable.

The platform was designed to empower both travelers and businesses with its unmatched benefits and capabilities, including:

Hyper Customization: No other business travel platform has the flexibility to be fully customizable. Businesses can set up profiles that are specific to their needs  from turning on or off desired inventory access, setting rate caps, system preferences, and much more.

No other business travel platform has the flexibility to be fully customizable. Businesses can set up profiles that are specific to their needs  from turning on or off desired inventory access, setting rate caps, system preferences, and much more. Big Savings: Ardor offers substantially lower onboarding and booking fees than other travel solutions on the market with savings ranging from 20-45 percent off bookings. No software purchase or yearly maintenance costs required.

Ardor offers substantially lower onboarding and booking fees than other travel solutions on the market with savings ranging from 20-45 percent off bookings. No software purchase or yearly maintenance costs required. Booking Made Easy: Ardor's dashboard is accessed via mobile app and desktop, and features easy employee booking, travel-desk functionality for group bookings, clear operational flows, management approval process, and real-time reporting. Not only is Ardor Travels multi-currency, but it just released its full Spanish version for both mobile app and desktop.

Ardor's dashboard is accessed via mobile app and desktop, and features easy employee booking, travel-desk functionality for group bookings, clear operational flows, management approval process, and real-time reporting. Not only is Ardor Travels multi-currency, but it just released its full Spanish version for both mobile app and desktop. Built for Travelers: Profile management, bookings, dashboard information, and expense reporting all in one for both business and leisure travel. Just click over to personal and enjoy all the benefits of recreational and family travel.

Profile management, bookings, dashboard information, and expense reporting all in one for both business and leisure travel. Just click over to personal and enjoy all the benefits of recreational and family travel. Value & Breadth of Options: Ardor offers a breadth of options for all major airlines, hotels and car rental companies throughout not only the U.S., but worldwide at a huge value. Discounts, ease of use, improved operational efficiencies and reporting, and expense management all equal a strong return on travel investment and an improved experience.

Ardor offers a breadth of options for all major airlines, hotels and car rental companies throughout not only the U.S., but worldwide at a huge value. Discounts, ease of use, improved operational efficiencies and reporting, and expense management all equal a strong return on travel investment and an improved experience. Total Transparency & Support: The monthly subscription fee for the Ardor Gold Plan (for Premium services), is the only fee users will encounter making it cost efficient and predictable, and although the platform is completely customizable, Ardor offers 24/7 customer support at no additional charge.

"In a rising cost environment, we built Ardor Travels to help businesses and employees take control of and improve the overall travel spend, process, and expense experience. The system is customized to their specific needs, providing peace of mind to the traveler knowing everything is taken care of at the touch of a button," said Ardor Travels CEO and Founder Keith Lamb. "The innovative platform is built to continue to add on functionality through new releases and great global inventory access - there's nothing in the industry quite like it."

Ardor's subscription based, SaaS model offers a completely customizable experience unlike any other, designed specifically for business travelers. Accessible via mobile or desktop, special focus has been given to user experience, intuitive designs and AI technology, ensuring industry compliance and efficient expense management. For more information, please visit ArdorTravels.com.

About Ardor Travel Technologies

Ardor Travel Technologies is a global, privately owned, disruptive business travel and expense management company comprised of a group of innovative entrepreneurs who have invested in and built travel and technology related companies over their careers. Ardor Travel Technology companies provide best-in-class products and technology with unparalleled access to amazing content and services. Through biometrics, artificial intelligence and machine learning their goal is to provide significant safety, financial and operational impact for their customers. Visit www.ArdorTravels.com for more information.

Contact:

Molly Bell

Interdependence Public Relations

414.628.5776

[email protected]

SOURCE Ardor Travels
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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight years after establishing roots in Des Moines' historic East Village, local architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning firm, ISG, opens its doors at a new location in the neighborhood.

After enjoying nearly a decade of continuous growth, the firm needed a space that would accommodate the current and future team. With a commitment to supporting the vibrancy of the East Village and revitalization of the adjacent Market District, ISG partnered with a local developer, Christensen Development, to transform the historic 1930s era industrial building, which previously housed manufacturing activities for the Globe Hoist Company, into a modern, collaborative homebase for more than 60 ISG employee owners.

Restoration efforts captured the creative culture of ISG, while preserving the rich history of the structure and community. With a one-of-a-kind sawtooth roofline and original brickwork, ISG's design team restored the exterior to its former glory, allowing the building to speak for itself.

The interior highlights the full spectrum of ISG's architecture and engineering services with an artful blend of old and new, showcasing the character of the original building while fostering a welcoming, dynamic environment. Exposed brick walls, steel framing, and wooden roof deck highlight the space's industrial past, while sleek glass, expansive skylights, and an open layout feature plenty of collaborative workspace options and flood the space with light to promote the innovative, spatial thinking ISG is known for. State-of-the-art mechanical systems introduce a new standard of air quality in a pandemic-conscious workplace, keeping ISG's employee owners healthy while effectively conditioning the 100-year-old building.

Keeping with the East Village's history of public art and industrial atmosphere, ISG commissioned artist, Chuck Hipsher, to create a custom piece. The resulting mural punctuates the space and is highly visible from East Second Street, inviting residents and visitors to appreciate the only Hipsher mural outside of New York.

The new space has inspired the ISG Des Moines team by increasing the capacity for collaboration and fostering relationships and ingenuity. The location has also breathed a new energy into the office by bringing ISG's two previous Des Moines locations under one roof. ISG Architect, Erica Schaefer, AIA, NCARB, notes, "The space truly stands as a testament to all of the things ISG prides itself on as a design firm."

Situated in the heart of the East Village revitalization and adjacent to ISG's Market District project, the new address highlights ISG's commitment to a continued investment in Downtown Des Moines. Executive Vice President and Des Moines Office Lead, Derek Johnson, PE explains: "Since our opening in 2014 we have grown our design firm with support from our clients, community, and neighbors. We are grateful for the support and eager to continue that growth with our roots firmly planted in Downtown Des Moines."

About ISG

ISG, a 100 percent ESOP firm, has a rich history, which extends over 49 years of building trusting relationships with clients, stakeholders, and the community. As a full-service architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning firm with 400+ professionals in offices throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, ISG provides exceptional services, strategies, and guidance to a wide range of markets nationwide. ISG was named among the 100 fastest growing firms, best places to work for, and market excellence leader in the United States by Zweig Group, recognized as a Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine, and has earned spots on numerous Top Workplace and project recognition lists. To learn more about ISG, visit ISGInc.com.

Media Contact

Tanya Pierce, Director of Marketing

[email protected]

952.426.0699

SOURCE ISG
The partnership will focus on development opportunities while exploring retrofits in select clusters; more specifically Boston, San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego markets, with additional targets including the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and Orange County.

Ivanhoe Cambridge will be the majority partner in the venture while Lendlease will lead development and oversee construction on all projects, incorporating both firms' aggressive sustainability goals.

"We are excited to launch this new investment vehicle for ground-up life science projects with a like-minded partner that has the proven-track record to deliver high-quality sustainable innovative projects" said Jonathan Pearce, Executive Vice President, Leasing and Development, North America at Ivanhoe Cambridge. "This partnership will also allow Ivanhoe Cambridge to deepen its footprint in the life science sector, which has long-term growth fundamentals, while supporting our organization's strategic portfolio diversification."

"This partnership brings together Ivanhoe Cambridge's world-class investment expertise with our experience operating across the life sciences sector," said Denis Hickey, Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer - Americas at Lendlease. "Together, we are uniquely positioned to deliver state-of-the-art lab, office and manufacturing space while expanding development capabilities in a high-growth asset class."

Ivanhoe Cambridge and Lendlease's first joint life science development project, 60 Guest Street, is scheduled to break ground in spring 2022, with completion expected in 2024. The nine-story, 320,000-square-foot life science facility in Boston's Allston/Brighton neighborhood, will include state-of-the-art lab and office space as well as a robust amenity program.

To date, through its Construction business, Lendlease has completed more than 500 life science facilities in the U.S. together comprising approximately 18 million square feet. These projects, which include ground-up developments, renovations and conversions, range in size from individual labs to large-scale manufacturing plants.

About Ivanhoe Cambridge

Ivanhoe Cambridge develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties, projects and companies that are shaping the urban fabric in dynamic cities around the world. It does so responsibly, with a view to generate long-term performance. Ivanhoe Cambridge is committed to creating living spaces that foster the well-being of people and communities, while reducing its environmental footprint.

Ivanhoe Cambridge invests internationally alongside strategic partners and major real estate funds that are leaders in their markets. Through subsidiaries and partnerships, the Company holds interests in more than 1,100 buildings, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors. Ivanhoe Cambridge held C$60,4 billion in real estate assets as of December 31, 2020 and is a real estate subsidiary of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (cdpq.com), a global investment group. For more information: ivanhoecambridge.com.

About Lendlease

Lendlease is a leading global real estate group with operations in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our purpose is to create value through places where communities thrive. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Lendlease has approximately 10,800 employees internationally. Our core capabilities are reflected in our operating segments of Development, Construction and Investments. The combination of these three segments provides us with a sustainable competitive advantage and allows us to provide innovative integrated solutions for our customers. The Americas region, headquartered in New York, offers core capabilities in property and communities' development, construction and investment management. Our expertise covers multiple sectors including arts & culture, aviation, commercial, education, energy, government, healthcare, hotels & resorts, industrial, life science, military communities, mixed-use, multi-site, residential, senior living, transportation and urban regeneration.

www.lendlease.com

SOURCE Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc.
DALLAS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) has been appointed by PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) (GDE) as Subsurface Project Management Consultant for the expansion of the Dieng and Patuha geothermal power plants in Java, Indonesia. The development will increase the power generation output of the Dieng and Patuha geothermal fields from 110 megawatts (MW) to 220 MW and help expand renewable power generation in support of Indonesia's transition toward a cleaner energy future.

Jacobs will undertake the geoscientific study of the geothermal resource, including the review of conceptual reservoir model and development strategy, well targeting, geological prognosis, and well programming, as well as the development of the drilling strategy and drilling risk mitigation. During the program, Jacobs will also provide technical knowledge on geothermal resource utilization and build on the lessons learned from previous drilling campaigns for Dieng and Patuha.

"Jacobs has a proven history in successfully delivering geothermal development projects in Indonesia as well as across the globe over the last 40 years," said Jacobs Senior Vice President and General Manager Keith Lawson. "This project is a great opportunity for us to continue to support GDE in harnessing Indonesia's geothermal resources to meet a cleaner, more sustainable, and efficient energy future and help attract additional investment in the geothermal sector in Indonesia."

The power plants are the first geothermal projects that are financed by the Asian Development Bank under a direct lending scheme. The project will provide job opportunities to the local communities, renewable electricity to the Java-Bali network, and reduce carbon emission by more than 700,000 tons per year, as compared to power plants sourced from fossil energy.

"This is a strategic project that can help meet the people's need for clean energy. It will have a positive impact on the social and economic aspects, especially for the surrounding areas," said GDE President Director Riki Firmandha Ibrahim. "This is a good opportunity for Jacobs to play a big role in driving positive changes in Indonesia."

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery, and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence and spread of variants of COVID-19, the efficacy and availability of vaccines and treatments, and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, ,and Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs
Toronto Pearson International Airport will be the first airport in the world to test HEXWAVE

WILMINGTON, Mass. and TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. ("Liberty" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2), a leading technology provider of threat detection solutions for concealed weapons, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with The Greater Toronto Airports Authority ("GTAA") to trial HEXWAVE at Toronto Pearson International Airport ("Toronto Pearson") during the third quarter of 2022.

HEXWAVE Go/No-go Operator View (CNW Group/Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.)

Toronto Pearson is located in Mississauga, west of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest airport, the sixth-most-connected airport in the world and the second-most-connected airport in North America.

Toronto Pearson will be the first airport in the world to trial the HEXWAVE walkthrough security detection portal. Several key members of the Liberty Defense team, including CEO Bill Frain, have previously been involved in the development and mass deployment of key screening technologies that are commonly found today at airports around the world.

"The HEXWAVE is planned to act as an additional layer of security at airports, extending the perimeter of the screened area to include the entrance to the airport itself," said Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense. "As airports continue to look at innovative ways to improve security, technology like HEXWAVE provides the ultimate solution."

This strategy is known as a layered defense strategy, and it makes it possible for security teams to detect threats at the perimeter of a property without obstructing the movement of large groups of people. HEXWAVE can operate in both indoor and outdoor environments, providing additional flexibility for deployment of the system.

HEXWAVE uses 3D radar imaging and artificial intelligence, primarily to detect and identify concealed weapons, as well as other threats and anomalies, whether they are metallic or nonmetallic. The experience of passing through a HEXWAVE device is completely seamless. There is no need to stop and remove keys, cell phones, or other items from pockets. Moreover, HEXWAVE does not retain the 3D radar image and only displays a standardized person outline as shown in the figure included here.

"The GTAA places passenger and staff safety as our highest priority, and this means taking a proactive, innovative approach to staying ahead of emerging threats and minimizing them," said Dwayne Macintosh, Director of Corporate Safety and Security for the GTAA. "We look forward to trialing HEXWAVE, and its potential to enhance safety at Toronto Pearson."

As previously announced, Liberty is also working with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for demonstration and evaluation of the HEXWAVE and its expanded capabilities for screening aviation workers at a TSA designated airport location to enhance detection and throughput performance.

On Behalf of Liberty Defense

Bill Frain

CEO & Director

About Liberty Defense

Liberty Defense (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2) provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums, schools, and more. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, for which the company has secured an exclusive license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a technology transfer agreement for patents related to active 3D radar imaging technology, provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability of metallic and nonmetallic weapons. Liberty has also licensed the millimeter wave-based, High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe scanner technologies as part of its aviation security technology portfolio. Liberty is committed to protecting communities and preserving peace of mind through superior security detection solutions. Learn more: LibertyDefense.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Liberty believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Liberty. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

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. There are a number of important factors that could cause Liberty's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The parties undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Liberty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Liberty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Liberty has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Liberty as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Liberty does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

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 press release.

SOURCE Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.
CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lana Jewelry, the cult-favorite fine jewelry brand, known for its iconic hoops, signature gold chains and luxe diamond styles, celebrates 20 years of success by announcing model/activist Charli Howard as the face of its anniversary campaign - TWENTY Vol. 1. Photographed by London-based luxury fashion photographer Claire Rothstein, known for her seductive glamour and ultra-fierce editorial spreads and magazine covers, the campaign is a daring expression of Lana Jewelry's unapologetically sexy look.

Charli Howard featured in TWENTY Vol. 1 Campaign for Lana Jewelry. Photographed by Claire Rothstein.

This anniversary's central theme is 'empowering women' and will highlight iconic pieces from the TWENTY Vol. 1 collection, which is the brand's largest to date. It features over 200 gold, bold and lavishly cut diamond looks from designer Lana Bramlette.

"I wanted this to be female-led in every aspect. Having Charli and Claire involved was important for me as we move in an entirely new creative direction," explains Bramlette. "I am looking at campaigns as an artistic outlet to not only highlight my pieces, but also give our audience a clear message: love yourself first and be confident."

Often referred to as the "Queen of Hoops," Bramlette created a brand that has become the gold standard for forward-thinking, confident women who aren't afraid to push boundaries. She pioneered the idea that for a woman, self-worth is a valuable investment, and created pieces that women feel good about spending their own money on and treating themselves to luxury.

On choosing Howard, Bramlette and her team were not only impressed by how stunning the English model/author/activist is, but by her activism for diversity within the fashion industry and using her platform to elevate female voices. Her confidence, positivity and continuous expression of self-love felt like the perfect partnership.

"I love working with successful, female-owned brands and was so excited when the opportunity to shoot with Lana and her gorgeous jewelry came about," explains Howard. "Lana Jewelry embodies everything I think women are  beautiful yet strong  and are lovely wearable pieces that you can dress up or down."

In capturing the campaign visually, the clear choice was Rothstein whose work Bramlette has been following for years. Rothstein's style, which has graced the covers of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, aligns with the Lana Jewelry brand sexy, strong and in-your-face powerful.

Lana Jewelry is available online at lanajewelry.com and participating luxury retailers, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks, and independent boutiques across the country.

About Lana Jewelry

Lana Jewelry is a fashion-forward twist on fine jewelry, merging contemporary style with luxurious elements of pure gold and precious diamonds. Since its 2002 debut, Lana Jewelry has defined and dominated the effortlessly sexy look among the industry elite, drawing legions of celebrity clients. The brand has also cornered the market on its iconic hoop earrings  the signature style of founding designer Lana Bramlette, known as the reigning Queen of the Hoop.

Media Contact:

Jackie Basta

Lana Jewelry

312.952.4529

[email protected]

SOURCE Lana Jewelry
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (OTCMKTS: MNKKQ), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) seeking approval for the investigational agent terlipressin to treat adults with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), an acute and life-threatening syndrome involving rapid reduction in kidney function for which there is currently no FDA-approved treatment.1,2

Terlipressin is an investigational agent being evaluated for the treatment of HRS in the U.S., and its safety and effectiveness have not yet been established by the FDA.

Within the last two weeks, it became necessary to identify a new packaging and labeling manufacturing facility which meant that an inspection of the new facility by the FDA could not be completed by the PDUFA date. A satisfactory inspection is required before the NDA can be approved. This is the only outstanding issue noted in the CRL, and it is important to note that there were no safety or efficacy issues cited.

"We are working with the new facility to have it ready for inspection by the FDA," said Steven Romano, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Mallinckrodt. "We remain committed to this critically ill patient population, who currently have no approved treatment option in the U.S for HRS,2 and we believe that there is a path to approval in 2022."

HRS is a form of impaired kidney function that occurs in individuals with advanced liver disease.1 HRS is classified into two distinct types  a rapidly progressive type that leads to acute renal failure and a more chronic type that progresses over weeks to months.1 HRS is estimated to affect between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans annually.3,4 If left untreated, the rapidly progressive renal failure associated with HRS has a median survival time of approximately two weeks and greater than 80 percent mortality within three months.2,5,6

Terlipressin is one of the most studied pharmacological agents in HRS with more than 70 published manuscripts and presented abstracts on clinical data to date.7 It has been approved for more than 30 years, available on five continents and is considered the standard of care for its indications in the countries where it is approved. 8,9,10

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes forward-looking statements with regard to terlipressin, including related to interactions with regulators, steps being taken related to its manufacturing, and its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT

Media Inquiries

Heather Guzzi

Senior Vice President, Green Room Communications

973-524-4112

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

Global Corporate Controller & Chief Investor Relations Officer

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners.  2022 Mallinckrodt. US-2200108 02/22

References

1 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Hepatorenal Syndrome. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hepatorenal-syndrome/. Accessed February 18, 2022

2 Boyer TD, Medicis JJ, Pappas SC, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to confirm the reversal of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 with terlipressin: the REVERSE trial design. Open Access J Clin Trials. 2012:4:39-49.

3 C Pant, B S Jani, M Desai, A Deshpande, Prashant Pandya, Ryan Taylor, R Gilroy, M Olyaee. Hepatorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 20022012. J of Investig Med. 2016; 64:3338.

4 United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218. Accessed February 18, 2022.

5 Gines P, Sola E, Angeli P, et al. Hepatorenal syndrome. Nat Rev. 2018;4:23.

6 Colle I and Laterre PF. Hepatorenal syndrome: the clinical impact of vasoactive therapy. Expert Rev of Gastroenterol & Hepatol. 2018;12(2):173-188. DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2018.1417034.

7 Data on file  ref-05488. Mallinckrodt Hospital Products, Inc.

8 Data on file  ref-05482. Mallinckrodt Hospital Products, Inc.

9 FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Terlipressin Advisory Committee Briefing Document NDA #022231. July 2020.

10 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2018;69(2):406-460.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
ANCENIS, France, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Manitou Group, the worldwide reference in handling, powered access and earthmoving, today announced plans to invest 70 million (US$80 million) in its two North American manufacturing facilities in Yankton and Madison, South Dakota. This investment is to be spent on the extension of both sites, an innovation drive, and the development of new ranges. Through this program, the group reasserts its strong ambitions to achieve the targets set in its strategic plan New Horizons 2025.

Activity at a historic level

With an order book standing at an all-time high of over 3 billion euros, Manitou Group is investing amid a period of sustainable growth. This 70-million-euro plan will initially finance the extension of the production facilities of Yankton (articulated loaders and telehandlers) and Madison (skid steers and track loaders), and subsequently fund the modernization of industrial equipments. Elisabeth Ausimour, President of the Product division, explains: "We have an extremely promising outlook on our markets, which entirely substantiates these investments. These new developments will enable us to absorb peaks in demand, permanently increase our production capacities and increase the safety of our workers, in particular by optimizing flow management. Consequently, we expect to increase our output on these sites by more than 150% by 2026. These projects also fall within our low-carbon transition, through the development of new electric ranges."

Find here a short video that presents this investment plan.

Extensions and new hires

The Yankton facility will see its surface area increase by more than 6,000 sqm (65,000 sq ft), compared with 18,500 sqm today (200,000 sq ft), while more than 7,500 sqm (80,000 sq ft) will be added to the 30,000 sqm (325,000 sq ft) of production space at Madison. The equipment upgrading relates to mechanical welding and assembly, with the notable additions of new welding robots and laser cutting machines. To support its development, the group intends to hire 50 people on each of these sites between now and 2023, in job categories such as welders, assemblers, maintenance technicians and purchasers. Manitou Group will draw on an attractive employer brand and particularly advantageous benefits packages to attract skills in a State with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the USA.

R&D investment focused on renewing product ranges

In parallel with the industrial investment which will account for approximately 50 million (US$57 milllion), nearly 20 million (US$23 million) will be dedicated to research and development. The group's major R&D projects include accelerating the renewal of product ranges and designing electric compact loaders and telehandlers between now and 2026 on these two North American sites. Franck Buisard, VP Product Unit Compact and Articulated Loaders and Managing Director of Manitou Equipment America, adds: "This massive investment is a clear indication of the group's ambition in North America, where there exists considerable market potential. The R&D teams are particularly excited about working on these highly strategic projects, aligned with the priorities in our CSR roadmap."

Included within the 460 million (US$530 million) global investment envelope in the New Horizons 2025 strategic plan, these projects will launch in the second quarter of 2022 and will continue through 2026.

DOWNLOAD THE VISUALS FROM THE NEW MEDIA LIBRARY ACCESSIBLE AT WWW.MANITOU-GROUP.COM UNDER MEDIA

Get the latest news from the group at www.manitou-group.com and on social media

Get the latest news from the group at www.manitou-group.com and on social media Manitou Group is a worldwide reference in the handling, powered access, and earthmoving sectors. By improving workplace conditions, safety, and performance, our environment remains renewable and sustainable for mankind. Through its 3 iconic brands  Manitou, Gehl, and Mustang by Manitou  the group develops, manufactures, and provides equipment and services for the construction, agriculture, and industrial markets. By constantly innovating its products & services, Manitou Group constantly adds value to exceed its stakeholders' expectations. Always attuned to its customers via its expert network of over 1,050 dealers, the group continues to be true to its roots by keeping its headquarters in France. That focus, which powered sales to 1.9 billion in 2021, informs its talented worldwide team of 4,500 whose passion ceaselessly motivates the group.

PR contact in the USA: Julie Ryer  [email protected]  Cell phone: +1 262 388 4372

PR contact: Franck LETHOREY  [email protected]  Tel: +33 2 40 09 17 56 / +33 7 86 70 85 62 Company information available at: www.manitou-group.com

SOURCE Manitou Group
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.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medigate by Claroty, healthcare's leading clinical device data security and integration platform, today announced its selection by the American Hospital Association (AHA) as its cybersecurity services provider for its Medical Device Visibility, Security, and Management services in the AHA Preferred Cybersecurity Provider (APCP) Program.

As cyberattacks quickly rise in the U.S., hospital executives and staff are becoming acutely aware of the need to bolster their cybersecurity efforts. In 2020 alone, over 500 healthcare providers were victims of ransomware attacks. Fueled by COVID-19 unpredictability, ransomware evolved into an advanced threat to organizations across all industries, with healthcare topping the list.

With this newly formed relationship and the trust of AHA, Medigate will continue to protect hospitals from the increasing number of cyber threats, including ransomware. This announcement comes just a few weeks after Claroty , a security company for cyber-physical systems (CPS) across industrial, healthcare, and enterprise environments, completed its acquisition of Medigate.

As an APCP participant, Medigate will be able to support AHA members with a cybersecurity solution aimed at eliminating vulnerabilities posed by the medical (IoMT) and non-medical (IoT) devices connecting to hospital networks. Medigate's strategic approach bolsters a hospital's cybersecurity defenses through visibility and insight to secure their expanded networks, data, and patients from credible threats in real-time.

"AHA's preferred cyber providers help set the standard among hospital-specific security providers. This recognition and verified trust is something we've always strived to achieve here at Medigate," said Jonathan Langer, COO of Claroty and co-founder of Medigate. "We went through a rigorous evaluation process with AHA and are delighted to have been selected as a preferred service provider for our Medical Device Visibility, Security, and Management. Medigate is dedicated to protecting every clinical network from cyberattacks and is pleased to be able to bring this protection to AHA members."

"During this pandemic, hospitals are increasingly becoming victims of strategic and well-organized cyberattacks, which create enterprise-wide risk affecting both patient care and the financial stability of an organization," said John Riggi, National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk at the AHA. "The AHA developed the APCP as part of our continued commitment to support our members as they develop and implement their cybersecurity strategies and identify trusted providers to help them prepare for and prevent such cyberattacks. Medigate's dedication to protecting HDOs from attacks is one of the reasons why the AHA can confidently recommend that our hospitals and health systems can rely on them in their never-ending efforts to defend against sophisticated cyber threats."

To learn more about AHA's selection of Medigate as a preferred cybersecurity provider, click HERE.

About Medigate by Claroty

Medigate, a Claroty company, is the industry's first and leading dedicated Healthcare IoT security platform, enabling healthcare providers to safely deliver connected care. Medigate fuses its deep understanding of medical workflows and proprietary protocols with the reality of today's cybersecurity threats, so hospitals can confidently connect and operate all clinical assets on their network while ensuring patient privacy and safety. To date, Medigate has won more than 40 industry awards, including the 2021 Best in KLAS for Healthcare IoT Security, the SINET Innovator Award, Fast Company's Most Innovative Company Award, and being listed in Forbes' Top 20 IoT Start-Ups to Watch.

Contact:

Hannah Rogers

LEWIS

815-236-8526

[email protected]

SOURCE Medigate by Claroty
"Addressing gaps in colorectal cancer screening is complex. We know that Black adults are more likely to be diagnosed and subsequently die from this disease. There are also disparities in screenings among different groups, including adults in rural communities," said Douglas K. Rex, M.D., MASGE, president, ASGE. "Colonoscopy is critical in preventing colorectal cancer and as the global leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy, ASGE is working together with Medtronic to ensure that providers receive screening technology and are able to use them in communities where they are most needed."

AWS has provided computing credits that have made the funding of this program possible and continues to work with Medtronic to support the ongoing development of GI Genius and innovative future Medtronic health screening technologies that will further support Medtronic's health equity efforts. ASGE is independently leading the application and selection process to determine the facilities that otherwise would be unable to fund this innovative solution for underserved patient populations. Initial recipients will be announced in March 2022 during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

"The crisis of health inequities cannot be solved without expanding access to healthcare technologies that put people first," said Geoff Martha, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. "We must begin with local efforts that consider the needs of the community. This program is an important step towards ensuring that our powerful technologies help reduce disparities, improve care and enhance patient outcomes."

The GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module, authorized by the FDA in April 2021, detects colorectal polyps of varying shapes and sizes automatically in real time which helps diagnose and prevent colorectal cancer. It is the first-to-market, computer-aided polyp detection system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that provides physicians with a powerful solution in the fight to screen, detect and prevent colorectal cancer and an increase of up to 14.4% absolute detection rate (ADR). Each 1% increase in ADR decreases patients' risk of colorectal cancer by 3%.

Earlier this month, Medtronic released its Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Annual Report, which maps out the Company's Zero Barriers commitment to remove barriers to opportunity -- including efforts to improve access to healthcare technology. As part of this work, Medtronic introduced several initiatives in 2021 to reduce health inequities among people of color living with diabetes, including supporting the American Diabetes Association's Technology Access Project.

"This effort is part of Medtronic's Zero Barriers approach to building equity within our healthcare system, accelerating our innovation and helping to bring our lifesaving technologies to more patients," said Giovanni Di Napoli, president of the Medtronic Gastrointestinal business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. "The program represents a continuation of Medtronic's commitment to health equity anchored in healthcare technology."

"Individual health outcomes should not depend on socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or neighborhood," said Maggie Carter, global lead for social impact at AWS. "We are pleased to support Medtronic and ASGE as part of AWS's recently launched health equity program to help these organizations bring effective screening tools to the communities that need them most."

For more information and to apply, visit: ASGE's program website.

About ASGE

Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence and innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with almost 15,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit Asge.org and ValueOfColonoscopy.org for more information.

About Medtronic

Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission  to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life  unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Contacts:





Sabrina Zimring Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-720-774-3454 +1-763-505-4626

SOURCE Medtronic plc
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced that five U.S. universities and colleges have been selected to receive a 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. Named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the NAFSA Simon Awards recognize outstanding innovation and accomplishment in campus internationalization, defined by NAFSA as a conscious effort to integrate and infuse international, intercultural and global dimensions into the ethos and outcomes of their students' education. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual awards program, and today's announcement marks the beginning of NAFSA's year-long exploration of how campus internationalization has evolved during that time.

"This year's awards recognize both creative responses to the recent challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as long established programs that are true standard-bearers for the field of international education," said Esther D. Brimmer, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO. "We commend all five recipients for their commitment to engaging their full student population in the pursuit of a global education. Now in its 20th year, NAFSA's Simon Awards continue to serve as an inspiring showcase of how international education is ever-evolving to foster greater understanding and respect among students of diverse backgrounds and forge leaders who are equipped for a globally connected future."

The "Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization" distinguishes overall excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of university and college campuses. The 2022 Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization recipients are:

College of Lake County  Grayslake, Illinois

 Kent State University  Kent, Ohio

The "Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award" recognizes a specific program or initiative that contributes to internationalization on campus. The 2022 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award recipients are:

Marist College  Poughkeepsie, New York

 Freshman Year Abroad programs

Northeastern University  Boston, Massachusetts

 Global Cooperative Education Program

Northwestern University  Evanston, Illinois

 Global Engagement Studies Institute

Institutions selected for the Simon Awards will be featured in NAFSA's report, Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, to be published this fall, and honored during the virtual and in-person programming as part of NAFSA's 2022 Annual Conference & Expo this spring. To learn more about NAFSA's Senator Paul Simon Awards, visit www.nafsa.org/SimonAward.

Sample Tweet: Congratulations to the 2022 NAFSA #SimonAward winners. Thank you for your great work internationalizing U.S. campuses and strengthening global ties. @CLCIllinois @KentState @Marist @Northeastern @NorthwesternU. More at www.nafsa.org/SimonAward

About NAFSA: Serving more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. Visit us at www.nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy efforts on behalf of international education, visit www.nafsa.org/takeaction. Resources to guide our members on these issues can be found at www.nafsa.org/reginfo.

SOURCE NAFSA: Association of International Educators
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 1:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 24, to provide an update on progress toward the launch of the agency's uncrewed Artemis I mission.

Artemis engineers are working through final closeout tasks for the launch, as well as integrated testing before the rocket rolls out to the pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first time in mid-March.

Audio of the teleconference will stream live online at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

Participating in the briefing are:

Tom Whitmeyer , deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, NASA Headquarters

, deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, NASA Headquarters Mike Bolger , Exploration Ground Systems program manager, Kennedy

, Exploration Ground Systems program manager, Kennedy Mike Sarafin , Artemis I mission manager, NASA Headquarters

To participate in the call, media must RSVP by at least two hours prior to the event to Madison Tuttle at: [email protected].

The agency will roll the combined Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy for testing next month. This final test, known as the wet dress rehearsal, will run the launch team through operations to load propellant into the rocket's tanks and conduct a full launch countdown. Following a successful rehearsal, NASA will roll the rocket stack back into the Vehicle Assembly Building for final checks and set an official target date for launch.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis I mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-1

SOURCE NASA
A link to the report (including an Executive Summary) can be found here . For additional information on the Association, please visit our website www.nssaspace.org .

NSSA is the only U.S. trade association dedicated solely to promoting the health and vitality of the U.S. national security space enterprise (Title 10 and Title 50) and its supporting industry partners. For more information, including how to join the Association, please visit us at www.nssaspace.org

We thank you and our valued members for your continued support of the NSSA, and the preservation and protection of the national security space community.

SOURCE National Security Space Association
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. (CSE: NVLH) (FSE: 87K) (OTCQB: NVLHF) ("Nevada Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the application process that allows its shares to begin trading on the OTCQB Market ("OTCQB") under the symbol "NVLHF". The Company's common shares will remain listed on the CSE in Canada under the ticker symbol "NVLH".

Nevada Lithium CEO, Stephen Rentschler, comments: "Trading on the OTCQB is part of our strategy to broaden access for investors to support Nevada Lithium and our view of unlocking shareholder value from the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project. At Nevada Lithium, we firmly believe that Bonnie Claire is one of the most attractive global lithium assets remaining in junior developers' hands."

OTC Markets Group Inc., located in New York, N.Y., operates the world's largest electronic inter-dealer quotation system for broker dealers to trade over 10,000 securities. The OTCQB is a transparent trading platform that offers a cost-effective method for United States investors to access Nevada Lithium's securities. Nevada Lithium's quotation and trading on the OTCQB provides investors the opportunity to benefit from streamlined market standards which enhance the availability of information to the general public, enabling greater transparency. North American and international investors can find Real-Time level 2 quotes (denominated in US dollars) and market information for Nevada Lithium common shares at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NVLHF/overview along with current company news.

About Nevada Lithium Resources Inc.

Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on shareholder value creation through its core asset, the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project, located in Nye County, Nevada, where it currently holds a 50% interest. A recently completed NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment returned attractive investment metrics and the Company is actively advancing the Project towards Pre-Feasibility. Learn more: https://www.nvlithium.com/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Stephen Rentschler

CEO

Find Nevada Lithium on Social Media: on Instagram and Twitter

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of any of the word "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the proposed exploration program and development of the Bonnie Claire Project, and advancement of the Bonnie Claire Project to pre-feasibility. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE Nevada Lithium Resources Inc
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 10; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 33598

Companies: 67 - Players covered include 3M Company; Aeroqual Ltd.; Camfil AB; Daikin North America LLC.; Emerson Electric Co.; Horiba, Ltd.; Lennox International Inc.; Panasonic Corporation; Siemens AG; Teledyne Technologies Incorporated; Testo SE & Co. KGaA; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; Trane Technologies plc; Trion, Inc.; TSI Incorporated and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Product (Fixed Indoor Monitors, Portable Indoor Monitors); Pollutant Type (Chemical Pollutants, Physical Pollutants, Biological Pollutants); End-Use (Government Buildings, Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry



ABSTRACT-



Global Indoor Air Quality Monitors Market to Reach US$5.5 Billion by the Year 2026

Indoor air quality is characterized by the ventilation conditions, humidity levels, ambient air temperature, and the prevalence of chemical and biological contaminants in air within a building. Indoor air quality monitors are used for identifying and monitoring potential air pollutants so that necessary action can be initiated for eliminating them. Growth in the global market is set to be driven by deteriorating air quality and consumer focus on ensuring air quality indoors. The market for air quality monitoring is also supported by rising consumer awareness, strict regulations related to monitoring and control of air quality, expanding application areas, and growing focus among people to lower health risks. The market growth is further stimulated by emergence of new technologies such as AI, IoT and automation that allow manufacturers to come up with advanced devices for real-time monitoring of indoor air quality. Indoor air quality monitors are enjoying immense attention amid the COVID-19 pandemic as various studies are linking enhanced air quality with fewer casualties. The need is prompting consumers to spend on advanced indoor air quality monitors to ensure proper air quality, temperature and humidity indoors. Indoor usage of these systems is likely to register strong growth due to the favorable regulations related to air pollution control and monitoring, and the increasing number of green buildings and smart homes.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Indoor Air Quality Monitors estimated at US$3.8 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$5.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.9% over the analysis period. Fixed Indoor Monitors, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9.5% CAGR to reach US$3.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Portable Indoor Monitors segment is readjusted to a revised 10.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 34.5% share of the global Indoor Air Quality Monitors market. The growth in the fixed monitors segment can be attributed to the technological benefits that these devices offer in terms of real-time monitoring and requirement for limited sample for analysis. Globally, demand for portable air quality monitors is rising, driven by increasing air pollution levels, as well as supportive regulations by government for maintaining sound air quality.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.5 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $397.9 Million by 2026

The Indoor Air Quality Monitors market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.5 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 39.3% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$397.9 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 12.9% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 8.9% and 9.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 9.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$557.5 Million by the end of the analysis period. The indoor air quality monitors market in North America and Europe is anticipated to be bolstered by favorable regulations, growing adoption of sophisticated systems and technological advances related to gas analyzers and particulate sensors. In addition, increasing public and private funding to promote implementation of indoor/outdoor air pollution monitoring systems is poised to set a perfect ground for expansion of the market in the two regions. Stringent regulations coupled with rapid industrialization and technological advances across countries including India and China are contributing to the market expansion in Asia-Pacific region. More

MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.

Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 11; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 3504

Companies: 145 - Players covered include 3M Company; Advanced Sterilization Products; Belimed AG; Cantel Medical Corporation; Ecolab, Inc.; Getinge AB (Getinge Group); Halyard Health, Inc.; Matachana Group; Metrex Research LLC; Pal International Ltd.; Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC; Sotera Health LLC; Steris and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Products & Services (Protective Barriers, Sterilization Products & Services, Cleaning & Disinfection Products, Endoscope Reprocessing Products, Other Products & Services); End-Use (Hospitals & Clinics, Pharma & Medical Device Companies, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry



ABSTRACT-



Global Infection Control Market to Reach US$62.3 Billion by the Year 2026

Infection control plays a critical role in activities related to sterile processing of devices, in addition to disposal and decontamination of potentially infectious bio-hazardous waste. The market for infection control is expected to witness rapid growth in the coming years due to the rapidly growing incidence of HAIs (Hospital Acquired Infections) and rising number of surgeries. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) constitute one of the leading causes of death globally and constitutes for nearly 100,000 deaths every year in the US alone. Other market growth promoting factors include rising geriatric population, especially in developed countries, and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Market growth is also being positively influenced by the rising focus of nations on disinfection and sterilization. Pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies and hospitals are also increasingly outsourcing such sterilization jobs, which is also contributing to market growth.

The market is witnessing the development of advanced sterilization equipment in response to the advanced medical equipment being developed. Factors, such as increasing public and professional awareness, need for reducing healthcare costs, shifting of patient care from acute care to alternate sites, growth of less invasive surgical and diagnostic procedures, and the rising number of transmittable and antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases, have led to the increased demand for safe and efficient sterilization equipment. There are at the same time, a few concerns which hold the potential to restrict anticipated infection control market growth. There are for instance issues with regard to safety of instruments that are reprocessed. Moreover, in developing economies, the factor of limited reimbursement could hinder market growth. Other factors such as non-compliance of end-users with recognized standards of sterilization may also hamper growth.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Infection Control estimated at US$50.4 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$62.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% over the analysis period. Protective Barriers, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9.2% CAGR to reach US$26.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Sterilization Products & Services segment is readjusted to a revised 7.2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Growing demand for surgical drapes, gowns and face masks and such other medical nonwovens, amid the pandemic, has been contributing to growth of protective barriers.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $13.8 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $9.2 Billion by 2026

The Infection Control market in the U.S. is estimated at US$13.8 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 27.5% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$9.2 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 8.8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 5.7% and 7.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 6.7% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$3.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. North America is the largest regional market for infection control attributed to increased adoption of disinfection and sterilization products and services and also increased focus of the population here on disease prevention and following healthy lifestyles. Another lucrative market for infection control is Asia-pacific where increasing HAIs incidence, especially in fast emerging countries, is leading to increased adoption of disinfection and sterilization equipment and services.

Cleaning & Disinfection Products Segment to Reach $10.5 Billion by 2026

In the global Cleaning & Disinfection Products segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 5.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$5.9 Billion will reach a projected size of US$8.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$1 Billion by the year 2026. More

MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.



Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

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Connect With Us on LinkedIn

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Journalists & Media

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
STOCKTON, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Connor Woods, the only Life Plan Community for seniors in San Joaquin County, has announced two powerful partnerships that will enhance and expand their residents' access to high-quality, compassionate health care services. This award-winning community is dedicated to establishing collaborative alliances with entities that can supplement and improve the continuity of care provided at O'Connor Woods. Their new affiliations with Touro University Medical Group and Hospice of San Joaquin are intended to do just that.

Physicians with the Touro University Medical Group will begin providing residents with routine and preventative care on campus at the O'Connor Woods Health Clinic, eliminating the need to arrange for transportation or make several appointments with varying physicians practicing in multiple locations. With primary care providers specializing in Internal Medicine, Neurology, Infectious Disease, Urology and more, this unique multi-specialty practice offers residents premium access to a comprehensive, wrap-around program of medical services powered by cutting-edge research.

Through their unique collaboration with Hospice of San Joaquin (a first of its kind in the region), O'Connor Woods can now offer the services of a full-time Hospice of San Joaquin nurse on the community's campus. This individual will be available on-site to provide dedicated, professional end-of-life care to O'Connor Woods residents in the familiarity of their own community and residences, increasing the quality of care, the comfort of those receiving it, and the ability to offer support to families and team members.

"We are so pleased and honored to be able to provide this level of care to our beloved residents. Our partnerships with Touro Med Group and Hospice of San Joaquin mean that we can offer our residents and their loved ones the services and support they require right at their doorsteps, enhancing their quality of life to the fullest possible extent."

 Penny Mallette, Executive Director, O'Connor Woods

About O'Connor Woods

Over the past three decades, O'Connor Woods has earned the reputation as a solid and trusted choice for northern San Joaquin County seniors. Their mission is to provide exceptional living and a network of services for seniors to support and inspire the human spirit by nurturing well-being, independence and a sense of community. Today, they are a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the Life Plan Community for their residents, and pride themselves on providing flexibility, an engaging and worry-free lifestyle, financial stability and future health care support. For more information, call (209) 956-3400 or visit oconnorwoods.org.

*O'Connor Woods is a proud member of the Eskaton family of senior living communities and support services. For more information, visit eskaton.org.

About Touro University Medical Group

Touro University Medical Group is an affiliate faculty practice of Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. Located in Stockton, their clinical office is home to physicians who are on staff at St. Joseph's Medical Center and part of the Graduate Medical Education programs. At Touro University Medical Group, the decision-making process is informed by a combination of evidence-based medicine and listening to their patients to find the best treatment and course of care. They strive to build long-lasting relationships and make a positive impact on patients' lives and within the community. For more information, call (209) 645-4005 or visit mytumg.org.

About Hospice of San Joaquin

Incorporated as a California Nonprofit Benefit Corporation in November of 1980, Hospice of San Joaquin honors life by ensuring patients and their caregivers are the focus of everything they do. Their vision is to be the leader in ensuring quality of the journey, from serious illness through end-of-life. As the oldest not-for-profit hospice in San Joaquin County, the mission of Hospice of San Joaquin is to provide comprehensive and compassionate hospice care, counseling, and support to terminally-ill patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay, as well as educate and collaborate with healthcare partners and the public in promoting quality end-of-life care. For more information, call (209) 957-3888 or visit hospicesj.org

CONTACT:

Penny Mallette

Executive Director

O'Connor Woods

(209) 956-3400

[email protected]

SOURCE Eskaton
"Now more than ever, we recognize the vital role quality education plays in our community," said OnPoint President and Chief Executive Officer Rob Stuart. "We celebrate the outstanding educators every day and the OnPoint Prize gives us a special opportunity to lift up those who inspire creativity, excitement and curiosity in the classroom, and make a true impact on students, parents, peers and the larger community."

Anyone can nominate an outstanding educator or apply for a Community Builder Award today by visiting www.onpointprize.com. The nomination period closes at 5:30 p.m. PST on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. OnPoint will announce the Educator of the Year finalists and Community Builder winners on May 10.

This year's awards include:

Educators of the Year

Educators of the Year: Three educators, one representing grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, will each have their mortgage or rent paid for one full year and receive a $2,500 donation to their school for resources and supplies.

donation to their school for resources and supplies.

Runners-up: Three educators, one from grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, will each receive a $5,000 cash award and an additional $1,500 to their schools for resources and supplies.

cash award and an additional to their schools for resources and supplies. Community Builder Awards

One school, selected by community votes, will receive $5,000 for a project that has positively impacted their school or community.

for a project that has positively impacted their school or community.

Four additional schools will receive $2,000 for special projects.

2021 Prize Winners

Since 2010, the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education has awarded more than $562,000 in prizes and supported more than 296 local educators and schools. Last year, OnPoint awarded six teachers and 11 schools with more than $92,000 in cash prizes as part of the 2021 OnPoint Prize for Excellence Awards. See below for details about last year's Educators of the Year and Community Builder Award winners.

Educators of the Year

Lionel Clegg, a 1st grade teacher at Woodlawn Elementary in the Portland School District, Travis Rooke-Ley, an 8th grade math teacher at Whitford Middle School in the Beaverton School District, and Addie Lyden, Activities Director at Beaverton High School, were named OnPoint's 2021 Educators of the Year.

Lionel Clegg, the K-5 Educator of the Year, attended Woodlawn Elementary as a child and has taught at the primary level for 24 years. Clegg has served various roles within the school, including leader of Boys of Distinction, a mentoring program he created for boys in grades 3-5, and as an after-school tutor for the SUN School program. He advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion in his classroom, school and community, and has created a culturally-responsive learning environment that allows him to maintain strong relationships with his students.

"Teaching is not my job. It is my purpose. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help shape and change the lives of these children, to help build them into strong adults," said Clegg. "Winning this award validated the important work we do. We don't do this for the money; we do it because we truly care about the kids. It's amazing to know OnPoint has our back and recognizes our role in the community."

Travis Rooke-Ley, the 6-8 Educator of the Year for 2021, also strives to create a strong and welcoming sense of community in his classroom. He created a peer tutor program with Structured Routine Classroom, which offers a space for neurotypical students to work with others who experience autism, intellectual disabilities and communication disorders. Rooke-Ley honors the varied life experiences of his diverse community of students and often teaches math concepts in the context of real-world applications, such as housing, interest, loans and college tuition, to offer students a better understanding of the importance and relevance of these topics.

Addie Lyden, the 9-12 Educator of the Year for 2021, has been an educator for more than 20 years. After studying systemic racism and achievement gaps, Lyden made it her mission to break down the school's barriers for students of color, women and LGBTQIA+ students in her lessons. She strives to listen and learn from her students, prioritizing their mental and physical well-being, and offers support to students who are enduring challenges like homelessness, abuse, immigration, legal issues, suicide and mental health challenges. She has worked with other high schools to determine areas of improvement in staff development with regards to racism and discrimination and was asked to serve as the Black Student Union club advisor as a result of her work.

Community Builder Awards

In 2021, OnPoint also gave out five Community Builder Awards to schools for innovative projects that inspire students, foster community, demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and reach a broad segment of the school community.

The $5,000 grand prize, selected by community votes, went to Holy Family Catholic School in Southeast Portland. The award is helping fund speaker engagement, book club materials, art supplies and cooking-class ingredients as part of the school's diversity, equity and inclusion project, which seeks to foster a safe learning environment and sense of community.

"OnPoint provided our school with a powerful gift," said Joseph Galati, Principal of Holy Family Catholic School. "Being the recipient of the Community Builder Award has given us the boost to really begin examining and celebrating our diversity and cultural awareness. Collectively, our school has grown so much from this award and provided resources to achieve our first-year goal so that we can continue to propel ourselves in the years to come. I encourage other school groups in our region to apply for the award as it has impacted our community greatly. Thank you, OnPoint!"

Four schools across Oregon received the $2,000 award: Awbrey Park Elementary's Conscious Discipline Program, Cheldelin Middle School's Fire and Food Courtyard, Lyle Elementary's Recess for All and Vern Patrick Elementary's StoryWalk.

About the Nomination Process

Information about the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education and how to submit a nomination are now available at www.onpointprize.com. Anyone can nominate an educator, and educators may also nominate themselves. Applicants must be a full-time or job-share classroom teacher, counselor, or librarian for grades K-12 in an accredited public, private or charter school located within any county that OnPoint serves. OnPoint also accepts applications for the Community Builders Awards within those same counties. For information about the campaign, additional qualifications and contest rules, please visit www.onpointprize.com.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 465,000 members and with assets of $9.0 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

SOURCE OnPoint Community Credit Union
LONDON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The British people are "at more risk of catching COVID" after Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to remove the legal requirement to self isolate following a positive test from Thursday, an aerosol scientist has said.

Britain will remove all remaining domestic restrictions in law, Johnson told the parliament on Monday. And after April 1, "we will encourage people with COVID-19 symptoms to exercise personal responsibility."

The prime minister's announcement means people could sit next to somebody with active COVID-19 in office or restaurant. Research has found that coronavirus can spread through droplets coming from people's breath, or from aerosols that spread in the air around contagious people.

In badly ventilated places, people could be infected if they do not wear masks, said Adam Squires, a biophysical chemist and aerosol scientist at the University of Bath. "It certainly could well happen and probably does quite a lot when you go out."

"In terms of the disease spread, when we breathe or we talk, or we shout or sing, we give off little particles made of the sort of fluids in our airways. If we are infected with COVID, those particles would have the virus inside. And because they are small enough to stay floating in the air like smoke, then they can be breathed in by someone else. And that's how the virus spreads with Omicron," Squires told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

"We are at more risk of catching COVID if it's the Omicron strain. If we are in a room with someone with Omicron compared with the previous variants, we don't know if that is because the person who is infected gives off more of the infectious aerosol," said Squires.

"It could be that the aerosol has more virus in it, or it might be we just don't need to breathe in as much to get infected. We don't know at the moment," he added.

Squires said he would not describe the coronavirus or Omicron variants as flu. He said the first difference with flu is that Omicron is much more transmissible.

"So the flu we are used to in our lifetimes, we would have got maybe once every so many years. COVID is just different. It does a lot of different things. We don't know exactly what it does to all the different organs, so it's certainly not the same as flu," he said.

He compared the coronavirus with the 1918 flu pandemic, saying "it is also worth remembering that it had bad health outcomes in the decades that followed."

So 10, 20, or 30 years after the 1918 pandemic, there were people getting Parkinson's disease, he said, referring to studies that indicate a link between the 1918 influenza and the following sharp increase in Parkinson's cases.

"So with any new virus, we don't fully know what it does, and we are not going to fully know for years to come," Squires said. 
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation , the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, in partnership with LF Networking and LF Edge , today announced the Open Networking & Edge Executive Forum (ONEEF) will take place virtually April 12-14, 2022. The Open Networking & Edge Executive Forum (spring) and Summit (fall) are the industry's premier open networking and edge computing events focused on end to end solutions powered by open source.

Building on the successful inaugural ONEEF event last spring, the Linux Foundation, LF Networking, and LF Edge are pleased to announce the 2022 Executive Forum, where leading industry executives will again share their visions from the Telco, Cloud, and Enterprise verticals. Attendees will learn how to leverage open source ecosystems and gain new insights for digital transformation. Presented in a virtual format across three days, this is a one-track event starting in a different time zone each day to better reach our global audience.

"We are pleased to welcome thought leaders from across the globe to the virtual stage for ONEEF 2022," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge & IoT, at the Linux Foundation. "This curated experience is designed to complement the Open Networking & Edge Summit with thought leaders and collaborators from around the globe coming together to share insights, best practices, and new ideas that enhance the vertical space across open source networking, edge, cloud and enterprise stacks."

Details on Executive speakers and session agenda will be available soon, but attendees can expect to hear industry insights from Analysys Mason analyst Caroline Chappell, as well as updates on the direction of major initiatives like the 5G Super Blue Print . Stay tuned for more details.

Speakers and Content from ONEEF 2021, including sessions videos , are available online .

Registration & Sponsorships

Presented in a virtual format across three days, this is a one track event that will be held in a different time zone each day to reach our global audience in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. There is no cost to attend, but participants must be registered in order to access the sessions: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/open-networking-and-edge-exec-forum/ .

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this special executive edition of Open Networking & Edge Summit. For more information on sponsoring this event, contact us at [email protected] .

The LF Networking developer community will also host the LFN Developer & Testing Forum this Summer, taking place June 13-16, in Porto, Portugal. Registration for that event is also open, with more details to come.

About the Linux Foundation

Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 2,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation Events are where the world's leading technologists meet, collaborate, learn and network in order to advance innovations that support the world's largest shared technologies.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE The Linux Foundation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service today launched USPS Connect  a set of four delivery solutions that leverage ongoing network improvements, new equipment, new pricing and enhanced operational precision to meet evolving business needs.

"USPS Connect provides businesses of all sizes what they have been asking for  an affordable way to meet consumer demand for fast delivery," said Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General and CEO. "A pivotal point in our Delivering for America plan, it positions us to more fully leverage our network capacity to increase volume and revenue so we can continue to serve the American people with affordable, reliable mail and package delivery."

The USPS Connect program offers several options to help businesses of all sizes meet growing consumer demand for affordable, fast local, regional and national deliveries and returns:

USPS Connect Local is a new way for local businesses to affordably and quickly reach local customers. It is rolling out in select locations starting today. USPS Connect Local offers affordable next-day service in all locations, with same-day delivery, Sunday delivery and pickup options in select locations. This offering also includes USPS Connect Local Mail , an affordable First-Class Mail option for documents up to 13 ounces. Businesses can enter USPS Connect Local packages and mail at the receiving dock of the designated postal facility or take advantage of free en-route pickup when their carrier delivers their mail. Free flat-rate bags, boxes and envelopes are available via Click-N-Ship.

is a new way for local businesses to affordably and quickly reach local customers. It is rolling out in starting today. USPS Connect Local offers affordable next-day service in all locations, with same-day delivery, Sunday delivery and pickup options in select locations. This offering also includes , an affordable First-Class Mail option for documents up to 13 ounces. Businesses can enter USPS Connect Local packages and mail at the receiving dock of the designated postal facility or take advantage of free en-route pickup when their carrier delivers their mail. Free flat-rate bags, boxes and envelopes are available via Click-N-Ship. USPS Connect Regional provides next-day regional entry and delivery of Parcel Select packages and Parcel Select Lightweight packages. Businesses should consult with USPS representatives to identify the entry points and options that work best for them. Most packages will be delivered the next day within a broad specified region.

provides next-day regional entry and delivery of Parcel Select packages and Parcel Select Lightweight packages. Businesses should consult with USPS representatives to identify the entry points and options that work best for them. Most packages will be delivered the next day within a broad specified region. USPS Connect National provides delivery solutions for businesses of all sizes. They can benefit from the Postal Service's new mail processing equipment and reconfigured network to receive reliable delivery of packages through First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground.

provides delivery solutions for businesses of all sizes. They can benefit from the Postal Service's new mail processing equipment and reconfigured network to receive reliable delivery of packages through First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground. USPS Connect Returns is a service for businesses to offer their customers convenient returns, with free en-route pickup by their carrier or drop-off at a nearby Post Office location.

"We've listened carefully to our business customers to develop this program," said Jakki Krage Strako, chief commerce and business solutions officer. "We're increasing next-day deliveries. We're also giving smaller businesses big-business rates and all businesses more user-friendly ways to interact with us."

Businesses interested in learning more may visit uspsconnect.com, call 855-MYUSPSCONNECT (855-698-7772), email [email protected] or visit usps.com/business/business-shipping.htm.

Delivery times stated for USPS Connect offerings are expected, but not guaranteed, and require entry of packages at the designated facility nearest package destinations or authorized pickup. Businesses should speak with a USPS representative about requirements.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

Please Note: For Postal Service media resources, including photo stills and broadcast-quality video and audio, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

Contact: Felicia Lott

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PreIPO Corporation, has announced the launch of "PreIPO-as-a-Service", a licensing model for U.S. Broker Dealers ("BD") to utilize the PreIPO platform for wider access to primary and secondary offerings of private market securities with attractive business terms.

Broker Dealer license holders and their clients will be able to register, purchase and sell private securities with existing and upcoming unicorn companies across various industries and territories. PreIPO has begun accepting and onboarding licensed U.S. Broker Dealers using a single-tier subscription model.

Unique features of PreIPO's licensing model include direct access to a range of high-demand private securities, a buy-back guarantee for investors, and a carry guarantee for broker dealers; all through an easy-to-use platform being launching at PreIPO.com.

The PreIPO platform has been designed as a responsive web app, optimized for mobile and larger devices. Throughout 2022, PreIPO will continue to develop and evolve the feature sets of the PreIPO platform in conjunction with the development of its own blockchain.

In addition, PreIPO Corporation has established a significant intellectual property portfolio designed to protect its valuable trademarks and domain names. The company is entering strategic licensing relationships with U.S. broker dealers for the use of its intellectual property.

Henry James, Incoming CEO of PreIPO Corporation said: "We are excited to be deploying the PreIPO platform early in the second quarter of this year. Through this platform, we can offer features and advantages to optimize the liquidity of primary and secondary offerings through a worldwide network of licensed broker dealers, while building company revenues through competitive fixed transactional and license subscription fees."

Michael Carney, SVP of PreIPO Corporation said: "We are excited to launch our licensing program for broker dealers built by broker dealers bridging BDs to global distribution and access to high-demand private market deals. PreIPO Corporation's licensing solution provides investors with a buy-back guarantee on transactions made through preipo.com. PreIPO will make a limited number of licenses available to BDs in 2022."

About PreIPO Corporation

PreIPO Corporation is a financial technology provider specialized in private market securities transactions for investors, issuers, and broker dealers. A pioneer in distributed financial systems, PreIPO Corp is deploying a versatile platform at PreIPO.com available through a licensing model for BDs, and direct for investors and issuers. For BD licensing inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE PreIPO Corp
There is no better time than a new year to recharge, refocus, and to reevaluate our commitment to health and safety plans that fit the world we live in today. Safety professionals are under more pressure than ever before, with factors such as increased prices, inflation, supply chain issues, and overburdened workers. This year's conference, "Safety Recharged and Refocused," will include the latest industry trends and learnings in exposure reduction, leadership development, and workforce well-being.

"We are excited to bring those driving safety in their organizations together to recharge, refocus, and learn innovative ways to reduce exposure. The knowledge and practical skills that these leaders will gain from peers and experts will set them on a new path of safety excellence." said Angelica Grindle, vice president at DEKRA and the content director for the Safety in Action Conference.

As the largest privately held front-line employee safety gathering in the world, the Safety in Action Conference is in its 35th year. The 2020 and 2021 conferences were held virtually to keep attendees, employees, and communities safe. In 2019, close to 2,000 attendees from 180 companies across 30 industries attended.

This year, attendance has been limited to 500 executives, safety professionals, facilitators, team members, and union leaders.

"There is a lot of talk when it comes to the notion of what a work culture is. Over the last 20 years attending the Safety in Action Conference, our team has picked up the tools to create a culture that empowers our front-line employees. These learned best practices help us keep each other accountable and safe. For 2022, we can't wait to reconnect and re-engage with our peers from across industries and share our best practices," commented Rick Salazar, VIPER facilitator at Armtec Defense Technologies. See what other attendees have to say.

Register for the 2022 Safety in Action Conference, or fill out our interest form for further updates.

About the Safety in Action Conference

The Safety in Action Conference is about transforming ideas into outcomes. It is a platform for connecting employees from every level to address top safety issues. Engaging sessions and workshops focus on real-world applications of the latest safety thinking while also addressing the most critical safety issues. A large, diverse group of executives, safety professionals, facilitators, team members, and union leaders attend annually.

SOURCE DEKRA North America
GRANVILLE, Ohio., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RevLocal today announced their Premier Partnership status with Google. This milestone is a major move for RevLocal on its mission to become the most trusted digital marketing partner for small business owners.



Google recently revamped their Partnership Program to make the qualifications much more rigorous. RevLocal has been a Premier Partner for years and is honored to continue to hold this status and be among the top 3% of Google Partners in the US. RevLocal's Premier Partner status celebrates our:



Ability to drive success for our clients

Commitment to developing expert products, building new client relationships, and helping current clients grow

Success in optimizing our client's digital marketing strategies on Google's platform

To learn more about RevLocal's Premier Partnership status with Google, read the full news article on revlocal.com.



About RevLocal: RevLocal is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in creating personalized strategies for small business owners. Our mission is to lift up our local communities by helping small businesses flourish. Since 2010, our effective digital marketing plans, expert teams, and partnership structure have helped countless small businesses grow and thrive.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.



SOURCE RevLocal
WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

JIM GILBERT V. EZRA PERLMAN ) C.A. No. 2018-0453-SG

SUMMARY NOTICE

TO: ALL BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF CONNECTURE, INC. WHO HELD SUCH STOCK at the time of the January 4, 2018, announcement of the Merger between Connecture, inc. and FP Healthcare Merger Sub Corporation.

If you meet the above class definition, you could get a payment from a class action settlement.

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the "Court"), that a hearing will be held on April 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware at the Court of Chancery Courthouse, 34 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947, for the purpose of determining (1) whether the proposed settlement of claims in the above-captioned Action for consideration including the sum of $2,800,000.00 (two million eight hundred thousand dollars) in cash should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (2) whether this Action should be dismissed with prejudice as to the Defendants pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Compromise, Settlement, and Release dated as of January 14, 2022; (3) whether the proposed plan to distribute the settlement proceeds is fair, reasonable, and adequate and therefore should be approved; and (4) whether the application of Plaintiffs' Counsel for the payment of attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Action and the payment of an incentive award, to be paid from any attorneys' fees awarded to Plaintiffs' Counsel by the Court, should be approved.

If you were a beneficial owner of shares of common stock of Connecture, Inc. ("Connecture" or the "Company") who held such stock as of January 4, 2018, your rights may be affected by this Settlement, including the release and extinguishment of claims you may possess relating to your ownership of the Company's common stock.

If you are a member of the Class, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Payment, you must submit a Proof of Claim and Release form that is received no later than August 25, 2022, establishing that you are entitled to recovery.

If you wish to receive a detailed Notice concerning the terms of the Settlement or the Proof of Claim and Release form, you may obtain copies by writing to Jim Gilbert v. Ezra Perlman (C.A. No. 2018-0453-SG) Connecture Stockholder Settlement, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., P.O. Box 173110 Milwaukee, WI 53217, by visiting www.ConnectureStockholderSettlement.com , or by calling (877) 331-1124.

DO NOT TELEPHONE THE COURT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE, OR ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS OR COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANTS REGARDING THIS NOTICE.

DATED: FEBRUARY 22, 2022 BY ORDER OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY

OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

SOURCE Rigrodsky Law P.A.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RoboAds, the AI robotics startup that developed the world's first advertising robot, is about to expose its latest and most advanced robot  the RA-200.

RA-200 Robot by RoboAds RA-200 Robot by RoboAds

The RA-200, is a most sophisticated signage robot that has been designed to maximize the impact of the mobile indoor/outdoor advertising experience. Equipped with three 55inch 4K digital signage screens, this amazing new robot can navigate on its own and learn its environment. The autonomous RA-200 is programmed to autonomously roam around freely, attracting attention, and engaging targeted audiences. Its attached camera provides real-time visual queue for the operator, who can monitor its activity remotely and even initiate a live telepresence video call on one or three screens.

One of the most advanced features of the RA-200 is its innovative duel indoor and outdoor smart mobility. The RA-200 can be used at corporate events, conferences, malls, product launches, crowded public places and trade shows.

"The RA-200 has been designed to boost brand awareness, precision targeting and customer engagement, which are the core elements of digital signage advertising," explained Mr. Faysal ElChamaa, the company's CEO and founder. "With a unique ability to attract attention and interact with targeted audiences, the RA-200 empowers brands, shapes customer engagement and leads to action."

Today RoboAds is one of the fastest growing leaders in the digital signage robotics industry. The Palo Alto headquartered startup was established in 2018. Utilizing cutting edge technology and a highly skilled team of experts, the ambitious robot developer produces imaginary original advertising solutions for digital signage.

"These are exciting times for RoboAds. The RA-200 is an important milestone in the fast development of our company. After bringing together the best talent in AI technology and robotics, we have managed to build unprecedented solutions for the digital signage industry, opening new revolutionary opportunities. Open minded advertisers who will visit the Step Conference this year will be astonished," said Mr. Faysal.

RoboAds experts' challenge was to harness the advantages of autonomous mobile robots, equipped with the latest visual technology, to interact with and engage targeted audiences. After years of R&D, they managed to create a new out-of-this-world experience that has practically revolutionized the digital signage advertising.

Mr. Faysal has exciting future plans for his company. "We will continue to develop the robotics advertising technology, setting new standards in our fast-growing industry."

Contact: Faysal ElChamaa

Phone: (+971) 563 426 662

SOURCE RoboAds
NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Oak Street Health, Inc. (NYSE: OSH) between August 6, 2020 and November 8, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 14, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Oak Street Health securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Oak Street Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2905 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 14, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Oak Street Health maintained relationships with third-party marketing agents likely to provoke law enforcement scrutiny; (2) Oak Street Health was providing free transportation to federal health care beneficiaries in a manner that would provoke law enforcement scrutiny; (3) these activities may be violations of the False Claims Act; (4) as such, Oak Street Health was at heightened risk of investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and/or other federal law enforcement agencies; (5) as a result, Oak Street Health was subject to adverse impacts related to defense and settlement costs and diversion of management resources; and (6) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Oak Street Health's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Oak Street Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2905 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Fike, who started her career as an associate at Vinson & Elkins before joining the SEC, will focus on securities enforcement and government investigations, including corporate internal investigations, white collar defense and defending companies and individuals against government investigations.

"With an incredible team of former federal prosecutors and defense lawyers experienced in conducting internal investigations and representing corporations, executives and boards, we continue to build out our practice to serve clients with valuable advice and practical solutions in connection with investigations," said Hilary Preston, Vice Chair of Vinson & Elkins.

"Rebecca is a dynamic attorney with whom I had the pleasure of working as she began her legal career," said John Wander, General Counsel and a partner in the Shareholder Litigation and Enforcement practice at Vinson & Elkins. "The experience she's gained over the past decade will be of great value to our white collar and government investigations clients and we are excited to welcome her back to the team."

While at the SEC, Fike handled more than 60 investigations into potential violations of the federal securities laws, including three "Top 5" national priority investigations, and brought multiple front-page enforcement actions. Her experience covers a broad array of financial fraud, accounting, and whistleblower investigations. She is also skilled at coordinating parallel investigations with other civil and criminal agencies.

In the past 18 months, Fike has interacted regularly with nearly every division and office within the SEC and brought six successful recommendations, including four settlements, under the new administration.

"Vinson & Elkins gave me a fantastic start to my legal career and while at the SEC I've witnessed firsthand the evolution of the firm's white collar and government investigations team," Fike said. "As I looked to leave government service, V&E offered the perfect opportunity to return to a vibrant practice where I can offer clients my unique perspectives on how to navigate SEC investigations."

In addition to working closely with the firm's global Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense team, Fike will be a core member of the firm's Shareholder Litigation & Enforcement team.

"Rebecca has held her current role through multiple presidential administrations and is perfectly situated to advise our clients in any enforcement environment," said Mike Dry, co-chair of the firm's Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense practice and the former Deputy Chief of the Eastern District of Virginia's Criminal Division. "She is regarded in the enforcement community for her strategic thinking and ability to work productively and vigorously toward resolutions, and adds credentials to our bench that will materially enhance our ability to serve companies and individuals facing government investigations."

Vinson & Elkins' Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense practice is among the world's best, receiving recognition internationally in Chambers USA (2021), Legal 500 U.S. (2021) and Global Investigations Review 100 (2021). The firm represents corporations, audit committees, boards and executives in high-stakes investigations and litigation, including matters involving securities, criminal and civil antitrust investigations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the False Claims Act and criminal and civil theft of trade secrets.

About Vinson & Elkins

For more than a century, Vinson & Elkins has provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration across 12 offices worldwide, V&E lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or follow us on Twitter @VinsonandElkins or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please speak with our media contacts.

SOURCE Vinson & Elkins LLP
UPPSALA, Sweden, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Secure Thingz, an IAR Systems Group company delivering advanced development and provisioning platforms to secure the IoT, today announced their partnership with Hi-Lo Systems, a global leader of device programming services and technologies.

Through the World Economic Forum's Council of the Connected World, Secure Thingz recently joined forces with a large number of organizations to build consensus around IoT security. The new Consumer IoT Security Statement of Support states five key capabilities for setting a baseline for consumer IoT security, adding cyber risks to the top demonstrating that cross-border cyber-attacks, misinformation, and the growing inequality between those who have access to digital services and those who don't are among the most serious medium- and short-term risks facing governments and businesses. Specifically, threats such as ransomware and nation-state attacks will continue to increase as organizations become more reliant on technology. To inhibit these cyber-attacks and mitigate risks, it is critical that devices are manufactured with secured foundations and protected supply chains.

"We are excited to partner with Secure Thingz to integrate their advanced security technology into our device programming machines," said Max Huang, Chairman of Hi-Lo Systems. "Delivering the promise of an enhanced secure supply chain is critical to all of our customers, both for our programming machines and for our programming service centers across the region."

"The strengthening of the supply chain to protect valuable intellectual property, inhibit counterfeiting and overproduction, plus the ability to inhibit malware injection, is critical in building modern supply chains," said Haydn Povey, CEO of Secure Thingz. "The partnership between Secure Thingz and Hi-Lo Systems is another step forward in our vision of Security Made Simple."

More information about Secure Thingz' end-to-end security solutions is available at www.securethingz.com/solutions.

Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, I-jet Trace, I-scope, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT:

Secure Thingz/IAR Systems Contacts

AnnaMaria Tahlen, Media Relations & Content Manager, IAR Systems

Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: [email protected]

Tora Fridholm, CMO, IAR Systems

Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/r/secure-thingz-and-hi-lo-systems-partner-to-address-cyber-security-centric-programming,c3511659

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/386/3511659/1538808.pdf Secure Thingz and Hi-Lo Systems partner to address cyber security-centric programming https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/i/hi-lo-systems-logotype,c3015265 Hi-Lo Systems logotype https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/i/secure-thingz-logotype,c3015266 Secure Thingz logotype

SOURCE IAR Systems
Market Scope

The report also covers the following areas:

Vendor Insights

The seed market in Colombia is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

Amalgamated Hardware Merchants Ltd.

Bayer AG

Columbia Seeds LLC

Cultivos y Semillas el Aceituno

Eurosemillas SA

Hazera Seeds Ltd.

Pajonales

Sakata Seed Corp.

Semillas La palma

Syngenta AG

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Read Free Sample Report .

Key Segment Analysis

The seed market share in Colombia by the GM seeds segment will be significant during the forecast period. The agricultural biotechnology sector has grown significantly in Columbia. Genetically modified cotton and corn are among the top crops produced. The adoption of GM seeds among farmers has grown considerably over the last few years, as the production of GM seeds involves easier weed management, pest and disease control, enhanced nutritional content, and higher productivity.

View FREE Sample : to know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years.

Key Market Drivers & Challenges:

The increasing investments in agricultural research is one of the key factors driving the growth of the seed market in Colombia. The advent of biotechnology and different scientific developments, the increasing stronghold of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over innovations, and a significant expansion of the agricultural inputs market in the country have been encouraging many private companies to invest in agricultural research. Commercial sales of genetically modified seeds have also increased, as they offer various production benefits to cultivators.

The declining availability of arable land will challenge the seed market in Colombia during the forecast period. Factors such as the rise in industrialization, urbanization, and demand for energy have led to a decline in arable land and its diversion to other purposes, such as construction. Moreover, soil erosion and land pollution in the past decades have reduced the quality and capability of agricultural land to grow crops, which is contributing to the decline in the amount of arable land.

Download free sample for highlights on market Drivers & Challenges affecting the seed market in Colombia.

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Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time.

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Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist seed market growth in Colombia during the next five years

during the next five years Estimation of the seed market size in Colombia and its contribution to the parent market

and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the seed market in Colombia

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of seed market vendors in Colombia

Related Reports:

Game Feed Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Probiotic Ingredients Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Seed Market Scope in Colombia Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 0.79% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 41.20 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 0.54 Regional analysis Colombia Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Amalgamated Hardware Merchants Ltd., Bayer AG, Columbia Seeds LLC, Cultivos y Semillas el Aceituno, Eurosemillas SA, Hazera Seeds Ltd., Pajonales, Sakata Seed Corp., Semillas La palma, and Syngenta AG Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2021

Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

GM seeds - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Conventional seeds - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Market opportunity by Product

Market Segmentation by Crop type

Market segments

Comparison by Crop type

Grain and cereal seeds - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Oil seeds - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Fruits and vegetable - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Market opportunity by Crop type

Customer landscape

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Competitive landscape

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Amalgamated Hardware Merchants Ltd.

Bayer AG

Columbia Seeds LLC

Cultivos y Semillas el Aceituno

Eurosemillas SA

Hazera Seeds Ltd.

Pajonales

Sakata Seed Corp.

Semillas La palma

Syngenta AG

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us:

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfront, a tech-enabled, full-service brokerage, is thrilled to celebrate six team members named to the Power Broker Awards program by Risk & Insurance. Three were selected as winners and three as finalists, across four different industries and specialties. The honorees include:

Employee Benefits Winner: Carolyn Locke , Senior Vice President, Principal

, Senior Vice President, Principal M&A Winner: Matt Somma , Vice President, M&A Transaction Risk, Reps and Warranties

Vice President, M&A Transaction Risk, Reps and Warranties Technology Winner: Dan Lindell , Senior Vice President, Senior Account Executive

Senior Vice President, Senior Account Executive Employee Benefits Finalist: Dulcey Lester , Vice President, Major Market Select Segment Leader

, Vice President, Major Market Select Segment Leader Pharmaceuticals/Life Sciences Finalist: Dana George , Assistant Vice President, Account Executive

, Assistant Vice President, Account Executive Technology Finalist: Eric Tausend , Senior Vice President, Senior Account Executive

These leaders, along with our service teams, dozens of other producers, and our technology group, are altering the way people create, understand, select, transact, and use insurance. Newfront is revolutionizing the approach so that it starts and ends with the client, not the product.

"Carolyn, Matt, Dan, Dulcey, Dana, and Eric are well-deserving of this esteemed designation," said Newfront CEO Spike Lipkin. "They are each changing the industry landscape through their innovative solutions and expertise, and we are so proud to have them on the Newfront team."

The winners' and finalists' stories can be found here.

The Risk & Insurance Power Broker Awards are an annual selection of the most effective and influential commercial insurance brokers. The Power Broker designation is based on nominations provided by brokers and risk managers, and is judged based on the quality of the application and on references by risk managers in each industry sector. Hundreds of risk managers and risk executives are interviewed in the process of identifying and soliciting, evaluating, and judging the nominees. Brokers are judged primarily on their creativity in solving risk-related problems during the previous year, their demonstrated industry knowledge, and their high level of client service.

About Newfront

Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout California, Washington, Illinois, and New York and is home to more than 750 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally. Learn more about building the Modern Insurance Experience here.

Contact Information

Jane Paolucci

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Newfront

[email protected]

415-798-2693

SOURCE Newfront
NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sotheby's International Realty is pleased to announce that its global network achieved a record US$204 billion in 2021 global sales volume, a 36% increase in sales growth year over year, as U.S. cities saw a resurgence of interest following the pandemic and sales activity in secondary and resort markets around the world remained strong. The brand's U.S. sales volume grew by 33.8% year over year, significantly outpacing NAR's national increase of 20.6% from the prior year, underscoring the brand's leadership in the high-end market.

"Real estate proved to be a hot investment in 2021," said Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty. "Once again, agents affiliated with Sotheby's International Realty outperformed the industry average and achieved record-breaking home sales as buyers continued to depend on their trusted expertise to navigate a constrained market."

Reinvigorated Interest in Cities and Continued Strength in Secondary Markets Fueled Sales

The Sotheby's International Realty brand's existing presence in major metropolitan and resort markets around the world ensured the brand was well-prepared to meet the renewed interest in cities and the sustained boom of secondary home markets.

Interest in U.S. cities such as New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Austin returned to pre-pandemic levels and helped trigger record-breaking sales. Other U.S. cities, such as Atlanta, Houston, and Los Angeles, also saw strong performances in 2021.

With remote and hybrid work models influencing buyer behavior in 2021, secondary markets and resort areas continued to produce high demand and increased prices. In the U.S., areas such as Florida, Hawaii, and Colorado saw record performances. Globally, second home markets in Australia, Spain, and Switzerland and resort areas in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos, and Puerto Rico achieved notable growth and record sales.

As buyers continued to prioritize properties that offered more space and land, states with no income tax such as Florida, Texas, and Wyoming offered added appeal, while the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Singapore remained popular for their favorable tax structures and saw significant gains.

An Award-Winning Year for the Brand's Innovative Technology and Offerings

Sotheby's International Realty continued to lead the industry with its technology and marketing efforts. Sothebysrealty.com saw more than 46 million visitors in 2021, a 25% increase year-over-year and the most visits to the website in its history. The site was also named Best Real Estate Website in the People's Choice Category in the 25th Annual Webby Awards, recognizing the brand's efforts to introduce translations in 14 languages, nearly 60 currency conversions, and a mobile-first approach to emphasize the method in which today's clients are buying and selling homes.

Property videos, which exploded in popularity during the 2020 lockdown, have continued to trend as more buyers start the initial viewing process online. Videos produced by Sotheby's International Realty agents were played nearly 90 million times  a 50% increase year-over-year.

Sotheby's International Realty was also awarded the honor of 2021 Top Luxury Brokerage by Inman, the industry's leading source of real estate information. The prestigious award is a testament to the brand's achievements in luxury marketing, record-breaking sales, and high-quality service.

"Buyers continue to rely on virtual technology to make their homebuying process more convenient," said Chief Marketing Officer, Bradley Nelson. "As a brand, we have always sought out to establish the highest standard for marketing luxury properties and I am proud that our marketing and technology investments have been recognized as the 'best' in the industry in 2021."

Fortifying a Strong Network with Global Growth

During another record year, Sotheby's International Realty continued to strategically expand its presence around the world. In 2021, the brand opened 86 new offices, bringing the brand's total presence to more than 1,000 offices in 79 countries and territories with more than 25,000 independent sales associates worldwide.

"Sotheby's International Realty continued to expand internationally in key markets," said Tammy Fahmi, senior vice president of global servicing and strategy for Sotheby's International Realty. "In 2021, the brand opened offices in five new territories and our international sales volume grew by 56% year over year. Our global presence is a draw for our agents and clients, and we continue to evaluate markets that will support our strategic growth."

In the EMEIA region, the brand expanded to Oman and Morocco and opened three new offices in the Swiss Alps region. In the Caribbean and Latin American region, the brand opened new offices in Jamaica and St. Kitts & Nevis during a boom of Caribbean interest.

As affluent individuals looked to purchase homes in a market with limited inventory, Sotheby's International Realty agents acted as true global real estate advisors. Referral sales volume within the brand's global network increased by nearly 80% year over year and the average sales price of these referrals increased by 21% year over year.

"Our ability to produce another historic year amid record demand and low inventory shows beyond a doubt that Sotheby's International Realty agents are resourceful, committed, and informed to meet and exceed the needs of their clients," concluded White.

Copyright 2021 "Existing Home Sales." NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. January 20, 2022, https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/ehs-12-2021-overview-2022-01-20_0_0.pdf

Sotheby's International Realty

Sotheby's International Realty was founded in 1976 as a real estate service for discerning clients of Sotheby's auction house. As of Q4 2021, the company's global footprint spans more than 1,000 offices located in 79 countries and territories worldwide, including 47 company-owned brokerage offices in key metropolitan and resort markets. In February 2004, Realogy entered a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby's, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby's International Realty name and the development of a franchise system. The franchise system is comprised of an affiliate network, where each office is independently owned and operated. Sotheby's International Realty supports its affiliates and agents with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Affiliates and agents also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby's auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

The affiliate network is operated by Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC, and the company owned brokerages are operated by Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. Both entities are subsidiaries of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. Both Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC and Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

CONTACT

Melissa Couch

Senior PR Manager

Sotheby's International Realty

973-407-6142

[email protected]

SOURCE Sotheby's International Realty
DALLAS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 14, 2022, GWG Holdings (GWGH) sent a letter to shareholders letting them know that it defaulted on the $3.25M in principal payments plus $10.35M in interest payments owed to L Bond investors.

The Texas-based alternative asset firm had a 30-day grace period to issue the payments beginning on January 15, 2022. GWG Holdings also stated that redemption requests would continue to be deferred. Now, L Bond investors are left with high-yield junk bonds that are not paying them the income promised. These are alternative investments that cannot be redeemed or sold.

What are L Bonds?

GWG Holdings notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 18, 2022, that its failure to pay the $13.6M to shareholders was because of a decrease in L Bond sales. An L Bond is a private placement and an illiquid, unrated life insurance bond.

In the recent letter, GWG notified L Bond shareholders that the Company was looking at restructuring alternatives. It also shared that it was exploring options to "conserve and maximize the value of GWGH's assets" to benefit investors and meet financial obligations.

GWG Holdings said this process could take another three to four weeks. The alternative asset firm also noted that monthly and maturity payments would not be issued during this process.

According to GWG's balance sheet, its total outstanding debts  about $327.7M in senior credit facilities and $1.552 billion in L Bonds are greater than its reported $794.7 million in fair value of its tangible assets, $67.7 million in cash and restricted cash, and $226.1 million in alternative investments.

Also, the Company's Form 10-K for the year concluding on December 31, 2020, reported nearly $530M in net losses.

FINRA Arbitration Options for L Bond Investors

GWG L Bonds may have been sold by hundreds of brokerage firms, including Emerson Equity, Aegis Capital, Centaurus Financial, and many others. If you are an L Bond shareholder, your best chance for financial recovery is to file a FINRA arbitration claim against the broker-dealer and their financial advisor that sold you these alternative investments.

Explore legal options with our skilled L Bond attorneys that assist investors who suffered losses in these risky, illiquid private placements.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation case consultation:

Toll Free: (800) 259-9010

[email protected]

www.investorlawyers.com

SOURCE Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP
NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Storage Post Self Storage added a 92,470 square foot self-storage property to its brand and business structure. The multi-story facility is located in heart of Alphabet City in lower Manhattan's East Village.

Storage Post Self Storage now acts as third-party management of the storage facility at 444 East 10th Street. The self-storage building offers a broad range of storage units, from small 4' x 4' x 4' locker storage units to extra-large 20' x 22' full sized storage units, and features a large multi-bay interior loading area. Storage Post and its experienced management team will incorporate the asset into Storage Post's robust and transformative operating platform and advanced sales and marketing strategies, and will leverage Storage Post's strong brand presence within the New York City MSA.

"This is an exciting time for Storage Post as we bring new locations into our brand. As a team, both in the field and at the corporate office, we are working toward optimal property performance and expanding our consumer markets," said Dylan Delaune, Storage Post Chief Operating Officer. "We feel we can deliver tremendous value to the ownership group with our multi-faceted operating system."

Storage Post's director of acquisitions, Jack Giannola, commented, "The self-storage industry is in a great place right now with increasing occupancy and strong demand, not to mention great investing opportunities. Many storage companies are expanding and buying properties. We expect to add many more locations in 2022 to bring the Storage Post name to more regions and increase our market share."

Storage Post-East Village is one of many properties Storage Post will add in 2022 as the company moves forward with its aggressive acquisitions and growth strategies. Storage Post is actively pursuing self-storage real estate in dense submarkets and either single or portfolio transactions. The company also selectively considers self-storage management opportunities for owners seeking increased operational value and investment returns. For additional information on Storage Post acquisitions, contact the Storage Post Acquisitions Department at 1-631-473-8989 or [email protected].

Contact: Steve Gruver, [email protected]

SOURCE Storage Post Self Storage
US$114+ million of equipment and trucks sold between Phoenix and Houston February auctions

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Last week Ritchie Bros. continued its auction season kick off in a big way, selling +7,400 items through two events  a US$59-million record-breaking Phoenix auction and a US$55-million Houston auction. All assets were sold 100% online.

On February 17  18, Ritchie Bros. held a two-day unreserved auction in Phoenix that broke site records for GTV and auction registrations. Over 10,000 customers registered to bid on 2,400+ equipment items being sold. Approximately 96 percent of the equipment was purchased by U.S. buyers, while international buyers picked up the remaining four percent.

"This was an exciting auction with non-stop customers in our yard checking out gear ahead of the sale and record numbers of online bidders during the sale, all resulting in record-breaking pricing levels," said Ivan Molina Carrillo, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "With the market continuing to experience inventory constraints, and prolonged wait periods for new product, Ritchie Bros. is the only place where you can buy unused, very late-model gear and have delivery of it the same day. It was a great event for our sellers getting price realization, and for buyers needing assets right away."

Specific highlights from the Phoenix auction included over 345 assets, including 90+ late-model Simple 18 dump trucks, plus +45 late-model Peterbilt truck tractors, for Heritage Trucking, Inc.

"Nobody could have done the job Ritchie Bros. did. They made it easy," said Peter Tode, CEO and founder of Heritage Trucking, Inc. "I tell everybody Ritchie Bros. is the gold standard in the business."

On February 15  17, the company sold just under 5,000 equipment items from its Houston auction site, attracting 15,800+ bidders from 62 countries. Approximately 90 percent of the items in the auction were sold to U.S. buyers, including 46 percent purchased by Texas buyers and six percent from buyers in California. The remaining 10 percent was sold to international buyers as far away as Chile, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

"Our auction last week in Houston easily surpassed our expectations, with record-breaking registrations and lots of activity at the auction site," said Chuck Roberson, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "Clearly the momentum we saw last quarter is still going strong. Customers are especially responding to us adding a third day to the event for Timed Auction items. It gives them more time to bid and more time to get the assets they need."

The two auctions were part of what is expected to be a big February for Ritchie Bros. The company recently introduced new technology to improve the customer online bidding experience and is currently conducting its premier global equipment auction from February 21-26 in Orlando, FL. Over 11,000 items will be sold to buyers around the world at this global equipment event. It's not too late to join the action and get the equipment and trucks you need. Every item sells to the highest bidder, regardless of price.

Feb 21 Day 1: Skid Steers, Backhoes, Telescopic Forklifts, and Boom Lifts (completed)

Day 1: Skid Steers, Backhoes, Telescopic Forklifts, and Boom Lifts Feb 22 Day 2: Wheel Loaders, Motor Graders, Agriculture Tractors, Trenchers, and Drills

Day 2: Wheel Loaders, Motor Graders, Agriculture Tractors, Trenchers, and Drills Feb 23 Day 3: Rollers, Crawler Tractors, Cranes, Screens, Crushers, and Pavers

Day 3: Rollers, Crawler Tractors, Cranes, Screens, Crushers, and Pavers Feb 24 Day 4: Hydraulic Excavators, Midi Excavators, Mini Excavators

Day 4: Hydraulic Excavators, Midi Excavators, Mini Excavators Feb 25 Day 5: Truck Tractors, Water Trucks, Mixer Trucks, Dump Trucks, Mechanics Trucks

Day 5: Truck Tractors, Water Trucks, Mixer Trucks, Dump Trucks, Mechanics Trucks Feb 26 Day 6: Bucket Trucks, Rolloff & Rollback Trucks, Flatbed Trucks, and Van Trucks

For more a complete equipment list and schedule visit rbauction.com/Orlando2022. For information about Ritchie Bros., including more upcoming auctions, detailed equipment info, and more, visit RitchieBros.com.

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (TSX: RBA) (NYSE: RBA) and is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offering live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with weekly featured auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance(R) equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Ritchie List, a self-serve listing service for North America; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales; and sector-specific solutions GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system; SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers; plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
MUNICH, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AMSilk GmbH ("AMSilk"), a world leader in supplying innovative high-performance bio-based silk materials, today notes a study published in MRS Communications in June 2021 which demonstrates that AMSilk engineered spider silk coatings have the potential to prevent inflammation and to reduce post-operative complications of implants.

The study, led by Prof Thomas Scheibel, Professor of Biomaterials and Head of the Department at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and his team, tested the microbe repellence of AMSilk engineered spider silk coatings on a number of silicone implant materials against bacterial strains B. diminuta, R. pickettii, S. aureus and P. acnes. Results showed repellence properties of AMSilk's silk coatings reduced microbial adherence up to 99.7% in comparison to uncoated silicone surfaces and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed a significant decrease in biofilm formation after 24 hours of incubation.

AMSilk engineered spider silk coatings work by creating a 'bioshield', a non-stick surface which has an 'anti-adhesive' effect to bacteria so that it does not adhere to the implant surface. AMSilk silk technology is completely safe: non-immunogenic, non-inflammatory, non-toxic and 'bioharmonic' for the human body and the immune system. It provides physical functionality only and has been tested in vitro, in vivo, and in human medical studies, consistently demonstrating excellent biocompatibility.

Together with its biocompatibility and biodegradability properties, spider silk has the potential to be part of a strategy to prevent infection-caused inflammation and to reduce complications of implant applications post-surgery.

Tilmann Petersen, Head of Business Development Medtech & Corporate Planning at AMSilk, said: "We are very encouraged by the study results, which supports the outstanding benefits and safety of our silk technology. AMSilk silk proteins can be applied as coating on medical devices such as implants or surgical mesh, or used in gel or spray form for wound care and medical skin care amongst many other applications. The benefits range from better device performance, complete biocompatibility and reduced biofilm formation, to easier handling for surgeons and a reduced risk of infection for the patient."

Professor Thomas Scheibel who run the study adds: "In the near future, we will need new directions concerning the fight against infections, which have to be far beyond the simple use of antibiotics. In this respect, coatings made of AMSilk silk proteins are one important step towards a new generation of anti-fouling and at the same time biocompatible surfaces."

AMSilk coatings are biocompatible and safe, making them suitable for various medical applications, including in particular the coating of medical products that are in contact with soft tissue in the human body (breast implants, cochlear implants, glucose sensors, orthopedic implants with contact to soft tissue, hernia meshes, wound bandages) as well as applications such as dermal fillers, scaffolds in tissue regeneration and cell therapy, bioprinting, bone and cartilage growing templates, smart drug delivery systems, biosensors and surgical meshes.

About AMSilk

AMSilk GmbH is the world's first industrial supplier of vegan silk biopolymers and has its headquarters in Munich, Germany. AMSilk's high-performance biopolymers have the unique functional properties of the natural product they are based on. AMSilk offers its innovative range of coatings for medical devices and medical gels as well as high-performance AMSilk fibers for textiles and industrial applications worldwide and has announced collaborations and partnerships with world leading brands like Adidas and Mercedes and POLYTECH. The organic high-performance material can be used in multiple ways and is suited for medical devices as well as for personal care products. AMSilk biopolymers give such products unique properties. Among other things, the polymers are biocompatible, safe and robust. AMSilk invites you to discover more at www.amsilk.com.



1 Human Safety study  POSIS (uncompleted / unpublished)

SOURCE AMSilk
BLUE BELL, Pa., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing a long history of policy leadership in Indiana, The Columbus Organization's Executive State Director, Keith Digman, has recently been appointed to two critical positions focused on improving health and employment for individuals challenged by intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). At the request of the Governor's Public Health Commission, the Arc of Indiana has organized a committee comprising representatives from select case management companies, self-advocates, providers, parents, and ARC personnel. Mr. Digman was one of a handful of individuals chosen for the workgroup and will be tasked with developing recommendations to improve healthcare navigation and access in this vulnerable population. Mr. Digman noted, "We are honored to have been selected by The Arc of Indiana's leadership to represent Case Management on this committee. We see this as an opportunity to significantly impact policy and eliminate access barriers for individuals with disabilities throughout the state."

Mr. Digman brings nearly a quarter century of experience in management, customer relations, public policy analysis, regulatory oversight, project management, case management, and program development in the human services industry. As a member of Columbus' senior case management team, he also provides a vast amount of knowledge about service provision to individuals with IDD under multiple funding sources and settings.

Mr. Digman was also nominated as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Ability of Indiana, part of the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc. (INARF). Dedicated to supporting employment for individuals with IDD, the organization works with state and local government municipal contracts to find fulfilling, sustainable work for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, INARF committees are assessing service delivery and characterizing best practices in implementation of managed care models that offer the greatest benefit to individuals with disabilities. Digman again commented, "As the only case management representative on the board, I am grateful to have been selected for this role. This is a challenging time for individuals with disabilities, especially considering the precarious fate of 14(c) Subminimum Wage employment options for this population. I look forward to working with the Board to lead transformative change in Indiana and set a precedent across the country."

The Columbus Organization, a member of the CareSource family of companies, is the nation's largest provider of care coordination services for the IDD population and individuals with complex care challenges.

About The Columbus Organization

For 35+ years, The Columbus Organization has been a national leader and pioneer in care coordination specifically for individuals challenged by intellectual/developmental disabilities, behavioral issues, or complex care concerns. Having served over 100,000 families, the company continues to be at the forefront of innovation, developing and implementing revolutionary outcomes-based models for early identification and holistic management of health risks among individuals with intellectual, developmental, behavioral, medical, and/or complex care challenges. In addition to its team of almost 500 highly-experienced care coordinators, dedicated Quality Assurance division, and unparalleled national infrastructure, Columbus is also a recognized leader in clinical staffing, employment support, and quality improvement services for organizations that serve the behavioral health community. The company delivers an unmatched depth of expertise, breadth of resources, diversity of thinking, and dedication to ensuring everyone can achieve their meaningful-life goals through transformative approaches to healthcare. For more, visit www.ColumbusOrg.com, follow @TheColumbusOrg on Twitter, like The Columbus Organization on Facebook, or follow The Columbus Organization on LinkedIn.

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, multi-state health plan recognized as a national leader in managed care. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nation's largest Medicaid managed care plans and offers a lifetime of access to care through health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible programs. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves 2 million members in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. CareSource is also a partner in CareSource PASSE, which serves Arkansans with complex behavioral health and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and is transforming health care with industry-leading programs that improve the health and well-being of our members.

For more, visit www.caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.

Contact:

Scott Stoogenke

[email protected]

SOURCE The Columbus Organization
ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To keep his legacy alive, and celebrate his lifelong commitment to service, the family of US Congressman John Lewis has announced the founding of the John Robert Lewis Legacy Institute (JRLLI). A longtime champion of voting rights, the late Congressman would have turned 82 years old on February 21st.

The JRLLI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to promote diversity, support civil rights education, and engage in community service projects that uplift Americans from diverse backgrounds. Congressman John Lewis' commitment to nonviolent change, equality, and voting rights will remain at the forefront of the institute's endeavors. The institute also seeks to strengthen communities through initiatives centered around social justice, education equity and health awareness.

"My brother's work in human rights alongside leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left an indelible mark on the world. His life embodied civility and servant leadership attributes we all seek to emulate," said Grant Lewis, Congressman Lewis' youngest sibling. "The JRLLI will keep his legacy alive, particularly on voting rights, because that's what he would want."

In honor of Congressman Lewis' birthday, the family encourages citizens to support the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965, which ensures that every American citizen, regardless of race, has an equal right to vote. For more information about the institute or to donate, please visit johnrlewislegacyinstitute.org.

About John R. Lewis Legacy Institute

The John Robert Lewis Legacy Institute aims to strengthen communities through initiatives centered around Social Justice, Education Equity, and Health Awareness. The late Congressman's commitment to nonviolent change, equality, and voting rights will remain at the forefront of the Institute's endeavors. For more information, visit johnrlewislegacyinstitute.org. Join the conversation online @johnrlewislegacyinstitute.

PRESS CONTACT: Lalohni Campbell,404-593-7145,https://www.johnrlewisinstitute.org/

SOURCE John R. Lewis Legacy Institute
Originally intended to be a mixer for alcoholic spirits when MTN DEW was created more than 80 years ago, the brand is returning to its roots in one of the first alcoholic versions of a major soft drink. Featuring new, differentiated graphics to highlight the HARD offering, HARD MTN DEW is created for adults of legal drinking age looking for bold, delicious flavor with an edge.

"The Boston Beer Company and PepsiCo share a passion for pushing boundaries and delivering innovative new beverages that meet the evolving demands of U.S. drinkers," said Lesya Lysyj, CMO of The Boston Beer Company. "HARD MTN DEW delivers on the bold, citrus flavors of the soft drink fans know and love, now with an added bite of 5% ABV."

As part of the business arrangement, Boston Beer will develop and produce new HARD MTN DEW and Blue Cloud Distribution, Inc. a new entity, wholly owned by PepsiCo, is responsible for the wholesale operations of HARD MTN DEW, including sales, distribution and merchandising.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

If you're worried that HARD MTN DEW isn't available in your state yet and you can't wait to get a taste, HARD MTN DEW has your back. Through March 8, visit HowFarForHardDew.com to enter the How Far Would You Go? contest for the chance to win a trip to be among the first fans to taste HARD MTN DEW in Tennessee  the birthplace of the MTN DEW brand.

To participate, tell us exactly how far you would travel and what lengths you would go to get your hands on HARD MTN DEW. The winning submission will receive a trip to Nashville, Tennessee for a one-of-a-kind HARD MTN DEW experience, including airfare, two nights lodging, transportation and a $1,000 spending allowance. To participate, entrants must be twenty-one years of age and be a U.S. resident. Full rules and regulations can be found here.

For additional HARD MTN DEW information, please visit HardMountainDew.com and follow @HardMountainDew on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for real-time news and updates.

About The Boston Beer Company:

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing Samuel Adams beer and the Samuel Adams brand is currently recognized as one of the largest and most respected craft beer brands. Our portfolio of brands also includes Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Dogfish Head Brewery, Bevy Long Drink as well as other craft beer brands such as Angel City Brewery and Coney Island Brewing. For more information, please visit our investor relations website at www.bostonbeer.com, which includes links to all of our respective brand websites.

Contact: Jack Barbour, [email protected]

SOURCE The Boston Beer Company
Company sets up a hub in Miami and appoints new SVP for the Americas, Jenna Wyer

and appoints new SVP for the Americas, Ramps up local partnerships in Brazil , Mexico , Colombia and Costa Rica

, , and Growth strategy builds on region's booming payments and e-commerce trend

SINGAPORE and MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thunes , a Singapore-based fintech company and a leader in global cross-border payments, is speeding up its global expansion with the setting up of a regional hub in Miami to expand into new Latin American markets. This development follows the company's recent announcement ramping up its presence in Greater China .

"Thunes is actively expanding into new markets and regions and becoming a truly global player. Given the exciting opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean, we are expanding our team and technology to build a robust and inclusive payments infrastructure. Our goal is to become a large payments platform in the region, making interacting with, managing and accepting cashless payments as fast and effortless as possible," said Aik Boon Tan, Chief Commercial Officer, Thunes.

Thunes recently appointed Jenna Wyer, Senior Vice President for the Americas , who will leverage her experience in the mobile payments and e-commerce space to spearhead Thunes' growth strategy in Latin America and set up partnerships with leading local digital payment players.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to build new strategic partnerships and drive Thunes' continued expansion across Latin America's vibrant markets. Fintech solutions like ours are playing a pivotal role in the development of the region's economic activities, bringing vast benefits to millions of businesses and consumers," said Jenna Wyer, SVP for the Americas, Thunes. " The demand for smooth and easy payments is accelerating in Latin America , and Thunes is looking to address this opportunity."

Two trends drive this growth:

Online shopping is booming  Latin America saw the world's fastest-growing retail e-commerce sales growth in 2020, and a rising number of these online purchases are not local.

saw the in 2020, and a rising number of these online purchases are not local. Mobile payments are gaining momentum, with smartphones acting as banks for millions of people in Latin America who do not have access to a traditional bank account.

The next three years will see around 100 million additional smartphone connections, taking the total to 532 million by 2025  an adoption rate of 80% .

Thunes has established regional payout partnerships available in 16 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay. It recently launched partnerships with Brazil's Bexs Banco to enable real-time businesses and customers inbound payments to Brazil. Thunes Collections capabilities cover 90+ alternative payment options in the region, including Boleto in Brazil, Rapipago in Argentina, and SafetyPay in Colombia. This increased flexibility enables more options for businesses and consumers to make cross-border transactions.

Media Contact:

Irina Chuchkina

[email protected]

SOURCE Thunes
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RateGain Travel Technologies Limited, a global SaaS company for travel and hospitality, has announced a strategic partnership with Hopper  the world's fastest-growing mobile-first travel marketplace. This new partnership will connect Hopper to hospitality chains globally and will enable reservations made via certain Hopper Cloud partners to flow through RateGain's Connectivity Switch platform.

Hopper aims to leverage RateGain's technology with its comprehensive demand and supply network to deliver unique travel booking experiences to users as well boost visibility and hotel bookings across continents. As travelers start planning their trips again  mobile apps like Hopper are preferred by digitally savvy and "on-the-go" younger travel consumers searching for the best deals.

Besides connectivity, Hopper also leverages RateGain's competitive pricing intelligence product for Hotels and Car Rentals worldwide to stay ahead in the market. The actionable insights help them respond proactively to market changes at a granular level. RateGain continues to add value for Hopper through product enhancements like AI-driven room mapping, API Integration, competitive intelligence from mobile app, devices, meta channels, etc.

Commenting on the partnership, Chinmai Sharma, President - Americas, RateGain, said, "Consumer behavior has undergone a 360-degree shift. The lines between travel and work are surely blurring. Digital-first travel companies like Hopper extend more flexibility to their customers by connecting the right supply with the right demand. We are happy to play our part in this exciting phase of human evolution. RateGain's Connectivity Switch platform ensures seamless connectivity to supply that delivers a smooth booking experience for travelers completing bookings on Hopper."

"One quality we liked in RateGain was our mutual synergies. They've built a strong travel and hospitality company on the back of cutting-edge technology platforms  and have more than three decades of expertise in the distribution space. This connectivity would eventually open doors for all our supply partners to tap into 400+ demand partners on RateGain, including leading OTAs, regional players, metasearch engines, GDSs, etc. We hope this partnership would ultimately fuel the recovery for not just our partners and customers, but the industry as a whole," said David Lewis, Head of Hotel Supply, Hopper.

About RateGain

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited is a global provider of SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality that works with over 2200+ customers in over 100+ countries helping them accelerate revenue generation through acquisition, retention and wallet share expansion. RateGain works with Top 23 of 30 Hotel Chains, Top 25 of 30 Online Travel Agents and all the top car rentals including 8 Global Fortune500 companies. For more information, please visit www.rategain.com



About Hopper

Hopper is the world's fastest-growing mobile-first travel marketplace. By leveraging massive amounts of data and machine learning, the company has developed several unique fintech solutions that help customers save money and travel better. Through its B2B initiative, Hopper Cloud, the company is syndicating its fintech solutions, infrastructure, and agency content. To find out more about Hopper, visit hopper.com

SOURCE RateGain
GRAMMY and Golden Globe Award-nominated artist's cannabis brand to launch in Florida exclusively at Trulieve this summer; partnership will extend to other markets in 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL ) (OTCQX: TCNNF ) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, today announced an exclusive partnership with multi-platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award and Golden Globe Award-nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa's brand, Khalifa Kush. Through the agreement, Trulieve becomes the exclusive producer, processor and retailer of Khalifa Kush branded products in Florida and other northeast markets, beginning this summer.

"We're excited to partner with the undisputed leader in the Florida market," said Wiz Khalifa. "Trulieve's dedication to working with the community and creating an amazing customer experience perfectly lines up with our brand values, making them a great fit for our first expansion to the East Coast."

Valda Coryat, Chief Marketing Officer of Trulieve, said, "Trulieve is committed to delivering a broad selection of the highest-quality cannabis brands to better serve our patient communities. Khalifa Kush is a respected brand known for top-tier genetics among cannabis connoisseurs. We look forward to becoming the exclusive home of the brand's premium products in Florida and eventually in other markets."

As the leading medical cannabis provider in Florida, the second largest medical cannabis market in the U.S., Trulieve offers the largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable flower, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup.

For more information, please visit khalifakush.com and www.Trulieve.com .

About Khalifa Kush

Khalifa Kush products were first commercialized in the U.S. in 2015 by global icon Wiz Khalifa. The company has achieved continued growth and success by focusing on high quality and highly sought-after products in legalized cannabis markets. The Khalifa Kush brand offers a growing lineup of flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, and concentrates, powered by proprietary genetics. Khalifa Kush is available in select markets including California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Learn more about our upcoming launches in Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan and shop apparel at KHALIFAKUSH.COM.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S. operating in 11 states, with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com .

Facebook: @Trulieve

Instagram: @Trulieve

Twitter: @Trulieve

Investor Contact

Christine Hersey, Director of Investor Relations

+1 (424) 202-0210

[email protected]

Media Contact

Rob Kremer, Executive Director of Corporate Communications

+1 (404) 218-3077

[email protected]

Khalifa Kush / Wiz Khalifa Contact

Dvora Englefield [email protected]

Courtni Asbury [email protected]

Chris Iacullo [email protected]

MATTIO Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 20; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 363

Companies: 94 - Players covered include ABCR GmbH & Co., KG.; Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited; Guizhou Zhongshen Phosphates Industry Co., Ltd.; Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd.; Innophos Holdings, Inc.; MilliporeSigma; Parchem Fine & Specialty Chemicals and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Application (Synthetic Detergent; Food Additive; Water Treatment; Ceramic, Paint & Dyeing; Other Applications)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Sodium Tripolyphosphate Market to Reach US$2.4 Billion by the Year 2026

Sodium Tripolyphosphate is one of the major ingredients used in a wide array of products for institutional and industrial cleaning purposes. For several years, sodium tripolyphosphate has been used as a major ingredient in detergents, and played a vital role in enhancing the performance of detergents. Presently, over 50% of washing powders available in the market contain phosphorus, with developing countries generating a substantial proportion of the overall demand. The absence of stringent environmental and legislative control mechanisms ensures growth for phosphates and STPP products in developing nations. In addition, low prices and superior performance characteristics are contributing to the sustained demand for phosphate-based assistants in these countries. The market for STPP is expected to benefit from the fact that phosphorus-free assistants are not a complete substitute for phosphorus-based assistants. The STPPs are most widely used in the food & beverage industry for the purpose of preservation which is propelling the STPP demand.

However, STPP is harmful to the environment because of the presence of huge amounts of phosphate, therefore the governments are implementing strict regulations in the usage of detergents based on phosphate. Thus, the global STPP market observed a slow rate of growth in the past few years, particularly after the European Union banned STPP usage because of the STPP's hazardous nature towards the environment. Moreover, the strong competition provided by Zeolite, a substitute for STPP too is hindering the market growth of STPP. However, the global STPP market is estimated to grow due to the extensive usage of STPP in personal and home care. Furthermore, STPP is utilized as the pH adjuster among hygiene products, which is anticipated to offer growth opportunities.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Sodium Tripolyphosphate estimated at US$2.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$2.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.8% over the analysis period. Synthetic Detergent, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 3.4% CAGR to reach US$672.9 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Food Additive segment is readjusted to a revised 3.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 25.4% share of the global Sodium Tripolyphosphate market. The synthetic detergent segment is estimated to lead the STPP market continuously in years to come, as STPP is being extensively utilized in manufacturing institutional and industrial cleaning products and detergents. Industrial detergents' technological advancement and growing usage of STPP as dispersing and cleaning agents in various applications are boosting the STPP demand in years to come. The food additive industry is a major application area for sodium tripolyphosphate. Burgeoning population, increasing disposable incomes, fast paced urbanization and rising health consciousness among consumers are enhancing demand for nutritious and protein-rich food and beverage products. Sodium tripolyphosphate are used as food additives to preserve the natural color, improve the texture and appearance, as well as ensure moisture retention of the product.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $454.1 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $650.3 Million by 2026

The Sodium Tripolyphosphate market in the U.S. is estimated at US$454.1 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 21.1% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$650.3 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 3.8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 1.6% and 1.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 2.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$109.5 Million by the end of the analysis period. The Asia-Pacific region (including China) generates major revenue in the STPP market due to increased export and production activities. China has been the major exporter of STPP of the European markets, however, restrictions on the usage of STPP in the European region caused an overcapacity with reduced consumption in China. The growing end-user sectors of STPP like agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals and increased investments in developing economies by the manufacturers of agrochemical are estimated to propel the STPP market growth considerably in the Asia-Pacific region. The North American (including USA and Canada) region's STPP market holds a significant share of the global STPP market due to food preservations' increased demand. However, the ban placed on STPP usage because of the extensive utilization of phosphate among detergents to reduce the impact of STPP on the environment, hinders the market growth of STPP. STPP market has been witnessing slow growth in Europe for the past few years, due to the European unions' strict regulations on the usage of phosphate.

Water Treatment Segment to Reach $437.5 Million by 2026

The market for STPP in water treatment is humungous, and the initiatives taken by organizations worldwide are stimulating the STPP market growth further. The water treatment demand increased because of industrialization and water is being treated in several industries for various purposes. STPP is utilized like the water softener for decreasing the water hardness and the water softener's demand is increasing in leather, laundry, and textile industries leading to the STPP market growth. In the global Water Treatment segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 2.3% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$313.3 Million will reach a projected size of US$372.5 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$45.9 Million by the year 2026. More



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Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 5; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 702

Companies: 160 - Players covered include Allure Medspa; Biovital Medspa; Canyon Ranch, Inc.; Chiva Som; Clinique La Prairie; Cynosure, Inc.; Hyatt Corporation; Lanserhof; Lumenis, Ltd.; Sciton, Inc.; Spa Vitoria; Syneron Medical, Ltd.; True Skin Care Center; Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa; Westchase Medspa and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Service (Facial Treatment, Body Shaping & Contouring, Hair Removal, Scar Revision, Tattoo Removal, Other Services)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Medical Spa Market to Reach US$25.9 Billion by the Year 2026

Medical Spa, also referred to as MedSpa, are cutting-edge, contemporary providers of an extensive range of therapies ranging from Botox treatments and liposuction to hair regeneration and hair removal. They are the latest niche in cosmetic surgery and medicine, and undoubtedly the fastest growing segment of the global cosmetic surgery market. The medical end of the MedSpa is taken care of by the presence of a practicing, specialized physician who is always required to be present on the premises. Since medical spas converge spa treatments and medical treatments, they offer the widest range of services possible. As medical spas are emerging, they are gaining rapid popularity among those who are financially well disposed and have an inclination towards beauty and wellness. Their success has been creating a quite a stir encouraging corporate houses, major hospital chains and leading pharmacological companies to invest funds in various MedSpas. Over the years, technological advancements have played a major role in shaping the MedSpa industry, increasing not just the availability of but also making the non-invasive treatments (for instance Botox) more affordable. The digital technology is currently a leading driver of the med spa growth, and is likely to remain so in the years ahead as technology enables people to look younger without undergoing painful procedures.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Medical Spa estimated at US$14.4 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$25.9 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% over the analysis period. Facial Treatment, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 12.9% CAGR to reach US$13 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Body Shaping & Contouring segment is readjusted to a revised 15.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 18.8% share of the global Medical Spa market. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused mental health concerns to skyrocket and hence leading people to prioritize mental health and wellbeing in new ways. In addition to brightening up physical appearance, relaxing massage of facial treatments can also relieve tension in the head and neck, which can reduce headaches. Research has shown that spa aids blood flow, delivering oxygen to all the body's cells, which are responsible for increasing energy and regulates mood. Thus in the wake of Covid-19, spa treatments are being promoted as a means of addressing issues associated with mental health.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $5.4 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $3.8 Billion by 2026

The Medical Spa market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5.4 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 37.72% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$3.8 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 18.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 10.3% and 12.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 11.2% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$947.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. Both business- and consumer-end response to the medical spa sector has been remarkable in recent years in the US. While new players have entered this space, existing wellness centers, dental clinics and even big retailers (such as department stores) have been expanding their offering to provide specialized services in order to attract more customers. The numbers of such centers are rapidly increasing, and are especially coming up on coasts. The concept of co-tenancy is fast catching on in the US MedSpa space, where department stores and other retailers are seen introducing dedicated flagship stores for offering medical spa services.

Hair Removal Segment to Reach $3.8 Billion by 2026

Growing acceptance of professional hair removal services is benefiting the market for medical spas. Hair removal technologies provide women and men with convenient and effective options to remove hair from specific parts of the body for a natural and hair-free skin. Continuous advances in these technologies have resulted in sophisticated products that work for different skin types and hair color. Hair removal technologies are commonly used to treat various areas including the face, upper lip, legs, pubic area, bikini line, fingers, back, chin, cheeks and feet. While these techniques are also intended to treat eyebrows, majority of customers consider low-tech means such as waxing, threading or plucking. Some of the next-generation hair removal treatments are intended for permanent removal of hair for long-lasting results. In the global Hair Removal segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 14.6% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$1.3 Billion will reach a projected size of US$3.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$343.1 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 17.4% CAGR through the analysis period. More



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DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Base Metals Directory 2022" directory has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Base Metals Directory contains detailed and up to date company information for 3,000+ miners, producers and traders of Aluminium, downstream Aluminium, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Tin and Zinc markets. Wherever you sit in the base metals supply chain, this directory is an essential business too!

The Global Base Metals Directory has been completely re-researched. Each company, old and new, has been contacted individually to ensure the information contained in the new edition is accurate and up-to-date.

Contact and Company Information

Company profiles include:

Core data: Full contact details, year established, number of employees, exports markets, end user industries and accreditations

Products: Capacity and output numbers

Facilities: Mines (ores/minerals mined, reserves, output) and plants (equipment type and technology supplier, size and capacity)

Expansion plans: New mines, new plants and modernisation projects covered

Finance data: Ownership details, Revenue and Net Profit

You will be able to:

Search for companies by metal, region, location, company type, job title or type of equipment.

Export your results to Excel.

Save time and reduce your costs.

Identify new sales opportunities in minutes

Plan your business trips

Create high quality, accurate and targeted prospect lists

Improve targeted spend of your sales budget.

For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/koy0xb

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cloud Kitchen Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cloud kitchen market reached a value of US$ 56.71 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 112.53 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 11.50% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



A cloud kitchen is a centralized virtual commercial space used to prepare delivery-optimized menu items or food consumed off the premises. It allows food businesses to optimize and expand delivery or takeout services at a minimal cost compared to conventional brick-and-mortar locations, which require physical dine-area and huge capital investment. Besides this, it also helps them focus on marketing, minimizing administrative hassle and logistics, and reaching a larger audience. As a result, it is gaining traction as an ideal business solution across the globe to meet the emerging food delivery demand of local restaurants and fast-food chains.



Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, governing agencies of numerous countries have restricted dine-in services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Consequently, food businesses, including delivery-optimized restaurants, meal prep companies, caterers, and packaged food producers, worldwide are shifting to cloud kitchens to maintain business continuity and deliver food without added overhead or hassle.

Moreover, the growing popularity of online food delivery services on account of hectic working schedules and the escalating demand for convenient and quick meal options at affordable prices is stimulating the market growth. This can also be attributed to the increasing utilization of smartphones, easy access to high-speed internet and a vast catalogue. In addition, high startup costs and burdensome regulations associated with conventional food business models are augmenting the adoption of cloud kitchens to reduce extensive resources and optimize the delivery experience. Furthermore, market players are providing a comprehensive platform with seamless integration of point of sale (POS), kitchen display (KDS), and inventory management technologies, which is anticipated to strengthen the market growth.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being CloudKitchens, DoorDash Inc., Kitchen United, Kitopi, Lightspeed Commerce Inc., PAR Technology Corporation, POSist Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Rebel Foods, Starbucks Coffee Company, Swiggy and Toast Inc.



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

How has the global cloud kitchen market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global cloud kitchen market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the nature?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global cloud kitchen market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Cloud Kitchen Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Independent Cloud Kitchen

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Commissary/Shared Kitchen

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Kitchen Pods

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Product Type

7.1 Burger and Sandwich

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Pizza and Pasta

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Chicken

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast

7.4 Seafood

7.4.1 Market Trends

7.4.2 Market Forecast

7.5 Mexican and Asian Food

7.5.1 Market Trends

7.5.2 Market Forecast

7.6 Others

7.6.1 Market Trends

7.6.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Nature

8.1 Franchised

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Standalone

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 CloudKitchens

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2 DoorDash Inc.

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2.3 Financials

14.3.3 Kitchen United

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4 Kitopi

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5 Lightspeed Commerce Inc.

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5.3 Financials

14.3.6 PAR Technology Corporation

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6.3 Financials

14.3.7 POSist Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.8 Rebel Foods

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Starbucks Coffee Company

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 Financials

14.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.10 Swiggy

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11 Toast Inc.

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1o0a67

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Mezcal Market (2021-2026) by Type, Product, Distribution Channel, Concentrate, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Mezcal Market is estimated to be USD 458.17 Mn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 1,256.68 Mn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 22.36%.



Key factors such as increasing demand for premium and super-premium drinks and increasing consumer spending power are boosting the market's growth. Also, the growth in the number of craft distilleries positively impacts market growth. Also, the development of new mezcal crafts considering the evolving consumer tastes and preferences is likely to create opportunities for the market.



However, factors such as are high price of mezcal along with new regulations for mezcal producers are likely to restrain the market growth.



The Global Mezcal Market is segmented based on Type, Product, Distribution Channel, Concentrate, and Geography.



Company Profiles

Some of the key companies covered in the report are El Silencio, Mezcal Vago, Pernod Ricard, Rey Campero, Mezcal Amores, Craft Distillers, Los Danzantes, Mezcalgulroo, Wahaka, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Mezcal Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using IGR Positioning Quadrants, Infogence's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Influencers

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Increasing Demand for Premium and Super-Premium Spirits

4.1.2 Growth in Consumer Spending

4.1.3 Growth in Craft Distilleries Across the World

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Premium Prices

4.2.2 Regulatory Process

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Development of New Mezcal Crafts

4.3.2 Evolving Tastes and Consumer Preferences

4.3.3 Untapped Markets

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Inefficient Disposal of Solid and Liquid Waste During Mezcal Production



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Mezcal Market, By Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Agave

6.3 Blends



7 Global Mezcal Market, By Product

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Mezcal Joven

7.3 Mezcal Reposado

7.4 Mezcal Anejo

7.5 Others



8 Global Mezcal Market, By Concentrate

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Mix Tequila

8.3 100% Tequila



9 Global Mezcal Market, By Distribution Channel

9.1 Introduction

9.2 HoReCa

9.3 Specialty Stores

9.4 Hypermarkets & Supermarkets

9.5 Online

10 Global Mezcal Market, By Geography



11 Competitive Landscape

11.1 Competitive Quadrant

11.2 Market Share Analysis

11.3 Strategic Initiatives

11.3.1 M&A and Investments

11.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

11.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



12 Company Profiles

12.1 Bacardi Limited.

12.2 Brown-Forman

12.3 Craft Distillers

12.4 Del Maguey

12.5 Destileria Tlacolula

12.6 Diageo

12.7 Don Julio (Diageo)

12.8 EI Silencio

12.9 Familia Camarena Tequila

12.10 Fidencio Mezcal

12.11 Ilegal Mezcal

12.12 Los Danzantes

12.13 Mezcal Amores

12.14 Mezcal Vago

12.15 Mezcalgulroo

12.16 Pensador Mezcal

12.17 Pernod Ricard

12.18 Rey Campero

12.19 Rey Campero

12.20 Sauza Tequila Import Company

12.21 Sombra Mezcal

12.22 Wahaka

12.23 William Grant & Sons



13 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5evh92

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Research and Markets

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For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Moisture Analyzer Market (2021-2026) by Analysing Technique Type, Equipment Type, Vertical Type, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Moisture Analyzer Market is estimated to be USD 1.37 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 1.66 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.9%.



Market Dynamics

The Global Moisture Analyzer Market's growing demand for moisture analyzers by various industries such as pharmaceuticals, water treatment, biomass, etc., are driving the market's growth. Also, rising awareness for the protection and maintenance of industrial devices and increasing adoption in an emerging market may help in boosting the development of the market. On the other hand, issues associated with stability and reliability are restricting the market and hampering growth.



Furthermore, the growing demand for In-Line moisture analyzers due to increasing process automation and technological advancement in heat-based moisture analyzers resulting in more reliable solutions are creating opportunities for the market to grow in the forecasted period. Moreover, lack of skilled staff and expertise are the challenge that may negatively affect the market's growth.



The Global Market is segmented based on Analysing Technique Type, Equipment Type, Vertical Type, and Geography.



Company Profiles

Some of the companies covered in this report are AMETEK, Inc, A&D Company Limited, Endress+Hauser Group, General Electric Company, Kett Electric Laboratory, Mettler-Toledo International, Inc Michell Instruments Ltd, PCE Instruments, Sartorious AG, and Shimadzu Corporation, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Moisture Analyzer Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Influencers

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Growing Demand for Moisture Analyzer by Various Industries

4.1.2 Increasing Adoption in Emerging Market

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Issues Associated with Stability and Reliability

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Increasing Demand of In-Line Moisture Analyzer due Process Automation

4.3.2 Technological Advancement in Heat Based Moisture Analyzer

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Lack of Skilled Staff and Expertise



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.2 Impact of COVID-19

5.3 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Moisture Analyzer Market, By Analysing Technique Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Capacitance

6.3 Drying Oven

6.4 Karl Fischer Titration

6.5 Loss-on-Drying

6.6 Microwave

6.7 Near-Infrared

6.8 Radio Frequency

6.9 Others



7 Global Moisture Analyzer Market, By Equipment Type

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Handled

7.3 Desktop-Mounted

7.4 In-Line



8 Global Moisture Analyzer Market, By Vertical Type

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Chemical and Petroleum

8.3 Construction

8.4 Food and Beverage

8.5 Metal and Mining

8.6 Pharmaceuticals

8.7 Plastic and Polymer

8.8 Research and Academics

8.9 Semiconductor

8.10 Water Treatment and Biomass

8.11 Wood, Paper, and Pulp



9 Global Moisture Analyzer Market, By Geography

10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Competitive Quadrant

10.2 Market Share Analysis

10.3 Strategic Initiatives

10.3.1 M&A and Investments

10.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

10.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



11 Company Profiles

11.1 A&D Company, Limited

11.2 Adam Equipment Co Ltd

11.3 AMETEK, Inc

11.4 A&D Company Limited

11.5 Brookhuis Applied Data Intelligence

11.6 Carolina Scales, Inc

11.7 CEM Corporation

11.8 Danaher Corporation

11.9 Endress+Hauser Group

11.10 GDS, Inc

11.11 General Electric Company

11.12 GOW-MAC Instrument Company

11.13 GWR Instruments, Inc

11.14 Industrial Physics LLC

11.15 Kam Controls Incorporated

11.16 KERN & SOHN GmbH

11.17 Kett Electric Laboratory

11.18 Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co Ltd

11.19 MAC Instruments

11.20 Metrohm AG

11.21 Mettler-Toledo International, Inc

11.22 Michell Instruments Ltd

11.23 Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation

11.24 PCE Instruments

11.25 Precisa Gravimetrics AG

11.26 Roscid Technologies

11.27 Sartorious AG

11.28 Shenzhen Guanya Electronic Technology Co Ltd

11.29 Shimadzu Corporation

11.30 Sinar Technology

11.31 Thermo Fisher Scientific

11.32 U-Therm International (H.K.) Ltd



12 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xiw023

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



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SOURCE Research and Markets
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM) has delivered strong operational and drilling progress, including first pass regional aircore (AC) and reverse circulation (RC) drilling, across its portfolio of gold assets in Western Australia

The company produced 5,185 ounces of gold in January, after milling more than 90,000 tonnes of ore  progressing towards a nameplate capacity of 100,000 tonnes per month.

On the mining front, open pit mining at Missouri and Riverina continues, with initial pre-stripping works commencing in January at the Sand King mine.

Encouragingly, grassroots exploration programs continue to deliver positive results with significant highlights from first-pass aircore drilling including:

4 metres at 2.64 g/t gold from surface (Greater Pacific);

4 metres at 3.80 g/t from 56 metres (Sunraysia North); and

12 metres at 0.60 g/t from 36 metres (Kangaroo).

Looking ahead, Ora Banda has further assays pending and follow up drilling planned across its projects

Improvement plans underway

Ora Banda managing director Peter Nicholson said: Ora Banda has made significant process with our operations over the past year.

The production throughput issues we are experiencing continue to diminish in severity as the improvement plans underway continue to be executed.

It is always exciting to see highly significant assay results from first pass wide spaced aircore drilling.

Identifying gold anomalism in holes 80 metres apart means that there is plenty of follow up work to be done on these prospects

We look forward to receiving the outstanding assay results at Sunraysia North and the Greater Pacific prospect and getting the drill rigs back out there to secure a long-term future for the company.

Operations update

Ora Banda has updated its guidance range for 2022 gold production from the low end of the prior guidance range (70,000-75,000 ounces) to 62,000-68,000 ounces.

The production downgrade has been largely due to production shortfalls at both Riverina and Missouri combined with a lower-than-expected recovered grade at Missouri.

At Missouri, the company is focused on productivity enhancements combined with implementing improvements to drill and blast practices following independent expert review.

Ora Banda has also changed out the drill and blast contractors during January, with the new contractor finalising mobilisation of their drilling fleet in early February.

Furthermore, the companys technical team remains focused on improving the grade performance at Missouri.

Lithium exploration update

There has been no previous recorded lithium focused exploration within Ora Bandas tenements, but numerous pegmatite-hosted lithium occurrences were discovered as a consequence of gold exploration.

Abundant unclassified pegmatite occurrences are observed over extensive areas in outcrop and drilling, where about 1,130 pegmatite occurrences appear in Ora Bandas database.

Preliminary lithium exploration work commenced with a total of 35 samples collected across Ora Bandas tenure from known pegmatite outcrops and drill intersections (core and chips).

These samples were selected based on availability across numerous locations to obtain a range of data across Ora Bandas tenure and are not as part of a dedicated lithium exploration program.

Ora Banda will continue to evaluate the lithium potential over time as part of a broader exploration strategy for the highly prospective Davyhurst tenements.

Plan showing the location of lithium bearing pegmatites within OBM tenements

Regional exploration update

Final assay results have now been received for aircore drilling conducted in September and October 2021 targeting Kangaroo, Nyborgs, Turkey Flat, Wuruk, Ember and Komodo Prospects in the Lady Ida Project.

Whilst drilling was completed in the second half of 2021, assay results have been held up due to excessive turnaround times at the laboratory.

Limited drill results received to date at the Riverina Project have extended mineralisation at the Sunraysia North prospect a further 400 metres south and returned significant intersections of 4 metres at 2.64 g/t gold from surface and 8 metres at 0.87 g/t from 32 metres undercover at the previously untested area of Greater Pacific.

Regional location map.
Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:CMCL, NYSE-A:CMCL) has reported that one of its employees at the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe was killed in an underground loading accident.

Andrew Clydon Phiri (aged 35), died in the incident on 21 February 2022 and that involved a LHD loader in one of Blanket's underground haulages.

Further details cannot be released pending the outcome of an ongoing enquiry into this incident by the relevant authorities, said the miner.

Caledonia expressed its condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased.
Tungsten Corp PLC (AIM:TUNG) is in demand after suitor Kofax Inc upped its offer for the company.

US software group Kofax first made an unsolicited bid of 40p a share in cash in December for the electronic invoicing firm, and since then has seen its put up or shut up deadline extended a number of times.

Under the most recent ruling, Kofax had until today to make a firm bid or walk away.

Now Tungsten says it has received an increased offer of 42p a share - worth 53mln in all - with a number of pre-conditions including completing due diligence and receiving a board recommendation from Tungsten.

Talks between the two sides are continuing, and Tungsten said it had not yet decided whether to recommend any formal bid if it emerges. So the deadline has now been extended to 8 March.

Tungsten shares are up 9.79% at 37p.

1.37pm: McBride slides after cost pressures push it into half year loss

McBride PLC (LSE:MCB), which makes own label cleaning and hygiene products, is under pressure as cost pressures muddy its business plans.

Half year revenues fell 10.9% to 323.4mln, and it swung from a 19mln profit to a 14.8mln loss.

It blamed "COVID-19 shocks to the global supply chain and rapid and exceptional inflation of key feedstocks" and said it was in discussions with customers about price rises.

Chief executive Chris Smith said: "The group is experiencing the most extreme inflationary cost environment probably ever to hit this sector. As we progress through the first part of 2022 it is encouraging that we expect the final quarter of our financial year to see our pricing actions getting closer to maturity and the business returning to close to break-even at an EBITA level and cash-flow neutral.

"The outlook is of course heavily dependent on our actions to deliver the outstanding essential price increases currently in discussion with our customers, as well as other external factors such as the development of input costs and other inflationary pressures, and continuing supply chain disruptions."

Its shares have fallen 6.25% to 45p.

12.34pm: Beeks Financial Cloud Group upbeat on outlook after US$2mln banking contract

Beeks Financial Cloud Group PLC (AIM:BKS) has been boosted by a new order which means its revenues will be better than expected.

The cloud computing business said it had signed a five year contract worth an initial US$2mln with a North American bank, for its Proximity Cloud trading product.

It said: "The value of this contract means that the board anticipates revenue for the full year to be slightly ahead of the recently upwardly revised expectations, with the additional profits to be further invested into the offering in order to support the strong pipeline of opportunities ahead."

Its shares are up 3.77% to 165p.

11.37am: System1 Group (AIM:SYS1) drops sharply as it warns on profits after US problems

Another big faller is System1 Group (AIM:SYS1) after it warned full year profits would be lower than expected.

The marketing specialist said total revenues in its final quarter would be around 1mln short of management forecasts, due to "a sudden and unanticipated reduction in the forecast for bespoke consultancy project sales in the US."

It said it was taking rapid action to address this issue, but as a result of the lower consultancy revenues, full year profits would be around 1mln lower than current market expectations.

Its shares are down 32.88% to 245p on the news.

10.43am: Image Scan loses half its value as it warns of full year loss

Image Scan Holdings PLC (AIM:IGE) has seen its shares slump after it warned of full year losses.

The X-ray system specialist said in the first half of the current year, COVID-19 had continued to impact customer spending, the operation of its sales and service functions, its international supply chain, and its staff.

Orders had been delayed, causing the momentum built up in the second half of 2021 to stall.

So it now expects to make a significant loss for the first half.

And it does not believe it will make up the loss in the second six months despite a strong pipeline of orders, since the timing of these deals is hard to predict in the current circumstance.

Chairman and chief executive Bill Mawer said: "It is disappointing that our order intake has stalled in the first half of the year. While international travel for trade shows and demonstrations is still limited, we have a healthy pipeline of new business. However, it will take some time for that business to come through.

"Together with the loss of COVID-19 government support mechanisms, this gives us less confidence in our original expectation for the current financial year. The positive response to the launch of our new products gives us confidence for the longer term but, in the continuing, challenging environment, it has to be expected that it will take a while for order levels to recover."

It's shares are down 50% at 1.5p.

9.47am: Transense Technologies (AIM:TRT) boosted by positive update and share buyback plans

Transense Technologies (AIM:TRT) has seen its shares accelerate after returning to profit and unveiling plans for share buybacks.

The company, which specialises in sensor systems for the automotive, aerospace and industrial markets, said half year revenues rose by 35% to 1.2mln.

After a loss of 0.05mln this time last year, it has now reported a 0.08mln profit.

It was upbeat on the outlook, but said its shares had seen volatile price movements "in response to small changes in the marginal supply and demand for shares, with thin trading volumes in an illiquid market."

So it plans a share buyback programme to "promote the preservation of long term shareholder value."

It said: "The directors are confident that the company can continue to deliver results on a growth trajectory, whilst carrying corespondingly low risk.

"Furthermore, the share buy back programme we intend to propose today will enable the company to acquire shares during any future periods in which market conditions cause any unjustified weakness in the share price."

It must be pleased with today's volatility which has seen the shares climb 5.03% to 83.5p.

8.56am: Bluerock Diamonds shines after new gem discovery

Bluerock Diamonds PLC (AIM:BRD) is sparkling after a new gem find at its Kareevlei mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa.

The company has discovered an11.95 carat diamond which will go to tender later this week with an expected valuation in excess of US$100,000.

Executive chairman Mike Houston said, "This is another excellent discovery that underpins Kareevlei's ability to deliver large high value diamonds.

"Given the stone's size and quality and continuing market buoyancy we look forward to the upcoming tender to build on the success of the January sales, which achieved an average price of US$565 per carat (2021 average: US$465 per carat)."

The company's shares are up 6.9% at 46.5p.

But the shine has come off Petra Diamonds Limited (LSE:PDL, OTC:PDLMF).

Half year revenue rose 49% to US$77.9mln with adjusted earnings up 87%, driven by the sale of exceptional stones and a 16% increase in rough diamond prices.

It said it was well placed for the second half, but a comment that the record revenues from exceptional stones may not be repeated has seen its shares slide 4.2% to 98.67p.
IGas Energy Plc (AIM:IGAS), an energy company and the parent of geothermal heat developer GT Energy UK Ltd, and Cornish Lithium struck a deal to explore commercially viable geothermal heat generation sites in Cornwall.

Cornish Lithium has created 3D models of the sub-surface geology and mineral potential of the area and has secured extensive land and mineral rights agreements in the South West of England.

A project to develop shallow geothermal projects in Cornwall will be developed to supply renewable heat to industrial customers.

The project will also investigate the possibility of extracting lithium from geothermal waters.

Stephen Bowler, IGas chief executive, said the collaboration complements the ongoing work on hydrogen production and carbon storage and further augments our geothermal business."

Jeremy Wrathall, Founder and CEO of Cornish Lithium added: "This represents a significant opportunity to accelerate the development of geothermal heat projects in Cornwall that can decarbonise local businesses."
Wizz Air Holdings PLC (AIM:WIZZ) is to continue flying to Ukraine despite Russian premier Vladimir Putin ordering Russian troops to enter the country.

A spokesperson for the London-listed budget airline quoted in the Telegraph said that it is committed to continuing to fly to Ukraine and the country remains an important part of our growth plans."

Expansion in Ukraine is key to expansion plans for Wizz Air said executives and is part of the companys plan to triple its fleet to 500 planes by the end of the decade.

Chief executive Jozsef Varadi said last month that Ukraine has been performing as a very strong market, and we have been following that through, be it additional investments into the network and deployment of aircraft in the marketplace.

The move sets it apart from other Western airlines such Swiss Air and Lufthansa, which announced over the weekend they would be suspending flights due to concerns over passenger safety.

Competitor Ryanair has also scaled back its services to the area, with chief executive Michael OLeary saying it would continue to fly to the country for as long as war does not break out.

Shares in Wizz Air were down 2.37% in afternoon trading, changing hands at 3950p.
Drilling of the RCE-2 well is expected to take around three weeks, followed by testing, said the company

Arrow Exploration Corp (TSX-V:AXL, AIM:AXL, OTC:CSTPF) has updated investors on the drilling of its next well - the RCE-2 well - at the Rio Cravo Este field on the Tapir block in Colombia, saying it expects it to spud on or around March 15 this year.

Arrow is partnered 50:50 on the Tapir block with PetrolCo and the partners have largely completed the community socialization process and awarded the drill contract to Bogota-based Top Drilling Company.

Drilling of the RCE-2 well is expected to take around three weeks, followed by testing.

Depending on the number of zones encountered, testing is expected to take about two weeks, Arrow said.

"While preparations for drilling the follow-on RCS-1 well (formerly named RCE-3) are at an earlier stage, Arrow expects the RCS-1 well to spud during April 2022. The company expects to provide additional updates on the RCE-2 and RCS-1 wells in the coming weeks," the company added in the statement.

Arrow Exploration Corp has a portfolio of premier Colombian oil assets, which, it says, are under-exploited, under-explored and offer high potential growth.

The plan is to expand oil production from some of Colombia's most active basins, including the Llanos, Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV) and Putumayo Basin.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian billionaires following troops entering two breakaway regions of Ukraine.

His statement named Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank as the banks facing sanctions.

The three individuals targeted are Boris Rotenburg, a rumoured childhood friend of Vladmir Putin, who possesses a net worth of US$1.2bn, his nephew Igor, worth US$1.1bn and Gennady Timchenko, the sixth richest man in Russia.

Their UK assets will be frozen, and they will be prevented from travelling into the UK, Johnson said in his speech in parliament today.

The PM added recent actions constituted a renewed invasion, and that the UK must steel ourselves for a protracted crisis.

He added that sanctions would be extended should the situation be escalated further.

However, four of the five banks were already sanctioned by the US.

All three individuals were also slapped with sanctions by America, with the Rotenburgs hit in 2014 and Timchencko following in 2018.

Conservation MP Tom Tugendhat said in parliament that sanctions matter only if they make the Kremlin think again, adding "these are a repetition of US sanctions. We need to do more if theyre to count.

The European Union has published its own set of sanctions proposals that would target members of the Russian parliament and banks that are actively backing the Russian military.

Johnsons announcement comes after Germany said it would suspend the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Russia.

President Joe Biden also signed an executive order that bans new investment, trade and financing by Americans in the breakaway regions, Luhansk and Donetsk.
So youre thinking about investing in a companys shiny initial public offering, and youve just downloaded  or spent a while printing out  its lengthy prospectus.

How do you make sense of these dense, long and detailed documents?

The prospectus 411

Most prospectuses reach well beyond 100 pages, and whilst we dont recommend reading every single word, its perhaps the best way to get an impression of whether the company fits your investment profile.

When preparing to list on the ASX, a company must offer potential shareholders a series of disclosure documents, the most common and crucial being the prospectus.

Filed with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), the prospectus outlines in great detail the terms of the offer and a deep dive into the business past, present and future outlook.

Headline information to look for

The first few pages of any prospectus will outline the offer - how much money the company is seeking to raise, how many shares it is offering and the asking price to purchase one of those shares.

These pages also contain basic information on the companys name, location, corporate directory, proposed ASX listing code and the lead manager.

The lead manager is an independent financial institution appointed by the company to facilitate its progress to listing, including roadshow promotion, which drums up investor interest.

Theres plenty of legalese in these early pages that you can skip; the first really important part that youll want to read is the chairmans letter, which in a page or two summarises the companys interests and what they propose to do with the money you give them.

Usually, this is followed by more granular details on the offer, such as expected market capitalisation on listing and a total number of shares issued, as well as a timeline to listing.

Deep dive into the company

The investment overview section is where youll want to cast a close eye over the finer details.

This section helpfully, and usually quite logically and simply, breaks down what the company does, where it operates, how it will achieve its objectives and what the funding will be used for.

All entities issuing a prospectus are required to run would-be investors through the key risks that could jeopardise the companys prospects in this section.

Though you would think that companies are loath to detail any such potential risks so as to not deter investors, most cover the risks adequately, and it is an important part to read; not all stocks are made equal, and an investor with knowledge of risks stands to avoid frightening losses.

In the investment overview section, you will also find a wealth of information on the board of directors and management team, including ownership structure, remuneration, substantial shareholders and other interests.

This early section  yes, were still not the bulk of the way through yet  also contains a breakdown of how it will use the money raised, whether to fund project development, build-out marketing or for working capital.

Its all in the details

The investment overview contains the bulk of the relevant information youre seeking, but not quite all of it.

The company overview follows, which is an incredibly detailed, almost minute-by-minute breakdown of the companys history, structure, business model, sector overview, growth strategy, financing, dividend policy (if it has one) and more.

After the company overview, you will find an even more detailed run-through of the risks facing the company, followed by a look into the background of the companys board and management (note, these sections are sometimes presented in a different order).

Dollars and sense

Taking up a great deal of real estate around the middle of the document is a detailed look at the companys financial standing.

It is here you will find information on how the company has managed its finances, and what, if any, money it has made in the past.

Some companies provide this information themselves, others present it through an independent audit by an accountant.

These pages see the companys financials laid out in a format very similar to a standard profit-and-loss statement, making it easy to get a read on the entitys financial position.

Mining companies will often at this point include an independent geologists report as well.

Much of the remaining documentation in the prospectus contains information on material contracts, additional information on the terms of the offer, more legalese and a glossary - if youve reached this point, we think its okay to start switching off.

Too long, didnt read

To recap, if you are perusing a prospectus, there are a number of sections its important to pay attention to:

The details of the offer;

The chairmans letter;

The company overview;

Key risks, board; and

Management makeup and financial history.

If you can parse these parts of a prospectus, you will gain a strong knowledge of whether the company is a solid investment for your risk profile.

- Daniel Paproth
Emmerson PLC (AIM:EML) has named Jim Wynn as chief financial officer with immediate effect.

Wynn recently held the CFO position at Moxico Resources, and before that Rainbow Rare Earths.

He was also the finance director at Avocet Mining (AIM:AVM), where he set up a partnership with Morocaan mining group Managem over the Tri-K project in Guinea, the company noted.

Wynn serves on the board of exploration company GreenRoc Mining.

Prior to this, he was employed by Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL), where he worked within the finance, business development, and strategy departments of Anglo Industrial Minerals.

We are delighted to welcome Jim to the Emmerson team, working alongside our colleagues in Morocco and in the UK to promote our growing business in Morocco and internationally, said chief executive Graham Clarke.

A key part of the project development will be putting in place debt financing, in which Jim will play a pivotal role, and which we expect to conclude in Q2/Q3 2022, Clarke added.

The statement said that Wynn would not be joining the board at this moment, nor does he hold any shares in the company.
Red 5 Ltd (ASX:RED) believes that multiple drilling results across several prospects present the opportunity for gold resource growth, extending the Darlot mines footprint across several future mining areas.

The mine, in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, has yielded some encouraging results following extensive diamond drilling. These results extend the known mineralisation at the Middle Walters South prospect and bring the new Oval 1300 area into the mine plan.

Ongoing exploration and development

The drilling campaign forms part of an ongoing exploration and resource development program at Darlot focused on extending new mining areas and reducing dependency on remnant mining.

Middle Walters South is the primary focus of diamond drilling, where 28,500 metres of resource development and grade control drilling has been completed since July 2020.

This is a structurally controlled narrow, high-grade orebody that forms part of the larger Centenary orebody, one of the primary sources of ore at Darlot.

Mineralisation is hosted by the Walters Fault and in cross-linking structures between the Walters and Lords Faults.

Drilling in the earlier stages of the current program extended and upgraded the Middle Walters South component of the Centenary resource, delivering a 44% increase in contained ounces since Red 5 took over in October 2017, with the potential for further growth.

Promising Middle Walters South

Mineralisation remains open along strike to the west and further infill drilling is planned. Access development to Middle Waters South is underway, with first ore intersected in development in January 2022.

Key drilling results at Middle Walters South include:

4.8 metres at 13.3 g/t gold from 250.7 metres;

6.4 metres at 81.7 g/t from 264.5 metres;

2.8 metres at 21.4 g/t from 189 metres; and

6.7 metres at 8.0 g/t from 223.3 metres.

A further 47,500 metres of diamond drilling was completed in other key areas, including Dar-Cent, Pedersen and Moses, and Oval 1300.

Significant results at these other prospects include:

Pedersen and Moses

6.5 metres at 10.2 g/t gold from 54.4 metres;

2.4 metres at 12.5 g/t from 78.6 metres;

5.0 metres at 8.0 g/t from 82.8 metres; and

6.7 metres at 6.1 g/t from 0 metres.

Oval 1300

14.1 metres at 7.0 g/t gold from 48.9 metres;

2.8 metres at 17.0 g/t from 7.2 metres; and

8.0 metres at 5.9 g/t from 82.2 metres.

Drilling also intersected the Dar-Cent bulk mineralisation zone, with encouraging assay results including 47 metres at 1.1 g/t gold and 14 metres at 2.6 g/t.

Significant new underground mining area

The results confirm and de-risk active mining areas within the Darlot mine and will inform the companys thinking as it prepares to update the mine plan.

Red 5 managing director Mark Williams said: "These drilling results demonstrate the significant potential to both grow the existing Darlot underground resource and to extend the new mining areas we are targeting within the Darlot underground mining system.

"Middle Walters South is the first significant new underground mining area accessed at Darlot since the Oval development commenced in 2016.

Accessing this area opens up new exploration platforms from which we can target the Oval and Walters structures, with this region expected to be the primary driver for resource and reserve growth at Darlot in the near term."
ASX Futures are trading 1.1% lower this morning, pointing to a rocky start in trading this morning.

While Wall St was closed for a public holiday yesterday, Europes major benchmark indices took a massive tumble, down more than 2% as Russia massed forces to the Ukraine border, following President Vladamir Putins recognition of two separatist republics in the Ukraine.

Putin has signed a decree recognising the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in Ukraine and told France and Germany of his intention to sign the decree late yesterday.

The decree could give Moscow the excuse it needs to invade Ukraine.

European leaders have "expressed disappointment," at the move, with NATO calling it a pretext to invasion.

This further undermines Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

British foreign minister Liz Truss said the move violated the United Nations Charter.

We will not allow Russias violation of its international commitments to go unpunished, Truss wrote on Twitter.

The European Union has said it would place sanctions on those involved in recognising Ukraines breakaway regions as independent.

The US believes Russia has massed a force of 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the administration had always been ready to talk to avert a war  but would 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, Sullivan told NBCs 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.

Whatever happens in the coming days, it looks as if there is no coming back.

In a pre-recorded speech, Putin justified his decision to sign the decree blaming NATO for the current crisis, while calling the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia.

In disregarding the history of Ukraine, Putin said it was a modern construct inextricably linked to Russia and claimed the nation had inherited Russias historic lands and was used by the West to contain Russia after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Troubling times ahead.

Heres what we saw (source Commsec):

The Aussie dollar broadly held between US71.85 cents and US72.20 cents and was near US71.95 cents at the North American close.

Global oil prices were firmer on Monday in response to the ongoing stand-off between Ukraine and Russia. Reports suggest the US and Iran are close to reviving a 2015 nuclear deal that could see Iran lift oil exports.

The Brent crude price rose by US$1.85 or 2.0% to US$95.39 a barrel.

The US Nymex crude price rose by US$2.88 or 3.2% to US$93.95 a barrel.

Base metal prices were mixed on Monday.

Lead, copper and zinc fell by up to 0.8%.

Other metals rose by up to 1.1%.

The gold futures price rose by US$6.40 or 0.3% to US$1,906.20.

Australian markets

With all the volatility in the markets at the moment, the ASX is standing up relatively well.

In saying that, we can expect it to dip today although there are a few highlights to look out for.

Macquarie Telecom Group a standout in reporting

Macquarie Telecom Group Ltd announced its results for the half-year ended December 31, 2021, which were ahead of guidance.

Chairman Peter James said, This result represents our fifteenth consecutive half of EBITDA growth, an outstanding achievement made possible by our committed teams, our strategy and ongoing investments across all of our business units.

Key points:

Fifteen consecutive halves of growth.

Revenue of $149.3 million, an increase of 4% on 1H FY21 ($143.4 million).

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $40.5 million, an increase of 11% on 1H FY21 ($36.4 million).

Strong conversion of EBITDA to operating cashflows of $37.6 million in 1H FY22 vs $27.0 million in 1H FY21 (on an underlying basis).

The company is operating effectively from remote locations during recent COVID restrictions and is well positioned to return to the office. We have continued to deliver a high level of service to our customers despite challenging circumstances.

Net profit after tax of $3.7 million, a decrease of 48% on 1H FY21 ($7.0 million) reflecting the increase in depreciation & amortisation flowing from increased levels of capital expenditure.

Capital expenditure for 1H FY22 was $68.9 million (1H FY21: $77.3 million) driven by growth capex of $46.2 million primarily relating to the investment in the fit out for Intellicentre 3 East. Customer related capex was $17.1 million. Maintenance capex was $5.6 million.

Chief executive David Tudehope said, Strong demand for cyber security, private and public cloud has driven our investment in our Government and Cloud Services businesses. Continued demand from our Federal Government Agencies for cybersecurity and secure cloud, including Tier 1 Agencies such as ATO, gives high confidence for future growth in the Government Business.

Our Intellicentre 3 East data centre fit out project for a leading corporation was delivered on time and on budget, with associated revenue commencing as planned from this quarter. We will continue to reinvest profits back into our Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus, an outstanding facility that provides world-class infrastructure to support the digital economy.

AGL intrigue to continue

The rejected $8 billion takeover of AGL Energy (ASX:AGK) Limited by Mike Cannon-Brookes and Canadas Brookfield is just the start of the intrigue surrounding the billionaires push to quicken the pace of the energy giants move to net-zero.

While AGL rebuffed the bid, saying its plans to split the company in two in June would hold better value for shareholders, the Cannon-Brookes led consortium will push on and meet with AGL shareholders, engage the board and potentially bring on more funding partners.

Capital is required not just to invest in the clean, green stuff that everyone likes, but to invest in the businesses that need to transition from being heavier emissions and to get to lower emissions, Brookfield Asia-Pacific chief executive Stewart Upson said.

Its designed to invest in a business like AGL, and then responsibly over a period of time  not immediately and say over 10 years  responsibly oversee the accelerated transition of the business.

The consortium sees AGL as ripe for reinvention, something that Brookfields $15 billion fund knows a fair bit about.

We have a chance to go back and engage with the company again. And look, this is just how these things go in Australia. Well have the opportunity to engage with the company and see if we can work our way towards something that company can be supportive of. Well look forward to getting into due diligence and firming things up, Upson told The Australian.

The consortium did not intend to take coal offline immediately, however that hasnt allayed the fears of some in government.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said energy prices will rise if coal fired power stations close early, citing the closure of Victoria's Hazelwood plant in 2017.



The Treasurer claimed prices soared to 85% of the wholesale electricity price in response to Hazelwood's closure.



Let me give you an indisputable fact, Frydenberg told Today. When Hazelwood closed in Victoria, that was about a quarter of the energy supply and what that saw was a spike of around 85% in the wholesale electricity price.



Victoria suddenly went from being a net energy exporter to being a net energy importer particularly from NSW at times of high demand.



Now, the people who pay the most, as a proportion of their income for higher electricity prices, are the more disadvantaged members of our community.



We welcome more investment in renewables. We also have a responsibility to tell it as it is, that Australia needs to maintain the stability of the grid and affordability of power.

Cannon-Brookes has said anything the consortium does with AGL will deliver cheaper prices.

Time will tell.

European markets

It was a heavily down day for European markets.

Technology shares fell the most, down by 2.6%. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell by 1.3% to a 4-month low. The German Dax index lost 2.1% and the UK FTSE index eased by 0.4%. Russian stock markets lost double digit numbers, while the Russian ruble was also placed under pressure.

In London trade, shares in Rio Tinto rose by 0.7% while shares in BHP fell by 0.5%.

Sentiment continues to be dominated by headlines concerning Ukraine, Russia and the West, ThinkMarkets analyst Fawad Razaqzada said.

Good news for nickel investors though. Nickel, which is vital for stainless steel and electric car batteries, hit its highest level in more than a decade, with Russia being one of the worlds largest producers of nickel.
Australian Potash Ltd (ASX:APC) has highlighted the $500 million commitment from Federal and State governments for the final upgrade program to Great Central Road, which will include the logistics route for its flagship Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project (LSOP).

The governments will co-fund the sealing of the final 736 kilometres of the worlds longest shortcut - the Great Central Road, which is known locally as the Outback Way.

Great Central Road extends east from Laverton to the WA-NT border and is integral to the logistics solution APC has designed with its project logistics provider.

The LSOP is accessed via 80 kilometres of the Great Central Road and the Lake Wells Road.

Enormous benefit

APL managing director and CEO Matt Shackleton said: One of the enduring features of the LSOP is its location relative to road and rail infrastructure.

The additional cost of developing integral logistics infrastructure would weigh heavily on the economics of most new project developments, and we are fortunate that we do not face that challenge.

The State and Federal governments commitment to completing this vital piece of infrastructure lends an enormous benefit to our SOP project, providing as it does a further 80 kilometres of sealed, high-quality road.

The positive impact on the operating economics of the road haul into Leonora, where we will take advantage of the rail, and into Geraldton, will be material.

Laverton Training Centre

The Laverton Training Centre, a not-for-profit initiative of APC, is scheduled to commence training its first cohort of trainees at the end of February, and we look forward to working closely with the Great Central Road sealing contractors to discuss employment opportunities over the course of the next several months.

The WA State Government statement can be found here.

Capital raising

In December, the company took its recent capital raising proceeds to $12.477 million after completing a share purchase plan to further advance the flagship Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project in WA.

SPP applications were received from eligible shareholders for a total of $477,000, representing 5,962,500 fully paid ordinary shares at $0.08 per share, the same issue price as the placement that raised $12 million.

It is anticipated that the funds will be primarily used to progress borefield development activities and associated earthworks at the LSOP, together with working capital.
Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) has kicked off an auger drilling campaign at the Mansala Gold Project in Guinea, West Africa.

The program will consist of 805 holes for around 5,000 metres with a focus on six key drill targets identified during previous multi-element soil geochemistry.

Pathfinder elements critical

This auger drilling program will be carried out on a 100-metre by 50-metre drill pattern over six delineated zones.

The objective is to test six mineralised gold targets using soil anomalies and associated pathfinder elements  such as arsenic, silver, bismuth, molybdenum, antimony, tungsten and tellurium  which may be indicative of mineralisation at depth.

POL believes that numerous artisanal workings in this area lend credence to this possibility.

The aim of the auger campaign is to provide the company with aircore and reverse circulation drill targets within the previously undrilled licence.

First drilling to start

Mansala has been subject to widespread artisanal activity, suggesting the area is highly prospective for gold, Polymetals Resources CEO Alex Hanly said.

We are very excited to commence our first drilling on the property.

The planned 5,000-metre auger program is designed to test the coincident gold in soil and multi-element signatures present within the data from our previous soil sampling campaign at the Mansala licence.

The systematic auger drilling of these mutli-element and gold soil anomalies, in addition to the upcoming Airborne magnetics survey, will provide Polymetals with a strong foundation for further exploration within the Mansala licence.

Previous fieldwork

The company started systematic exploration of the Mansala Licence in December 2020, during which it conducted an extensive program of reconnaissance soil geochemistry.

These previous works and the results of the Mansala soil sampling campaign were made public in the companys initial public offering (IPO) prospectus in April last year.

Soil sampling confirmed that 5 square kilometres, or 10.4% of the area surveyed, revealed gold values in excess of 40 parts per billion (ppb).

Of particular interest were gold abundances discovered in 11 samples that returned assay results in excess of 1,000ppb (1 g/t) gold, including values of 93.98 g/t, 6.03 g/t, 5.85 g/t, 2.91 g/t, 2.38 g/t and 1.10 g/t.

Mansala soil sampling results superimposed on satellite image.

About Polymetals

Polymetals aims to become a gold production company. It is focused on its two 100%-owned exploration licences in Guineas Siguiri Basin, which cover 112 square kilometres.

The Siguiri Basin hosts several large active gold mining operations and is notable for its significant and widespread gold anomalism.

Polymetals exploration licences, Alahine and Mansala, host extensive historic and current artisanal gold production, which reinforces the exploration potential of the area.
Newfield Resources Ltd (ASX:NWF) has strengthened its executive skillset with the appointment of Charl Barnard as general manager of the Tongo Diamond Mine in Sierra Leone.

Barnard is an experienced business leader and manager with a consistent track record of successful project delivery over 25 years in eastern Europe, Central Asia, West, East and Southern Africa.

Notably, he also has a proven background on transitioning operations from the capital investment stage to cash generative and production focused stages.

Producer of high-quality diamonds

Commenting on Charls appointment Newfield executive director Karl Smithson said: The directors are delighted to appoint someone of the calibre of Charl to the general managers position at the Tongo Diamond Mine.

As Newfield transitions the Tongo Mine to its status as a producer of high-quality diamonds, Charls experience and track record of delivery will be an asset to the company.

Furthermore, with his strong background in underground diamond mining operations, HSE and ESG management Charl will drive this transition with a complete focus on compliance, safety and sustainability.

Notable roles

In the past 15 years, Charl has held senior roles as part of the group executive committee for Petra Diamonds and has served as in-country and general manager on large and small opencast and underground diamond mines in Sierra Leone, Tanzania and South Africa.

Charl has also served as group head of Health, Safety and Environment with a strong focus on ESG management and reporting, and with a proven record of risk management successfully improving safety statistics on every operation he has managed.

Smithson adds: The recent appointment of experienced non-executive director Alistair Croll to the board, and now of a general manager for Tongo, is consistent with Newfields strategic plan of strengthening the senior management to enhance corporate governance, compliance and capacity to align with Newfields growth from an exploration and development company to a production-focused company.

We look forward to providing further corporate and operational updates as we progress.

About Tongo

The Tongo Diamond Mine Development comprises two adjacent mining licences covering a combined area of 134 square kilometres in eastern Sierra Leone.

Tongo hosts 11 identified diamondiferous kimberlites, only five of which are incorporated in the current JORC-compliant indicated and inferred diamond resource estimate of 8.3 million carats.

Of this resource, a 1.1 million carat probable reserve, has been estimated.
Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) has completed a round of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Omrah electromagnetic (EM) target and Wise nickel prospect at Silver Swan North Nickel Sulphide Project north of Kalgoorlie in WA.

This work was following-up geological interpretations formed by the Geological Survey of Western Australia and a review of all available data by the Moho exploration team.

The reverse circulation (RC) program consisted of 14 holes for 3,060 metres and ran from November 28, 2021, until January 22, 2021, hampered by rig failures and repair waiting times.

Samples from the drilling program are being submitted to Bureau Veritas laboratory for analysis, with about 80% of analysed results received back from the lab to date.

Next steps for Silver Swan

Moho has contracted the services of experienced nickel consultant Grant Alan Rocky Osborne, a passionate and pragmatic explorationist with more than 42 years experience in international mineral exploration and underground mining, with particular expertise in nickel and gold.

The results of the RC program will be reviewed by Osborne to generate targets for further exploration with a diamond drilling program.

Moho has already secured a diamond drilling rig for March, but any drilling programs will have to await approval by Mohos nickel consultant and start dates may be delayed by rig and crew availability.

Additionally, Moho has been awarded a grant of $150,000 under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) program by the West Australian Government.

The CEI grant will be used to fund up to 50% of drilling costs associated with the RC and diamond drilling program to test the potential komatiitic ultramafics associated with the Omrah nickel prospect.

About Moho Resources

Moho Resources is an Australian mining company focused on gold and nickel exploration at the Empress Springs, Silver Swan North and Burracoppin projects.

The company considers Empress Springs in Queensland, which comprises three adjacent exploration permits with a total area of around 773 square kilometres, to have the potential for base metal mineralisation.

Silver Swan North is around 50 kilometres from Kalgoorlie and covers about 55 square kilometres within the gold-rich Kalgoorlie Terrane while Burracoppin further to the west is also prospective for gold.
Is it fair to say that silver is the great unsung hero of the greening of the global economy?

It just might be.

Where lithium and cobalt and to a degree even copper and nickel are lauded with plaudits, sentiment towards silver is still stuck in a twentieth century mindset that splits its appeal between investment asset and its old-time use in photographic materials.

With the advent of the digital era, demand for silver from the photographic industry has dropped away substantially.

But what most people dont realise is that silver is an essential component in all electronics, including, yes, electric vehicles, and yes, solar panels.

This is the way well-known mining consultant CRU puts it, in a report compiled towards the end of last year on behalf of the Silver Institute:

Silver is found in nearly all electronic devices, said CRU.

With the greatest electrical conductivity of all metals, silver is playing a critical role in the latest technological advancements. Silvers inherent conductivity is an important asset in the miniaturization of electronics; allowing electrical currents to flow in even the smallest semiconductors and computer chips.

So silver is as key to the green revolution as any of the other more widely touted metals, only with one key difference  the market hasnt really woken up to that fact yet.

Its this thinking that in part informs the vision of the directors and backers of Silverton Metals Corp (TSX-V:SVTN, OTCQB:SVTNF), a company with a sizeable portfolio of assets in what has to be considered the worlds number one silver destination: Mexico.

Silver is growing in importance in the green economy, says Silvertons chief executive John Theobald.

And at the same time theres been a lack of new discoveries and falling production from primary silver mines.

Taking all those dynamics together, and its only a matter of time before what they call a perfect storm starts brewing up.

If it does, Silverton will be ready.

It has three main projects in Mexico, Penasco Quemado, La Frazada and Pluton.

The immediate focus is on Penasco, where the company is currently drilling, and from which results are anticipated in March.

These results will build on a 9.63mln ounce silver resource thats already been established closed to the surface and which looks eminently open-pittable. Overall, Penasco covers a pretty sizeable surface area, and its possible there may be significant other opportunities on the licence which havent yet been properly investigated.

All of which means therell be plenty of news for the market to look forward to in the near-term.

However, the main asset, or the headline project as Theobald calls it, is the Pluton project.

Pluton is a large, district-scale exploration project targeting silver, zinc and gold, he says. The company has conducted various surveys over this ground already, the latest of which has involved seismic techniques more commonly used in the oil and gas industry.

And theres no doubt that Pluton is in the right neighbourhood.

Just to the south lies a historic mine, known to be around 350 years old, the production from which established the famous Mexican mining company Penoles in the early 1900s.

To the east lies Mexicos highest grading silver mine, the Platosa project, operated by Excellon, which yields ore grading up to 2,500 grams per tonne.

Will something similar turn up on Pluton?

Certainly thats the aspiration, although much work needs to be done before anything definitive can be said.

Its an early stage but the company is advancing it quickly, says Theobald.

Theres lots of cover, and we have to use geophysics. But if were successful with this project it would be transformational for the company.

Theobalds idea of success in this context?  you could have something ranging from five million to between twenty and thirty million tonnes, he says. And the potential for the sort of grades you see at Platosa.

Specifically, Silverton is targeting what are known as manto and chimney deposits.

These things are potentially very large, explains Theobald.

And they may be quite irregular orebodies. But once you have a hit you can follow them around. They can extend from a couple of hundred metres to a kilometre. They are the potential prize.

It might take a while for the momentum to build though. The next news will be the results of the seismic surveying, due out in March.

After that well collate the data and come up with targets, says Theobald. Well be thinking about where to put our first hole in the third quarter of this year.

In the intervening period, though, therell be newsflow from La Penasco to keep the market interest ticking over, and no-ones going to be fretting about dilution or discounting fundraisings any time soon.

As it stands, theres C$3.5mln in the bank, which is plenty enough to allow Silverton to get on with its plans and steer the company firmly into the direction of the upcoming bull market in silver.
Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) has released an encouraging financial report for the half year ended December 31, 2021.

The company has started 2022 in a strong cash position, with A$22.6 million in the bank, due to what it calls continued judicious expenditure in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

Strong cash position

The companys financial standing is bolstered by a A$5.9 million R&D tax incentive for the 2021 financial year, received in January, which is non-dilutive funding for the company.

NOX has channelled A$8.3 million in R&D this financial year, compared with the first half of 2020, when it allocated less than half that (A$3 million) to its research budget. This increase will advance clinical trial programs, drug discovery and preclinical studies.

The corporate and administration cash spend rate remained stable at A$2.9 million, the same amount spent in the preceding year.

As incoming CEO, it is pleasing to report that Noxopharm is in a strong cash position with a number of promising programs underway, CEO and managing director Dr Gisela Mautner said.

Our clinical portfolio, investigating the combination of Veyonda with established cancer treatments, is tracking to plan.

It is also important to note the relationships we have secured with national and international partners such as Hudson Institute of Medical Research and the US National Cancer Institute, as well as several prestigious clinical study sites in the USA.

We are well funded to drive these programs and will update the market as milestones are met.

Exclusive global mRNA licensing agreement

NOX has developed a substantial product pipeline and aims to deploy these technologies to save lives with novel therapies.

In addition to molecules developed in-house, the company has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Hudson Institute of Medical Research (HIMR) relating to RNA drug discovery and mRNA vaccine manufacture.

NOX has also signed a Materials Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the US National Cancer Institute, the largest funding body for cancer research in the world, for the investigation of a family of molecules NOX has developed.

Our pre-clinical work looking into molecules with potential applications in aggressive cancers continues, and we are making good progress in work relating to chronic inflammation and RNA technologies, said Mautner.

Current clinical programs

NOX boasts a network of global collaborators, with clinical trial sites including some of the leading cancer centres in the world, such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Beverly Hills Cancer Center and the City of Hope Cancer Center in the US.

The DARRT Program Phase 2 clinical trial (Veyonda with low-dose radiotherapy) received investigational new drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has commenced in two leading US cancer centres, the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Beverly Hills Cancer Center, with the first dose cohort having completed the safety assessments.

A first Australian site, Macquarie Private Hospital, has also opened for patient recruitment, and further sites are expected to be online soon.

The CEP Program Phase 1 study (Veyonda and the chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin) kicked off at a major US cancer hospital, the City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles.

Additional sites in the US will be joining the study in the near-term.

The IONIC Phase 1 trial, which employs Veyonda with the Bristol Myers Squibb checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, Opdivo, has started, with patients enrolled and treated at the first clinical site and more sites are expected to open in the second half of the year.
Pharmaceutical company Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings PLC (LSE:OCTP, OTCQB:OCTHF) said it made progress on all four of its drug development programmes with two key clinical trials set for this year.

The group which is developing prescription cannabinoid medicines said OCT461201, a cannabinoid-like compound for neuropathic and visceral pain, is expected to enter phase 1 clinical trials in Q1 2023. Meanwhile, OCT130401, a combination of inhaled phytocannabinoids, is due to start phase 1 clinical trials in Q4 2022.

Oxford Cannabinoid made a 2.03mln loss in the first six months of its 2021 financial year, including research costs of 934,500, a third of which went to its OCT461201 drug.

The company said it continues to expect revenue generation to begin in 2027 and secured a 2.6mln contract research agreement with Evotec subsidiary Aptuit in the last financial period.

The group has continued to build on the positive start made to the current financial year," said John Lucas, chief executive officer of Oxford Cannabinoid.

"During the period, progress was made on all four of the group's programmes, particularly regarding the group's lead candidate OCT461201: a cannabinoid-like compound for neuropathic and visceral pain,

The board remains confident that OCTP is well placed to benefit from the opportunities that lie ahead. The fundamentals of the group remain strong, delivering against the strategy laid out in the IPO prospectus and with a strong financial base."

Oxford Cannabinoid said it continued to hold strong liquidity, with cash reserves of 12mln, following cost-cutting measures which included the closure of its London office.

The companys share price was 2.04p in early trading, down 1.69%.
Tirupati Graphite PLC (LSE:TGR, OTCQX:TGRHF) said Tirupati Graphene and Mintech Research Centre (TGMRC) has successfully delivered its first commercial contract with the development of a mineral processing technology solution for Optiva Resources Ltd.

The two-stage process will enhance Optivas extraction of vanadium, titanium, magnetite from its Marela project in Guinea and enable it to process these into saleable concentrates and end products.

Tirupati Speciality Graphite Private Ltd (TSG), owner of the research centre, will receive shares in UK-registered Optiva worth 137,345 as its success fee. It previously received an upfront fee.

READ: Tirupati says research centre has secured first commercial contract

TGMRC is poised to achieve net operating earnings in the current financial year, its first year since its establishment, and expects these activities to be earnings enhancing in FY23 for Tirupati Graphite PLC.

"Building on this success and the pipeline of activity currently underway with blue chip clients, we expect TGMRC to be an earning unit standalone," said Tirupati Graphite PLC chairman Shishir Poddar.

TGMRC and Optiva said they are in talks regarding further services to optimise mineral processing.
Automotive Industries is devoted to providing global coverage on all aspects of the automobile marketplace, with an emphasis on the people, products and processes that shape the industry

ImagineAR Inc. (CSE:IP, OTCQB:IPNFF) has announced that it is launching a custom immersive metaverse white-label mobile app for Automotive Industries in early March 2022.

The Vancouver-based augmented reality firm said it has executed a three-year revenue-sharing contract for the custom global mobile app with Automotive Industries, whose print and online readership include the Who's Who of automotive decision-making, including major carmakers, system suppliers, 1st tier and major 2nd tier award-winning supplier companies.

"This is our first global publishing partnership and solely focused on the business-to-business marketplace, ImagineAR president and CEO Alen Paul Silverrstieen said in a statement. This new custom mobile app leverages our new AR cloud 2.0 architecture and supports integrated GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance.

ImagineAR noted that Automotive Industries is devoted to providing global coverage on all aspects of the automobile marketplace, with an emphasis on the people, products and processes that shape the industry. The title provides manufacturers and suppliers with in-depth news, information, insight and analysis on the global events that affect the auto industry.

Additionally, it said Automotive Industries is the world's oldest continually published trade publication covering the automaking business. It was founded in November 1895 as "The Horseless Age," the first magazine created to cover the world's transition from horse-drawn conveyances to those powered by the new internal combustion engine.

The magazine changed its name to "The Automobile" in July 1909, an era when gasoline, steam and electricity all vied for preeminence in motive power. Its present name was established in November 1917 but was briefly amended to "Automotive and Aviation Industries" during the World War II years, as the magazine expanded its coverage of technologies and production methods to include the aircraft industry, in which many automakers participated.

Automotive Industries publisher, John Larkin, noted that the automotive industry is often considered to be one of the most global of all industries with more than one billion cars already on the planet.

The carmakers are first to adopt new technology to benefit their consumers, their communication strategy and their marketing partnerships, Larkin said. We believe the metaverse and mobile app AR from Alen Paul Silverrstieen's team at ImagineAR are bringing the automotive industry and the world consumers of automobiles, one of the best media communication assets since the introduction of the mobile phone,

ImagineAR.com enables businesses of any size to create and implement their own AR campaigns with no programming or technology experience.

Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com
'We see a lot of potential therapeutic value in psychedelic compounds for their ability to positively influence neural networks through growth and reorganization,' said Professor Dr Raimar Lobenberg, who is a director at XPhyto

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY, OTCQB:XPHYF) has given investors an update on the strong progress made by its wholly-owned subsidiary XPhyto Laboratories Incs psychedelic medicine programs in Canadas Edmonton, which is focused on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) drug synthesis, drug delivery systems, psychedelic analogue engineering, and clinical validation.

The Vancouver and Germany-based bioscience accelerator first talked about its psychedelic medicine program in Canada. Through its exclusive contract research and development (R&D) collaboration with Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation, the group first announced on February 3, 2021, that XPhyto Labs is pursuing the application of psychedelic compounds to mental health-related conditions.

Based on a systematic literature review, the company identified mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) as a promising candidate for the treatment of a range of mental disease such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction and cluster headaches.

READ: XPhyto executes Covid-ID lab sales contracts with German test clinics in multi-product rollout strategy

XPhyto and Applied have developed a repeatable two-step reaction process with a yield greater than 60% and purity exceeding 99%, which is ideal for clinical use. Analytical methods were developed and validated and approximately 60 gram (g) of GMP grade mescaline has been manufactured for clinical trial evaluation.

With mescaline drug delivery, XPhyto is focused on formulations designed to avoid common negative side effects and provide precise dosage for clinical use. Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain cacti, most notably peyote, San Pedro, and Peruvian Torch. These cacti are typically consumed through ingestion which has been associated with gastro-intestinal discomfort, nausea, and a lack of dosing predictability.

Thats why the company is pursuing a novel drug delivery system designed to prevent these common negative side effects. However, due to sensitivity around intellectual property (IP), Xphyto said it could not disclose more details at this time.

In addition to GMP mescaline synthesis and drug delivery, the Canadian operations are also focused on the design and synthesis of novel second generation psychedelic analogues. The group has successfully developed and manufactured two promising novel compounds with properties designed to increase bioavailability.

XPhyto and Applied are developing a mescaline clinical trial strategy and are currently in the planning process for a Phase I clinical trial in late 2022 to evaluate the safety and dosing parameters for mescaline-based treatment employing a proprietary drug delivery system.

"We see a lot of potential therapeutic value in psychedelic compounds for their ability to positively influence neural networks through growth and reorganization," said Professor Dr Raimar Lobenberg, who is a director at XPhyto. He is also the founder and director of the Drug Development and Innovation Centre, in the University of Alberta.

Dr Raimar Lobenberg added: "Our focus is to develop production methodology for GMP manufacturing, proprietary drug formulations with precise, predictable and efficient API delivery for clinical investigation and therapeutic use of novel next-generation psychedelic compounds."

Psychedelic medicine - Germany

In addition to operations in Canada and in collaboration with a major German university, the company is pursuing the development of industrial scale production methodology for GMP psilocybin through an advanced biosynthesis process focused on the insertion of genes from the psilocybin mushroom into certain bio-organisms.

The company noted that gene insertion is complete and the micro-organisms are now producing psilocybin. The company said it will share more details in due course.

XPhyto is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities. It has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Dalrada said while at Sempra Renewables, Reguly oversaw the development, commissioning, operations, and maintenance of complex infrastructure spanning deployments of solar and wind renewable fleets throughout the US

Dalrada Corporation announced the appointment energy industry executive Ted Reguly to its Clean Energy Advisory Board.

The company said Regulys experience as a director at Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE)'s San Diego Gas & Electric enhances Dalrada's knowledge base in support of its clean energy vision and implementation strategy.

Mr Reguly's proven track record with technology-driven energy eco-systems is profound, and Dalrada is honored that he joined the company's advisory board, Dalrada CEO Brian Bonar said in a statement.

Assembling diverse perspectives on the evolution of energy aids the transition from fossil fuel dependence to trackable, sustainable, and responsible clean energy practices, Bonar added.

Dalrada noted that while at Sempra Renewables, Reguly oversaw the development, commissioning, operations, and maintenance of complex infrastructure spanning deployments of solar and wind renewable fleets throughout the US.

Dalrada's Clean Energy Advisory Board is assembled from former US cabinet members, business leaders, technology innovators, environmental sustainability experts, and community activists, with its members sharing unique insights from implementing wide-scale operations while navigating regulatory policy.

Dalrada specializes in high-growth businesses in three verticals  healthcare, clean energy, and information technology.

Its subsidiaries - Dalrada Precision, Dalrada Technologies, and Dalrada Health - continuously innovate impactful solutions to address the complex challenges of today and the future.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Ayurcanns Pickering facility now boasts an extraction capacity of up to 300,000 kilograms of biomass and up to 3 million filling and co-packaging capability

Ayurcann Holdings Corp has reported revenue of $3.2 million for the fiscal second quarter of 2021 after boosting capacity at its Pickering extraction and processing facility.

The 2Q revenue figure was a 106% increase over the same quarter last year, and a 71% increase over the previous quarter.

Gross margins came in at $1.8 million for the three-month period to end December 31, 2021, compared to $302,000 in the same quarter a year earlier.

Toronto-based Ayurcann put up an operating income of $807,000 for the quarter, and a comprehensive loss of $206,900.

Following the completion of its Phase 2 expansion, Ayurcanns Pickering facility now boasts an extraction capacity of up to 300,000 kilograms of biomass and up to 3 million filling and co-packaging capability for cannabis 2.0 and 3.0 products.

The firm now operates in most of recreational markets throughout Canada with over 150 SKU's, including Fuego-branded vapes, Vida-branded tinctures and Glow-branded topicals now available in Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

"This quarter we have shown and have proven again that Ayurcann is able to maintain a profitable business and expand its market share. Ayurcann works diligently to serve its clients and continues to grow its revenues, while keeping an eye on its bottom line, CEO Igal Sudman said in a statement.

"We are thrilled to see our revenues grow at a steady pace while maintaining strong margins and being responsible to our shareholders. We can confidently say that we fully expect to show continued growth and build on our momentum."

Ayurcann is a post-harvest solution provider with a focus on providing and creating custom processes and pharma grade products for the adult use and medical cannabis industry in Canada.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
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Bangkok, Feb 22 : Thailand on Monday raised its Covid-19 alert level to the second-highest tier following a rising number of new infections linked to the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Ministry of Public Health raised the Covid-19 alert level from 3 to 4, a category that includes regulations discouraging dining or drinking at restaurants and avoiding public gatherings to contain the spread of Covid-19, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry expected the number of new infections to keep rising in the coming one or two weeks due to the fast spread of the Omicron variant, which now accounts for more than 90 per cent of active cases.

Thailand reported 18,883 new cases and 32 additional fatalities over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infections and fatalities to more than 2.73 million and 22,656 respectively, according to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

The ministry advised the public to take booster shots as soon as possible, especially those aged above 60 or with underlying diseases.

As of Sunday, 71.1 per cent of the country's nearly 70-million population had been fully-vaccinated, while 27.5 per cent had received booster shots, according to the CCSA.
Cairo, Feb 22 : 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 on 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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.
Moscow, Feb 22 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has 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 on Monday, 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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.

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Dhaka, Feb 22 : Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has stressed on the importance of nurturing and upholding the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, especially at a time when radical and anti-liberation forces are trying to destabilise in the region for their own interests.

Shringla said the two-way trade in the recent past has witnessed a quantum jump with exports from Bangladesh, for the first time, expected to cross $2 billion this year.

In this regard, he said early conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement is vital to enhancing this momentum in trade.

He also called for concerted focus on connectivity between the two countries.

"We have made some progress here but there is a need to make more effective and sustained efforts," he said.

He cited some of the important projects, including the Maitri Power Project in Khulna and the India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline project, which are expected to get commissioned this year.

He said India and Bangladesh are now working on finalising agreements for other rivers and exchanging best practices in the areas of river embankments, addressing the salinity of rivers.

He said this during an interaction with the visiting Bangladesh delegation led by Md Shariar Alam, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on Monday at the 10th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue organised by the India Foundation in Shimla.

Awami League MPs and central leaders were also present there.

Shringla said: "India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers which are part of our shared resources and responsibilities. The historic accord on Ganga water sharing has stood the test of time. We are now working on finalizing agreements for other rivers and exchanging best practices in the areas of river embankments, addressing salinity of rivers." Pointing out that the impact of climate change is felt in both India and Bangladesh, he called for more comprehensive cooperation in water conservation, fisheries, flood management, and pollution in rivers is required.

"Greater synergies in climate action, preserving shared natural heritage such as Sundarbans, etc. are also required." He also stressed the need for effective management of the border to facilitate economic linkages and people-to-people contact.

"We need to work closely to strengthen border infrastructure to ensure smooth transit of goods and people while ensuring that illegal activities are kept under check. An example of this approach is our objective of establishing additional border haats." He said India has used the power of technology as an enabler for people in a range of areas such as banking and financing and commerce and education. The joint initiative to establish IT parks in 12 districts of Bangladesh is a positive step in that direction. He looks forward to having greater bilateral cooperation in this area.

Shringla said he sees great merit in having more dialogues and exchanges between academia, think tanks, media and parliamentarians to further broaden and deepen this relationship.

In the last ten years, he said the cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the power and energy sectors has been mutually beneficial. "We are working towards arrangements for ensuring sub-regional cooperation in the power sector." He also said the vibrant people-to-people ties are key to India-Bangladesh relations. India has started rolling out the 1,000 Subarna Jayanti Scholarships announced by the Indian Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh in 2021.

"This will offer several opportunities to students from Bangladesh for studying in prestigious institutions in India. At the same time, we have a number of Indian nationals studying in Bangladesh." Shringla said India remains committed to building the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC Framework. It can be an important vehicle for enhancing economic cooperation, development, and connectivity in the region. He said India is looking forward to the next BIMSTEC Summit.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Feb 22 : White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that US President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognised as independent states.

"President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order (EO) that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine," Psaki said in the statement, using the Russian abbreviation of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Lugansk People's Republic," two self-declared republics founded by anti-government militia groups in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts during the height of the armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This EO will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," Psaki said on Monday.

"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." The press secretary said the executive order is separate from the economic sanctions the US is preparing to impose on Russia if it 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." The White House's statement came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had signed a decree recognizing the DNR and the LNR as independent and sovereign states. The European Union also announced its sanctions.

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-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London, Feb 22 : 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.

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Varanasi : , Feb 22 (IANS) The Shivpur police have arrested a youth for staging a demonstration with scores of children in front of a school on Airport Road, demanding school authorities not to allow wearing hijab by Muslim girl students.

School principal Nirmala Rathore made it very clear that the dress code is strictly followed in the school and no student is allowed to wear hijab.

On her complaint, police lodged an FIR against Himanshu Chaturvedi of Bharlai area and also arrested him.

Inspector Shivpur, S R Gautam said that Chaturvedi, along with many minor boys and girls, gathered in front of the school on Monday and started a demonstration.

The demonstrators carried a banner and placards with messages like 'ban hijab' and 'follow dress code'.

Chaturvedi alleged that the school principal had permitted many students to come to school in hijab.

On getting the information, Shivpur cops reached the spot and took the demonstrators under custody. Gautam said that as all the boys and girls accompanying Chaturvedi were minors, they were asked to go home after issuing a warning to not indulge in such acts at a time when model code of conduct is also in force in view of the assembly election.

After taking Chaturvedi into custody, the cops started investigating the matter.

The principal of the school termed the allegations of Chaturvedi as baseless and asked the cops to go through CCTV footage to see how dress code is followed in her institution. She said that school authorities were not answerable for the attire of anyone worn outside school campus but inside the school dress code is followed strictly.

The hijab controversy had started in Karnataka recently and the petitions filed in this regard are sub-judice in the High Court of the state.
Varanasi : , Feb 22 (IANS) Five persons died and over a dozen fell ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor sold at a licensed country liquor shop in Mahul town area under Ahraula police station in Azamgarh district on Monday night.

The tragedy took place just a day after a hooch manufacturing unit was unearthed in Sidhari area of Azamgarh on Sunday and 1,020 liters of rectified spirit was recovered.

SP Azamgarh Anurag Arya said, "The death of five persons after consuming spurious liquor have been confirmed so far and their bodies have been sent for post mortem examination." Of the nearly 41 persons who had consumed liquor after purchasing it from a licensed country liquor shop on Sunday and Monday, 12 had health complications and the condition of two was deteriorating sharply.

Divisional commissioner Azamgarh, Vijay Vishwas Pant, who was camping at the district hospital, said that treatment of persons with health complications was underway and dialysis of two serious patients had also been started.

"Some private hospitals having dialysis facilities have also been kept on alert. Currently, the entire focus is on avoiding further casualties by ensuring proper treatment," he added.

Arya said that two operators of the liquor shop had been taken under custody and the shop has been sealed for investigation. Four teams of police had been formed to bust the syndicate involved in hooch manufacturing and supply at the earliest, he added.

District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi said that a joint report from a magistrate and SP has been prepared and sent to the Election Commission for suspension of excise inspector, police inspector of Ahiraula, and an excise constable for laxity after three deaths.

"We have also arrested two salesmen of the shop from where the hooch was being sold. NSA and Gangster Act will also be imposed on the accused and their property will be attached under Gangster Act," said Tripathi.

Meanwhile, SSP Azamgarh Anurag Arya said an FIR has been registered under charges of murder and excise act against the accused.
Berlin, Feb 22 : At least three persons were injured after massive fire gutted 39 apartments at a residential complex in the western German city of Essen, local authorities said.

The situation had already "developed dramatically" by the time the first firefighters arrived, the city's fire department said in a statementon Monday.

Post-extinguishing work was still underway, while police were investigating the causes of the fire, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the fire department, gale-force winds might have caused the fire to "spread furiously across the wind-blown facade and balconies".

The heat caused shutters to melt and windows to burst even in other buildings up to 15 metres away.

A firefighter told public broadcaster WDR he was used to extinguishing fires in individual apartments, "but when you're standing here and there's a block of 50 apartments on fire, that's a scale you can't imagine".
Amman, Feb 22 : Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh has tested positive for Covid-19, government spokesperson Faisal Shboul said.

He added that the Prime Minister tested positive on Monday while on an official visit in Egypt, assuring that Khasawneh is asymptomatic, Xinhua news agency reported citing state media.

Khasawneh's scheduled official engagements have been changed, including a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, said Shboul.

The Prime Minister will self-quarantine upon his return to Jordan according to the established health protocol, added Shboul.

On Monday, Jordan reported 11,254 new Covid-19 cases and 31 fatalities, raising the overall infection tally to 1,582,161, and the death toll to 13,713, according to the Health Ministry.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22 : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday broke his silence over a few contentious issues, including the K-Rail project and the statements made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Vijayan was speaking in the state Assembly, which began on Monday.

The Congress led opposition and the BJP for a while have been raising the controversial K-Rail- Silverline proposed project. They claim that it will not only destroy the environment but also is not a feasible project considering its cost of implantation which is expected to be in excess of Rs one lakh crore.

"I do not know why those who first charted a similar project to this are now strongly opposing this project. The stage is such that if Kerala needs to go forward at a fast pace, travel should also take place in the faster mode and the best option for it is K-Rail as there is no other alternative," said Vijayan.

The second issue that he touched upon was related to the statement made by Yogi Adityanath, his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh. On two different occasions early this month, Yogi warned the electorate that their votes will decide the future of the state. "The state could soon become a Kashmir, Bengal or Kerala if mistakes were made. Many good things have taken place in five years. (Vote correctly or) the work from all these five years will be ruined. Uttar Pradesh could become Kashmir, Kerala and Bengal. This is a time for big decisions," Yogi had said, while campaigning.

To this Vijayan said the reply to this statement of Yogi has been made by leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and others. "With regards to a political reply, I am not going into that," said Vijayan.

The third issue that he touched upon was regarding the statements made by Kerala's first female IPS and first director general of police R.Sreelekha who retired in December 2020.

In a recent interview to a vernacular TV channel, she said that it's is a tough time for female police officials in the job and explained her own problems. She said in the first 10 years of her service she found it very tough because of her being a woman.

"I know if I was a male officer, I would not have had to undergo such hardships and at one point of time I even thought of quitting," said Sreelekha.

To this Vijayan said she has not told when and where this happened. "In my tenure (since 2016) she has met me but has not told me anything," said Vijayan.

The month-long Budget Session of the Kerala Assembly began on Monday. The Budget would be presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on March 11.
Berlin, Feb 22 : Satellite data showed that the loss of forest land in Germany in the past years was considerably higher than expected, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) said.

Approximately 501,000 hectares of forest in Germany, almost 5 per cent of the country's total forest area, were destroyed between 2018 and 2021, Xinhua news agency quoted an analysis of satellite data by DLR as saying.

The high forest loss during the observation period was triggered by "unusually severe heat and drought periods", which also favoured infestation by insect pests such as the bark beetle, according to DLR.

The condition of Germany's forests has been "steadily deteriorating for quite some time", said Frank Thonfeld of DLR's Earth Observation Center (EOC).

"But the damage of the last few years is unprecedented." The DLR research group at the EOC used the Sentinel-2 satellite of the European Earth observation program Copernicus as well as the US Landsat-8 satellite to obtain the data.

In all, 33 per cent of Germany's land area is forest, which is 11.4 million hectares with over 90 billion trees.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Climate change in recent years has been extreme with harsh winters being extended to extremely hot summer weather. It's also inspiring to see people taking the initiative to make the world a better place to live by making a conscious decisions.

Creating an opportunity to live in an environment- friendly manner, Odisha paves the way for eco-retreats in India, for an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

The state has set up an eco resort on the idyllic Ramchandi Beach for some great glamping (glamorous camping). Fall asleep to the sounds of waves and wake up to a panoramic view of the ocean. The glam camp promises more enthralling experiences of Odisha's bountiful historical and architectural heritage.

"Odisha's eco-retreat is about more than just ancient monuments and landmarks; it's also about outdoor living on the beach, water sports, and making conscious decisions. Internal discussions have been taking place to replicate the eco-retreat in the market in India," said Samit Garg, Founder, E Factor Experiences Ltd.

While camping is already quite environmentally friendly, there are ways to make it even more so. The eco-retreat in Konark made certain that their camping equipment designs were eco friendly. From cleaning supplies to personal care bamboo toothbrushes, and dry grass dustbin the sustainable options were all around.

Offering an unparalleled experience, visitors are treated to cultural performances, guided tours to nearby destinations of nature, culture, historic and architectural importance, and other recreational activities including adrenaline-inducing water sports, ATV rides, beach volleyball and archery.

"Travelers must visit the Sun Temple, Konark Museum, Baulkham Sanctuary, and the Golden Beach in Puri which has been recently re-certified as a Blue Flag Beach. Guests interested in art and crafts can visit Saharanpur, a heritage crafts village where every household is an art gallery in itself. This luxurious retreat by the beachside is surely an indulgent holiday space, away from the hustle-bustle of the city life to rediscover yourself," says Sachin R Jadhav, Director Tourism, Government of Odisha.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)
Sanaa, Feb 22 : At least 16 people were injured in a drone attack carried out by Yemen's Houthi militia targeting Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Airport in the border city of Jazan, the Riyadh-led coalition said.

The intercepted drone caused the injuries, including three critical cases among travellers, according to a tweet by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The coalition vowed to launch a vast military operation to deter the hostility of the Houthi militia, reports Xinhua news agency.

On February 10, 12 civilians of different nationalities were injured in a similar attack that targeted Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport.

The Houthi militia has launched multiple drone and missile attacks against Saudi border areas and other places in retaliation for the kingdom's intensified airstrikes on its facilities in Yemen.

The coalition said most of the attacks had been foiled before reaching their targets.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Paytm continues to get the confidence of top brokerages, who are bullish about the companys "immense growth potential". Goldman Sachs pointed out the strong growth potential for Paytms lending business, saying the firm will hit $10 billion in disbursals by FY26E, vs $900 million in FY22.

Analysts believe Paytm's ESOP costs will gradually reduce and are currently at par with other listed tech cos in India as well as globally ICICI Securities report said that by FY26, Paytm's monthly transacting users are likely to double Paytm, India's leading digital payments and financial services, continues to get 'Buy' calls from top brokerages. After Goldman Sachs, BofA, Morgan Stanley and Dolat Capital, ICICI Securities has also issued a Buy rating for Paytm.

Goldman Sachs had given Paytm a Buy rating, with a target price of Rs 460 on February 7. On Monday, the investment bank reiterated its Buy rating, pointing out key notes for investors. The report said that "the current share price offers a compelling entry point into India's largest and amongst the fastest growing fintech platforms".

ICICI Securities has now initiated coverage for Paytm and highlighted the company's strong growth potential in terms of target addressable market (TAM), giving a "Buy' rating and target price of Rs 1,362.

Goldman Sachs highlighted that Paytm continues to gain market share across both UPI and non-UPI payments, besides strong growth in lending business. It said Paytm's net payments take rate or spreads have, defined as revenue less payment processing charges (PPC) as a proportion of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) have been improving.

"Paytm's net payments take rate (or spreads, defined as revenue less payment processing charges as a proportion of GMV) have been improving. From 8 bps in 3QFY22, we forecast spreads to widen to 11 bps by FY26E as a result of Paytm's scale benefits; increasing share of UPI for wallet money addition; rising share of wallet for online payments (vs in-store, which have zero MDR); and rising share of device rental revenues," the brokerage noted.

Paytm's ESOP costs to gradually reduce, currently at par with other listed tech cos in India as well as globally.

Goldman Sachs noted that Paytm's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) costs will reduce gradually and is currently at par with other listed tech companies in India as well as globally.

"We forecast ESOP charge for Paytm to be highest (at Rs 3.9 billion per quarter) for first two years (when the first tranche vests, per Paytm), and then gradually reduce over the next three years. Paytm also has about 15 million un-granted options and per our estimate, the total share count could increase by 46 million (or 7 per cent of current outstanding), if all options were to be vested/granted," said the Goldman Sachs note.

"We note that as a proportion of total operating expenses, Paytm's ESOP cost is not significantly different vs other global platforms such as Airbnb and DoorDash, as well as recently listed India internet peers such as Zomato and PB Fintech." Meanwhile, ICICI Securities in its note called out Paytm's immense growth potential in terms of target addressable market (TAM), buoyed by its leadership position in India's digital payments ecosystem.

The brokerage said Paytm's digital payments business has the potential to grow strongly in future, reflecting its "sizeable two-sided digital ecosystem with proven leadership in payments".

"Paytm is well ahead in the race of digitisation, building a robust full stack technology suite integrated across the ecosystem with distinct features, high success rates, easy user interface, and customer convenience. It has an early mover advantage in rolling out wallet, FASTag, and is ahead of the curve in (skill based) online gaming, too," said the note by ICICI Securities.

During the October-December quarter, the company saw its revenues jump by 89 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1,456 crore, EBITDA losses (before ESOP expense) came down to Rs 393 crore from Rs 488 crore during the same quarter in the previous year.

In its latest filing with the stock exchange, Paytm had shared its highest ever growth in monthly transacting users to 68.9 million users. Now, it seems analysts are bullish about this growth momentum to continue. ICICI Securities highlighted that Paytm's monthly transacting user base (MTUs) is likely to double over FY22-26E to more than 120 million.

Paytm had said that in Q3 FY 22, its merchant payments-led GMV stood at Rs 2.5 lakh crore. Analysts at ICICI Securities forecast that Paytm's merchant GMV would grow at 36 per cent CAGR over FY22-26E to reach Rs 30 trillion and within this, MDR linked GMV is estimated to grow at more than 25 per cent.

The brokerage noted that Paytm's contribution margin has potential to further improve 40 per cent-46 per cent by FY24E/FY26E.

"Aided by this contribution margin, there is some visibility of EBITDA getting into positive territory post FY26E. Adjusted EBITDA margin (excluding non-cash ESOP charges) will turn positive by FY26," it added.

Both Goldman Sachs and ICICI Securities believe that Paytm's lending business, in which it partners financial institutions to provide loans on its platform, has the potential to grow rapidly in the medium term.

Goldman Sachs said: "We believe Paytm will be able to continue to scale its lending portfolio, and forecast $10 billion in disbursals by FY26E, vs $900 million in FY22. Paytm has continued to add new partners for its lending products over the last few quarters, suggesting to us that lenders are finding value in this partnership." Paytm's lending business witnessed record growth in January 2022, maintaining the positive trend witnessed in the Q3 FY 22 earnings. Last month, Paytm registered 1.9 million loan disbursals, marking a y-o-y growth of 331 per cent; aggregating to a total value of Rs 921 crore (y-o-y growth of 334%). This also included a staggering growth in its Buy Now, Pay Later product - Paytm Postpaid.

"For Paytm's BNPL product, 30 per cent + of the monthly sign-ups (Dec '21 quarter) were new-to-credit customers, helping expand the credit base for Paytm's financial partners. Per Paytm, performance of the company's loan portfolio has resulted in higher confidence from lenders to increase the scale of this business," it added.

Meanwhile, ICICI Securities also shared an optimistic outlook about Paytm's lending business, estimating 18-19 million consumers (15 per cent of MTUs), and an increasing number of merchants to avail lending products through Paytm platform by FY26E.

Sharing a medium-term outlook, it estimated the total lending business revenue to grow at 61 per cent over FY22-26E.
Ouagadougou, Feb 22 : At least 59 people were killed in a gold mine blast in Gbomblora in Burkina Faso's Poni province, national broadcaster RTB reported.

Fifty-five people died at the scene of the explosion, while four others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals, Xinhua news agency quoted the RTB report as saying.

At least 55 other people were injured, according to the provisional toll, said the report.

The cause of the explosion remained unknown, but several witnesses have said that the blast was triggered by a fire which consumed a stock of explosives used by the gold miners during their operations.

An investigation was underway, said the RTB.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Senior women climate activists, including the key architect of Paris Climate Agreement, called for engaging women and youth and empowering them to participate in global climate action as they remotely addressed the 21st edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS).

During the plenary session on 'Women Leadership and Our Common Future', Rachel Kyte, who held senior climate positions at the World Bank and United Nations, now dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, urged women to pave the way for other young women. "We've come a long way. We stand on the shoulders of so many women who have forged a pathway for us. Now it is our responsibility to provide strong, broad shoulders for those women who are in need and open a door for them," she said.

Kyte was speaking at a plenary session on 'Women Leadership and Our Common Future' during the second day of WSDS 2022. During her address, she recalled her time at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. She shared how much Kyte and her fellow female activists, including Bella Abzug and Wangari Maathai, struggled to negotiate their terms on sustainable development for women and children. "Since then, we've seen extraordinary activism by women across the globe pushing back at the boundaries of how we understand sustainable development," Kyte said.

Climate change affects every person on the planet but studies have proven that it affects women more. According to UN data, around 80 per cent of people displaced by climate change are women. Given their role as the primary caregivers and as the leading providers of food and fuel, women are more vulnerable when flood or drought occur. This reality was recognised in the 2015 Paris Agreement, which demanded more representation of different actors, primarily women, in the climate decision-making. Today, from boardrooms to policymakers, from science to activism, women are using their voices to take charge and call for actions on climate change.

Laurence Tubiana, the French diplomat who formulated the 2015 Paris agreement, now chief executive of the European Climate Foundation, said, "women are leading climate leadership at the rebellious front as well where they are putting pressures on governments, global leaders, policymakers to take concrete steps towards climate change." Pressing the issue of women ecofeminism, Tubiana further said, "We must continue to support women ecofeminism as they are speaking with great determination. Globally, due to deforestation and urbanisation, 14 per cent of women are getting more and more affected. The worst sufferers are pregnant women who have to deal with air pollution and other carbon emissions. We, therefore, need more and more women in the parliament and as policymakers who can relate with the issue and devise sustainable development policies which are safe for women." The plenary session was also attended by Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group, Kate Hampton, CEO, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Mercy Wanja Karunditu, Deputy Executive Director, The Green Belt Movement, and Xiye Bastida, Co-founder, Re-Earth Initiative.
Amman, Feb 22 : Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court has denied reports that King Abdullah II owned Credit Suisse accounts.

The total balance mentioned in several reports is "inaccurate and exaggerated" due to significant duplicative counting, the court said in a statement.

Those reports were published to defame Jordan and the king, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

The court reiterated that all international assistance was subject to professional audits, and their allocations were fully accounted for by the government and donor entities based on cooperation agreements subject to the highest standards of governance and oversight.

The king's private assets and wealth have always been independent from the treasury and public funds, and they are administered by the Privy Purse, which is a directorate that has been at the court for over 70 years, it added.

German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a network of journalists from around the world that sifted through the data, obtained the leaked records on more than 18,000 Credit Suisse accounts, the largest leak ever from a major Swiss bank.

They records were published on Monday.

According to the records, King Abdullah II held a single account worth 230 million Swiss francs ($223 million) at its peak.

They also claimed that the monarch opened two new accounts with Credit Suisse in 2011. He had chosen a banker that shared his approach to secrecy, particularly surrounding his personal wealth.

Over the next five years, the king was the beneficial owner of at least six accounts with Credit Suisse, while his wife, Queen Rania, had another.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : A man, angered by the fact that a woman he loved was going to marry some other person, allegedly assaulted her in the national capital and later committed suicide, an official said on Tuesday.

DCP (northeast) Sanjay Kumar Sain informed that on February 21 information was received from Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital about a 22-year-old injured girl being admitted by her father.

It was learnt that the woman was physically assaulted by a person at Meet Nagar, 20 ft. road, Delhi. The father of the injured woman stated that he had fixed the marriage of his daughter with some person but one of his neighbours wanted to marry her and was angered by this engagement.

"Today when she was going to her office, this neighbour assaulted her," the father told the police.

Accordingly, the police registered an FIR under section 307 (Attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Jyoti Nagar police station.

Even as the police initiated an investigation into the case, the man who assaulted the woman committed suicide at his residence in the jurisdiction of Loni police station.

"He was brought dead to GTB hospital," the official said.

Meanwhile, as the condition of the injured woman was not stable, she was referred to Max hospital in Patparganj.

The police said that both the injured girl and the accused are residents of Loni in Uttar Pradesh.
Chandigarh, Feb 22 : Many residential and industrial parts of the city faced major power outages as employees of the Electricity Department went on a three-day strike from Monday night in protest against the privatisation of the department.

Most of the places have been facing snapping of power since midnight.

Even elective surgeries at the Government Medical College Hospital in Sector 32 (GMCH 32) have been postponed.

"Most of the Industrial Area Phase I and II witnessed blackouts since Monday night. Officers are showing helplessness in restoring power. Hope they arrive at some solution for the next two days," said Chamber of Chandigarh Industries President Naveen Manglani.

Officials told IANS that the situation may remain the same for two days more as 1,000 employees began a 72-hour strike on Monday night.

Residents claimed that three helpline numbers set up for registering the complaints have not been responding to the calls.

Chandigarh Adviser Dharam Pal told the media they will investigate the reasons behind the power disruption. "Action will be taken against those responsible," he added.

UT Powermen Union President Gopal Dutt Joshi blamed the winds for the disruption of power in Chandigarh.

"We have not disrupted the electricity supply, but we are on strike. Employees hired from neighbouring Punjab and Haryana probably are not able to detect the fault," he added.
Chennai, Feb 22 : Twenty-one fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry's Karaikkal who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on January 31, were ordered to be released by a court in the island nation.

The Sri Lankan authorities will hand over the fishermen to the Indian Consulate after which they will be repatriated to India in a week after undergoing all Covid-19 safety measures.

The 21 fishermen had gone fishing on January 31 in two boats. Tweleve were in one boat and nine in the second. The Sri Lankan Navy took them into custody while they were fishing at Kodiyakarai that night itself.

The fishermen were taken to a court in Point Pedro and remanded in judicial custody till February 7 and later extended till February 21. the trawlers were taken into custody at the Myllidi fishing harbour in Jaffna district.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Sri Lanka impounded the two boats and according to the law of the island nation, the boats are unlikely to be released to the fishers.

Meanwhile, 29 other fishermen from Ramanathapuram who were arrested in three separate incidents are still jailed in Sri Lanka.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has already sent a letter to the Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene for their immediate release.

The fishermen associations of Tamil Nadu have made frenetic appeals to both the state government and the Centre to take up the issue of arresting Indian fishermen with the highest authorities in Sri Lanka.

While speaking to IANS, S. Jesudasan, leader of the Ramanathapuram fishermen association, said: "The fishermen and their families are living in constant fear of being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for even unintentional crossing of the IMBL. With the boats being confiscated, we have lost our source for livelihood and these fiber boats are very costly. I request the government of India to intervene in the matter and settle this problem once and for all that is creating major psychological, financial, and physical issues to fishermen and their families.
Mumbai, Feb 22 : Heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as persistent selling by FIIs plunged India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- during the late afternoon session on Tuesday.

Besides, high crude oil prices along with subdued global indices added weight to the downtrend.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops into two separatist areas within Ukraine, after recognising their independence, a move that some fear puts Kiev and Moscow one step closer to a military conflict.

This act led to to a slide in global stocks' value while it catapulted prices of commodities, including crude oil and gold.

On the domestic front, the two key domestic indices had a gap down opening and kept falling for the fifth session.

All sectoral indices traded in the red led by Realty, Metals and Telecom.

At 1.45 p.m., Sensex traded at 56,785.36 points, down 1.56 per cent or 898.23 points from the previous close.

Nifty traded at 16,927.35 points, down 1.62 per cent or 279.30 points from the previous close.

"Nifty opened gap down on Feb 22 and kept falling for the fifth session as escalating tensions over Ukraine and fresh regulatory scrutiny on China's tech sector drained investors' nerves," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

"Nifty could take support from recent lows of 16,809-16,836." According to Gaurav Garg, Head of Research CapitalVia Global Research: "All Asian markets were trading lower on the global front, as escalating geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine spurred a sell-off in global stocks."
Kiev, Feb 22 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kiev has been urging the international community to hold emergency talks over Russia's decision on the independent status of the rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine has been calling for an emergency summit of the Normandy Format, a meeting of the UN 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," Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying.

That Moscow recognised the regions as independent entities reflected "Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements and ignoring the decisions of the Normandy Four", Zelensky said.

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 Donbas region which comprises Donetsk and Luhansk.

Emphasising that Kiev is committed to a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis, he said: "we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that." 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.

Following the signing of the decree, Putin 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.

In his immediate response to Putin's announcement, Zelensky had declared that "we are not afraid" and "will not give anything away to anyone".

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.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Christchurch, Feb 22 : New Zealand's second largest city of Christchurch on Tuesday marked the 11th anniversary of a violent and destructive earthquake that claimed 185 lives.

Due to the escalating Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand, the annual memorial service was attended only by a few people, reports Xinhua news agency.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel laid a wreath on behalf of Christchurch at the base of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in the city centre.

"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 February 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 per cent of residential houses were damaged to varying degrees.

It was estimated that the total cost for the reconstruction work would exceed NZ$40 billion, or approximately 10 per cent of New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP).
Amaravati, Feb 22 : The Andhra Pradesh police on Tuesday booked former minister and senior TDP leader Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu for his alleged abusive remarks against Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

A case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at Nallajerla police station in West Godavari district on a complaint by a leader of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

A police officer said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader has been booked under sections 153 A, 505 (2) and 506 of the IPC for promoting disharmony, feelings of hatred between different groups and criminal intimidation.

YSRCP leader Ramakrishna had lodged a complaint that the former minister made objectionable remarks against the chief minister during his speech at the unveiling of a statue of TDP founder and former chief minister N. T. Rama Rao at Nallajerla three days ago.

This is the latest in a series of cases booked against the former minister in recent months. In September last year, Guntur police had registered a case against him for certain remarks against the chief minister.

He was also booked following clashes between TDP and YSRCP workers when the latter had staged a protest near the residence of TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu at Undavalli demanding an apology for the objectionable remarks made by Ayyanna Patrudu against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The Andhra Pradesh Police Officers' Association had also objected to Ayyanna Patrudu making certain remarks against police officers.

In June 2020, Visakhapatnam rural police had booked the former minister under the Nirbhaya Act for a speech where he verbally abused a woman municipal commissioner, even threatening to strip her.

Narsipatnam Municipal Commissioner Thota Krishnaveni had lodged a complaint with the police, accusing the former minister of publicly disrespecting and humiliating her by using abusive language against her, The TDP leader had made the remarks during a protest over Narsipatnam Municipality shifting a portrait of Lachha Patrudu, an ex-sarpanch of Narsipatnam and grandfather of Ayyanna Patrudu, to a different room due to renovation work.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the tragic factory mishap in Himachal Pradesh.

The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims.

"The accident at a factory in Una, Himachal Pradesh is sad. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. Along with this, I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted, quoting Prime Minister Modi.

"Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the tragic factory mishap in Himachal Pradesh. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured," it added.

At least seven people were killed and 12 others severely injured in a blast at a fireworks factory in Himachal Pradesh's Una town. Most of the victims are migrant workers.

Una Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma told the media that the incident occurred in the Bathu industrial area. The injured were rushed to a government hospital in Una. Fire department, police personnel and rescue workers were present at the spot. The cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Arab Spring drew enormous scrutiny to the wealth Arab elites had stashed abroad. A leak of bank data reveals how figures linked to regimes in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Jordan, and elsewhere held hundreds of millions at Credit Suisse before and after the uprising.

Credit Suisse customers included heads of state, royal families, ministers, spy chiefs, and government-connected businessmen from across the Arab world, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said in a report.

The account holders came from over half a dozen countries hit by the Arab Spring protests, including Syria, Yemen, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Jordan. These accounts, which provide a glimpse into the wealth held abroad by Arab elites in the decade before the uprising, were collectively worth at least $1 billion held in just one Swiss bank.

The data also sheds light on the role Credit Suisse played for years in allowing some Arab elites to stash their wealth abroad, even as they and their governments were accused of compromising an entire region through corruption and nepotism - grievances at the heart of the Arab Spring protests.

The sons of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held six accounts between them, with the highest maximum balance worth over 277 million Swiss francs ($197 million at the time).

A network of Mubarak in-laws and business associates also held accounts before and after the Arab Spring, with tens of millions of Swiss francs in assets.

Some accounts remained open even after their holders were targeted by crowds protesting corruption or were subject to legal actions by prosecutors.

Now, leaked data from Credit Suisse gives new insight into some of the wealth the Mubaraks and other elites held at the Zurich-based bank in the years before the Arab Spring, and after it started to rattle their hold on power, the report said.

The data shows that the Mubarak brothers held six accounts at Credit Suisse. One of Alaa Mubarak's accounts was opened as early as 1987, when he was 27. Another joint account held by the two had a maximum balance worth 277 million Swiss francs amounts previously suggested by statements from Egyptian authorities, but never confirmed.

The data also revealed previously unreported accounts held by the fathers of the Mubarak brothers' wives, some holding millions of Swiss francs. More accounts were held by some of the family's business partners, including some implicated in corruption trials both before and after the Arab Spring.

The leaked data contained more accounts from Egypt than any other Arab country. But many wealthy and powerful figures from around the region also show up in the data: presidents, royal families, ministers, spies, and business moguls with close government ties, the report said.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Bengaluru, Feb 22 : The Karnataka Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned till March 4 amid protests by the Congress MLAs demanding sacking of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa for saying that saffron flag would be hoisted atop the Red Fort.

Soon after the proceedings began, Congress MLAs started protesting and raising slogans demanding sacking of Minister Eshwarappa. At this, Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri made a futile attempt of pacifying the agitating members and requesting them to allow a question and answer session.

When his repeated requests went in vain, an upset Speaker accused the Congress MLAs of wasting five days of the session already.

Amid the protests, the ruling BJP government presented and passed a bill increasing salaries of the Chief Minister, ministers, chairman and the Speaker.

Karnataka Legislature salaries, pensions and Allowances Amendment Bill 2022 was passed amid chaos and a total additional expenditure of Rs 67 crore per annum has been sanctioned. The bill also revised the travel and rent allowance of ministers.

Congress is on a day-and-night dharna in the Assembly demanding sacking of minister Eshwarappa over the flag remark.

Eshwarappa, however, stated that he is a lion and opposition are like other animals in a jungle who are always fearful of lions. "They have been taking my name for five days like prayers, I have not said anything wrong regarding hoisting of saffron flag. I did not say anything about removal of the tricolour," he defended.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : In a possible identity theft at a mass level, several Indians have been left high and dry on discovering unaccounted outstanding loans from IndiaBulls-owned fintech platform Dhani on their credit history records.

In the past couple of days, several victims -- from celebrities like Sunny Leone to journalist Aditya Kalra -- took to Twitter to raise red flags over such unaccounted loans in their names, via the misuse of their PAN details by scamsters.

On the Dhani app, a user needs PAN and address proof details to secure a loan.

In several cases, PAN card holders found, while checking their CIBIL history, that loans were disbursed by Dhani to unknown individuals on their PAN details without their consent and knowledge.

"Shocking revelation in my credit report. A loan disbursed by IVL Finance with my PAN number and name, addresses in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. I have no clue. How can a disbursal happen on my name and PAN," Kalra recently posted on Twitter.

Bollywood actor Leone also claimed to be the target of identity theft on the fintech platform Dhani.

"This just happened to me. INSANE. Some idiot used my Pan to take a 2000 RS loan and F****d my CIBIL score (SIC)," she said, referring to her credit score.

Several users have tagged the Dhani app, the RBI, the Finance Ministry and other authorities explaining they have been a victim of a large identity theft.

Several users posted on Twitter that they never applied for any loan from Dhani app and yet, they were receiving calls from the company representatives to pay back the amount.

Dhani has said it is investigating the matter and is "weighing all complaints to see if it was a case of identity theft and rectifying records in the credit bureaus".

According to reports, the company was also working with global security platform G-defence to re-verify each device against a specific customer and PAN through various data fields.

Formerly known as Indiabulls Consumer Finance Limited, Dhani Loans and Services disburses personal loans and loans to small and medium businesses sans any deposits.

A person can avail of loans from Dhani by giving only PAN card details and address proof as documents. The Dhani app has over 5 crore downloads on the Google Play Store.

Independent cyber security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia told IANS that last year, millions of PAN card data were stolen by hackers and at least 1.5 lakh PAN cards were put on Dark Web for sale by one such hacker.

"Cyber-criminals and people who have access to this leaked PAN data may be misusing it to secure loans via Dhani app and the victims have no idea. The whole episode should be properly investigated by the concerned authorities," Rajaharia told IANS.
Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Giving clear indications of an early verdict in the hijab row, the Karnataka High Court Special bench, constituted to look into the petitions submitted by students demanding their right to wear hijab 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 hijab 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.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Germany has stopped the certification process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in reaction to Russia's recognition of the self-proclaimed republics in Luhansk and Donetsk in east Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced, The Guardian reported.

On Tuesday morning, Germany's Energy Minister, Robert Habeck instructed the withdrawal of a positive assessment required to authorise the pipeline between Russia and Germany.

"Without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation," Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin, the report said.

The German leader described Putin's recognition of the Russian-controlled territories as a "grave breach" of international law that broke with decades of agreements between Russia and the west.

"The situation today is fundamentally different." Ambassadors for the 27 EU member states met this morning in Brussels to discuss the next steps with regard to sanctions against Russia, The Guardian reported.

The EU's foreign affairs wing, the European External Action Service (EEAS), proposed sanctioning 27 persons and entities involved in the Kremlin's decision to recognise the self-proclaimed republics in Luhansk and Donetsk, the 351 members of the Duma who voted in favour of it, and the 11 who proposed it, along with the commanders of the Russian military "peacekeeping" mission. Viktor Orban's government in Hungary has refused to support the move at this stage, the report said.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 22 : The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha crime branch has arrested another wanted drug peddler Md Raja, who was involved in a big drug selling racket, police officials said on Tuesday.

Raja was involved in the case registered following seizure of 3 kg 100 gram of brown sugar, cash of Rs 65.32 lakh, three 7 MM pistols, 7 magazines and 43 rounds of 7 MM ammunition near Nayagarh on January 25, 2022, the officials said.

The accused was absconding since seizure of the huge amount of narcotic drugs, the STF said.

On February 20, the STF arrested Sibu, alias Siba Prasad Das, another wanted drug peddler involved in the same case.

Till date, three accused persons involved in the drug selling racket have been arrested and forwarded to the court.
Barabanki, Feb 22 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday campaigned for the Congress party's candidates in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki, where he urged the public to vote on issues like employment, not on caste and religion.

He said that unemployment has become the biggest problem for the country due to the wrong policies of the BJP government. Over 65 crore youths, who could have become the strength of the nation, are jobless.

Baghel, who reached Barabanki to campaign for the fourth phase of election, also targeted the BJP for the problem of stray animals in the state.

While addressing a public meeting, he said that BJP has to be blamed for the problem of stray animals as they hail cow but finds no solution.

Referring to Chhattisgarh's Godhan Nyay Yojana, the Chief Minister promised that if Congress is voted to power cowsheds will be constructed in each village in Uttar Pradesh like it is constructed in Chhattisgarh.

Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister's speech, Baghel said that all governments work for their people, but does not ask the people to repay the favour. The government wants to buy votes by giving 5 kg of food grains, he claimed.

"The Chhattisgarh government provides 35 kg rice and "providing food grain is not a favour, it is the responsibility of the government," Baghel asserted.

Questioning the Uttar Pradesh government over the farm loan waiver, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister said, "The Yogi government had talked about loan waiver of farmers in the earlier elections but how many farmers' loans have been waived off in Uttar Pradesh." He further claimed that farmers were "never" on the agenda of the BJP, whereas Congress kept its promise and waived off loans of "all" farmers in Chhattisgarh.
Hyderabad, Feb 22 : Covid-19 being "a transformative force" for the healthcare industry will be deliberated by experts at BioAsia 2022 beginning on Thursday.

Expert-led panels and sessions will deep dive into the transformative future of the healthcare sector as a whole as well as a diverse set of industries such as healthtech, pharmaceuticals, biopharma, and medtech.

"Stakeholders will converse about the learnings from yesterday, adopting change today and collaborating for a healthy tomorrow," the organisers said on Tuesday.

The 19th edition of BioAsia, Asia's largest annual global Biotechnology and Life Sciences convention, will see participation from prominent leaders from the life sciences and healthcare industry. For second year in a row, the event will be held in virtual mode.

To be inaugurated by Telangana's Industries and Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao, BioAsia has a stellar speaker line-up.

The first day's highlight will be a fireside chat between Rama Rao and Microsoft co-founder and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates around a range of themes including learnings from the Covid-19 pandemic, emerging healthcare trends, and predictions on future pandemics.

The first panel on two years into the pandemic will focus on conversations on streamlining the healthcare delivery system, along with critical conversations on advancing vaccine development from past learnings. The session will witness insights from World Health Organisation Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, EU Chief Scientific Advisor, Epidemics, Dr. Peter Piot, Bharat Biotech CMD Dr. Krishna Ella, Biological E. MD Mahima Datla, and Union Biotechnology Secretary Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale.

A panel titled 'Pharma and Tech Collaboration: A recipe for success?' on the convergence of technology and health industries to improve patient outcomes, will be addressed by Microsoft's Global Chief Medical Officer and VP, Healthcare, Dr. David Rhew, Roche Group's Global Head of Digital, Davidek Herron, and Novartis' Head, Clinical Technology and Innovation, Ashwini Mathur. This session will be followed by plenary address by Medtronic CEO & Chairman, Board of Directors, Geoff Martha.

Growing at a 10-12 per cent, the Indian pharma industry is expected to reach $65 billion by 2024, and $120-130 billion by 2030, making India one of the high growth pharma destinations.

With India being the largest provider of generic drugs in the world, a panel titled 'Drug R&D - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' will focus on adopting global best practices to drive the vision to shift from 'volume only' to 'Value + Volume'.

The panelists include Union Science and Technology Secretary Dr. S Chandrashekhar, Biocon Group Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Chairman Satish Reddy, Union Joint Secretary, Pharmaceuticals, N. Yuvaraj, Zydus Cadila Managing Director Sharvil Patel, and Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd MD & CEO, Sanjiv Navangul.

The keynote address by Johnson & Johnson Executive Chairman Alex Gorsky will focus on innovation in India and Asia, building resilient supply chains, and a free-wheeling chat session with Janssen Pharmaceutical's former Chairman and Chairman, International Advisory Board, BioAsia, Dr. Ajit Shetty, and Telangana's Director, Life Sciences and Pharma, and BioAsia CEO Shakthi Nagappan.

"The strong speaker line-up and their outlook for the healthcare industry, reflects an optimistic future for both, the global as well as the Indian medtech and pharma industries. As an important life sciences hub in the world, Hyderabad continues to play a catalytic role in bringing stakeholders together and enabling deliberations on topics of global relevance," said Rama Rao.

Telangana's Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Jayesh Ranjan, said that BioAsia has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting participation of leaders from the world's biggest technology and healthcare influencers.

He said 19th edition of BioAsia has already received over 27,000 registrations from around the world, to deliberate, network, learn and define the trajectory of the global healthcare in consilience with the need of the hour.
Chandigarh, Feb 22 : A memorandum of understanding with Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU) in Haryana's Karnal was signed on Tuesday to jointly conduct research in crop protection chemicals and in the promotion of modern technology in agriculture.

The pact was signed between MHU Vice-Chancellor Samar Singh and Dhanuka Agritech Vice-President A. S. Tomar.

As the pact, both will jointly conduct research in the field of crop protection chemicals and organising awareness programme for carrying out agri extension services. Farmers will be encouraged to use modern agriculture technologies like drone usage, artificial intelligence and precision agriculture.

Through this partnership, both aim to boost farmers' income by enhancing crop productivity and production.

Responding to the pact, the Vice-Chancellor said: "There is a great need of collaboration between academic and research institutions with companies that are keen to promote research and development activities in various areas, including agriculture and allied activities. We are confident the tie-up will encourage more and more students to undertake research." The university will conduct demonstration and adaptive trials of new molecules and products of the company at its farms as well as in farmers' fields and will consider the inclusion of the findings into the package of practices.
Bhopal, Feb 22 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday directed the principal secretary of the state home department to get in touch with officials in the Central government supervising the evacuation of Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine. During a meeting at his office, Chouhan asked officials to ensure that all those students who hail from Madhya Pradesh are brought back safely.

The Chief Minister said the Central government is monitoring the crisis in Ukraine and the children stuck there will be brought back soon. He asked the officials to remain alert to bring back all the people of Madhya Pradesh stuck in Ukraine.

"The Central government has issued an advisory on this. Arrangement of aircraft etc has been made to get the students back. Everyone is concerned about the situation, including the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and state government," Chouhan said.

There is no specific number of students from Madhya Pradesh, however, reports suggested that there are around 100 students. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Monday said that around 60 students are from Indore alone.

Earlier in the day, the Minister of State for External Affairs said in Delhi that, "there is no need to panic, the Government of India has issued an advisory. All Indians, stay in touch with the Indian embassy." As per the reports, Air India has announced that three flights would be operated between India and Ukraine next week, on February 22, 24 and 26.

India has called for restraint on all sides as tensions between Russia and NATO escalated further after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the independence of two states of Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia had amassed troops near the Ukraine border and has been demanding that NATO not admit Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states as members.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Tech startup OnwardMobility, Blackberry's new owner, has announced to shut operations and abandon the dream to revive iconic Blackberry phones with a 5G keyboard-equipped Android device.

BlackBerry's partnership with TCL ended in 2020, and after a few months, it signed with OnwardMobility.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that OnwardMobility will be shutting down, and we will no longer be proceeding with the development of an ultra-secure smartphone with a physical keyboard," the company said in a statement.

OnwardMobility's 5G Blackberry had been cancelled earlier this month.

In a recent interview, Peter Franklin, CEO of OnwardMobility, reiterated that the company will release a 5G phone in 2021.

The company was working with Foxconn to develop a new BlackBerry 5G smartphone with a physical keyboard and the main focus of the new phones was security.

It was reported in 2020 that BlackBerry will make a return to Europe and North America in 2021 under a licensing partnership with OnwardMobility and FIH Mobile Limited.

BlackBerry exited the business in 2016 following years of declining sales due to the rise in popularity of the iPhone and Android smartphones.

"We are incredibly grateful to the team of seasoned professionals who worked tirelessly on this project and to each and every one of our loyal fans and partners who have supported us throughout this journey," said the company.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Thousands of Russian troops may already be in Ukraine, military sources warned on Tuesday, just hours after Raussian President Vladimir Putin gave orders to his forces to enter the country amid fears that he is about to launch a land-grab in the country's east, Daily Mail reported.

Ten thousand soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a source with links to Ukrainian 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 had a long time to prepare," the source said.

It came on the back of videos which showed a column of Russian vehicles rolling through Donetsk in the early hours, 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, the report 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 bits currently occupied by rebels - raising the prospect that he is about to launch a land-grab and spark direct confrontation with Ukrainian troops dug into trenches there, Daily Mail reported.

As Russian troops rolled in, fighting in the region escalated - with shells striking a power plant on the Ukrainian side of the line on Tuesday morning after explosions killed two of Kyiv's men and wounded 12 overnight, the report said.

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 his predecessor Angela Merkel - will not be approved and that his country will begin looking elsewhere for gas to power its fossil-fuel dependent economy.

US President Joe Biden also slapped limited sanctions on rebel areas of Ukraine overnight, banning Americans from doing business there, but promised that harsher measures will follow.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also expected to announce sanctions on Tuesday, with the EU set to follow suit after that.
Gandhinagar, Feb 22 : The Gujarat police on Tuesday detained a dozen right wing activists for allegedly protesting against a group of girls 'wearing burqa' at a school in Surat.

The hijab row, which started from Karnataka, is now extending to other parts of the country, including Gujarat, despite the Supreme Court's direction to keep the status quo.

On Tuesday, nearly a dozen of right-wing members from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Hindu Jagran Manch and the Bajrang Dal tried to create ruckus at P.P. Savani Vidhya Bhavan in Surat.

The members gathered at the gates of the school and started protesting against the burqa clad students.

"We received a call from the control room that members of some right wing outfits have gathered at the school in Kapodra at around 11 a.m. We rushed there and saw that they had not created any ruckus but were protesting at the gates against some girl students, who were wearing black dress. Immediately, we detained the members," M.B. Rathod, Inspector, Kapodra police station told IANS.

The protesters were later released.

"There were around eight to ten girls who worn black dress, however it was not burqa. They have arrived from some other school to appear in 'Prakharta Sodh' examination," added Rathod.

According to sources, soon after being released, the activists once again moved towards the school and were seen chanting slogans. The police however rushed to spot again and "forcibly" evacuated them from the scene.

"We are not here to oppose the girl students, but came here to convince and remind the principal about the Constitution. We are not against any particular outfit of any religion, but they should keep that limited to their homes. We are talking about upholding the constitution," said Dinesh Savaliya from the Hindu Jagran Manch.
Tokyo, Feb 22 : The risk of Omicron subvariant BA.2 for global health is potentially higher than that of BA.1, according to a new study.

The highly contagious Omicron variant, which spread rapidly worldwide, is currently on the decline with its sub variant BA.2 in charge. Several countries, particularly in Europe and Asia, have reported a rise in BA.2.

The study from the University of Tokyo, not yet peer-reviewed, suggested that the possibility that BA.2 would be the most concerning variant to global health.

Currently, both BA.2 and BA.1 are recognised together as Omicron and these are almost undistinguishable.

"Based on our findings, we propose that BA.2 should be recognised as a unique variant of concern, and this SARS-CoV-2 variant should be monitored in depth," said Kei Sato, from the varsity.

In a Twitter post, Eric Feigl-Ding, a Harvard-trained epidemiologist, wrote that the subvariant - BA.2 - is "seriously bad news".

This comes even as several countries have reopened and lifted Covid-related restrictions on view of low number of infections.

After an Omicron surge that lasted for three and a half months, the average number of global daily cases dropped for a third week in a row last week, falling back by 22 per cent to 1.97 million, News.com.au reported.

But experts are worried a new subvariant of Omicron could see a devastating surge in infections and deaths around the world just as the pandemic appears to be retreating.

"Even the World Health Organisation is getting very concerned about BA.2 variant outcompeting and displacing old Omicron," Feigl-Ding wrote on Twitter.

He wrote that news out of Denmark, where the subvariant represents 90 per cent of all new cases, suggests it is having significant health impacts.

"Here is what is happening in the country with the most BA.2 variant so far. (Denmark) has been BA.2 dominant for weeks and have now almost no mitigations either - now their excess deaths are spiking again." Danish health officials have previously noted that BA.2 may be 1.5 times more transmissible than BA.1 based on preliminary data, but it likely does not cause more severe disease.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organisation's Technical Lead on Covid-19, has also stated "BA.2 has a growth advantage even over BA.1".

"We need to drive transmission down. Because if we don't, we will not only see more cases, more hospitalisations, more deaths, but we will see more people suffering from Long Covid and we will see more opportunities for new variants to emerge."
Mumbai, Feb 22 : The Nationalist Congress Party on Tuesday said that opposition parties may think about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the post of President, provided his Janata Dal-U severs ties with the ruling NDA.

Referring to some media reports that Nitish Kumar could be the Opposition's candidate for the Presidential elections due mid-2022, NCP national spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik made it clear that there can be no discussion on this until he breaks all ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

There have been certain speculative reports claiming Nitish Kumar may part ways with the BJP after the results of the ongoing elections to five states are declared next month and he could be in the race for the post of President.

"We can consider it (his candidature) only if the JD-U first breaks out of the NDA. Then the leaders of all Opposition parties will sit and collectively give a thought to it," Malik told media persons.

On the polls in the five states, he predicted that the BJP will be subjected to "a severe defeat" in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa.

"History will be repeated after 30 years in UP. It will win less than 150 seats. The people of the state had rejected BJP after it fomented communal violence there in 1993. People are now sick of its policies," asserted Malik.

He added that the process to launch a united 'anti-BJP' front has been initiated in the country and it will take a proper shape well before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"However, no such front can be formed without the Congress. The question of leadership will be taken up later at an appropriate time," Malik said, reiterating the clear stance of NCP and its ally, Shiv Sena, though some Opposition parties have expressed reservations.

In this context, he referred to the visit of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in December followed by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao this week to Mumbai to meet the Maha Vikas Aghadi leadership and forge a united national Opposition front to counter the BJP.
Jaipur, Feb 22 : Three youth from Rajasthan, who were pursuing their MBBS in Ukraine, have returned to the desert state and said that they had to pay three times the normal airfare, as the situation remains tense in the east European country with soldiers seen all around.

The three students are Lokesh Meena, Rajkumar Meena and Lakshya Rajawat, all from Jhalawad district in Rajasthan. Their parents were in tears on seeing their kids return home.

Madhu Kunwar Rajawat, the mother of Lakshya, said, "I request the government to arrange additional low-cost flights so that other students can return too. Their parents must also be worried like us." Lakshya said that he spent Rs 62,000 instead of Rs 23,000 to return to India from Ukraine.

"The situation is quite tense there as there are soldiers all around. Our family members were tense and hence asked us to return in whatever way we could. Hence we returned. However, there are many other students who want to come back but are helpless due to the high ticket costs and limited seats," he said.

Lokesh said that all the students stuck in Ukraine want to return to India, but the exorbitant airfares are holding them back.

"They can't afford the tickets which are priced four times more than the normal fare. Hence the need of the hour is to reduce the flight rates. Even the flights charging four times more are getting filled. So the students are getting tense," he said.

On Tuesday, the government had again advised Indian students to leave Ukraine "in the interest of their safety" following increase in tensions between the east European country and Russia. It was the third such advisory issued in the past week.

The students have been advised, in the interest of their safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from the universities [regarding classes], the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said in a brief statement posted on its social media handles.
Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi on Tuesday told the High Court that the judicial decision on hijab will have binding on "constitutional morality" and "individual dignity".

"When we impose, the element of choice of dress goes away. The woman will be obligated to wear that dress. It becomes compulsory," he said in his concluding remarks before a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, hearing the hijab row.

"Women cannot be subjugated to any form of dress code and she can't be made to feel less equal and children of a lesser god. Judicial declaration of every woman of a particular religion to wear hijab, would it not violate the dignity? If it is a compulsion of an attire, it is impermissible on this day.

"We propose no ban on hijab, it should be left to the choice of the woman. Right to privacy cannot be enshrined in public. Institutional discipline is paramount. Dignity of women must also be kept in mind in a plural society," Navadagi said.

He also quoted a Bollywood song: "Na muh chupake jiyo, na sar jhuka ke jiyo, gamon ka daur bi aaye toh muskura ke jiyo".

He argued that it is entirely on the petitioner to prove that the practice of hijab is obligatory in nature and compulsorily followed in Islam. However, they have placed 144 Surahs of Quran to the court's query and there is no record on table to show that the custom is obligatory and it is an element of compulsion which compels a member to be expelled from the community, he added.

"Wearing of dress is 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 subjected to institutional restriction and it is subjected to institutional discipline not only in schools but also in hospitals, military establishments and others," the AG submitted.

"The rule imposes reasonable restrictions on wearing a headscarf," he said, adding that a 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, it has been not allowed and anything beyond uniforms, irrespective of any religion, is not allowed," he said.

As Navadgi mentioned the total ban on hijab by France and Turkey in public spaces, Justice Krishna S. Dixit, who is also on the bench, intervened and stated that it depends on the constitutional policy of every country. He then said that he only wanted to bring out that there is no prohibition as such in our country.

Reiterating that hijab is not an essential practice of Islam and can't come under the Constitution's Article 25. (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) he sought to bring to the notice of the court that how this has been upheld by various High Courts and Supreme Court judgments.

Giving clear indications of an early verdict on hijab row, the bench had directed counsel to complete their arguments by this week.

Chief Justice Awasthi asked the Advocate General to complete his submissions at the earliest, and he said that he would complete his arguments on Tuesday.

CJ Awasthi informed all counsel that the bench wants to complete the hearing on the case by this weekend and directed them to keep the arguments brief. "Make positive endeavors to complete within this week only," he said.

Senior advocate R. Venkataramani, appearing for teachers who have been made respondents in the case, maintained that there are no hierarchies of religions between teachers and students. "School environment is more important than a public place. There should be a free mind among students and all minds of children should be in unity for education," he said.

"Whatever may be the assertion, if the state is in collision with public order, morality and health, it will stop. The state comes in through Article 25 (2) in the matters of religion and finance, when it comes to regulation. There is public space and qualified public space. School is a qualified public space," he added.

Referring to the verdict of the South African court allowing the wearing of 'nose ring' to school there, he stated that the court did not make an emphatic statement of religion in the judgment. "Borrowing from foreign judgments could be problematic here, though we cannot close our eyes on them," he held.

Senior advocate S.S. Nagananda, who also appeared for teachers, maintained that there is a fine line of distinction as far as culture and religion are concerned. "It is not possible for Muslims to give five time prayers, similarly, it is not possible for a Brahmin to perform Sandhyavandana three times. This practice of wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice. There are some practices, which are required to perform otherwise, they will have consequences," he said.

Hearing will continue om Wednesday.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Russia and Ukraine -- which are on the brink of war -- have decided to participate in India's Defence Expo to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat from March 10 to 14.

With tensions between both the countries escalating towards a war-like situation, India is maintaining diplomatic balance between the two nations.

Apart from them, around 70 countries are expected to participate in the mega defence event. Romania has also decided to take part in the 12th edition of the biennial defence exhibition. Other prominent countries include the US, France, Spain, the UK, and Czech Republic, among others.

The aim of the event is to build upon the vision to achieve self-reliance in the defence sector and $5 billion defence exports target by 2024.

Further, the Indian defence industry will showcase its capabilities and products to the world.

The international exhibition will focus on land, air, naval, internal homeland security and electronic systems. The theme this time is 'India - The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub'.

The event will provide a unique opportunity to firms within the defence industry to showcase their capabilities, products and services to the targeted audience comprising industry leaders and business decision makers.

As on date, 930 exhibitors have registered for the mega event and the numbers are expected to rise beyond 1,000 in the days ahead. Foreign defence ministers' confirmations are also being received.

The event will facilitate defence business through three business days, making it inclusive for young entrepreneurs and college and school students of Gujarat during the two public days.

The DefExpo-2022 will be held as a hybrid exhibition, with stalls in both physical and virtual realms. This will ensure greater engagement as the exhibitors will be able to cater to both physical and virtual attendees.

The exhibition is being planned in a three-venue format -- exhibition at the Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC); events and seminars at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC); and live demonstration for the public on the Sabarmati riverfront.

Safety protocols such as compulsory wearing of facemasks, non-contact interactions, respiratory hygiene etc. will be implemented at all venues in line with the prevailing health protocols.

With indigenous technological and logistic prowess at the forefront, the event will invigorate the defence industry, startups and MSMEs to cement solid partnerships with the attending foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The DefExpo-2022 is symbolic of India's resolve to further its business interests and take global initiatives towards furthering peace and security in the region.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has appreciated the arrangements made by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the government of Gujarat and exuded confidence of a safe and successful DefExpo-2022.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
Chennai, Feb 22 : The DMK-led alliance on Tuesday swept the urban local body elections in Tamil Nadu 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 DMK is considered as a stamp of approval for the nine-month-old M.K. Stalin government in the state.

The dismal performance of the AIADMK was reflected with the party losing its bastions and the DMK winning several seats in western Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Erode and Salem. In Edappadi, the home constituency of former Chief Minister K. Palaniswami too, the AIADMK candidate lost the polls to the DMK.

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 Tamil Nadu.

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 AIADMK candidate, got only zero votes in Karambukudi panchayat in Pudukottai district even though all three had votes in the same constituency.
Mumbai, Feb 22 : Heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as persistent selling by FIIs led to India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- plunging on Tuesday.

High crude oil prices along with subdued global indices added weight to the downtrend.

The FIIs were net sellers on BSE, NSE and MSEI in the capital market segment on Monday. They sold Rs 3,245.52 crore worth of equities.

On Monday, they net sold Rs 2,261.90 crore worth of equities, while on last Friday they had pumped-out Rs 2,529.96 crore.

Globally, investors panicked at the prospects of an armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops into two separatist-held areas within Ukraine.

This act led to a slide in global stocks' value while it catapulted prices of commodities, including crude oil and gold.

In Asia, equities slid for a third day due to escalating tensions over Ukraine and fresh regulatory scrutiny on China's tech sector.

Similarly, European stock markets tumbled.

On the domestic front, volumes on the NSE were higher than that on the previous two days.

All sectoral indices traded in the red led by realty, metals, and telecom. Only the Power index closed in the green.

The Sensex ended at 57,300.68 points, down 382.91 points, or 0.66 per cent, from the previous close.

Nifty closed at 17,092.20 points, down 114.45 points, or 0.67 per cent.

"Nifty continues dropping everyday and then, recovering part of the losses by the end of the day," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

"Advance decline ratio continues to be heavily in the negative. The 16809-16836 band continues to provide support on falls while 17267 could offer resistance." Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said: "Escalation in Russia-Ukraine issue and a sharp surge in oil prices forced global markets to plunge sharply. Indian equities opened with heavy losses tracking overnight fall in the global market and its adverse spill over to commodity prices." "However, the domestic market managed to trim down its losses during the late session. Continued offload by FIIs has increased volatility while DIIs are adding position."
Kochi, Feb 22 : Speaking tough, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the prosecution why there is a delay in filing the final report in the further investigation against actor Dileep.

"What's so special about this case. It's been two months now and no more time can be given... the final report should be filed on March 1. Does it take this long to probe into the statement of one person," it asked.

The investigation began in the last week of December after a revelation came from Balachandrakumar, a director and former friend of Dileep, that the actor, after his release from jail on bail in the actress abduction case, had conspired to finish off a few police officials who the actor believes trapped him in the case.

It was on February 7, after quite a few hearings, the actor and his 5 close aides including his brother, and brother-in-law, got anticipatory bail in the fresh case, where the final report is yet to be filed and the court went hammer and tongs against the prosecution.

The prosecution said that they are in the final stages of the investigation and a few more digital evidences have to be checked.

Incidentally last week, Dileep had approached the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR in the further investigation case, but got a jolt when the victim in the actress abduction case expressed her desire to implead in the case and the court agreed to it.

A frontline south Indian heroine had complained that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of goons in 2017 and certain scenes were filmed to blackmail her. After the main accused Sunil was arrested and questioned, Dileep was accused of being the main conspirator in the case and was arrested.

According to the prosecution, Dileep, who is presently out on bail after spending two months in jail in 2017, had also seen the visuals of the attack on the actress.
Shivamogga, Feb 22 : As tension prevails in Shivamogga district in Karnataka following the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, the district administration has extended the curfew till Friday. District Commissioner Dr Selvamani stated on Tuesday that a further decision in this regard will be taken on Friday morning. A holiday has been declared in schools and colleges.

Superintendent of Police Lakshmiprasad has stated that the police have arrested six persons so far in the case. Mohammad Khasif (30), Syed Nadeem, Aseefulla khan, Rehan Sharif, Nihan and Abdul Afnan, all below 25 years in age have been arrested.

After interrogation, the involvement of more people has been revealed and they will be arrested soon. Their roles have been identified. Nine FIRs have been lodged and 13 cases have been taken up. As many as 18 vehicles have been torched with eight cases of injuries. About 1,200 policemen have been deployed in Shivamogga city to prevent any violence, the officer said. There were charges of rioting and hurting religious sentiments against Harsha, he added.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah urged the government to ban the SDPI, PFI and CFI if their hand is found in the murder of Harsha. He condemned the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa for taking part in the procession of the body of Harsha, even as prohibitory orders were in place.

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel stated that the accused in the murder case should be 'encountered'. The Karnataka police should follow the example of the Mumbai police on encounters. After some encounters the situation came under control in Mumbai, he said.

Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that the Congress and the BJP are indulging in vote bank politics on the issue and he would meet the Governor and seek his intervention. Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Soorya, visited the house of Harsha and offered condolences to his family.
Srinagar, Feb 22 : An active terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security forces, in Bandipora district, officials said on Tuesday.

Police said acting on a specific input about the presence of terrorist in Aloosa area of Bandipora, a special checkpoint was established by joint parties of police, 26 Assam Rifles and the CRPF.

"During checking, a suspicious person was seen approaching the checkpoint and on being challenged by the joint parties, the person tried to flee towards the nearby orchards however, the alert personnel chased and apprehended him," a police official said.

He has been identified as Danish Ahmed Shah alias Haris, resident of Ellahipora.

Incriminating materials, such as arms and ammunition, including a Chinese pistol and a grenade was recovered from his possession.

"During preliminary questioning, he disclosed that he was working at the behest of LeT handlers Samama alias Ali and Hilal Malik (A/P in Pakistan) and the said arms and ammunition had been provided to him through Lashkar conduits. It was also learnt that he had been recruited as a hybrid terrorist by (now eliminated) Lashkar terrorist Ashiq War and after his death in 2019, he was subsequently handled by terrorist Fayaz War," police said.

Police said that it has further came to light that he was currently arranging travel documents to travel Pakistan for seeking specialised training of arms and ammunition.

"He is also suspected to be involved in assisting the recent attacks in Bandipora and investigation about the matter is under way," police said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Doctors here have given a new lease of life to a two-year-old boy who suffered cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure post a Covid infection.

Rahul (name changed) had recovered from Covid in December last year, but later began suffering persistent cough and breathing problems.

He was brought to doctors at Aakash Healthcare, with high fever and breathing problems in mid January.

The infant went into cardiac arrest minutes after arriving at the hospital and was saved after 30 minutes of CPR.

The child was also diagnosed with a severe case of bronchiolitis (viral pneumonia), which has led to pneumopericardium - a rare condition where the sac around the heart is affected due to the damaged lungs.

In such a case, the lungs burst, as a result of infection, leading to a drop in blood pressure due to air around the heart and causing the heart to function poorly.

"Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, the child had a heart arrest. Further examinations revealed that he had developed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare disorder in which his own body was killing multiple organs," Dr Sayed Mustafa Hasan, Senior Consultant and Head, Paediatrics and Neonatology, at Aakash.

As a result, the lungs, heart, brain and kidneys had suffered considerable damage.

The baby was even unable to pass urine, putting him in a severe condition. He was also experiencing speech difficulty and loss of eye contact with others as a result of the post-Covid effects.

The doctors immediately began Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) after recovering him with CPR, removing all waste material from his body.

"The therapy continued non-stop for 60 hours. To eliminate infections, we employed the cytosorb dialysis filter. We also worked to normalise his blood pressure," Hasan said.

Rahul spent 15-16 days in the ICU ward on a ventilator.

During this time, a team of specialists attempted to restore his kidneys, heart and lungs to normal function. Along with CRRT, he was also given haemodialysis and perinoteal dialysis to remove the infection.

His condition improved over a month, and he was eventually discharged, the doctors said.

"Rahul's heart, lungs and kidneys were not functioning when he was brought to us. It's a very rare case and less than 1 per cent of the kids suffer from such severe infection leading to multiple organ dysfunction," said Dr. Neha Bhandari, Consultant, Paediatrics Nephrology, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka.

Sudden cardiac arrest is rare in children, but it can happen. Hence, all children need regular check-up visits with their doctor, the doctors advised.
Jammu, Feb 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (J&K KVIB) has released an amount of Rs 348.48 crore as margin money or subsidy in favour of entrepreneurs who had applied loan from the board since 2019.

Vice Chairperson KVIB, Hina Shafi Bhat, addressing a press conference on Tuesday, said that the board has released the amount to 15,459 unit holders under JK Rural Employment Generation Programme (JKREGP) and Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) directly benefitting 1,18,188 individuals of the Union Territory in these 3 years.

Bhat said that the KVIB has no cap on extending assistance to local youth and can provide handholding to any number of youth willing to start their enterprises in the UT.

"The board has created employment avenues for lakhs of educated unemployed, poor, down-trodden and marginal sections of the society," she added.

She also noted that the KVIB under the mission 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' is ensuring its reach to all segments of the society. "5,338 women entrepreneurs have been assisted by the board under its various programmes including providing subsidy of Rs 1.58 crore to 49 ex-servicemen and war widows." Besides, the J&K KVIB is establishing eight clusters under handloom, handicrafts and beekeeping sectors under 'Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of traditional Industries' (SFURTI) of Union Ministry of MSME, she said.

The scheme aims at protecting the interests of traditional artists and craftsmen who have adopted the traditional trades for earning their livelihoods, the VC asserted.

"The clusters are being established with an approved assistance of Rs 20 crore from the Union Ministry of MSME involving 10,000 artisans/beekeepers, directly and indirectly, in line with the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Bhat added.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Russia's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent states is an "unjustified act", defence ministers from the UK, the Netherlands, the Baltic states and Nordic countries have said, BBC reported.

The defence ministers from 10 countries are part of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, and they issued the statement after a meeting in Leicestershire.

In a news conference, the UK's defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said the recognition of the two republics was not only against international law but also basically trashes the Minsk agreements, a report by BBC said.

Wallace said there were plenty more sanctions "in the tank" after those announced on Tuesday, but stressed the importance of imposing sanctions in "lockstep" with allies.

He said the Joint Expeditionary Force would also conduct "freedom of movement exercises" in the coming weeks in the Baltic Sea.

The Defence ministers from the Baltic States have called for more Nato forces to be deployed in their countries and for more military support.

Wallace said, "We're absolutely open to doing even more if required, because we need to send that clear signal to President (Vladimir) Putin," BBC reported.
Imphal, Feb 22 : The Congress slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Tuesday speech in the poll-bound Manipur, saying that he "gave erroneous information, and false claims" and did not mention the state's fundamental issues including the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act.

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Gaikhangam Gangmei said Modi, on earlier occasions, had made so many commitments but did not fulfill any of them so far.

Ramesh asked why was the PM completely silent on fundamental issues of Manipur -- AFSPA, MSP for crops and irrigation for farmers, rising unemployment among youth, price rise of essential commodities - much above national average, and rising illegal drug trade from across the border.

Noting that the PM made tall claims on bringing railways to Manipur, he, in a series of tweets, said: "Truth is that the Congress government completed 70 per cent of the railway project in Manipur.

"PM claimed poor performance in the power sector under the Congress government while the truth is his own Central government gave a national award to the Congress government in 2015-16 for power sector reforms. The PM has claimed Palm Oil plantations will benefit Manipur's farmers while the truth is it is the transfer of profits and farm lands to 2-3 big palm oil companies." Ramesh said that PM claimed full coverage when Manipur is among the worst in the country on Covid vaccination rates, with only 47.6 per cent of eligible population have got double dose of Covid vaccine.

He said that the PM claimed balanced development in Manipur and taking administration to the doorstep. "The truth is BJP government has effectively shut the doors of the Tribal Autonomous District Councils by not holding elections in the last 5 years. This is murder of democracy in the hills and the grassroots. The truth is the people of Manipur are fed up with the double engine haijinbi government of BJP in Delhi and Imphal. The mood of Manipur is clear. Come 10th March, it will be Bye-Bye, BJP !", he added.

Gangmei, while talking to the media, said that Prime Minister Modi's visit to Manipur has no impact as the people of the state do not trust him due to his false promises.

Earlier in the day, Modi while addressing an election rally in Imphal lambasted the Congress alleging that during the Congress regime only blockade, bandh and violence culture were prevailing and no development had taken place.
Attari:A truck carrying wheat from India passes through the Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan, near Amritsar, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.(Photo:Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Attari:Armed Security personnel stand guard in front of loaded Trucks with goods bound for Afghanistan,at Integrated check post(ICP) Attari near Amritsar on Tuesday February 22,2022.(Photo:Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Attari:Trucks loaded with goods bound for Afghanistan,parked at Integrated check post(ICP) Attari near Amritsar on Tuesday February 22,2022.(Photo:Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 22 : India will send 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan following an appeal made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.

According to the Ministry of External Affair, the supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters.

In a ceremony held at Amritsar on Tuesday in the presence of the Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2,500 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

Shringla said that the consignment will go from the Attari Integrated Check-Post (ICP) to Jalalabad via Pakistan and many such consignments will be sent to fulfil humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the next two to three months.

The MEA in an official statement said that the wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad.

In this regard, 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. As part of this endeavour, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of Covaxin, 13 tonnes of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing.

These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul," the MEA said in the statement.

On January 29, India had supplied the fourth batch of medical assistance consisting of 3 tonnes of essential life-saving medicines to Afghanistan as part of India's efforts to provide critical humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.

The consignment was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, the successful resolution applicant and proposed promoters of grounded Jet Airways, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Vipula Gunatilleka as its Chief Financial Officer.

Gunatilleka, who was the CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, will be joining from March 1, 2022, a Jet Airways statement said.

"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 organisation and will provide the necessary vision to revive the operations of Jet Airways as per the plans of the Consortium," the statement said, quoting Ankit Jalan, Member of the Monitoring Committee of Jet Airways and part of Jalan-Kalrock Consortium.

Prior to joining SriLankan Airlines, Gunatilleka was the CFO and Board Member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates Management.

Commenting on the appointment, Gunatilleka said: "I am very excited to join the company and I look forward to contributing my knowledge of the last 30 years in Jet Airways' resurgence in its new avatar. We will capitalise on the strong brand value which Jet Airways has in the market and use it to rebuild the lost ground." --IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 22 : Shares of Indiabulls Real Estate jumped over 10 per cent on Tuesday after the company clarified that the recent searches by the Enforcement Directorate were about a client and had nothing to do with the company as such.

As reported by IANS, the Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at the offices of Indiabulls Finance Centre in Mumbai and Delhi in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case lodged against the company and its promoter Sameer Gehlaut in April 2021.

"... we wish to clarify that ED has sought some information from Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd (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 company said in a regulatory filing on Monday after market hours.

"The said ED investigation did not pertain to Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd (the 'Company') and has no bearing on the business and operations of the Company," it read.

On Tuesday, the shares of the company settled at Rs 113.80, up 10.4 per cent from the previous close.
Silvassa/Mumbai, Feb 22 : The Shiv Sena on Tuesday paid rich tributes to the former Independent MP from the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, the late Mohan Sanjibhai Delkar, on his first death anniversary.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Minister of Tourism Aditya Thackeray travelled from Mumbai to Silvassa to attend a commemoration meeting organised by the Delkar family and their supporters.

Delkar, 59, was a 7-time MP from the UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and was found dead in an apparent suicide at a hotel in south Mumbai on February 22 last year, kicking off a massive national political row.

Later, his widow Kalaben Delkar and her family joined the Shiv Sena and won the October bypolls held to fill up the Lok Sabha reserved ST seat.

On his first death anniversary on Monday, the Delkar family and the local Sena unit organised a condolence meeting in Silvassa town where Raut and Thackeray Jr. joined to remember the late MP's services to the people of the Union Territory.

Aditya Thackeray said that he had come to Silvassa to share the grief of the Delkar family, and they would be available whenever needed, while Raut assured that after the ongoing probe, justice would definitely be given to the Delkars.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : A 35-year-old man, who was working as Private Security Officer (PSO) in Delhi, decamped with Rs 20 lakh cash of his employer and escaped to Himachal Pradesh with his female friend. He, however, was apprehended after by the cops on his return.

The accused, identified as Nikhil Goswami, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, before being arrested by the Delhi Police from Ghaziabad, stayed for two days in Manali, Himachal Pradesh in an expensive hotel, where the room rent was Rs 25,000 per day.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North District) Sagar Singh Kalsi said that on February 15, a PCR call was received that an employee has escaped with Rs 20 lakh cash from near Metro Pillar No. 185, Shastri Nagar, Delhi in a SUV-Mahindra Car.

As the police reached the spot, they found one Vipin Kumar present there. He stated that he is employed as a driver with one Manoj Jain.

"On that day, he (Vipin) was told to go to Pitam Pura in a SUV Mahindra car with Nikhil Goswami, the PSO of his employer Manoj Jain and bring cash Rs 20 lakh from a person," the DCP said.

After receiving the money, the accused Nikhil Goswami drove the vehicle and en-route fled with the money, leaving behind the driver in Shastri Nagar.

Accordingly, on the statement of the driver, the police registered a case under section 408 (Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant) of the IPC at the Sarai Rohilla police station.

During investigation, the police met the wife of the accused who told the them that she is having a matrimonial dispute with him and their divorce case is pending. She also said that the accused is residing with another woman at an unknown place.

Further the cops approached the parents of the accused who informed the police that they had disowned their son about two and a half years ago. However, they told the police that the accused is residing somewhere in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad.

The police also, on the analysis of the call detail of the accused mobile phone, found its earlier location around Raj Nagar Residency. A police team maintained a 24-hour surveillance at the flat and apprehended the accused after two days.

During interrogation, the accused Goswami disclosed that he was in debt and was in dire need of money. "After decamping with the money, he went to Manali along with his girlfriend, her sister and brother-in-law. They booked two suits for Rs 25,000 per day each in Manali and stayed there for two days," the official said.

The police have recovered the cash of Rs 17.6 lacs, Mahindra SUV car, one Baleno and one licenced revolver with one live cartridge from his possession.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : A Delhi court on Tuesday issued notice on an appeal filed against the rejection of a suit alleging that the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid situated within the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli was built in place of a temple complex.

Allowing the appeal, Additional District Judge Pooja Talwar issued notice to the Union of India through the Ministry of Culture, Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, and Superintending Archaeologist, Delhi Circle, ASI.

The matter will be heard further on May 11.

The civil suit, filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and Hindu deity Lord Vishnu (through their next of friends), was seeking restoration of the alleged temple complex, comprising of as many as 27 temples.

As per the suit, the temples were dismantled, desecrated and damaged under the command of Slave Dynasty Emperor Qutub-Din-Aibak, who raised some construction at the same very place and named it the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque.

The ruler failed to completely demolish the existing temples and only partial demolition was carried out and after reusing the material of the temples, the said mosque was erected, it read.

In December last year, Civil Judge Neha Sharma had noted that the plaintiffs have no absolute right to restore and worship in the property as public order which is an exception under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution. This requires status quo be maintained and the protected monument be used for no religious purpose.

It is also an established fact that Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid was built atop existing temples but the property was not being used for any religious purposes and no prayers were being offered here.

The court had observed that wrongs may have been committed in the past, "but such wrongs cannot be the basis for disturbing peace of our present and future".

Referring to a portion of the Ayodhya judgment, the court had said: "Cognisant as we are of our history and of the need for the nation to confront it, Independence was a watershed moment to heal the wounds of the past. Historical wrongs cannot be remedied by the people taking the law into their own hands."
New Delhi, Feb 22 : 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.
Kyiv, Feb 22 : Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he had received a request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding the severance of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

The Ukraine President said this during a conversation with the media following talks with the President of the Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis, in Kyiv.

"Immediately after our press conference, I will work on this issue. And not only this issue, but also our effective steps as regards the escalation on the part of the Russian Federation," he said.

Zelenskyy stressed that it is not the first time that Ukraine has called on Russia to resolve the issue of de-escalation through dialogue at the negotiating table.

"We are ready to do it on any platform, and Russia knows it. And not only Russia. In recent months, we have consulted with almost all the leaders of the EU, the US and the UK, and proposed various formats of dialogue in which the Russian Federation would be present," the President reminded.

He said that on February 21, by recognising illegal formations in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Russian Federation gave the answer that everyone saw.

"Ukraine must respond to this by defending its sovereignty and state," Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, according to the President, the Ukrainian side believes that a broad escalation on the part of Russia will not happen.

"But if it happens (large-scale offensive), martial law will be imposed," added Zelenskyy.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern at freebies - including gold coins, fridges, LCD TVs, and funding international trips for vacations -offered by pharmaceutical companies to "manipulate" doctors' prescriptions and to recommend drugs produced by the firms.

Against this backdrop, the top court held that companies are not entitled to claim tax exemption on the expenditure incurred in giving incentives, and rather it would be considered as part of their income.

A bench of Justices U.U. Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat said: "It is a matter of great public importance and concern, when it is demonstrated that a doctor's prescription can be manipulated, and driven by the motive to avail the freebies offered to them by pharmaceutical companies, ranging from gifts such as gold coins, fridges and LCD TVs to funding international trips for vacations or to attend medical conferences." The top court did not entertain the plea of a company seeking exemption on expenditure of Rs 4.72 crore incurred for providing freebies to medical practitioners to create awareness on its health supplement.

Justice Bhat, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said 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 top court upheld a 2012 circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes clarifying such expenses incurred by pharmaceutical and allied health sector industries for distribution of incentives to medical practitioners are ineligible for the benefit of Section 37(1) pertaining to business deduction.

The bench said: "Pharmaceutical companies' gifting freebies to doctors, etc. is clearly 'prohibited by law', and not allowed to be claimed as a deduction under Section 37(1). Doing so would wholly undermine public policy. The well-established principle of interpretation of taxing statutes - that they need to be interpreted strictly - cannot sustain when it results in an absurdity contrary to the intentions of the Parliament." Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the government, submitted though gifting freebies to doctors may not be classified as an 'offence' under any statute but it was specifically prohibited. He added that pharma companies should not be allowed to benefit by claiming a tax exemption on the freebies.

The bench added that 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 cognisance of by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.

It said that it is also a settled principle of law that no court will lend its aid to a party that roots its cause of action in an immoral or illegal act, meaning that none should be allowed to profit from any wrongdoing coupled with the fact that statutory regimes should be coherent and not self-defeating. "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," said Justice Bhat.

The bench said 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," it added.

The apex court made these observations while dismissing an appeal filed by Apex Laboratories Pvt Ltd challenging a Madras High Court verdict, declining to interfere with the Income Tax authorities' decision against the firm to claim benefit of business expenditure towards gifting freebies to medical practitioners for creating awareness about health supplement 'Zincovit'.

It said the denial of the tax benefit cannot be construed as penalising the assessee pharmaceutical company and only its participation in what is plainly an action prohibited by law, precludes the assessee from claiming it as a deductible expenditure.

"The incentives (or 'freebies') given by Apex, to the doctors, had a direct result of exposing the recipients to the odium of sanctions, leading to a ban on their practice of medicine. Those sanctions are mandated by law, as they are embodied in the code of conduct and ethics, which are normative, and have legally binding effect", it added.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : India's textile exports can breach the $100 bn mark in next 5 years, Union Textiles Secretary, Upendra Prasad Singh said on Tuesday.

"The country's textile exports can increase from the current $40 billion to $100 billion in the next five years," he said in his address at the 44th Foundation Day of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

Singh said that the Indian apparel industry must focus on vertical integration to increase its scale and size and to benefit from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

"Apparel and garmenting is not very investment-centric but it is very important from an employment point of view. Perhaps, there is a need for backward integration and more of you can get into integrated value-chain like spinning and weaving," he said.

The Textiles Secretary said that along with the PLI scheme, the government is committed to make the Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme a success.

"Idea is not to just have a world class infrastructure but also a thriving industry there. There are a lot of big opportunities. The demand continues to be robust and the China plus one sourcing strategy by the west is certainly a great opportunity for us," he added.
Bhopal, Feb 22 : The Madhya Pradesh unit of Congress on Tuesday demanded that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should submit a white paper on unemployment in the state during the upcoming Budget session of the Assembly.

During a press conference at the party office here, senior Congress leader and the party's national spokesperson K.K. Mishra accused Chouhan of presenting false data on employment.

Mishra said that more than 34 lakh people have registered for employment in the state government's portal, while the number of unemployment in the unorganised sector has increased to 24.54 lakh in the last five months.

Mishra said that due to growing unemployment, a large number of people from the state have migrated to other states in the last five years.

Referring to former Chief Minister Uma Bharti's statement, the Congress leader said that around 10-12 lakh people have migrated from the Bundelkhand region.

On Saturday, Bharti had said that 10-12 lakh people from different districts of Bundelkhand have migrated to Delhi-NCR and some other states in search of livelihood.

"Every time the Chief Minister will prsent different data of employment in the state. The Congress demands that he (Chouhan) should submit a white paper during the Budget session of the Assembly and tell the actual reality," Mishra said.

The remark from the Congress leader came ahead of the state government's first 'rojgar mela' (employment fair) to be organised in all the districts on February 25.

Chouhan had announced on February 5 that an employment fair will be held every month in the state.

He had said that the fair will be organised every month in each district in the state and the district collectors have been directed for the upcoming mega employment fair.
Patna, Feb 22 : Five Bihar Military Police (BMP) personnel were injured, three of them seriously, after their vehicle was rammed by a speeding truck in Sheikhpura district on Tuesday, police said.

The BMP men, who were escorting the convoy of cabinet minister Sheela Mandal, were admitted in Sadar hospital of the district.

The impact of the accident was such that the vehicle on which the BMP men were was completely damaged. The truck driver managed to escape from the spot.

"We have details of the truck. Hence, we will arrest the errant driver very soon," Pappu Singh, the incharge of Mahuli police post, said.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Border Security Force on Tuesday organised a free medical camp at its Dalu border outpost in Meghalaya's West Garo hills under the civic action programme.

The camp was organised for free medical and eye check-up for the residents of Nukmas village and of nearby areas.

More than 350 villagers were medically examined and provided medical aid accordingly including check-up for eye cataract.

A team of doctors examined the visitors and free medicines were distributed to the needy people of the border area. Local villagers expressed their happiness and gratitude for the human gesture shown by BSF.

BSF officials said that through the civic action programme, the residents of the villages located far off from the district headquarters, get free medical check up and medicine while it also helps the troopers to develop the human intelligence at the border areas.

As Meghalaya borders Bangladesh and the smuggling of narcotics and cattle is rife, these types of medical camps help the forces to get information about the smugglers and traffickers, the officials said.

The medical camp was inaugurated by BSF's Tura Sector DIG at Tura Alok Kumar Singh and the Commandant, 100 Battalion Ajay Kumar Tiwary while the doctors and paramedic staff were from the BSF and and the Tura civil hospital.
Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday criticised the opposition Congress for not allowing the Assembly session to function smoothly over the past few days.

"In 2018, people delivered a verdict that you are unfit to function as the ruling party. The Congress should have at least worked as an opposition party. But it has failed even as an opposition," Bommai said on Tuesday.

Speaking to mediapersons after the premature adjournment of Assembly session, the Chief Minister blamed the Congress for the session being cut short.

"The legislature session was scheduled to be held till Friday. But they (Congress) compelled it to be cut short abruptly. It is really sad. The opposition leaders frequently raise demand for a legislature session to discuss issues of public importance.

"But when the House is convened, they are not ready to participate in the proceedings. They could have highlighted any failure of the government during the debate on the Governor's address. But that did not happen," Bommai said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri adjourned the proceedings of the House till March 4, amid protests by the Congress legislatures demanding dismissal of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, K.S. Eshwarappa, for his remarks of hoisting the saffron flag at the Red Fort.

"The opposition could have raised the issue of Eshwarappa's statement and discussed it. The government was ready to reply. But they did not do so as they knew that there was nothing wrong with Eshwarappa's statement," Bommai said.

Reacting to BJP President J.P. Nadda's comment on Eshwarappa's controversial ramrk, Bommai said, "I have no information about it. I will first get official information about it." The Chief Minister, however, stood by Eswarsappa.

"Eshwarappa's statement has been wrongly interpreted. If the full text of his statement is examined, there is nothing against the law in it. There is no aspect that could be considered as an insult to the national flag. It is very clear. The Congress is trying to exploit it politically by tweaking the statement," Bommai claimed.

"The opposition is trying to mislead the House and the people by staging a dharna. The high court is hearing intense arguments on the dress code issue. An interim order has already been passed, which is being implemented. Some people are trying to create confusion. They could have maintained calm and sent a united message of peace as education of our children in most important.

"But for them, politics has become more important. The leader of the opposition and the President of Congress are seniors. They are in politics for a long time now. People would have appreciated if they had worked as a matured opposition party," Bommai said.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : In what can be termed as another political gimmick, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his desire to have a television debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the differences between the two nations.

"I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Imran Khan said in an interview to Russia Today.

The Pakistan Prime Minister has asserted that it would be "beneficial" for the 1.7 billion people in the subcontinent if differences (between Pakistan and India) are resolved through debate.

Claiming that his government's policy is to have trade relations will all countries, Khan said, "India became a hostile country, so trade with them became minimal," according to Russia Today.

The interview came on the eve of Khan's visit to Moscow.

The Pakistan Prime Minister will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his two-day visit to the country, which is considered crucial as it will be the first visit by a top Pakistan leader to Russia in more than 20 years.

Talks on economic cooperation is reported as the agenda of the meeting.
New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on Monday urged Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain to take note of punitive action taken against resident doctors of certain Delhi government hospitals who participated in the nationwide agitation for NEET-PG counselling.

In a letter to Jain, it requested him to take action against those hospitals that have marked the resident doctors as absent and deducted their salaries or stipends while the resident doctors were protesting against the delay in counselling earlier this year.

The doctors association have said that following a meeting with the Union Health Minister, the 'agitation' was called off by the doctors, and the minister had assured that 'no punitive or disciplinary action' will be taken against the protesting doctors.

"However, it is extremely unfortunate that the resident doctors of certain Delhi government hospitals, notably UCMS and GTB hospitals, have beeen marked absent during the aforesaid mentioned period of agitation and their salaries and stipends have been deducted," reads the letter.

The resident doctors from all over India protested in December 2021, against delay in NEET-PG counselling. According to the doctors body, it was assured before calling off the protest that no punitive action will be taken against anyone.
New Delhi, Feb 23 : Indian pacer Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, beginning February 24.

The 29-year-old recently suffered a hamstring injury during the final T20I against West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday. After dismissing the West Indies openers in the run chase, the bowling all-rounder walked off the field holding his hamstring without completing his second over.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Chahar has not travelled with the team to Lucknow where India will play the first of the three T20Is against Sri Lanka on February 24. The next two T20Is will be played in Dharamsala on February 26 and 27.

The BCCI are not expected to name a replacement considering India already have many bowling options in their squad. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah for this series.

Bumrah, who is returning after a break, has also been named vice-captain for the series. Apart from the 28-year-old, India also have Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel in the squad.

Chennai Super Kings had bought back Chahar for a whopping Rs 14 cr in the IPL 2022 mega auctions.
New Delhi, Feb 23 : While reducing import dependence and ensuring edible oil security is crucial, scientific evidence and mounting vulnerability to climate change clearly demonstrates that the the northeast region must not be a target area for expanding oil palm cultivation in India, Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi has demanded.

He contested the Centre's claim that oil palm will not be promoted by destroying forest cover, noting plantations have already replaced natural and semi-natural forest areas in the NE, especially Mizoram. "Does the government intend to enact any regulations or take other steps to ensure forests are not converted to oil palm plantations?" he wrote in a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Bordoloi's letter comes days after his intervention in the Lok Sabha seeking reconsideration of oil palm cultivation in the northeast. The ICAR - Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research responded to his intervention but, he did not buy their argument.

He attached with it a letter signed by over 100 scientists and conservationists urging the government "to incorporate a scientific plan for the expansion of oil palm in India" and tap agriculture land instead of biodiversity rich areas for the same.

The Union Cabinet had in August 2021 approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) as a new centrally sponsored scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 11,040 crore. The scheme proposes to cover an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectare (ha) for oil palm till 2025-26, thereby reaching the target of 10 lakh ha ultimately. NE region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were targeted in this renewed scheme for expansion in oil palm plantations.

Soon after the announcement in August, Meghalaya MP Agatha Sangma had shot off a protest letter then.

Bordoloi, a Congress MP, also referred to one of the provisions of the proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 where the government plans to exempt plantations of native species of palm and oil-bearing trees from the definition of 'non-forest purpose' which, he said, "will effectively exempt such oil palm plantations from government clearancea and "will be dangerous proposition" for the northeast.

He also hit out at the government's claim that it intends to carry out oil palm expansion through inter-cropping, instead of monoculture farming, and said that precedent from across the globe and also from Indian states such as Nagaland point to cultivation of oil palm through monocultures "to maximise economic gains at the expense of adversely altering the natural ecosystem".
Students returning from Ukraine to India, parents get emotional while waiting for children Image Source: IANS News

Students returning from Ukraine to India, parents get emotional while waiting for children Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 23 : With tears in their eyes, parents, friends and family members of 256 Indian students, who are to land here from war-prone Ukraine in a special Air India flight, are awaiting their return at the IGI airport late on Tuesday night.

In view of the deteriorating situation in Ukraine with Russian forces at its doorstep, the government had advised the students and other Indian nationals stranded in the east European country, especially those in capital Kyiv, to return if possible.

Earlier in the morning, Air India had sent the special flight to bring back those willing to return.

Ukraine has about 20,000 Indian students. The first plane load is expected to reach by midnight, which has prompted large crowds of people awaiting their dear ones outside the airport.

Ramesh Sahni from Kurukshetra in Haryana is awaiting the return of his daughter Riya, a first year MBBS student at Kharkiev National Medical University, situated at a place barely 25 km from the Ukraine-Russia border.

Flight ticket at Rs 61,000 was a major burden but otherwise there were no problems, he said.

Rajesh Rana from Patiala said he could breath easy only after knowing that his daughter, Harshita, has boarded the plane. She too is a medical student.

Air India had announced to run three special flights to Ukraine. The next two flights are scheduled on February 24 and 26.
Moscow, Feb. Feb 23 : Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, ratified the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" during a plenary session.

Under the two treaties on Tuesday, Russia will foster closer cooperation with the "republics" when it comes to "strengthening peace", "enhancing security", and coordinating efforts aimed at settling regional conflicts.

The agreements with both "republics" are concluded for a period of 10 years, and will be automatically renewed for successive periods of five years unless either party decides not to do so, Xinhua news agency reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin inked the treaties on Monday, together with the Heads of the LPR and DPR.

Putin also signed two decrees recognizing the LPR and the DPR as independent and sovereign states on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on early Tuesday that Kyiv 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.

"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 added in a video address to the nation published on Facebook.
Hong Kong, Feb 23 : Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), has said Hong Kong will conduct a mass mandatory testing in March to fight the latest Covid-19 outbreak when all Hong Kong residents must undergo nucleic acid tests three times.

As the central government has strengthened its support for Hong Kong, the sampling and testing capacity in the global financial hub is nearly 1 million samples a day, Lam said on Tuesday, adding that she believed the capacity will continue to increase and can cope with the mass testing.

She said the testing has a legal effect and there is a punishment mechanism for those who do not take part in it, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lam said hundreds of testing centres will be set up across Hong Kong and every resident is required to take the PCR-based nucleic acid tests every five or seven days. Between the three nucleic acid tests, people also need to do a rapid self-test every day using the rapid antigen test kits distributed by the HKSAR government.
New Delhi, Feb 23 : Hundreds of Anganwadi workers and helpers continued their protest in national capital as the Delhi government's meeting with the unions representing them proved to be inconclusive.

Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers' Union on Tuesday took out a procession 'Chetawani Maharally' on the 23rd day of their protest from Civil Lines to Delhi University Metro station.

"Tuesday was the 23rd day of the protest by Delhi Anganwadi workers. More than 18,000 anganwadi workers across Delhi took out a 'Chetawani Maharally' to express their anger against the Delhi government. The main objective of the 'maharally' was to show resistance against the 'fake talks' between the workers' union and the Delhi government on February 21," said Priyambada of Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union.

She added that thousands of anganwadi workers of Delhi have taken out a 'Khabardar rally' on February 11 after which the Delhi government invited them for talks. Centre of Indian Trade Union' (CITU) was also invited for talks, which has no basis among the anganwadi workers. During Tuesday's rally, slogans were raised against Delhi government's adamant attitude and CITU.

Priyambada said the rally started from Civil Lines, Vikas Bhawan and extended to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence after which it marched back through the Delhi University and then again reached Vikas Bhawan Gate number 2 through Delhi Vidhan Sabha.

Shivani Kaul, Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers President, said the union representing the Anganwadi workers of Delhi is only the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union and the Delhi government must talk to it directly.

"It is our constitutional and judicial right to form unions, hold protests and choose our representation. No one can take away this right from us," she added.

There are nearly 10,700 anganwadi centres and more than 20,000 anganwadi workers and helpers in the city. As per the report, nearly 8,000 to 10,000 workers and helpers are protesting near Kejriwal's residence from last 23 days to increase their monthly remuneration.
Los Angeles, Feb 23 : The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school system in the US, lifted its outdoor mask mandate for students and staff as Covid-19 cases continued to decline in the country's most populous county.

"In alignment with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and with guidance from our medical director and health partners, outdoor masking will be optional for all individuals in Los Angeles Unified schools from February 22, 2022," said the school district in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday.

The indoor mask mandate still remains in place for the school district's students and staff on campus, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is home to more than 640,000 students in kindergarten through class 12 at more than 1,000 schools. The district covers 710 square miles (1,839 square km) and includes the city of Los Angeles as well as all or parts of 31 smaller municipalities plus several unincorporated sections of Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County relaxed its mask mandate on Wednesday, recommending but no longer requiring masking at outdoor mega events and exterior areas of K-12 schools and childcare centres. The county, home to more than 10 million residents, crossed a grim milestone of losing more than 30,000 residents to Covid-19 last week.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Monday reported 1,345 new cases with 21 new related deaths. The department confirmed 43,091 new cases and 65 additional deaths on January 21 amid a winter spike in new cases fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

The county's public health officials anticipated that with continued steep declines in case numbers indicating much lower transmission, they will be able to safely lift indoor mask mandates in mid-March.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tehran, Feb 23 : Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has urged the international community to resist US 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 on Tuesday said 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 neighbours 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, the Iranian President added.

He urged the international community to support multilateral initiatives aimed at ensuring the security of sustainable energy supply and protecting the environment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Raisi arrived in Qatar on Monday to meet with the Qatari Emir and take part in the GECF summit.
Mouakchott Airport, Atar, Mauritania [ ATR / GQPA ]

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Atar Airport Info:

Atar Airport IATA Code: ATR Atar Airport ICAO Code: GQPA Latitude : 20.5067 Longitude : -13.0432 City : Atar Country : Mauritania World Area Code : 545 Airport Type : Medium Atar Airport Address / Contact Details :

Atar Airport (ATR), Atar, Mauritania Airport Type : Public Owner : Government Timezone : Africa/Nouakchott Mouakchott Airport Timezone : GMT +00:00 hours Current time and date at Mouakchott Airport is 04:16:45 AM (GMT) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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Mouakchott Airport Map - Location of Mouakchott Airport Load Map Mauritania - General Information Country Formal Name Islamic Republic of Mauritania Country Code MR Capital Nouakchott Tel Code +222 Top Level Domain .mr

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The former Meininger Hotel Wien Hauptbahnhof on Columbusgasse has a new operator. The British hostel chain Beds & Bars will open its first hotel in Austria in spring 2022.

The hotel in Columbusgasse, in Vienna's 10th district, has been operated as a hostel concept under the Meininger brand for the pa...

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There are babies being born every day with health problems that could be prevented through this approach.

DynamiCare Health Inc., a digital therapeutics and telehealth company dedicated to helping people overcome addiction, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation for DCH-001, a prescription-only digital therapeutic intended to treat tobacco use disorder complicating pregnancy and childbirth. If approved, DynamiCares DCH-001 would become the first prescription treatment for smoking cessation demonstrated to be safe and effective during pregnancy. DCH-001 is based on a motivational incentives approach pioneered by Stephen T. Higgins, PhD, of the University of Vermont (UVM). In the first study published on DCH-001, UVM researchers found that pregnant women given DCH-001 were 2.8 times more likely to quit smoking by the end of their pregnancy compared to usual care.

Despite clear evidence of the harms of smoking during pregnancy for both the mother and child, smoking prevalence remains high with 12.8% of mothers smoking during the third trimester. Of the 3.6 million annual births in the U.S., over 460,000 can be expected to be impacted by perinatal smoking. Maternal complications from prenatal smoking include ectopic pregnancies, preeclampsia and placental abruption. Risks to the child include miscarriage/stillbirth, congenital malformations, low birth weight, and potentially lifelong adverse effects on lung and brain development. Furthermore, up to 34% of cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are attributable to perinatal smoking.

Although there are FDA-approved medications to treat tobacco use in the general population, such as varenicline (Chantix), bupropion (Zyban), or nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), these treatments have not been demonstrated to be safe for pregnancy. Current clinical guidelines for smoking in pregnancy recommend only behavioral therapies.

Like other DynamiCare products, DCH-001 utilizes a therapeutic methodology called contingency management, in which patients earn financial incentives for achieving abstinence from addictive substances. DCH-001 combines a smartphone app with a connected breath carbon monoxide monitor, saliva cotinine (nicotine) tests, and a reloadable debit card. Participants complete breath and saliva tests through the app over selfie video. If they test negative, they earn financial rewards on the debit card. The approach was developed by UVM researchers, who found that an in-person version of this protocol for smoking cessation in pregnancy resulted in a 68% reduction in low birthweight deliveries. The approach is also highly cost-effective, with an estimated $48 in benefits to society for every dollar spent on contingency management for smoking cessation in pregnancy.

Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break, and the correlations with social determinants of health mean that pregnant smokers are struggling with many other challenges in their lives as they try to quit, without the help of medications that are available to everyone else, said Eric Gastfriend, CEO of DynamiCare Health. Our mission is to support expecting mothers in quitting to improve outcomes for them and their babies. DynamiCares digital therapeutic could become the first treatment for smoking demonstrated to be safe and effective during pregnancy, and we are honored that FDA has recognized DCH-001 as a breakthrough device.

We know that contingency management works, said Stephen T. Higgins, PhD, Director of UVMs Vermont Center on Behavior and Health and the leading expert on contingency management for smoking cessation in pregnancy. The FDA Breakthrough Designation is based upon UVMs research and findings on DCH-001. This methodology has been known for over 30 years to be one of the most clinically effective and cost-effective approaches for substance use disorders. There are babies being born every day with health problems that could be prevented through this approach.

The FDA Breakthrough Device Program is intended for devices that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. Breakthrough designation will now allow DynamiCare Health to interact with the FDA through an expedited and prioritized process towards the marketing of DCH-001.

For more information: https://www.dynamicarehealth.com/our-results

DynamiCare Health

DynamiCare Health is a digital therapeutics and telehealth company dedicated to helping people overcome addiction. The companys digital health platform automates contingency management, an evidence-based system for rewarding healthy behavior that has been demonstrated to be effective in over 100 randomized controlled trials. Through encouragement and accountability, DynamiCare members achieve healthy goals with stimulants, opioids, alcohol, tobacco, and vaping. For more information, visit http://www.dynamicarehealth.com.

The Vermont Center on Behavior and Health at UVM

The Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH) at the University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine is led by Director Stephen T. Higgins, PhD. An interdisciplinary research center, it investigates relationships between personal behavior patterns (i.e., lifestyle) and risk for chronic disease and premature death. Its work has historically focused on health disparities for the most vulnerable populations, particularly the socioeconomically disadvantaged. VCBH researchers focus on understanding mechanisms of risk and developing interventions and policies to promote healthy behavior, through behavioral economics and behavioral pharmacology.

REFERENCES

CDC - Centers for Disease Control. (2018, November 13). CDC - PRAMS and SmokingPregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring SystemReproductive Health. https://www.cdc.gov/prams/tobbacco.html

Kurti AN, Tang K, Bolivar HA, Evemy C, Medina N, Skelly J, Nighbor T, Higgins ST. Smartphone-based financial incentives to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy: A pilot study. Preventive Medicine. Published online July 2020:106201. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106201

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2020). Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation During Pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 135(5), e221e229.

Higgins, S. T., Bernstein, I. M., Washio, Y., Heil, S. H., Badger, G. J., Skelly, J. M., Higgins, T. M., & Solomon, L. J. (2010). Effects of Smoking Cessation with Voucher-Based Contingency Management on Birth Outcomes. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 105(11), 20232030. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03073.x

WSIPP (Washington State Institute for Public Policy). Smoking cessation programs for pregnant women: Contingency management. Benefit-Cost Analysis. Published December 2019. Accessed December 3, 2021. http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/BenefitCost/Program/709
Further investment in EMEA and the additions to our leadership team reinforces our commitment to security and compliance for our customers, as well as enterprise content lifecycle management product innovation in areas such as automation, AI and machine learning, said Martin Owen, CEO of Quark

Quark Software, the global provider of content design, automation and intelligence software, today announced the appointment of two new executives to further strengthen its global leadership team.

Leigh Weston, a seasoned security and compliance executive, has been named vice president of risk management and compliance, ensuring Quark follows best industry practices while also working closely with customers so the highest level of information and data security is part of their content technology implementations. Additionally, Richard Worrell has joined Quark as head of enterprise product management to drive product strategy, innovation and adoption of content automation and intelligence solutions among large organizations seeking to implement end-to-end content lifecycle management.

The additions of Weston and Worrell are part of Quarks overall growth strategy, including expansion in EMEA. The company opened a new office in Birmingham, UK, earlier this month and will move into a new, larger office in Dublin, Ireland, in March. These new locations strengthen enterprise product management, sales and customer support operations.

Quark has a 40-year history of delivering content technology that is expanding across the entire content management lifecycle to help customers -- from independent designers to large enterprises -- create, automate and analyze their content to achieve such business objectives as digital transformation, customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance, said Martin Owen, CEO of Quark. Further investment in EMEA, including the additions of Leigh and Richard with their SaaS, metadata management and enterprise architecture expertise, reinforces our commitment to security and compliance for our customers, as well as product innovation in areas such as automation, AI and machine learning.

Weston has extensive experience implementing controls for ISO certifications, including the ISO 27001 information security standard, and data protection requirements across geographically dispersed teams. Most recently, he was director of the program management office at data governance company erwin, Inc., where he ensured the highest internal security footprint that included defining and implementing policies and processes to meet GDPR requirements. He also was responsible for achieving ISO 27001 certification for the companys SaaS offerings. Prior to erwin, Weston held global operations and market engineering roles at enterprise architecture company Corso and IBM, respectively. At Quark, Weston will work closely with the product and engineering teams to ensure regulatory requirements are met across all tools within the Quark Publishing Platform.

Worrell is a seasoned enterprise product management leader with a proven track record of developing and executing product roadmaps that address customers enterprise technology requirements. Worrell joined Quark from Quest Software where he helped create and launch the companys no-code devSaaS platform and supporting applications. Prior to Quest, Worrell held a senior product management role at erwin, Inc., where he used his SaaS expertise to help create the companys SaaS platform and subsequent next-generation enterprise architecture applications. At Quark, Worrell will drive product innovation for the companys content automation and intelligence solutions to support every stage of content lifecycle management.

About Quark Software, Inc.

Quark is the basis for content creation, automation and intelligence. Since 1981, Quark has been a pioneer in desktop publishing, digital publishing and content automation. Today, customers rely on Quark for closed-loop content lifecycle management to deliver optimized content to meet their desired use cases  from digital magazines that entertain to documents that demonstrate regulatory compliance. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Quark serves more than 100 enterprise customers and 50,000 users worldwide. Quark. Brilliant content that works. For more information, visit http://www.quark.com.
The Alloy team has figured out how to build a flexible integration and data mapping platform that ties these tools together to enable more insights and more programmatic levers to run a best-in-class e-commerce business. Every e-commerce site should be using Alloy.

Alloy Automation, a no-code ecommerce automation platform, today announced a $20 million Series A investment led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The Series A includes participation from FirstMark Capital and Hawke Ventures; the executives of Casper, Hims, and Glossier; and the founders of unicorn ecommerce software companies Klaviyo, ReCharge, Attentive, and more. This brings the companys total funding to $27 million since it was founded two years ago by Sara Du and Gregg Mojica. Alloy Automation will use this new capital to double its team in 2022 and forge deeper partnerships with renowned brands and key players in the ecommerce ecosystem.

With tailwinds from the pandemic, ecommerce has seen an explosion of new tooling. Brands now run their online stores with specialized applications, covering everything from loyalty points to return logistics, rather than building in-house engineering teams. The increasing complexity of the ecommerce stack also brings headaches in managing data and tasks across dozens of tools.

Alloy is building the solution for this: a platform with deep integrations to all key ecommerce tools and an easy-to-use interface for anyone to automate their workflows. Anyone who works with ecommerce tooling can install Alloy to empower the rest of their team. A range of companies, from emerging brands like Bokksu, to giants like Burberry, have used Alloy to streamline their increasingly complex technology setup. Agencies in the space, such as Red Antler also have turned to Alloy for their work.

"Brands are just waking up to the possibilities of automation, and the benefits of having a single dashboard for them to coordinate work across their tool stack," said Sara Du, co-founder and CEO of Alloy Automation. "Our goal is to make more time available for brands to focus on the strategy and creative work that give their brand life. My own failure in building a streetwear brand stemmed from not wanting to do mind-numbing operations tasks. From that experience, I figured there must be a way to package standard tasks into automations. Our team at Alloy, equal parts retired brand owners and optimistic software engineers, is energized by this beautiful vision of automation."

Alloys thousands of users are seeing the benefits of Dus vision for an automated future. Having built an engineering team here, I can say that this is the solution for truly saving time and money, while enabling the nontechnical team members to execute on their strategies in a no-code way, said Rich Fulop, the founder of Brooklinen.

Alloys platform offers a single dashboard from which brands can control and link both data and actions across all the apps they use. Alloys verticalized approach has major benefits over more horizontal automation alternatives:



Customizable workflow engine that lets users draw diagrams that link their apps to orchestrate marketing and operations-related work.

200+ integrations that span categories like ERP, 3PL, loyalty, ESP, etc. This impressive array of connectors also includes a full-fledged Netsuite integration and support for headless ecommerce platforms.

Workflow recipe library that gives brands hundreds of simple, pre-built automations to start from. For example, brands can set up an automation for custom low inventory notifications to their suppliers, or automatically create deals in Salesforce for B2B orders.

Weve seen tremendous growth in the e-commerce software space, especially with thousands of new small businesses bringing stores online, but the modern e-commerce stack often has dozens of disparate tools that arent integrated, said David Ulevitch, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, who is joining the board with this funding round. "The Alloy team has figured out how to build a flexible integration and data mapping platform that ties these tools together to enable more insights and more programmatic levers to run a best-in-class e-commerce business. Every e-commerce site should be using Alloy.

In addition to its role in providing merchants with automation tooling, Alloy sees itself as the backbone of the ecommerce software landscape. Other founders in the space recognize the power of this connectivity and the benefits it brings to all ecosystem players that integrate with Alloy. "The future of the ecommerce ecosystem will be data-driven and interconnected, and Alloy's automation platform empowers merchants to get to that future faster," said Ed Hallen, co-founder and CPO of Klaviyo.

To learn more about Alloys history and vision, please visit: http://www.runalloy.com/series-a

About Alloy Automation

Alloy Automation is used by top retail and DTC brands to automate their ecommerce stores. Marketing and operations teams at brands like Burberry, Brooklinen, and Bokksu use the platform to both offload their work and enable new functionality across their existing tools. Founded in 2019 and with a globally distributed team, Alloy is backed by a16z, Bain Capital Ventures, and Y Combinator. Follow Alloy Automation on LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest updates.

About Andreessen Horowitz

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) backs bold entrepreneurs who move fast, think big, and are committed to building the next major franchises in technology. Founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the firm provides entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights in innovation, executive and technical talent, market intelligence, business development, and marketing and brand-building. Find us at http://www.a16z.com.
Autosled, Automotives modern digital retail logistics marketplace, has made significant strides in reimagining the vehicle transport process with the recent additions of Bart Schuster and David Darden to its leadership team.

Schuster joins Autosled as Vice President of Business Development. In this role, he oversees Autosleds nationwide sales expansion efforts, strategic OEM partnerships and the Federal sector division. Schuster brings to Autosled over twenty-four years of automotive experience - thirteen years in retail dealerships and eleven years working for various OEMs. Most recently, he worked as a Regional General Manager for Nissan Motor Corporation, guiding the region's dealers to increase customer satisfaction and profitability. Schusters expertise in successfully developing and implementing both business relationships and customer loyalty comes at a pivotal time for Autosleds nationwide growth.

Barts background in logistics, retail dealership operations and OEM regional management provides the exact type of experiences that are pivotal as Autosled continues to scale. His deep-rooted connections with Dealer Principals throughout the United States, as well as his reputation within the Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi families has already proved instrumental in Autosleds growth." David Sperau, co-founder and Autosleds Chief Revenue Officer

Darden joins Autosled as Vice President of Data & Analytics. A seasoned data engineering and analytics leader, Darden brings over 20 years of experience in the technology industry with companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Before joining Autosled, David was the Director of Business Intelligence Engineering at Big Fish Games, one of the world's largest producers and distributors of casual games. He built the big data platform to drive business decisions and analytics with data-driven decision-making as a core company competency. After Churchill Downs acquired Big Fish, Darden also designed and led distributed teams to create new data platforms and products for other companies across the corporation. He then refined his skills as the Director of Data & Analytics at Palmetto, where he led the team that built a modern data platform to support a clean technology software and fulfillment platform. David's passion is driving business performance through advanced technology and approaches that deliver results to diverse groups of customers. Darden's expertise will be a vital part of creating the next-generation automotive transportation logistics platform at Autosled to continue its expansion in the $18 billion vehicle transport industry.

Davids extensive experience in data analytics and customer gamification are things that Autosled wants to leverage in order to help build programs and incentives that match the needs of our customers- both shippers and transporters. The experiences that he brings, having worked with marketplaces, online gaming companies and Microsoft, make him a great addition to Autosleds leadership team." David Sperau, CRO of Autosled

About Autosled

Autosled provides seamless digital vehicle shipment options for dealers, transporters, auctioneers, brokers, and individuals that are relocating. New and used cars, trucks, motorcycles, classic and luxury vehicles are delivered nationwide. Autosled offers enclosed and open door-to-door transport for residences and businesses. Dealers save time and move inventory faster. Services include custom price quotes, secure online payments, electronic accounting and invoicing, online vehicle shipment scheduling, verified transporter insurance and a vetted network. Vehicles delivered through Autosled are protected, with real-time GPS vehicle tracking, and instant communication with transporters throughout the process. For more information, visit: http://www.autosled.com.
Left - Antares NG-17 at launch. Right - Eugene Chan MD holding rHEALTH ONE for spaceflight. This is a marvel of a long collaboration with NASA. The device is designed to provide both comprehensive health information for astronauts while travelling to Mars and accessible autonomous health for all on Earth," said Eugene Chan, MD

rHEALTH announced today that NASA has successfully launched its rHEALTH ONE blood analyzer to space on NASA Commercial Resupply Mission NG-17. The rHEALTH ONE was carried to the International Space Station (ISS) via the NG-17 Cygnus spacecraft, launched by a Northrop Grumman Antares Rocket. The rocket was successfully launched off the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0A on Wallops Island, Virginia, shortly after noon on February 19. The path to the space station included a two-stage rocket launch, with the first stage being approximately three and half minutes, a second-stage burn for two and a half minutes, and then a 2 day transit to the ISS.

The rHEALTH ONE is a universal biomedical analyzer which can analyze a diversity of biomedical analytes from a small drop (8 microliters) of blood, urine, swabs, or other biological fluids. The capabilities of the rHEALTH technology spans a breadth of assay classes, including cell counts, chemistry, small molecules, biomarkers, and nucleic acids. In space, lack of medical assistance, confined environments and real-time communications can exacerbate the challenges in responding to medical emergencies. There is a real and pressing need to obtain medical and research diagnostic information quickly and easily for long-duration space travel. NASAs aim for the technology is to further advance its readiness by showing operation in a real space-environment and provide real terrestrial benefits for all of us.

Present at the launch, Eugene Chan MD, CEO and inventor of the rHEALTH technology, said, This is a marvel of a long collaboration with NASA. The device is designed to provide both comprehensive health information for astronauts while travelling to Mars and accessible autonomous health for all on Earth."

The technology will be operated by NASA astronauts for the technology demonstration in the coming months.

About rHEALTH

rHEALTH is a company focused on the development and commercialization of its Your Health, AnywhereTM technology. The rHEALTH blood sensor is the subject of multiple XPRIZE awards, NASA contracts, and over a dozen issued patents. For more information, visit http://www.rhealth.com.
Garima Warma, E-Rate Senior Account Manager Garima's deep E-Rate experience in large project management methodologies and organizational change management helps us best meet the needs of our clients. By creating a Los Angeles presence and having Garima on site, it allows us to better serve the growing number of clients in the area.

Kellogg & Sovereign, a leading provider of E-Rate consulting services, including E-Rate audit assistance for schools and libraries, announced that Garima Warma joined the firm as E-Rate Senior Account Manager, located in Kellogg & Sovereigns recently created Los Angeles area office.

Jason Ramey, CEO, commented, Were pleased to have Garima join us as we continue to expand our firms geographical footprint. Her deep E-Rate experience in large project management methodologies and organizational change management helps us best meet the needs of our clients. By creating a Los Angeles presence and having Garima on site, it allows us to better serve the growing number of clients in the area.

Garima has over 16 years of experience with E-Rate project management, technical implementation, quality assurance and special compliance consulting. She began her career at Solix in New Jersey and has since grown her knowledge of the E-Rate program through a variety of senior level positions at other firms.

Im pleased to join Kellogg & Sovereign for the opening of its West Coast office, said Garima. As the firm continues to increase its Los Angeles presence, I am confident my E-Rate project management experience and my knowledge in team building and communication will create a solid platform of company collaboration and deliver quality and value to our many clients in the local area.

Garima earned her Business Administration in Accounting from New Jersey City University.

About Kellogg & Sovereign Consulting

Kellogg & Sovereign is a leading provider of professional program management services for schools and libraries in the E-Rate Program, and health care providers in the FCCs Rural Health Care Program. Its clients range from rural K-12 schools, single site libraries and rural health clinics to large urban school districts, library systems and regional health centers.
Reno Renaldo and Adam Warren accept their Golden Gavel awards at the National Trial Lawyers Summit in Miami "It is an honor for our creative work to be recognized once again by The National Trial Lawyers with two more Golden Gavels," said Adam Warren, Co-Founder and CEO of OpenJar Concepts.

OpenJar Concepts, a full-service advertising agency, is pleased to announce that it was awarded Best 60-Second TV Commercial and Best Multimedia Campaign at the Annual Golden Gavel Awards. Hailed as the highest honor for America's premier advertising law firms by the National Trial Lawyers Association, The Golden Gavel Awards recognize and award top legal advertisements in various media categories during the Trial Lawyer Summit in Miami.

"It is an honor for our creative work to be recognized once again by The National Trial Lawyers with two more Golden Gavels," said Adam Warren, Co-Founder and CEO of OpenJar Concepts. "In today's fragmented media universe, most ads require many views to evoke action. We help clients create compelling stories about their brand that are memorable, even when a prospect views an ad only once!"

OpenJar Concepts and its legal marketing brand The Sentinel Group received more nominations than any agency as finalists for Best Billboard, Best Lead Generation Campaign, Best 60-Second TV Commercial, and two for Best Multimedia Campaign.

OpenJar Concepts is a full-service marketing, advertising, and creative design agency growing brands in todays fragmented media universe. Our award-winning team of marketers, producers, lead generation, and mass media experts have the expertise and experience to deliver brands the results they need. With OpenJar, companies achieve their brand awareness, customer acquisition, and revenue goals.

Watch this year's award-winning 60-second "Super Spy" commercial here: https://www.openjar.com/tv-radio/
AdeptID a Finalist in GSV Cup Were looking forward to showcasing at the ASU+GSV Summit how new advances in artificial intelligence can address the current global labor shortage, as well as, speaking on a panel covering Ethical AI with talented folks from Microsoft, SureStart, Riiid and Educate Ventures.

AdeptID has been selected to the Top 20, the acclaimed list of finalists in The GSV Cup  the worlds largest pitch competition for EdTech startups at the 13th Annual ASU+GSV Summit. Companies selected to The Top 20 represent the top pre-seed and seed stage startups in digital learning across the Pre-K to Gray space. AdeptID will now compete for up to $1M in cash and prizes in San Diego this April at the ASU+GSV Summit, the annual education technology event hosted by Arizona State University and GSV Ventures.

AdeptID was selected from an initial applicant pool of 750+ global companies, which was further narrowed to The Elite 200 semifinalists. More than 175 judges from leading venture capital firms and strategic partners in digital learning like Accel, General Atlantic, Reach Capital, and Owl Ventures, among others, used rigorous criteria to determine the Top 20 most promising companies to compete on Stage X at ASU+GSV.

Being chosen for the Elite 200 last year was a great source of momentum, so its exciting that this year well be back and among an even more select few of exciting early-stage companies in San Diego! said Fernando Rodriguez-Villa, CEO of AdeptID. Were looking forward to showcasing at the ASU+GSV Summit how new advances in artificial intelligence can address the current global labor shortage, and I am especially looking forward to speaking on a panel covering Ethical AI with talented folks from Microsoft, SureStart, Riiid and Educate Ventures at the conference this year.

GSV is so proud to recognize an epic group of global edtech founders as our final 20, said Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Ventures and Co-founder of ASU+GSV Summit. These companies have been rigorously evaluated by a judging panel exceeding 90 top venture investors. Congratulations to all!

The Top 20 companies serve learners from Pre-K to Gray, with companies well-distributed across the following categories: Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Education, Adult Consumer Learning, and Adult Enterprise Learning.

The GSV Cup is powered by Google Cloud, HubSpot for Startups, HolonIQ, and GSV Ventures.

See AdeptID and the rest of the companies selected to the GSV Cup at https://www.asugsvsummit.com/gsv-cup-elite-200

ABOUT ADEPTID

AdeptIDs mission is to make job mobility easier for all people, regardless of educational attainment, operating with the mindset that everyone is adept. The company leverages machine learning and ethical AI to identify and advocate for talent in the workforce without college degrees. AdeptID has recently completed a seed funding round of $3.5 million, led by Zeal Capital, with participation from Better Ventures, JFFs Employment Technologies Fund, Alumni Ventures Group, Gaingels, and others. The team is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts but operates globally.

ABOUT GSV VENTURES

GSV Ventures is a female-led, multi-stage venture capital firm focused on the $7+ trillion education sector. The fund is currently investing out of GSV Ventures Fund III and backs innovative entrepreneurs around the world in the "Pre-K to Gray" Arc of Learning. GSV manages over $675 million in global EdTech investments. Portfolio holdings include Andela, Class Technologies, ClassDojo, Coursera, Course Hero, Degreed, Guild, MasterClass, Outlier, Photomath, Quizizz, Lead School, Brightchamps, and ClassPlus, among others.
Crucial wins and accolades punctuate a successful 2021 followed by significant product updates Anuta ATOMs robust low-code workflow solution represents a unique offering in the network automation segment and is designed to support complex, multi-vendor network architectures at a massive scale.

Anuta Networks announced today that it has received the Best Network Automation Solution award from the prestigious Layer123 Network Transformation Awards Event last year. Additionally, the company has released several new product updates and announced key customer wins that further expand its network automation leadership.

The Layer123 Network Transformation Awards 2021 recognizes innovative solutions that facilitate network operational transformation. The winners are selected by an independent panel of judges across different categories. Network automation and cloud-native technology platforms are a great combination that can transform business operations. Our winners recognized in 2021 are doing a great job of ensuring round-the-clock connectivity to keep businesses thriving. We congratulate them all, including Anuta Networks, and cant wait to see what unfolds in the coming year given the application of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud, and edge computing, said Millad Farahani, Research Director, Layer123.

On the heels of these accolades, Anuta Networks customers have a lot to look forward to, given several product enhancements. The Anuta ATOM workflow engine delivers even more powerful features, including predictive analytics, anomaly detection, open API integration, plug-n-play libraries, and reporting for customizable workflows. Network teams can now more easily develop complex Methods of Procedures (MOPs), integrate ATOM within their existing technology stack, generate granular reports, create custom workflows, leverage predictive insights, and resolve performance issues & anomalies proactively instead of waiting to respond to network downtime. Network operators can also monitor their services across various parameters such as the customer, service type, traffic rate, service definition, or traffic trends while at the same time receiving relevant alerts.

Anuta Networks has also launched its server lifecycle automation offering, enabling IT teams to automate the laborious day-0 provisioning process and gain visibility into what is often a massive multi-vendor server infrastructure portfolio. Anuta ATOMs workflow engine automates pre-checks, BIOS and Firmware upgrades, VM installation, and post-checks in addition to offering flexible reports, error management, and recovery.

Anutas customers have also immensely benefitted from the FCAPS capability, which offers complete end-to-end device management, inventory, Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security management all coupled with smooth, error-free software upgrades. The company has also landed many new wins across geographies, including North America, Europe, and Africa, with Tier-1 Service Provider in North America representing the most significant success story for the last calendar quarter.

At Anuta Networks, we believe in the power of innovation. We are honored to receive recognition from Layer123 and are equally excited about the new features introduced in ATOM. We look forward to helping customers automate and transform their network operations. Anuta ATOMs robust low-code workflow solution represents a unique offering in the network automation segment and is designed to support complex, multi-vendor network architectures at a massive scale, said Kiran Sirupa, VP of Marketing at Anuta Networks. ATOMs cloud-native architecture and integration capabilities - powered by 5G, AI, ML, cloud, and IoT - make it an ideal fit for companies that are looking to leverage network automation to simplify deployment and management of complex network operations.

About Anuta Networks:

Anuta Networks is a leading provider of web-scale, on-premises and cloud network orchestration and assurance software for the enterprise branch, campus, data center, and service provider-managed, multi-vendor networks.

The Anuta ATOM orchestration and assurance platform enables customers to automate and accelerate network services. Anuta ATOM offers complete lifecycle service orchestration and telemetry for physical, virtual, and hybrid networks, thus allowing customers to leverage investments in existing network infrastructure and transition them seamlessly to intent-based software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) environments.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Anuta Networks is a Gartner Cool Vendor and Best of VMworld award winner three times.

Follow Anuta Networks on the web at:

http://www.anutanetworks.com

https://anutanetworks.com/anuta-blogs

Twitter (@anutanetworks)

LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/anuta-networks)

PRESS & ANALYST RELATIONS, CONTACT:

Kiran Sirupa

pr@anutanetworks.com

Phone: 408-458-7955
Jordan Henderson, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG AONN+ continues to pioneer navigation, and I am excited to contribute to their continued success.

The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) is pleased to announce that Jordan Henderson, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG, has joined as Director of Program Development.

As an oncology certified nurse, Jordan has served in a multitude of oncology settings including inpatient nursing, chemotherapy infusion, and breast navigation. In her most recent role as survivorship program navigator for Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Jordan led the development of the survivorship program where she had the opportunity to define, create, and enhance survivorship services across the country.

I am thrilled to join AONN+! As a strong patient and navigation advocate, I look forward to enhancing and building meaningful programs that serve our navigators, patients, and caregivers, said Jordan. AONN+ continues to pioneer navigation, and I am excited to contribute to their continued success.

Emily Gentry, BSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, OCN, Senior Director of Education and Program Development for AONN+, said, We feel so fortunate to have Jordan join the AONN+ team. She brings a depth of expertise in oncology navigation and survivorship as well as innovative thinking that will benefit the organization and membership.

Jordan lives in Fort Worth, TX and has a BS degree in nursing from the University of Central Oklahoma.

About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+)

The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process. http://www.aonnonline.org.

About Amplity Medical Communications

Amplity Medical Communications, formerly The Lynx Group, is a premier medical communications and education company acutely focused on oncology and rare disease states. Amplity Medical Communications specializes in market access to and with advanced practice providers, patients, and their caregivers. With more than 100 years of combined senior leadership experience, Amplity Medical Communications continually creates award-winning medical education and cultivates strong relationships within proprietary brands serving patients and their caregivers, physicians, payers, nurses, pharmacists, navigators, and practice managers. Currently, Amplity Medical Communications partners with more than 50 of the top pharma and biotech companies globally.
Brian Waghalter "His entrepreneurial ethos perfectly aligns with our real estate sales professionals who are focused on operating and growing their businesses." Royce Mitchell, Florida Regional President & Broker

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, one of the countrys fastest-growing real estate brokerages with more than 2,000 Realtors and over $8 billion in annual sales volume, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Waghalter as the new Branch Manager & Broker Associate of the companys Gulf Breeze, Florida, branch.

We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Brians caliber and experience to the company, said Florida Regional President and Broker Royce Mitchell. His entrepreneurial ethos perfectly aligns with our real estate sales professionals who are focused on operating and growing their businesses. Brians strategic mindset is sure to take the Gulf Breeze branch to new heights.

Waghalter joins the company with more than a decade of experience in management and operations in the real estate and hospitality industries. An integral member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty team and Manager of Waghalter Real Estate Management since 2017, Brian has become an expert in the Gulf Breeze and greater-Pensacola markets.

Im excited to offer my unparalleled support for our agents and facilitate continued best-in-class service for their clients, said Waghalter. My commitment to the companys values of integrity, innovation, and improvement will shape how I guide our Gulf Breeze agents to achieve and exceed each and every business goal they set.

Waghalter received his bachelors degree in economics from Florida State University. He currently resides with his family in Gulf Breeze and can be reached by phone at 850-932-6278 or by email at brian.waghalter@penfedrealty.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty (http://www.penfedrealty.com) is a full-service real estate company with an annual sales volume of over $8 billion. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., the company has over 2,000 agents and nearly 60 offices, providing complete real estate services nationwide and helping over 20,000 clients with their real estate needs each year. PenFed Realty is a wholly owned subsidiary of PenFed Credit Union and is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network, operated by HSF Affiliates LLC. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Equal Housing Opportunity.
A $500 bonus is available for first responders at Carter County Hyundai for the purchase or lease of select new Hyundai vehicles.

Hyundai has come up with a program to give extra incentives to the professionals we count on in an emergency. Carter County Hyundai is now offering a First Responders Program to drivers in the Ardmore area in Oklahoma. Eligible customers will be given a $500 bonus for the purchase or lease of select new Hyundai vehicles from the dealership. This offer stands valid from April 1, 2021 to Jan. 2, 2023.

The drivers who are eligible for this program must be active First Responders at the commencement of the program period. Customers classified as First Responders under this program include customers who are serving as active Police Officers, State Troopers and Federal Law Enforcement Officers, Sheriffs/Sheriff Deputies, Firefighters (paid or volunteer), Correctional Officers, EMT/Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers and their spouses. New and unused Hyundai vehicles at Carter County Hyundai will be eligible for this program. Please note that for lease contracts, this rebate must be applied toward the Capitalized Cost Reduction or the amount due at lease signing, whereas for finance contracts, the rebate must be applied toward the down payment.

Prospective customers are encouraged to visit the Carter County Hyundai dealership at 616 Holiday Drive, Ardmore, Oklahoma, 73401, in person or browse the official website. Interested drivers can also reach out to the dealerships customer care team at 833-945-0126 for any further information.
By partnering with CDP, we join forces with a like-minded group that aligns with our mission and culture. With their added resources and support, we're excited about the opportunities to grow and look forward to expanding our services for the communities that need it most.

Community Dental Partners (CDP), a dental support organization (DSO) known for its dedication to bringing high-quality dental care to the underserved, is excited to announce its new partnership with OrthoDent, a pediatric and orthodontics-based DSO with 12 locations around Texas. This new collaboration will see CDP providing strategic support and business resources to elevate OrthoDents services, allowing them to do what they do best  deliver top-tier pediatric dentistry and orthodontic care to communities that need it most. At the same time, OrthoDent will allow CDP to offer additional specialty services to patients while learning best practices in regards to this arm of the business from OrthoDents years of experience and expertise.

The partnership with OrthoDent marks the first time a specialty pediatric dentistry and orthodontics brand has joined the network of practices that CDP supports. The companies missions and patients they serve are so aligned that service evolution was not a difficult choice.

Says Dr. Chad Evans, co-founder of CDP, OrthoDent has already done such an amazing job bringing orthodontic care to so many people who normally wouldnt have access to this kind of service - or orthodontic care at all. This same work has always been in our own companys future planning, so adding them to the group of dynamic and mission-based Dental Support Organizations we support couldnt feel more fitting.

In return, we are providing them the support to expand their work in the pediatric dentistry space. What a wonderful win-win for OrthoDent, CDP, and most importantly, the communities that will reap the benefit of this partnership.

Dr. Nieku Manshadi, DDS, Co-Founder and Clinical Director of OrthoDent, adds, "At OrthoDent, our mission from the start has been to increase access to quality, safe, and comfortable specialty dental care in underserved communities. By partnering with CDP, we join forces with a like-minded group that aligns with our mission and culture. With their added resources and support, we're excited about the opportunities to grow and look forward to expanding our services for the communities that need it most."

For CDP, this partnership marks its expansion into new ways of serving the dental community and serving its patients, which the company openly regards as its North Star when executing all their planning and work, from mission creation to taking care of patients.

Says CDP co-founder Emmet Scott, There is a special kind of power and business magic that happens when two companies who want to do good for people and do good business get together. That is what is happening here, and we cannot wait to see what we can extend to communities in Texas together!

Those hoping to learn more about Community Dental Partners and its new orthodontics services can visit them online at CommunityDentalPartners.com.

About OrthoDent:

OrthoDent is a Texas-based Dental Support Organization (DSO) that is dedicated to providing high quality dental management services to dental offices. Their experienced team helps dentists deliver superior dental care in a trusted, friendly, and timely manner that exceeds expectations. OrthoDent places an emphasis on exceptional service, comfort, prevention, and careful attention to detail through state-of-the-art technology. Their vision aims to see their patients smile in a caring environment with a responsive commitment to their feedback, all while alleviating anxiety in order to change their perceptions about dentistry.

About Community Dental Partners:

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Denton, Texas, Community Dental Partners (CDP) is a Dental Support Organization (DSO) led by a mixed team of dental and business veterans working together to solve the needs of todays modern dental professionals. CDP was designed for dentists by dentists who recognized the need to partner with responsible business experts. The DSO offers an entirely innovative service option for the dental industry as they partner with dentists so they can preserve, grow, and enjoy their practice even more than they do today. CDPs unique model includes clinical and business guidance, technology, resources, and relationships that enable their clients to focus on their passion and delegate the areas of the business that dont give them energy.
We see a substantial increase in consumer mobility with clicks for driving directions increasing, further alluding to comfort with in-person interactions. Businesses must be prepared for the influx of in-person customers in 2022," said Ryan Weber, director of client success, Rio SEO.

According to recent research by Rio SEO, the leading provider of an all-in-one local marketing platform proven to increase online visibility, last month's national consumer search behavior revealed a significant year-over-year increase in search trends for the hotel, restaurant, and retail industries.

Hotels saw a 34% increase in total Google Business Profile searches, 44% increase in website conversions, and 62% increase in clicks for directions YoY. Additionally, retailers saw an 8% increase in total searches, an 18% increase in website conversions, and a 15% increase in clicks for directions.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, hotel occupancy rates across the country are expected to hit 63.4% this year, up from 57.6% in 2021, reinforcing Rio SEOs findings. AirDNA data also shows a 35% increase in short-term rental nights booked in the United States in January 2022, and a 12% increase globally, emphasizing the increase in consumer mobility in 2022.

Service businesses, sit-down restaurants, quick-service restaurants, retail, hotel, and healthcare organizations collectively saw YoY increases in local search behavior:



30% average increase in total views

24% average increase in total searches

21% average increase in clicks for directions

This month's data shows a clear continuation of the economic recovery trend since the start of the pandemic. Consumers are becoming more confident in travel, hotel stays, and in-person dining, said Ryan Weber, director of client success, Rio SEO. We see a substantial increase in consumer mobility with clicks for driving directions increasing across the board, further alluding to comfort with in-person interactions. Restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses must be prepared for the influx of in-person customers in 2022.

Additionally, Rio SEO reviewed MoM trends, however, searches increased for apartments and multi-family dwelling listings:



18% increase in total views

44% increase in total clicks

58% increase in clicks to call and clicks to website

It is encouraging to see hotel and travel recovery happening in 2022. There is also a notable shift in restaurant engagement leading into 2022, customers are moving to more in-person dining rather than take-out or delivery, added Weber. We anticipate 2022 trends to be more aligned with 2019, to include more travel, indoor dining, and interacting with friends and family in public spaces.

To see the full analysis, or to request a demo of Rio SEOs comprehensive local marketing platform, visit RioSEO.com

About Rio SEO

Rio SEO is the leading local marketing platform for enterprise brands, agencies, and retailers. Rio SEOs Open Local Platform provides multi-location organizations with a comprehensive, seamlessly integrated suite of turnkey local marketing solutions and reputation management tools  Local Listings, Local Pages, Local Reviews, Local Ratings, Local Reporting and Local Manager  proved to increase brand visibility across search engines, social networks, maps applications and more.

Founded in 2006, Rio SEO ranks among the largest global providers of local search automation solutions and patented SEO reporting tools, driving business from search to sale for corporate brands worldwide. Over 150 enterprise brands and retailers rely on their innovative technology and Rio SEOs local marketing expertise to drive motivated, measurable online traffic to their local websites and into physical stores. Rio SEO currently serves Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries, including retail, finance, insurance, hospitality, and more. For more information, visit rioseo.com or follow @rio_SEO on Twitter.
"Corra Group can provide a mix and match, a hybridized employment screen package that provides background checks for the period these workers have worked in the United States and for the time when they have worked in their native or foreign countries," said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis.

Corra Group has added a full suite of international background checks to it employment screening packages designed to meet government contracts and other engagements where certain contractual mandates are required. The El Segundo, California based background screening service has expanded it international services to include international criminal records searches, education verification, employment verification, and civil records searches. The new government employment screening package is in recognition of client needs to recruit and hire foreign candidates from around the world who will work on a variety of projects, ranging from defense, technology, and construction.

More of our clients are requesting we include international searches to our government and corporate contractual packages, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis. In these times when skilled laborers are at a premium it makes sense that American based companies are hiring from abroad. I would say, judging by our client hires, most candidates who are being actively recruited possess disciplines in technology, finance, and healthcare.

Corra Group can provide a mix and match, a hybridized employment screening package that provides background checks for the period these workers have worked in the United States and for the time when they have worked in their native or foreign countries. In many instances, say, the candidate has worked in the United States for a couple, few years, but worked and went to school in a different country. Government and corporate compliance mandates are such, that it becomes necessary for Corra Group to then creates a package that researches their backgrounds domestically while verifying employment and education in a foreign country. his way all government compliance requirements are satisfied.

Basichis noted that many compliance requirements that for each candidate our client must conduct a background search for no less than seven years. He pointed out that education verification, especially, was a common mandate to meet contractual compliance levels. He added that the a large number of applicants received their undergraduate degree, if not their graduate degree, in a foreign country. He added that international education verification can also raises concerns.

Frankly, people lie about their education, said Basichis. They lie domestically, and they lie about their foreign degrees as well. Its surprising how often this happens. Corra Group works to verify undergraduate and graduate degrees with almost every college and university in the world.

There are any number of companies who have government contracts, said Basichis. Perhaps even more importantly, there are hundreds of smaller companies that contract with larger corporations who in turn have valuable government contracts. The projects they work on can often be sensitive and certainly confidential. Corra Group works with these companies to assist them with the certainty that before they put any worker on the job that worker has met all the contractual mandates.

Corra operates as Corra Group and specializes in employment screening, due diligence, and corporate research. Check it out at http://www.corragroup.com
Director Tim Damon on location We have stayed busy throughout the pandemic because of our mindful, turnkey approach to production

Neither COVID nor climate change nor a worldwide microchip shortage in 2021 slowed down director/cinematographer Tim Damon from completing a lion share of car work. For 2022, the expectations are the same, as demand for content to show off the latest models car/truck models shows no sign of slowing down.

We have stayed busy throughout the pandemic because of our mindful, turnkey approach to production, says Damon, who early on got himself certified early on as a COVID-19 prevention officer. I own all my equipment and maintain my own stages, so agencies never have to venture out. Our military grade satellite system allows creatives unrivaled real-time remote viewing. Clients appreciate our integrated approach to producing digital ad content. Its great for secure, safe shoots.

In 2021, Damon started the year directing multiple spot packages for Honda. In February, the director headed to Arizona to shoot Subaru and Honda. As the weather warmed, Damon oversaw an ambitious 15-spot campaign for Toyota. In the summer heat, the director oversaw shoots for Honda Civic and Hatch models. In Fall, Damon fought off 93 degree heat to helm Hyundais Winter Sales event shoot, then traveled to Detroit to shoot a campaign for Ram Promaster. Before the year was out, Damon also shot Mitsubishi in Montana and Toyota in Oakland, California and Silverton, Colorado.

2022 for Damon should prove just as busy. According to Statista, except for a brief stall in early 2020, automotive industry digital ad spending has increases every year, from $3.61 billion to almost $15 billion in 2021. According to projections, ad spend will continue to increase, to $17 billion in 2022 and $19 billion in 2023. Says Damon. Car and truck makers are enjoying record demand and profits, which bolsters the demand to connect with consumers. Were here to amplify their message with smart production and inspired visuals.

Tim Damons work can be found at http://www.squareplanetmedia.com


Therapy Gym

Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals free standing comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital will be constructed on 4.6 acres of land at 4135 Kings Highway in the heart of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, Florida at the corner of Westchester Blvd and Kings Highway. Everest is known for its unmatched physical rehabilitation patient care and for developing identical, modern, 40,000 square foot, 36-bed, single story physical rehabilitation hospitals. With each of the 36 private rooms complete with contemporary art, 65 flat screen TVs and a private luxury bathroom, staying at Everests hospitals are more compared to a luxury hotel versus a typical hospital setting. Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals are predesigned with an option to add an additional 17 private rooms should the market dictate the need for expansion.

To better serve the needs of patients, Everest hospitals include spacious, technologically advanced equipped inpatient and outpatient physical therapy gyms, a large outdoor mobility courtyard for therapeutic use, aqua therapy, a completely furnished life skills training apartment with a full kitchen and bathroom, in-house dialysis, and an in-house pharmacy. Everest understands the importance of the support system surrounding the patients as well. Included in the facility are several family gathering areas, an extra-large dining hall and an outdoor patio. The hospital will serve patients recovering from stroke, brain injury, neurological conditions, trauma, spinal cord injury, speech impediments, amputation, pulmonary disease, orthopedic injury, COVID-19, and other medically complex conditions.

Everest Rehabilitation Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida will create over 100 jobs and provide for an $8 million-dollar a year payroll to the community. We are ecstatic for the opportunity to serve the Port Charlotte, North Port, Rotonda, Punta Gorda, Placida, Venice, Englewood, Warm Mineral Springs and the surrounding communities. We absolutely believe that patients thrive when their environment and their level of care surpass their expectations. The level of care in our acute physical rehabilitation hospital setting cannot be provided at other levels of care such as skilled nursing facilities (SNF). The average length of stay at a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation hospital is one-third of a typical stay at a skilled nursing facility with far better results. Jay Quintana, Everest Rehabilitations CEO said. We provide one to one physical therapy, five to seven days a week, daily medical visits by rehabilitation physicians and a strong 24 hour a day nurse to patient ratio that contributes to optimal outcomes and the highest quality of care.

Everest Rehabilitation Hospital Port Charlotte will feature a comprehensive interdisciplinary physician-led experienced team of rehabilitation therapists focused on increasing patient strength and endurance and improving quality of life in a modern, state of the art setting.

About Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals, LLC

Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals LLC, based in Dallas, Texas, is a multispecialty acute care physical rehabilitation hospital company focused on providing high quality, physical rehabilitation care. Everest is passionate about patient care; striving to create healing and nurturing environments for all patients that not only meet their medical needs but address their emotional and social needs as well. Patients are guided through the necessary steps to reclaim daily life, recover function, and return to an optimal quality of life by combining the latest treatments, technologies, and research with a unique interdisciplinary team approach involving the patient and family from day one. Everest provides the highest level of care available to patients with disabilities caused by injuries or illnesses, or from traumatic accidents.

http://www.everestrehab.com

Jay Quintana, CEO/ Co-Founder

jquintana(at)everestrehab.com

469-713-1145
The job fair was extraordinary. I went to learn about the different career paths I can take. I met a lot of wonderful professionals and got the help and information I needed to pursue my dreams.

College students and recent graduates can learn more about cybersecurity and its varied career opportunities at the Community College Cyber Summit (3CS) Career Exploration event on Tuesday, May 24, at Sinclair Community College in Centerville, Ohio.

During these times when more activities and jobs are conducted online, the need for more cybersecurity experts is expanding. This Career Exploration event will help participants understand the field and learn about potential career paths. Two- and four-year college and university students as well as recent graduates will have the chance to interact with professionals in the field. They also will be able to attend 3CS, which is being held May 23-25.

Regional and national companies as well as government agencies and universities will be in attendance to share their openings and advancement prospects. Over 400 college faculty and workforce development professionals from across the U.S. will be at 3CS. Attendees also will be able to learn about different education programs and discuss cyber skills and opportunities.

The job fair was extraordinary. I went to learn about the different career paths I can take. I met a lot of wonderful professionals and got the help and information I needed to pursue my dreams, said a past Career Exploration attendee.

Financial support is available for students interested in attending 3CS, which also allows entry into the Career Exploration event. Applications for financial support run through Feb. 28. For more information or to register, visit http://www.my3cs.org/career-exploration-2022.

About Community College Cyber Summit:

The Community College Cyber Summit (3CS) is organized and produced by the National CyberWatch Center, National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), and National Cybersecurity Training and Innovation Center (NCyTE), which are all funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The outcomes of 3CS will leverage community college cybersecurity programs across the nation by introducing the latest technologies, best practices, curricula, products, and more. To learn more, visit http://www.my3cs.org.


Emerging research has shed light on the success of high-impact, 1:1 online tutoring in addressing students disrupted learning. On March 1, education leaders can discover more about how the practice closes learning gaps resulting from lost instructional time.

WHAT: Webinar for curriculum and instruction directors, principals and chief academic officers

WHO: Annie Galvin Teich, Education Writer and Moderator

Christopher Devers, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Researcher, JoinIn Ventures

Dr. Yvette Foster, Director of Teaching and Learning at Richmond County (GA) School System

Mark King Ed.D., Instructional Lead Executive Director, Baltimore City (MD) Public Schools

WHEN: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 2:00 PM EST

REGISTER: https://info.fevtutor.com/buyers-guide-webinar-2022

Emerging research has shed light on the success of high-impact, 1:1 online tutoring in addressing students disrupted learning. On March 1, education leaders can discover more about how the practice closes learning gaps resulting from lost instructional time.

Education writer frequent magazine contributor Annie Galvin Teich will moderate this panel discussion about supporting students with research-based, 1:1 online tutoring. On the panel will be Dr. Mark King, the instructional lead executive director of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) in Baltimore, Maryland. Also participating will be Dr. Yvette Foster, the director of teaching and learning at the Richmond County School System in Georgia. The third panelist will be Dr. Christopher Devers, the co-founder of JoinIn Ventures, an organization using research and data analysis to help education companies and policymakers evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Drs. Devers, Foster and King will discuss their experience with comprehensive, high-impact tutoring and how it is improving student learning outcomes. Attendees will learn:



What high-impact tutoring is and is not

The key elements to a successful implementation

How data and relationships drive the process

There is no cost to join the webinar, but registration is required. For more information, please go to https://info.fevtutor.com/buyers-guide-webinar-2022.

About the Panelists:

Dr. Mark King supervises almost a dozen K-8 schools in BCPLS, including six priority schools. He is also the executive director of the Community Learning Network #6 (CLN-6) in Baltimore, Maryland. CLN-6s goal is to accelerate learning outcomes and boost proficiency rates while placing students on the path to college and career readiness.

Dr. Yvette Foster began her career teaching English at the middle and high school levels before serving four years as an assistant principal and seven years as a principal. During that time, she was named the Georgia Middle Level National Distinguished Principal (2016) and her school was designated as a National Lighthouse School to Watch (2015). She has also served as the president of the Georgia Middle School Association and has presented at local, state, and national educational conferences

In addition to running JoinIn Ventures, Dr. Christopher Devers is an assistant professor and is interested in applied metacognitive processes and how people learn. Specifically, he explores learning using videos, mobile devices, and in online environments. He is also interested in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and student success.

About FEV Tutor

Based in Boston, FEV Tutor is the leading research and evidence-based online tutoring platform working nationally to effect change in K-12 education. Its ESSA-approved programs are strategically designed in close collaboration with each partner school, district, charter school, and other organizations to accelerate learning for every student. FEV Tutor leverages technology to deliver 1:1 high-impact and transformative personalized learning pathways through live, virtual tutoring sessions. For more information on FEV Tutor, visit fevtutor.com or follow on Twitter.

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Fusion3 EDGE Professional 3D Printer EDGE encapsulates Fusion3's nine years of industry experience, accumulated feedback from customers, and our vision for the changes needed to drive mainstream, commercial adoption of FDM 3D printing,

Fusion3 announces the availability of the company's new EDGE professional 3D printer. Priced at only $6,999, EDGEs performance is best in its price category and provides many capabilities usually found in expensive industrial 3D printers. Reimagined from the ground up, EDGE delivers on all fronts: best-in-class speed, large build volume, excellent surface quality, tight tolerances when printing high-temperature materials, ease of use, and durability for 24x7 operation.

"EDGE encapsulates Fusion3's nine years of industry experience, accumulated feedback from customers, and our vision for the changes needed to drive mainstream, commercial adoption of FDM 3D printing," says Kate Padgett, Fusion3 Founder & CTO. "With EDGE, we achieve astounding levels of speed, print quality, and durability through the upgrade of our F-Series Motion Control system with high-quality linear rails, the development of a new patent-pending print head system for greater performance and customer serviceability, and the design and implementation of new control systems to create better user experiences and ensure successful print outcomes."

Features of the new Fusion3 EDGE 3D printer include:

Exceptional Print Quality & Speed: Validated through millions of operating hours with thousands of customers, EDGE utilizes Fusion3's "F-Series" platform, with upgraded motion control components including all-new linear rails, Gates 2GT2 belts, and specially tuned stepper motors. EDGE attains category leading print speed at standard print settings with tremendous improvements in print quality. EDGE enables unique features such as a new "Fast Mode" for printing certain materials at 200MM/sec using a .4MM print head.

ANVIL Print Head System: Fusion3's patent-pending ANVIL print head system incorporates a surgical steel print tube instead of a traditional screw-in 3D printer nozzle. Use of a single print tube provides faster printing and is wear-resistant for use with abrasive filaments such as carbon fiber or fiberglass-reinforced filament. In addition, the single tube design is more reliable, eliminating the chance of leakage. ANVIL is easier to maintain translating to lower operating cost.

Large, Enclosed, Heated Print Area: EDGE's passively heated build area, which heats up to 70*C, can print parts as large as 14" x14" x14.5" (1.64 cu ft), ensuring excellent print results when printing high-temperature, engineering-grade materials such as ABS and Polycarbonate.

Easy to Operate and Maintain: Successful print outcomes with EDGE start with its new bed leveling system. EDGE comes standard with a " aluminum tool plate print bed and a standard glass surface. This reference surface, coupled with our proprietary, ultra-light touch probe, enables EDGE's mesh probe bed leveling system to ensure a near-perfect first layer for each print. In addition, EDGE incorporates a separate interface controller, powered by its own 64-bit ARM processor with 7" touchscreen. This control system powers robust remote management capabilities and even reminds customers of recurring maintenance tasks. Future updates envision features including customer notifications and status updates via email and text.

Durable & Reliable: EDGE also features Fusion3s V3 extruder with a new belt drive system and upgraded filament detection monitor that can be tuned to different detection settings based on the material printed. Combined with the new linear rail system and bed leveling, EDGE is robust and durable for use in the most demanding environments.

Widest Range of 3D Printable Materials: Fusion3's rigorous material testing and certification process ensures that customers will successfully print the widest range of materials purchased from a variety of quality suppliers. Using the " aluminum tool plate print bed with glass print surface (standard), our customers print materials from all major categories including (but not limited to): PLA, ABS, ASA, Reinforced Materials including Carbon Fiber, Kevlar and Fiberglass, Flexible, Nylons, PET/PETG and Polycarbonate. With the addition of an optional magnetic tool plate and various optional magnetic print surfaces, customers can now print new materials, including Polypropylene, PVDF, and 316L Stainless Steel. Fusion3 provides customers with optimized settings for these materials within our bundled REACTOR 3D printing software, ensuring certified materials print successfully "out of the box."

Focus on security: Many of Fusion3's customers wish to safeguard their proprietary and sensitive information within the 3D printing workflow. The company offers two versions of EDGE to meet the different security needs of our customers. The Standard Version of EDGE has a USB port, wired and wireless networking, and convenience features to actively communicate status beyond the device. Fusion3 designed the Secure Version of EDGE for companies, government, military, and similar organizations with strict information security guidelines. This version ships with only wired Ethernet networking, a locked USB port, restricted communication features, and ships with the Offline Activation version of our REACTOR 3D printing software which does not use the internet for license activation or updating.

Safety & Comfort: The fully-enclosed EDGE protects users from contact with hot surfaces. EDGE includes a new door interlock feature, which pauses prints if a user opens the door. Fusion3 offers an optional HEPA & Carbon filter air filter for locations without adequate ventilation, which helps contain potentially harmful emissions. Perfect for the office or classroom, EDGE is only 37.5db when printing.

Best Warranty & Support In 3D Printing: Fusion3's 3D printers are used in intensive applications by demanding customers. Our customers put their 3D printers through intensive use (and abuse) and require them to run on a 24/7 basis. Fusion3 provides a 2-Year warranty (the longest standard warranty offered in 3D printing) and FREE lifetime phone & email support (staffed by our expert factory technicians, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm US Eastern Time).

To learn more about the Fusion3 EDGE and request detailed pricing (including freight shipping to any destination in the world), please visit https://www.fusion3design.com/edge-3d-printer/

ABOUT FUSION3

Fusion3 designs and manufactures affordable, high-performance 3D printers for commercial, education, government and military customers. The companys products excel at 3d printing, high-quality large parts, and large volume production at high speeds using engineering-grade materials. Fusion3 designs, manufactures, and supports its 3D printers from its North Carolina, United States facilities, offers the best standard warranty in 3D printing, and provides commercial-grade service and support. To learn more about Fusion3, visit https://www.fusion3design.com

To experience the new Fusion3 EDGE 3D printer, Fusion3 offers live online video demonstrations each week. Customers may view the schedule of times and register in advance at: https://www.fusion3design.com/3d-printer-demonstration/

Press who wish a video demonstration are asked to contact: press@fusion3design.com

Fusion3 will have the new EDGE on display at the following upcoming events: 2022 Design & Manufacturing West, April 12th-14th, Booth 3714 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California. Rapid+TCT 2022, May 17th-19th, Booth 1023 at Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan.

Full media kit and downloadable assets can be found at: https://www.brandox.com/fusion3/
"We are thankful for the partnership with Genomenon and the support they will provide as we search for a treatment and cure for all children suffering with BPAN." Kelly Kozole, Executive Director, Dont Forget Morgan

Genomenon, Inc. recently announced a partnership with Dont Forget Morgan, a nonprofit support organization focused on rare disease patients living with Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN), a progressive disease causing abnormal iron deposits in the brain leading to profound developmental delays. The goal of this collaboration is to provide resources to assist researchers and encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest in finding effective treatments for BPAN, as well as empower patient care teams with actionable genetic information.

Based in Michigan, Dont Forget Morgan was established in 2020 by Kelly Kozole, a Detroit Lions SVP and Christina Ftikas, a Senior Director at Xerox Corporation, mothers of children with BPAN. Bound by a common struggle, Kelly, Christina, and other BPAN Moms have worked tirelessly to present decision makers at leading hospitals and research institutions with a case for more aggressive BPAN research. As a result of these efforts, Dont Forget Morgan has funded research programs at major facilities, including the University of Michigan and Sanford Research, and co-funded with Harpers Hope Foundation for a gene therapy research grant at Massachusetts General Hospital. Additional grants are currently under review. Also, a BPAN Clinic focused on custom medical care was created at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). These activities all serve a common goal: to support families dealing with this ultra-rare disease by facilitating access to scientific research and community resources.

Contributing to this vision, Genomenon was able to use artificial intelligence (AI) to quickly identify, assemble, and deliver a curated Genomic Landscape with 129 unique genetic variants found within WDR45, a gene linked to BPAN. This annotated genomic data provides an extensive overviewas well as profound insightsfor all researchers working on the disease.

The goal of our partnership is to accelerate the discovery of a treatment for BPAN. The comprehensive genomic landscape of this genetically-driven disease enables researchers to more quickly identify the molecular drivers of the disease and validate drug targets, said Mike Klein, CEO of Genomenon. We hope to take years off the front end of the drug discovery process with the use of this genetic knowledge and shorten the time to develop a treatment that can save these childrens lives.

We are thankful for the partnership with Genomenon and the support they will provide as we search for a treatment and cure for all children suffering with BPAN, said Kelly Kozole, Executive Director of Dont Forget Morgan.

The Dont Forget Morgan team consists of volunteer professionals with diverse experiences and perspectives in rare disease research, drug development, patient advocacy, and clinical care. Their ability to access the Genomic Landscape for BPAN will play an important role in expediting the global BPAN research process. Together, Genomenon and Dont Forget Morgan are not only working to support families during those essential first years of diagnosis, but also providing a solid foundation for pharmaceutical companies to begin the search for a curewith a resource that would otherwise take years to assemble.

For a firsthand perspective on how this collaboration is creating hope for patients and their families, read our guest blog featuring a Dont Forget Morgan advisor and BPAN Mom.

About Genomenon

Genomenon is an AI-driven genomics company that organizes the worlds genomic knowledge to connect patient DNA to scientific research in the diagnosis and development of treatments for patients with rare genetic diseases and cancer.

For more information, visit Genomenon.com

About Dont Forget Morgan

Dont Forget Morgan is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about BPAN while also providing a shared sense of community for families with children who have BPAN. They are also fundraising for BPAN research in the hopes that treatments can be developed to help Morgan and children like her maintain the growth and progress that they work so hard to make.

For more information, visit DontForgetMorgan.org
There are not enough books about Israel in the Christian fiction category. I wrote this book because this is the kind of story I like to read and nobody else was writing books like this. I also wanted to bless and inspire my readers with the Biblical truth that God will always love Israel, the apple of His eye, Janice Reneau Clendennen states. In The Messenger: Book One of the Messenger Series (published by LifeRich Publishing), she tells a gripping adventure set in modern-day Israel in which a message from God sparks a conflict between the forces of good and evil.

Former fashion model Sarah Shaw is an advocate for victims of human trafficking. As a Christian who is also Jewish, she believes in the Messiah and has the ability to receive messages from HaShem (The Name). While in Jerusalem to speak at a human trafficking conference, Shaw meets Israels prime minister, Natan Shafir, at an independence celebration. After he invites Sarah to give a presentation to a human rights committee at his office, she makes several attempts to schedule this appointment, she is thwarted each time by a member of his staff.

As she prepares to leave Israel, Shaw receives instructions from the Lord to personally deliver a warning to Prime Minister Shafir. When she finally succeeds in relaying the message, the resulting events plunge them both into an adventure that threatens their lives and the future of Israel. While fleeing from an unknown enemy with unlimited resources, Shafir and Shaw are rendered helpless and vulnerable. Their only hope lies in the protection and provision of the God of Israels protection and provision as Shafir discovers the lengths HaShem will go for his beloved country.

In our culture, with news outlets that follow a certain agenda which is often hostile to Israel and to Jews, this book offers a different perspective  a Biblical perspective  that challenges that anti-Israel bias. It will appeal to Christians who support Israel and who believe that God has not forsaken Israel, Clendennen says. When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, she answers, I want them to enjoy the story, most of all, and to consider that God's promises to Israel have never been revoked, that He still has a purpose and a plan for Israel. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.liferichpublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/821514-the-messenger

The Messenger: Book One of the Messenger Series

By Janice Reneau Clendennen

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 388 pages | ISBN 9781489736314

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 388 pages | ISBN 9781489736307

E-Book | 388 pages | ISBN 9781489736321

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Janice Reneau Clendennen was born in Kansas, grew up in Oklahoma, and has lived in Texas for the past 35 years. She earned an associates degree in art from Central College and graduated from Bethany Nazarene College with a degree in English and fine arts. She lives with her husband in North Texas where she is an active leader and teacher in her church.

LifeRich Publishing, the strategic publishing partnership of Readers Digest and Author Solutions, LLC, was created to provide all writers a platform for sharing their stories, recipes, advice and more. LifeRich authors will benefit from a wealth of editorial design, marketing and education resources, specially created by Readers Digest editors for the enrichment of these LifeSmart individuals. Books can be published in print, ebook or audio formats, with additional distribution to up to 25 million Readers Digest customers through its online properties. For more information or to publish a book, please visit liferichpublishing.com or call 844-686-9607.
Today with nine partners, 12 business units, over 150 corporate clients, and an eight-figure annual revenue, T3 Sixty has become an integral part of the residential real estate industry. Stefan Swanepoel, Chairman and CEO, T3 Sixty

T3 Sixty, a real estate management consulting and analytics firm, has named company president Jack Miller as CEO, effective May 3, 2022. He will take over the role from real estate industry icon Stefan Swanepoel, who founded the influential company in 1998 and led it as CEO since. Miller, who has been with T3 Sixty since 2013, will continue to hold the president role and report to Swanepoel, who will move to executive chairman and remain the firms largest shareholder.

Miller, whom Swanepoel considers a protege, has two decades of real estate industry experience and has held management and executive roles in real estate franchising, franchise ownership, brokerages and management consulting organizations. With a formal education in electrical and computer engineering, Miller becomes the companys second CEO in a quarter century. All 12 T3 Sixty business units, the majority of which are led by one of the six associate partners in the company  Dean Cottrill, Travis Saxton, Kelly White, Paul Hagey, Darlene Lyons and Mitch Robinson  will report to Miller.

The appointment coincides with a number of other company promotions. Tinus Swanepoel, eldest son of Stefan Swanepoel, a partner and an 18-year veteran with the company, is being promoted to The Office of the President, and will work closely with Miller to oversee the data, publishing and events business units.

In addition, Dean Cottrill, senior vice president and head of T3 Brokerage Consulting, and Travis Saxton, senior vice president and head of T3 Technology Consulting, have been promoted to executive vice president of their respective divisions, in recognition of their huge contributions to the company. Paul Hagey, who has served four years as executive editor under Swanepoel, takes over as the new editor-in-chief of all T3 publications.

These promotions come in the midst of significant growth in T3 Sixtys scope and impact across its 12 business units. For example, T3 Talent, which provides the industry targeted executive search services, placed over 120 executives over the last two years, including a dozen CEO and other C-suite positions, while the T3 Events Group, which specializes in organizing and producing great industry events, will manage over 50,000 hotel rooms for companies such as eXp Realty, Weichert Realtors, Realty One Group, Sothebys International Realty and Homes for Heroes this year.

The vision to create a one-stop turnkey business management consultancy  Research and Analysis, Strategic Consulting, Management Mentoring, Executive Recruiting and Event Management  was adopted in the 2014 T3 Sixty business plan, said Stefan Swanepoel. Today with nine partners, 12 business units, over 150 corporate clients, and an eight-figure annual revenue, T3 Sixty has become an integral part of the residential real estate industry.

Swanepoel, a 40-year real estate veteran and a CEO/president of a dozen companies, including a real estate franchisor, data company, REALTOR Association, MLS and two brokerage companies, founded T3 Sixty in 1998. Miller joined the T3 family in 2013 after serving as chief technology officer at innovative independent brokerage The GoodLife Team and various senior technology and management roles at Keller Williams Realty. In 2015, Swanepoel promoted Miller to president of T3 Sixty and placed him on the track to become the companys next CEO. Millers appointment will occur at T3 Sixtys annual real estate executive think-tank, the T3 Summit, in San Antonio, Texas, in early May.

Jack has reached every goal set for him over the past seven years, and set numerous benchmarks required to excel at the highest level. I am extremely proud of how Jack has developed into one of the highest quality and most effective leaders in the residential real estate industry, Swanepoel said. With Miller now only 48, T3 Sixty has an experienced powerhouse to serve the industry for the next 25 years.

T3 Sixty serves over 150 corporate clients at any given time, including companies such as Compass, Century 21, Sothebys International Realty, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, NextHome, Realty One Group, Fathom Realty, Real Brokers, Zillow Group, MoxiWorks, Bright MLS, CoreLogic, CRMLS, LeadingRE, Howard Hanna Real Estate Group, Canadian Real Estate Association, DocuSign, Equifax and Facebook.

Most recognized for its publications and analytics, T3 Sixty is the publisher of the Swanepoel Trends Report, an annual analysis of the top trends shaping the industry now in its eighteenth year. Swanepoels earliest studies of the U.S. real estate industry date back to the Real Estate Confronts series, the first of 10 studies launched in 1997. Subsequent transformative studies such as: Real Estate Confronts Technology (1999), Real Estate Confronts e-Consumer (2000), Real Estate Confronts Profitability (2002) and Real Estate Confronts the Future (2004) accurately identified and outlined trends a decade before they materialized. T3 Research has won best in class by Amazon, silver and bronze medals from AXIOM and gold from the Real Estate Editors Association.

T3 Sixty achieved market intelligence dominance in 2019 when it introduced the Real Estate Almanac, an annual compendium of data related to the industrys leading executives, brokerages, holding companies, franchisors, MLSs, local and state REALTOR associations and technology service providers. The project began in 2014 with the launch of the SP 200, the ranking of the 200 most powerful leaders in the residential brokerage industry, and followed every year with the addition of another sector of the industry. The Real Estate Almanac tabulates and ranks thousands of key industry participants every year into a 400-page book, by far the largest and most significant of its kind in the industry.

With more than 55 books and reports under his belt as author, co-author and/or editor-in-chief, Stefan Swanepoel is the most prolific writer and researcher in the residential real estate brokerage industry, and as entrepreneur he guided T3 Sixty into becoming one of the most respected and trusted brands in the residential real estate industry in the United States.

About T3 Sixty

T3 Sixty is the leading management consultancy in the residential real estate industry with business units in brokerage, technology, mergers and acquisitions, and organized real estate. The group also provides software and data, extensive research and reports, executive search and event management services. For more, visit t360.com.
Tracy Albert and David M.V. Barnes Join JD Merit to Expand West Coast Presence "We are thrilled to bring back together these two senior investment banking executives with such great track records of success working together. As industry veterans, both Tracy and David bring a wealth of experience and deep knowledge to JD Merit with careers spanning more than three decades."

JD Merit and Company, a leading Boutique Investment Bank focused on serving middle-market technology-forward companies, is pleased to announce that Tracy Albert and David M.V. Barnes have joined the Company as Vice Chairman and Managing Director, respectively in the companys Los Angeles office.

Mr. Albert and Mr. Barnes worked together previously at Houlihan Lokey, where Mr. Albert founded Business Forums International (BFI), and Mr. Barnes was the original architect of the Financial Sponsor Coverage Group.

Mr. Albert is responsible for the senior planning and strategic direction of the company, directing the expansion into several key industry verticals including Intelligent Infrastructure (Robotics, Automation, AI), Renewable Energy, Tech-Enabled Services, and Manufacturing, SaaS, and eCommerce/CPG.

Mr. Barnes will continue to cultivate and execute M&A and financing opportunities via his vast network of relationships with private equity funds, family offices, independent sponsors, and founder-owned businesses.

We are thrilled to bring back together these two senior investment banking executives with such great track records of success working together. As industry veterans, both Tracy and David bring a wealth of experience and deep knowledge to JD Merit with careers spanning more than three decades. Mr. Albert has built a vast network of business contacts and close personal relationships across a broad spectrum of industries, while Mr. Barnes has a proven ability to build and monetize relationships in the private equity and family office universe. David and I first worked together from 1993-96 at Coopers Lybrand Securities (now PWC) and then again at JD Ford & Company from 2014-2016. I am excited to be collaborating with him again, said Joseph Durnford, Chairman of JD Merit.

I am incredibly excited to join the team here at JD Merit to leverage my contact base and build upon the great work they have done as an award-winning boutique investment bank, said Tracy Albert.

It is an honor and a pleasure to partner again with Tracy Albert to replicate the success we had at our prior firm and build the west coast presence of JD Merit into a powerhouse, said David Barnes.

Prior to joining JD Merit, Mr. Albert was the Head of the Western Region for Deloitte Corporate Finance. Mr. Barnes most recently executed an unprecedented Buy & Build strategy in the PV solar industry, creating Lumio, the fourth largest PV solar company in the country.

Mr. Albert has a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Barnes has an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA and a bachelor's degree from Harvard University.

About JD Merit

JD Merit is a leading Boutique Investment Bank focused on serving middle-market technology-forward companies. JD Merit executes sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and capital advisory services with specific emphasis on the technology, software, consumer, telecom/ wireless, and manufacturing / Industry 4.0 sectors. In addition, JD Merit offers other Investment banking services such as debt and equity capital raises, restructuring advisory services, business valuations, and project financing through its subsidiary, JD Merit Securities, member FINRA / SIPC, a full-service Broker-Dealer licensed in 50 states.
Dolphins swimming in New Smyrna Beach New Smyrna Beach, Fla. is a very popular destination for spotting dolphin in their natural habitat.

New Smyrna Beach, Fla., located along Floridas sparkling Central East Coast, is the perfect place to get back to nature and spot dolphins thriving in their natural habitat, with the most commonly found being the bottlenose dolphin. The area has a plethora of locations ideal for finding these creatures, including boat tours, waterfront restaurants, attractions and more.

 Marine Discovery Center  The Marine Discovery Center, a non-profit that seeks to educate others on and preserve aquatic biospheres, offers daily boat eco-tours of the Indian River Lagoon, North Americas most biologically diverse estuary. During the tour, an expert guide leads a 40-passenger boat on an educational expedition to observe and learn about the variety of land and sea creatures native to the area. Wildlife such as dolphins, manatees and shorebirds can be spotted during the tour. MDC offers many two to three-hour boat tours, offered at various times throughout the day, for the best chance to see New Smyrna Beachs abundance of wildlife.

 The Black Dolphin Inn  At the Black Dolphin Inn, a boutique bed and breakfast along the Indian River, dolphins can often be seen right from the hotels dock. Bottlenose dolphins and other species that are spotted here swim right by, making it the perfect place to stay and to get a glimpse of the creatures.

 Waterfront Dining  Many of New Smyrna Beach's waterfront restaurants offer a great place to spot dolphins. Outriggers Tiki Bar and Grill, located along the beautiful Indian River, consists of a restaurant, marina and fishing store all in one. Dolphins can be spotted in the marsh near the marina and from the restaurants outdoor patio overlooking the water. Additionally, River Deck Tiki Bar and Restaurant is a great place to get a glimpse of flippered friends. River Decks outdoor dining and uniquely constructed sandy white beach seating areas overlook the Indian River. While enjoying a cocktail or delicious seafood, dolphins can be spotted along the waterfront.

 Outdoor Spaces  Many of NSBs waterfront parks, beautiful creeks and blueways offer ample opportunities for dolphin spotting. Riverside Park is one of many scenic places to find these creatures in their natural habitat. The waterfront park is located along the Indian River and has walking paths, restrooms, a playground, a boardwalk and a fishing pier. Dolphins are best seen walking along the boardwalk and fishing pier. In addition to the plethora of spots along the Indian River, dolphins can be seen in salty waterways such as Indian Creek.

These are just a few places to spot this mammal of the sea. Be on the lookout along the waterfront throughout all of New Smyrna Beach for the best opportunity to see flippered friends in action. For more information about New Smyrna Beachs dolphin spotting and wildlife, please visit https://visitnsbfl.com/.

About the New Smyrna Beach Area

The New Smyrna Beach area includes the communities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Osteen and Port Orange in east Central Florida. New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as real as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. The citys barrier island is recognized worldwide for its incredible surf with Surfer magazine recently touting it one of the Best Surf Towns in America and National Geographic magazine including it in its Worlds Top 20 Surf Towns.

Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North Americas most diverse estuary  the Indian River Lagoon.

Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.

For more information, please visit http://www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. Download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on-the-go.
Lexington Toyota Adds the 2022 Toyota Tundra to Its Inventory

Ardent Toyota fans have all the reasons to rejoice as Lexington Toyota in Lexington, Massachusetts, has welcomed the 2022 Toyota Tundra to its dealership. The Toyota Tundra has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as one of the most robust full-size trucks in the automotive industry and comes with a laundry list of features. Interested shoppers are advised to head over to the dealership's official website to find more details about this spectacular truck.

Toyota has endowed the Tundra with a much-needed design overhaul for the 2022 model year, which is expected to increase the sales of the truck. One of the more notable features of the 2022 Tundra is that this is the only full-size pickup truck on the market that does not come with a V-8 engine. However, its twin-turbo, V-6 engine comes in three potencies and helps the truck deliver a terrific performance. Other key enhancements of the 2022 Toyota Tundra include a new rear suspension, enhanced interior design, and an overhauled frame.

Additionally, the 2022 Tundra is also capable of towing up to 12,000 pounds, which is not exactly class-leading but shall suffice the towing needs of most truck owners. A reinforced composite bed also comes as standard and lends to the overall strength and capabilities of this spectacular truck.

Interested customers are advised to check the inventory of the dealership for the availability of the trims of the 2022 Toyota Tundra. Lexington Toyota is located at 409 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420. Those looking for more information on the Tundra can dial 781-325-8558 to reach out to the dealership's sales team.
Toycen Ford made the decision to expand in order to better serve customers throughout the region. Customers in these locations can expect quality vehicle services provided by factory trained technicians. Services include general vehicle maintenance, oil, tire, and brake services, and general repair services, all at a competitive price.

Besides general services and maintenance, Toycen Ford also carries a wide selection of new and pre-owned vehicles. Customers can browse the extensive fleet of Ford vehicles and speak to Toycen Fords sales team for more information on test drives, trade-ins, and purchasing options.

Toycen Ford is owned and operated by the Toycen family. For 70 years the Toycen Family has been serving the Chippewa Valley, helping friends and neighbors buy their dream vehicle or maintain their current one. With the expansion of their services to surrounding areas, the Toycen family is excited for what the next 70 years will bring.

About Toycen Ford:

Toycen Ford is a full service Ford dealership located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Toycen Ford carries a top notch selection of brand new vehicles as well as an extensive inventory of pre-owned vehicles. Toycen Ford is committed to providing quality customer service throughout the region, ensuring expert finance, service, and parts centers in house. Contact Toycen Ford by phone at (888)-306-8814 or through their website and connect with Toycen Ford on Facebook.
NY State Democratic Convention 2022 With the click of a button, members were able to cast their vote and immediately see it visualized in real time on the screens.

NY State Democratic Party owns a 300-keypad electronic voting system from Meridia Interactive Solutions that allows them to compile weighted votes from each delegate, their proxies, and visually display the voting process in real time. For their Party Convention on February 17th, Meridia also provided expert on-site technical support at the New Yorks Sheraton Time Square Hotel as the stakes were high in nominating the Partys candidate for the New York Governor.

The voting system was connected in real time to the registration, so that delegates who came to cast their ballot could claim their voting device and adjust the weight of their vote depending on how many proxies they were carrying. This information was transferred to the voting system periodically as more participants joined, so that each delegates vote was accurately weighted. With the click of a button, members were able to cast their vote and immediately see it visualized in real time on the screens. Each weighted vote was then calculated automatically by the software, eliminating the need for manual vote counting and significantly speeding up the process.

With the Meridia voting system, counting over 190 votes only took a matter of seconds, and the winner was declared shortly after independent verification of the results.

Company

Since 1970, Meridia Interactive Solutions has been providing electronic voting solutions for small and medium governments, such as associations, unions, towns, cities and other municipalities, as well as education and training organizations.

Combining the experience with the latest in web technology and secure, proprietary radio frequency hardware, Meridia is now enabling audiences around the world to cast their vote and be part of the meeting, whether its in-person, remote, or in a hybrid setting.
Today, Nacha's Payments Innovation Alliance announced its 2022-2023 Advisory Committees. Working with Nacha staff, the Advisory Committees serve a leadership role to identify and address some of the most important issues facing the payments industry and provide strategic direction to the Alliance. They will be coming together with the entire membership for the first Alliance meeting of the year on February 23-25.

The Payments Innovation Alliance is a diverse membership organization comprised of financial industry innovators focused across all payment areas. With the Advisory Committees' guidance, the Alliance collaborates and creates tools and other deliverables related to a wide variety of emerging issues impacting the payments industry. Alliance members then utilize these deliverables to meet industry needs.

"The Alliance's Advisory Committees are made up of experts in payments and financial services and are representative of the expansive range of the organization's members. I look forward to working with them as we open dialogue, create opportunities and produce assets that both draw on their knowledge and provide value for their companies," said Jennifer West, Nacha's Director of Payments Innovation Alliance, Education & Accreditation. "As the payments industry continues to evolve, the Alliance remains the leader in applying its expertise and cutting-edge resources to meet those needs and demands."

The 2022-2023 Alliance Advisory Committees are below:

Business Payments Committee



Brian Dao, Ribbit

David Chance, Fiserv

Deborah Matthews Phillips, ICBA

Lawrence Fatima, J.P. Morgan Chase

Debbie Smart, Q2

Jane Hennessy, Visa

Global Payments Committee

Alejandro Pinzon, DRUO

Kali Howard, eBay

Sanchit Puri, J.P. Morgan Chase

Craig Borysowich, Payments Canada

Anthony Serio, Sila

Joerg Richter, Worldline SE

Consumer Payments Committee

Stephen Kenneally, ABA

Nell Campbell-Drake, FRB of Atlanta

Lawrence L. G. Popescu, J.P. Morgan Chase

Scott Harkey, Levvel

Mary Gilmeister, Macha

Richard Chung, Quicken, Inc.

Risk, Legal and Regulatory Committee

Nanci McKenzie, Affirmative Technologies

Ana Cavazos, FRB of Atlanta

Matt Luzadder, Kelley, Drye & Warren, LLP

Joseph Casali, NEACH

Jennifer Miller, UMACHA

Jane S. Wallace, Wallace Consulting

Emerging Payments Committee

Chris Colson, FRB of Atlanta

Laura Clary, Fiserv

Brian Laverdure, ICBA

R. Andrew Gomez, Lipis Advisors

Mark J. Dixon, Wespay

About Nacha

Nacha governs the thriving ACH Network, the payment system that drives safe, smart, and fast Direct Deposits and Direct Payments with the capability to reach all U.S. bank and credit union accounts. More than 29 billion ACH Network payments were made in 2021, valued at close to $73 trillion. Through problem-solving and consensus-building among diverse payment industry stakeholders, Nacha advances innovation and interoperability in the payments system. Nacha develops rules and standards, provides industry solutions, and delivers education, accreditation, and advisory services.

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Our collaboration with EMA enables us to provide timely and relevant learning opportunities that address in-demand knowledge and skills, said Dr. Lee at RIT. This curriculum offers engineers the technological and higher-level skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly-changing industry.

EMA Design Automation (http://www.ema-eda.com), a full-service provider and innovator of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) solutions, is collaborating with Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to provide college-level PCB design courses for electrical engineers. Taught both online and in-person by PCB design industry experts, the courses in this unique program provide engineers with the skills and tools to excel in the ever-changing technology domain.

Built upon concepts taught in the popular Hitchhikers Guide to PCB Design book, this cutting-edge curriculum addresses the industrys skills gap by providing training and development opportunities in key areas such as design and manufacturing fundamentals, CAD software familiarity, incorporating design for manufacturing and more. This further solidifies EMA's commitment to empower engineers and support the worldwide EDA market through education.

EMA is committed to supporting the next generation of engineers by providing them with the skills they need to meet current industry demands, said Manny Marcano, President and CEO of EMA Design Automation. Students want to excel in the workplace, and our goal is to empower them with access to training and courses that will help them acquire the skills employers are actively looking for.

EMA sponsored the creation of this new curriculum, which was developed and reviewed by a team of PCB design experts. Cadence OrCAD software for this course was donated in collaboration with Cadence, allowing for hands-on design instruction. EMA is also offering students the chance to become OrCAD certified as part of this course, helping them prove their mastery of one of the most popular PCB design tools in the market.

"Ongoing learning is essential in acquiring the critical skills and specialized knowledge necessary to succeed in tomorrows workforce, said Dr. David Junkin, Academic Network Program Director for Cadence. "Cadence is proud to support both EMA and RIT in their efforts to make learning PCB design easily accessible to new engineers. With knowledge and understanding of this critical skill, they can continue to solve complex technological challenges and drive innovation for the next generation of electronic devices.

The industry is currently experiencing a critical shortage in trained PCB professionals due to the lack of training and mentorship opportunities. According to PCD&Fs annual industry survey, within the next 15 years, 78% of PCB designers will no longer work in the field due to retirements. This makes advanced PCB design courses essential to keep up with industry demand.

RIT is leading the way by continuing to provide timely and relevant learning opportunities that address in-demand knowledge and skills, said Dr. Lee, Acting Department Chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology at RIT. Our collaboration with EMA allows us to do just that. This curriculum will provide engineers with a combination of the technological and higher-level skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly-changing industry.

For more information about EMA, go to http://www.ema-eda.com or call toll free at 877.362.3321.

About EMA Design Automation, Inc.

EMA Design Automation is a trailblazer in product development solutions offering a complete range of EDA tools, PLM integrations, services, training, and technical support. EMA is a Cadence Channel Partner serving all of North America. EMA develops Ultra Librarian, TimingDesigner, CircuitSpace, CIP, EDABuilder, and a host of custom solutions to enhance the OrCAD products, and all are distributed through a worldwide network of value-added resellers. EMA is a privately held corporation headquartered in Rochester, New York. Visit EMA at http://www.ema-eda.com for more information.

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EMA Design Automation, TimingDesigner, CircuitSpace, EDABuilder, Ultra Librarian and the EMA logo are registered trademarks, and Component Information Portal is a trademark of EMA Design Automation, Inc.


Drivers are recommended to check the insurance market at every six months. By doing this, they can see if their insurance rates are still completive or they should find better deals, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com has launched a new blog post that explains why is important for drivers to obtain car insurance quotes periodically.

For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/drivers-get-car-insurance-quotes-every-six-months/

To make sure their car insurance rates are still competitive, drivers are recommended to check the car insurance market at least twice per year. Insurance rates change frequently and different factors can lead to cheaper or more expensive premiums.

Drivers are recommended to check online prices every six months, because of the following events:



Insurance rates change frequently. Car insurance providers change their rates many times throughout the year to take into consideration various risk factors. Drivers can save time and money if they purchase insurance several weeks before a dangerous period begins. For example, drivers in the Northeast states can purchase a better insurance deal several months before the winter starts.

The credit score changed. Insurance companies use the drivers' credit score when they determine the insurance premiums paid by them. Drivers with a good credit score will pay lower car insurance, while drivers with a bad credit score will pay more on their premiums.

Insurance laws might have changed. The laws and requirements regarding car insurance differ from state to state and can be changed at any time.

They maintained coverage. New drivers and those who have a long lapse in their coverage history pay more on their premiums. To pay less on their insurance rates, they have to maintain coverage for at least six months.

The value of a vehicle is constantly diminishing. The value of a car drops immediately after purchase. Policyholders should not pay the same premiums on a vehicle that has a significantly lower value than in the moment they agree to purchase insurance.

Important life events. Important life events like getting married, moving to a low crime rate neighborhood, or getting a job closer to the place they live can help drivers pay less on their insurance rates.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
An expert panel of psychologists will examine what is causing this mental health crisis, what is being done, and tips on how to identify the symptoms of depression and anxiety and how students and their families can find the support they need.

Todays college students are facing a serious mental health crisis, driven in part by the pandemic. After nearly two years of remote schooling, restricted gatherings, and constant COVID-19 testing, many students are anxious, socially isolated, depressed  and are overwhelming campus mental health centers.

According to a nationwide survey of college students conducted by the Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association, the pandemic has intensified a decade-long trend of increased rates of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and serious thoughts of suicide.

On Monday, February 28, from 11 a.m.-12;15 p.m. (PST), an expert panel of psychologists will examine what is causing this mental health crisis, what is being done, and tips on how to identify the symptoms of depression and anxiety and how students and their families can find the support they need to build resiliency to lead a mentally healthy college experience. The webinar is free and open to the public. Register here.

The Moderator

M. Dolores Cimini, PhD, Director, Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, University at Albany-SUNY, and Director of the nationally recognized Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program. Dr. Cimini has led comprehensive efforts in research-to-practice translation at the University at Albany for the past 30 years with over $910million in support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, and New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The screening and brief intervention program developed by Dr. Cimini, the STEPS Comprehensive Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Program, has earned 13 national awards for best practices and innovation in behavioral health care. Dr. Cimini has co-edited two books, including a volume focused on college student health and well-being entitled Promoting Behavioral Health and Reducing Risk Among College Students: A Comprehensive Approach (2018).

The Panel

Amie Haas, PhD, Dr. Haas is a professor at Palo Alto University in the Department of Psychology with a specialization in college student substance abuse issues. Her research focuses on the identification of high-risk drinking and drug use practices in college students and the development of targeted interventions using a harm reduction model. She worked in collaboration with Santa Clara University for several years developing new programs for alcohol prevention and education and has consulted with other universities to guide campus prevention programming. Her work focuses on behaviors like pregaming (i.e., drinking before students go out to consume alcohol at a function), co-occurring cannabis and alcohol use, overdoses, and factors related to alcohol-induced blackout and sexual risk-taking. In her career, she has received funding through NIDA and the U.S. Department of Education.

Donna Sheperis, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, CCMHC, Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider Dr. Sheperis is professor and associate chair of PAUs Department of Counseling. In addition, Dr. Sheperis is Director of the PAU eClinic, which partners with college success agencies to provide mental health support to their students. Sheperis has 30 years of experience in clinical mental health counseling settings. Her work focuses on tele-mental health, internet interventions, technology & mental health, and adult mental health. She is past president of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling and on the Ethics Appeals Committee for the American Counseling Association.

Predair Robinson, PhD [Predair Robinson, PhD __title__ https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/people/predair-robinson Director of Academic Satellites, UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services Dr. Robinson is a clinical psychologist who directs the counseling and outreach services for eight academic satellites for UC Davis community students; this includes the four undergraduate dean's offices, Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Graduate Studies. In addition to managing programming, development, and personnel, he supervises and trains counseling staff, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral residents and provides short-term therapy and crisis intervention services for students. Prior to joining UC Davis, he served as Interim Director of the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC), a specialty training clinic affiliated with Palo Alto University. In this role, he provided clinical supervision to second-year doctoral trainees who treated LGBTQ+ folks in the Bay Area.

Palo Alto University (PAU) is a private, non-profit university located in the heart of Northern Californias Silicon Valley, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of todays diverse society. PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs that are led by faculty who make significant contributions in their field. Online, hybrid, and residential program options are available. PAU was founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology and re-incorporated as Palo Alto University in August 2009. PAU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). PAUs doctoral programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), and its masters in counseling programs by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Parametrix Parametrix is delighted to welcome Rick Wong as our head of insurance where he will lead broker channel development and manage our broker relationships, which today include more than half of the top 20 brokers globally

Parametrix Insurance, the provider of cloud downtime insurance, today announced it appointed Hiscox veteran Rick Wong as head of insurance. Wong will lead the Parametrix team focusing on broker relations and the development of the broker channel, a critical channel accounting for more than 70% of commercial insurance sold in the United States.

An insurance industry executive of 18 years, Wong has held underwriting, broker relations, and leadership roles at Hiscox USA for the last 13 years. Wong has a track record of successfully leading sales teams, driving commercial business with brokers, and growing technology-based insurance coverage.

Parametrix is delighted to welcome Rick Wong as our head of insurance where he will lead broker channel development and manage our broker relationships, which today include more than half of the top 20 brokers globally, said Yonatan Hatzor, Parametrix co-founder and CEO. Rick brings extensive knowledge and experience developing broker channels which will help him establish Parametrix as the de facto downtime insurance provider for brokers across all enterprise technologies.

I joined Parametrix because it is uniquely situated to help businesses mitigate the risk of third-party technology downtime. In doing so, were creating an entirely new category of insurance and protecting our insured from the financial impact of cloud outages. said Wong.

Enterprise dependency on the cloud is increasing every day. According to Gartner, end-user spending on public cloud services will grow 21.7% to reach $482 billion in 2022. Additionally, by 2026, Gartner predicts public cloud spending will exceed 45% of all enterprise IT spending, up from less than 17% in 2021.

Greater dependency on cloud services means that enterprises are increasingly exposed to financial risk from cloud outages. While cloud downtime can be damaging to a business, the impact can be mitigated. With Parametrixs downtime insurance policies, all terms, including the coverage and the damages, are agreed upon in advance. The waiting period for downtime insurance can be set to as little as an hour of downtime, and there is no monetary deductible. Moreover, unlike other insurance policies, there are no restrictions on the use of funds by the insured, and because the conditions and terms of the policy are agreed upon in advance, there is no lengthy claims process to investigate the event or debate over the size of losses.

About Parametrix Insurance

Parametrix Insurance is the provider of parametric cloud downtime insurance. Our policies cover financial losses for businesses when outages of the cloud or e-commerce platforms occur. The Parametrix platform automates risk assessment, provides instant quotes, and delivers payments within days. We are backed by some of the biggest insurers and reinsurers including certain underwriters at Lloyds of London. For more information, please visit http://www.parametrixinsurance.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Cara Fender

Bospar

PRforParametrix@bospar.com
A Laymans Challenge to the Rapture Theory: an articulate examination of what is known of the Rapture Theory. A Laymans Challenge to the Rapture Theory is the creation of published author Peter Bellone, a veteran of both the Marines and the US Air Force who served for a total of twenty-one years, including two tours in Vietnam.

Bellone shares, Christian doctrine teaches that one day in the unforeseen future, Jesus Christ is going to appear in the clouds above the earth; and with a shout, he is going to rapture (catch up) all Christians! Then in a moment, they are going to rise and join Jesus in the air, and then be taken to heaven, where they will forever be with the Lord. This English word rapture is a translation of the Latin word Rapiemur, which also is a substitute for the Greek word harpazo, which means to be caught up which is taken from Pauls letter to the Thessalonians, referring to the fact that Jesus is going to catch up all Christians living and dead! It is also possible that the use of the term Rapture in describing this event, was used, because in the English language, Rapture means an intense feeling of pleasure or joy! This Rapture theory was first championed in the early 1800s by a Protestant clergyman by the name of John Darby, who was recovering from an illness. And while studying his Bible, came upon the realization that Jesus was going to first come for his saints, take them to heaven, and then, sometime later, Jesus was going to return to earth, defeat Satan, and then the end of the world was going to come about! It is this theory that has been taught to Christian church goers throughout the ensuing years. And with this rapture, there is a secondary teaching that when Jesus comes for his people, there will be many airplanes, trains, and automobiles that will be driver/pilot-less and will go crashing to the ground, killing untold millions all over the globe. It is with this information in mind that we explore the truth of this Rapture theory and if what Mainstream Christianity and John Darby taught is true or not. We will look at all the relevant scriptures pertaining to this theory, which then brings us to look at Gods seven annual holy days. Why, because these days reflect the plan of God for the redemption of all mankind and points us toward this day of rapture! Therefore, the object of this book is not to titillate you about Jesus secret coming as others have done, nor to scare you if you were to be left behind! No, the purpose of this book is to teach you the truth of what really happens when this day finally arrives! In addition, it is important to understand what exactly is salvation, and this rapture theory definitely pertains to your salvation! Therefore, you deserve to know the truth because everything else takes you away from God, and it is the truth that will set you free!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Peter Bellones new book will challenge believers to consider a new perspective on a commonly accepted theory.

Bellone shares in hopes of helping others to reach an understanding of Gods word.

Consumers can purchase A Laymans Challenge to the Rapture Theory at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about A Laymans Challenge to the Rapture Theory, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Vaccine mandates are unethical because they attempt to coerce people to act against their own judgment, and because they are unscientific ...

Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), an educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics, has released a new educational document entitled, COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: 20 Scientific Facts That Challenge the Assumptions. The document helps readers become more familiarized with the scientific facts regarding COVID-19, its treatment options, and the COVID-19 vaccines.

Developed in a reader-friendly format, the document highlights available scientific data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, and it addresses the assumptions underlying COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Twenty scientific facts are provided on key public health topics, including:



The lack of a long-term benefit of the COVID-19 vaccines on the spread of COVID-19

The lack of a proven benefit of the COVID-19 vaccines on COVID-19 deaths

The risks of COVID-19 vaccine injections versus the safety of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children

Waning vaccine immunity and booster shot efficacy

COVID-19 early-treatment and prevention options

Vaccine mandates are unethical because they attempt to coerce people to act against their own judgment, and because they are unscientific, said Dr. Shira Miller, founder and president of PIC. Our focus is on delivering scientific data about infectious diseases and vaccines which are often overlooked in the mainstream. We developed this new document to help physicians, policymakers and the public better understand and communicate about the scientific facts that challenge the assumptions underlying COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The document (referenced here) reveals CDC data  from April 2020 through January 2022  which show that mass vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine has had no measurable impact on COVID-19 mortality in the U.S. In addition, short-term clinical trial data indicate that 1 in 6 to 1 in 9 people 1255 years of age who receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines suffer severe (grade 3) systemic reactions, and long-term safety studies have not been conducted. And finally, more than 53% of Americans have already had COVID-19 and may have greater protection against reinfection than vaccinated people.

To download your copy of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: 20 Scientific Facts That Challenge the Assumptions, visit physiciansforinformedconsent.org/covid-19-vaccines. Readers are encouraged to share the document with their physicians, family and community.

About Physicians for Informed Consent

Physicians for Informed Consent is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics. PIC delivers data on infectious diseases and vaccines, and unites doctors, scientists, healthcare professionals, attorneys, and families who support voluntary vaccination. In addition, the PIC Coalition for Informed Consent consists of over 300 U.S. and international organizations that represent millions of people. To learn more or to become a member, please visit physiciansforinformedconsent.org.
The Plug and Play Topeka accelerator facilitates partnerships and mentorships with help from GO Topeka, while capitalizing on Topekas robust animal-health and agricultural economic ecosystems. "The future of animal-health and ag-tech innovation is being shaped right here in our capital city, and these startups are vital pieces of the puzzle," said Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka.

GO Topeka, the economic development group for Kansas capital city, recently announced that Plug and Play Topeka, a global innovation platform that creates industry-specific accelerator programs, has selected 12 startups to participate in the third cohort of its animal-health and ag-tech program. These early-to-mid-stage startups hail from six countries  the U.S., Israel, Italy, Spain, Chile and the U.K.  and states including California, Pennsylvania and Washington. The companies were selected following a pitch competition held virtually this month.

Selected by program partners including Cargill, Evergy and Hills Pet Nutrition, the startups represent a broad range of innovators in areas like sustainable packaging, pet and livestock health, food systems, and energy. Entrepreneurs will participate in a three-month-long accelerator program aimed at connecting them with resources to help launch and grow their businesses.

Learn more about the 12 startups selected for the program:



Adrich Connects brands and retailers through a smart-packaging and post-sales data analytics platform.

Full Cycle Bioplastics Addresses the issues of plastic pollution, food waste and climate change by transforming existing food waste into a non-toxic, compostable alternative to oil-based plastics called PHA.

Hargol FoodTech  The world's first commercial grasshopper farm, harnessing the power of nature's most efficient protein source.

Helpet  Helps pet owners manage daily life with their pets, this application allows them to control the routine, vaccines, food, consultations and everything else they need to maintain their animals' health.

Kauel Technologies  Delivers unique solutions for energy-sector-related industries, such as oil and gas, through artificial intelligence, computer vision and data processing.

Moolec Science  An ag-foodtech, science-based ingredients company producing real animal proteins in plants through a disruptive technology in the alternative protein landscape.

Natural Machines  Accelerates the use of 3D printing in several industries, enabling companies to treat their consumers as individuals, not mass-market consumers, by providing personalized products on demand.

NovoNutrients  Works to upcycle industrial-waste gases and transform CO2 emissions into microbial alternative-protein ingredients.

PupPod  The world's first multispecies gaming platform at the intersection of pets, smart homes and gaming.

TeleTails  A veterinary telehealth platform that provides live video, messaging and payment capabilities for pet owners.

W-Cycle  Producer of compostable and renewable materials focused on the food-packaging industry.

Yoran Imaging  A leading company in thermal inspection of heat-sealing packaging.

The Plug and Play Topeka accelerator facilitates and fosters partnerships, mentorships and connections with help from GO Topeka, while capitalizing on Topekas robust animal-health and agricultural economic ecosystems. Topeka is centrally located within the Kansas City Animal-Health Corridor, the worlds largest concentration of animal-health and related industries.

Plug and Play Topekas accelerator has shined a light on the local and regional resources powering innovation in northeast Kansas, said Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. GO Topeka is excited to continue our partnership with Plug and Play, as we introduce a new batch of startups to all that Topeka and Shawnee County have to offer. The future of animal-health and ag-tech innovation is being shaped right here in our capital city, and these startups are vital pieces of the puzzle.

More than 300 animal-health companies located between Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, including four of the top 10 animal-health companies in the world, generate 56% of the total animal-health, diagnostics and pet food sold globally, totaling $21.5 billion in annual sales.

Were excited to invite these 12 startups to participate in our Plug and Play Topeka accelerator, said Lindsay Lebahn, program manager for Plug and Play Topeka. Our selection process reflects our partners animal-health and ag-tech needs, ensuring the potential partnerships between these companies and startups are that much more impactful  not only for the businesses themselves but for everyday consumers looking for meaningful solutions to some of todays biggest health-science challenges.

Since the start of the program in spring of 2021, 20 startups have graduated from the Plug and Play Topeka accelerator program. Each year, the program will develop two accelerator groups, both of which are made up of 10-12 animal-health and ag-tech startups.

About GO Topeka

GO Topeka creates county-wide economic success for all companies and citizens through implementation of an aggressive economic-development strategy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of the community. GO Topeka operates under the Greater Topeka Partnership and is the leading economic development agency in the region. For more, visit GoTopeka.com.

About Plug and Play Topeka

Topeka and Shawnee County, key communities in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, are the nation's fastest-growing areas for the health sciences. Companies located within the corridor represent 67% of the total animal health, diagnostics and pet food sold in the U.S., totaling $21.5 billion in sales. Plug and Play is building a world-class animal-health ecosystem in Topeka by pairing Silicon Valley technology with the Kansas region's state-of-the-art industry R&D, workforces and animal-health companies. For more, visit PlugandPlayTechCenter.com/Topeka.
Regardless of who we are or what we do, there are times in our lives that we need kindness.

Roger Bradys wife owns a preschool/learning center for kids. After working with her at the day care, he was motivated to write the childrens books. The drive and passion his wife has for teaching kids inspires him to write books that will be enjoyed by children as well as being a learning tool. One of these books is Mr. Cu The Cuckoo Bird (published by AuthorHouse in July 2014).

Mr. Cu, the cuckoo bird lived in Cuville. His job was to look out of his window every hour and yell at the top of his voice Cuckoo! Mr. Cus cuckoo could be heard throughout Cuville. One morning Mr. Cu did not look out of his window; he was sick. He had a sore throat and had lost his voice. Everyone was wondering why they did not hear Mr. Cu cuckoo that morning. Mr. Cu sent out a text to say he was not feeling well. What will his neighbors do to help Mr. Cu?

This book will inspire, educate and bring joy to the listeners as well as the readers. The cu game will bring joy an excitement to a day care and a preschool setting. Mr. Cu will win the hearts of children as well as the parents and teachers nationwide. This book can be a good bedtime story as well. It can be enjoyed at any time by readers of all ages, Brady says.

When asked what he wants readers to take away from this book, Brady answers, Regardless of who we are or what we do, there are times in our lives that we need kindness. We should always remember that. For more details about this book, please visit https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/625949-Mr-Cu-The-Cuckoo-Bird

Mr. Cu The Cuckoo Bird

By Roger Brady

Softcover | 8.5 x 8.5in | 18 pages | ISBN 9781496924636

E-Book | 18 pages | ISBN 9781496924643

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Roger Brady was born in Natchez Mississippi. He is one of 10 children of Alice and Albert Brady. He knew at the age of about 9 years old that he had a passion for words that rhyme. He also loved to read and write poems and short stories. His greatest joy was reading to his number one fan, his mother. He now lives in Baton Rouge Louisiana where he pastors Emmanuel International Ministry alongside of his wife of 13 years, Pastor Demetris Brady.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 833-262-8899.
Ralph Menzano has been in the computer field for 45 years  from when it was called Data Processing in the 70s, to Management Information Systems in the 80s, to its more recent metamorphosis as Information Technology. He has had the unique opportunity to view the growth and role of IT in four distinct industries  manufacturing, finance, government, and transportation  which he shares in Making IT Happen (published by AuthorHouse).

This book provides guidance for information technology strategic planning for applications, advanced technologies and resources. Here, the author draws on his experiences in the manufacturing, banking, and transportation sectors to illustrate how IT can run across all industries. It provides IT deployment framework for C-level executives, board members, and high level managers which proves to be useful in completing projects on time and on budget.

There are always new IT projects as tech changes rapidly so much so that if you don't embrace new tech ideas and implementation projects, one's firm can fall helplessly behind in their industry, the author states. This book encourages the use of tech by reducing fear through proper planning.

Making IT Happen was first published in December 2011 and is now set for a new press campaign. To know more, purchase a copy of the book at https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/293652-MAKING-IT-HAPPEN.

Making IT Happen

By Ralph Menzano

Softcover | 8.25 x 11in | 60 pages | ISBN 9781467035347

E-Book | 60 pages | ISBN 9781467035354

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Ralph Menzano is currently CEO of ARKS GROUP LLC established in 2021 to help people and businesses in a sea of opportunities. His activities generally revolve around aviation, roadway, maritime, rail and bus organizations, and industries. His past positions include executive director  Global Transportation Industry Solutions, Oracle Corporation; transportation domain leader, KPMG, and VP/CIO positions at JP Morgan Chase Bank, General Motors, Saint Gobain, and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). He has had a stint as an adjunct professor for the graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, holds a certification as a Certified Systems Professional, received a bachelors degree from Villanova University, and holds MBA degree from Jefferson University. He has been an advisory board member for Amtrak, LaSalle University, Villanova University, and Musicopia. He has been featured in lead articles of CIO Magazine, Philly Tech, has written numerous articles, and authored a book titled Making IT Happen. He has been a frequent speaker for APTA (American Public Transportation Association), ACI (Airport Council International), AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), ITF (International Transportation Forum), ITS America, ITS World Congress, AAPA (American Association of Port Authorities) and many smart cities conferences like Meeting of the Minds, Living Labs, Global Markets Forum, Port Management Forum, and the USA-Brazil Infrastructure Planning Summit. He is also an active participant in the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) as well as various technology committees in the aforementioned industry associations.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 833-262-8899.
Maria Coder Marias journalism background, research skills and ability to quickly create compelling content for our diverse clientele make her an asset, said Red Banyan CEO Evan Nierman.

Top global crisis communications agency Red Banyan today announced the hire of Maria Coder as a Senior Account Executive within its New York crisis PR team.

Coder will serve a variety of client accounts by providing creative media strategies, media outreach, content creation, and general account support. The addition of Coder will further cement the agencys standing as a top New York crisis public relations and New York crisis management firm.

She is a former reporter, multimedia news producer, and a seasoned researcher. Additionally, Coder is the author of the book, InvestiDate: How to Investigate Your Date, and has worked as a writer for many well-known online outlets.

Marias journalism background, research skills and ability to quickly create compelling content for our diverse clientele make her an asset, said CEO Evan Nierman. In a short time, she has already proven to be a tremendous resource for the Red Banyan team and our partners.

Maria grew up traveling internationally and is fluent in Spanish. She earned her bachelors degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College. She also studied Digital Marketing at Cornell University.

I'm very excited to join this savvy team of strategists and go-getters. Red Banyan has a well-earned reputation for making things happen for its clients, and I am always eager to get things done, Coder said.

Since its launch in late 2010, Red Banyan has continued to grow, establishing itself as one of the leading crisis PR agencies in the United States. Red Banyan provides crisis management, litigation support, media relations and other strategic communications services to a variety of national and global clients.

About Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a top crisis management firm focused on solving complex, highly sensitive and mission-critical communications challenges. Specializing in crisis communications, corporate public relations, government relations, and legal PR, Red Banyan provides an integrated approach to communications rooted in strategy. Learn more at http://www.redbanyan.com.
We can no longer view journalism as largely the responsibility of the commercial media, or a short-term problem that can be solved with temporary grants, Todd Franko said.

Report for America today released a report that identified a major new trend  the creation of Community News Funds  and outlined how the new funds can be created.

The new strategy involves community foundations working in conjunction with local news leaders in creating a single, permanent fund that draws upon donations from multiple sources, to support local news for years to come.

The report offers several case studiesfrom urban to rural areasthat reflect how community news funds are already making a difference at a time when many newsrooms are struggling financially. Seven of the communities have raised $15 million over three years with variations of this model.

"In the best communities in this report, there exists a single fund targeted to a single news focus, with more funders contributing for more years, said Todd Franko, Report for Americas director of local sustainability and development. That is a game-changer for the sustainability of local news."

Report for Americas local sustainability team interviewed more than 30 philanthropic and newsroom leaders to develop its findings. They looked at dynamic actions in Traverse City, Mich., Lancaster, Pa., Fresno, Calif., Lexington, Ky., Seattle and statewide efforts in Pennsylvania and California. Other communities in the report are New Haven, Conn., Rappahannock, Va., and Fauquier County, Va.

To be successful, community news funds should:



Encompass multiple funders of varied giving level

Pursue multi-year contributions with a fund goal of 6- and 7-figures depending on the community size

Demonstrate and articulate that the community (not merely the newsroom) is the beneficiary of improved local new

Direct funding support to more than one newsroom, where feasible, to better serve an entire community

Create a steering committee of civic leaders that eventually grows to become a board of governance for fund expansions and dispersal

Ensure with local news partners that the community benefits from a wide range of types of reporting (investigative, hyperlocal, features, etc.) and targets of coverage (ie., health, education, environment, criminal justice, economic development).

While the report looks at best practices, it does highlight some challenges to consider. Many foundations have bylaws or practices that direct their funds exclusively to nonprofits and avoid for-profit entities. In some communities, where for-profit news organizations are the only providers of local news, funders will need to become more flexible, allowing for a greater diversity of business models.

Newsrooms, meanwhile, should expect funders to hold them to certain standards of quality and impact, while still maintaining complete editorial independence between funders and news decision making. For-profit newsrooms will eventually need to create a development staff position to partner with community philanthropy leaders.

While this will be a shift in strategy, Report for America believes community news funds are the best path forward for communities that are in danger of losing their local news coverage.

We can no longer view journalism as largely the responsibility of the commercial media, or a short-term problem that can be solved with temporary grants, Franko said. We need to see it as an important civic function, worthy of ongoing philanthropic support, akin to a hospital, a library or a school.

The Community News Funds report was made possible with support from the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Meta Journalism Project.

Report for America looks to host several information sessions in the near future. A full copy of the report can be found here.

About Report for America:

Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Launched in 2017 by the nonprofit The GroundTruth Project, Report for America is a new, sustainable model that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities and hold powerful institutions accountable.
A recent report from the American Enterprise Institute presents concerns regarding how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) approaches have imposed ideas and techniques from psychology on classroom practices, and thus have shifted the mission of education away from academic instruction. But a review of the report finds misrepresentations of both the definition and the goals of SEL.

Julia Mahfouz of the University of Colorado Denver reviewed The Unexamined Rise of Therapeutic Education: How Social-Emotional Learning Extends K-12 Educations Reach Into Students Lives and Expands Teachers Roles and found it to be biased and misleading.

The report warns that the rise in SEL has led schools to assume powers and responsibilities beyond their core mission of focusing on academic skills, claiming that teachers are unprepared to take on therapeutic responsibilities. In doing so, however, the report ignores the empirical evidence documenting the positive influence that SEL has on students well-being, academic achievement, and sense of citizenship.

Professor Mahfouz explains that the report relies on a misrepresentation of SEL in order to promote misunderstanding and fear about it. The result, she concludes, is a one-sided discussion that does not make an evidence-based contribution and thus is not useful for informing policies.

Find the review, by Julia Mahfouz, at:

https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/sel

Find The Unexamined Rise of Therapeutic Education: How Social-Emotional Learning Extends K-12 Educations Reach Into Students Lives and Expands Teachers Roles, written by Robert Pondiscio and published by the American Enterprise Institute, at:

https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-Unexamined-Rise-of-Therapeutic-Education.pdf?x91208

NEPC Reviews (http://thinktankreview.org) provide the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. NEPC Reviews are made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation - 10 Years Making people feel seen, heard and accepted has been a common thread through our work at The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. Every person deserves to feel whole, equal, safe and welcome,  said President & Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons.

In 2012, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation was formed to reach economically disadvantaged and underserved populations, marginalized communities and causes often overlooked or underfunded by mainstream philanthropy. Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has given 440 grants to 142 nonprofit partners.

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation focuses primarily on four key areas  military & first responders, health & home, youth & education and the American dream. Giving is directed to nonprofits that are successfully addressing these issues and can demonstrate and measure the impact of their work.

When Bob and I first sat down to discuss creating our foundation 10 years ago, we thought about our mission and how we would give. One fundamental goal was a constant, championing inclusivity, said President & Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. Making people feel seen, heard and accepted has been a common thread through our work at The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. Every person deserves to feel whole, equal, safe and welcome.

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is driven by the core belief that all people  regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity  deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Operating under the tagline We Deal in Hope, the Foundation strives to provide life-changing assistance to the communitys most vulnerable populations. Even when it isnt popular to do so.

We arent afraid to support controversial causes, things people dont necessarily like to talk about during dinner parties, said Founder & CEO of PXG Bob Parsons. We focus on things like MDMA-assisted therapy to cure PTSD, supporting law enforcement, giving scholarships to Dreamers who want to go to college, comforting babies born to opioid-addicted mothers, uplifting LGBTQ organizations and supporting local entrepreneurs of color.

Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has granted an average of $1 million every 15 days. And not every grant is glamorous. Gifts are often structured to support general operations, allowing the organization to decide the best use of the funds. To learn more about The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit tbrpf.org.

About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the countrys most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundations giving is driven by the core belief that all people  regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity  deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.
Customers who wish to purchase the latest 2022 Toyota 4Runner can now do so at the Toyota of Lancaster dealership.

Toyota SUV lovers in and around the Lancaster area in California can now purchase the latest 2022 Toyota 4Runner at the Toyota of Lancaster dealership. The vehicle is packed with the latest safety and technology features, making it one of the best vehicles in the SUV segment. Drivers who cherish off-road driving more than on-road commutes are sure to find a confident companion in the vehicle.

Discover the new 2022 Toyota 4Runner SUV at the dealership across all its numerous trim levels. Customers can find all the latest multimedia gadgets, apps and other advanced technology features in this SUV. The strong exterior frame, impeccable interior design and the available spectrum of performance and convenience features make this vehicle popular among SUV enthusiasts.

Please visit the toyotaoflancaster.com website to learn more about the deals, offers, services and the latest information on Toyota vehicles. For more information on this 2022 Toyota 4Runner, kindly visit the dealership team at Toyota of Lancaster, 43301 12th St. W, Lancaster, CA 93534 or contact them by phone at 855-660-7659.
A $500 rebate is available for eligible U.S. military personnel at Toyota San Luis Obispo for purchase or lease of select new Toyota vehicles.

The sacrifices made by our brave soldiers at the frontline should never be forgotten. To honor their efforts for our nation, Toyota San Luis Obispo is offering a Military Rebate Program to eligible drivers in San Luis Obispo, California. A special $500 military rebate is offered to the customers around the area for the purchase or lease of select new Toyota vehicles through this dealership and Toyota Financial Services. This offer stands good from Feb.1, 2022 to Feb. 28, 2022.

Customers who are eligible for this Military Rebate Program include U.S. military personnel (active-duty and inactive reserve), U.S. military veterans (within one year of discharge), U.S. military retirees (within one year of retirement) and household members of eligible U.S. military personnel (including Gold Star families). Qualified customers should produce verifiable proof of military status or active service at the time of purchase/lease, receive a qualifying salary and receive credit approval by Toyota Financial Services through Toyota San Luis Obispo. For finance contracts, this rebate must be applied toward the down payment, whereas for lease contracts, the rebate must be applied toward Capitalized Cost Reduction or the amount due at lease signing.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit Toyota San Luis Obispo in person at 12350 Los Osos Valley Rd, San Luis Obispo, California, 93405, or browse the dealerships official website. Drivers can also contact the customer care team of the dealership on 805-543-7001 for any further details about this program.
Sherry Harbin, professor in Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine, shows a high-strength collagen sheet fabricated from the proprietary collagen polymer technology that startup GeniPhys is commercializing. GeniPhys received a two-year, $974,349 SBIR Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation to advance its first medical product, an in-situ, scaffold-forming collagen. (Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- GeniPhys Inc., a life sciences company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary biopolymer technology developed in Purdue University professor Sherry Harbin's laboratory, has been awarded a two-year, $974,349 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation.

The core technology, known as Collymer, is a novel polymerizable collagen molecule that can be used to custom-design and fabricate implantable materials to address unmet functional tissue restoration and reconstruction needs, including breast tissue, skeletal muscle, cartilage, skin, voice box and more. This Phase II grant will be used to advance the commercialization of the company's initial product, Collymer Self Assembling Scaffold (Collymer SAS).

Collymer materials harness both the mechanical and biochemical signaling features of natural collagen found within tissues. This allows the materials to support regenerative and restorative healing without rapidly degrading and eliciting inflammation or foreign body responses. This mechanism of action has been validated in multiple preclinical proof-of-concept studies. Additionally, Collymer is highly customizable, allowing for the creation of materials with a variety of formats and mechanical properties.

GeniPhys was previously awarded a $225,000 NSF SBIR Phase I grant to perform preclinical testing to evaluate Collymer SAS prototypes for breast tissue restoration in a porcine lumpectomy model. Working collaboratively with members of Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine and Indiana University School of Medicine, all project milestones were achieved. Additionally, a peer-reviewed publication in the February 2021 issue of Scientific Reports resulted from this Phase I project, showcasing the translational potential of Collymer SAS as an easy-to-apply soft tissue filler that conforms to patient-specific defects and regenerates complex soft tissues in the absence of inflammation.

"We are honored to be selected for this grant and are excited to be able to advance Collymer SAS toward submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and further commercialization," GeniPhys CEO Andy Eibling said. "We believe the Collymer platform will have a tremendous impact for patients globally, and this grant is an important step in the process."

Harbin, founder and chief scientific officer of GeniPhys, is a professor in Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering with a joint appointment in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences in Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Purdue has a long, successful track record of developing and translating innovative biomaterials targeting tissue regeneration," Harbin said. "This next-generation technology provides a biopolymeric material that can be broadly customized and harnesses the body's capacity for regenerative healing by keeping inflammation and immune mediators at bay."

TJ Puls, who trained under Harbin, now serves as product development manager for GeniPhys and the principal investigator for the SBIR Phase II award.

"This grant will allow GeniPhys to scale up manufacturing capabilities for commercialization and to file key regulatory submissions," Puls said.

GeniPhys will initially pursue regulatory filings for management and restoration of wounds and defects that affect the skin as well as other soft tissues, including breast, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The company will explore the use of Collymer materials in additional applications leveraging strategic partnerships with innovative, industry-leading firms.

About GeniPhys Inc.

GeniPhys is a preclinical-stage medical technology company located in Zionsville, Indiana, focused on empowering tissue regeneration and restoration. The company's Collymer technology is based on research conducted in Sherry Harbin's lab at Purdue University. Materials prepared from the proprietary collagen polymer promote tissue integration and generation while avoiding inflammation, fibrosis and scarring. The manufacturing process of Collymer allows the fabrication of multiple implantable material formats and has demonstrated the ability to deliver pharmaceutical and cell-based therapies.

About the NSF's Small Business Programs

America's Seed Fund, powered by the NSF, awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development, helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America's Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

Sources: Andy Eibling, andyeibling@geniphys.com

Sherry Harbin, sherryharbin@geniphys.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue University on May 9-11 will host the second annual Microbiome Symposium. The symposium will investigate the application of data science in the study of microbiomes and how experimental data and computational data can be leveraged to learn more about microbiome systems.

Given Purdues strength in computer and data science, I am excited for the emphasis on bioinformatics and data science at this years symposium, said Timothy Johnson, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and a conference organizer. I hope the meeting can identify current computational needs in complex biological systems that can be answered by collaboration between microbiologists and computer scientists.

Dr. James Hamblin will kick off the three-day event on Monday evening with a keynote speech that is open to the public. Hamblin, a former staff writer at The Atlantic, hosted the video series If Our Bodies Could Talk., a three-part miniseries in which he explored the relationship between human health and the microbiome in personal hygiene, food and pharmaceuticals. The miniseries popular video, You Probably Dont Need to Shower, investigates personal hygiene products and microbe health.

Tuesday and Wednesday will feature numerous speakers addressing topics at the forefront of microbiome research and data science, a student poster session, and networking and professional development opportunities.

Speakers at the conference are:

Greg Caporaso, associate professor at Northern Arizona University and co-director of its Pathogen and Microbiome Institute.

Jennifer Pett-Ridge, senior staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Andy Benson, professor at the University of Nebraskas Food for Health Center.

Amy Willis, assistant professor at University of Washington and co-principal investigator of the Statistical Diversity Lab.

Stephen Lindemann, associate professor in Purdues Department of Food Science, says that despite two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he hopes to capitalize on the excitement from 2019s inaugural symposium by continuing the conversation about the microbiome with academia and industry attendees.

Were very excited for this symposium as it promises to bring together cutting-edge systems biology research in new ways to measure microbiome function with novel computational approaches to draw responsible conclusions from big biological data. Lindemann said. We hope to attract a diverse group of scientists to join the conversation.

Additional information, including registration, is available online. Follow @Boilermicrobes on Twitter for upcoming information on the symposium.

Writer: Abby Leeds, 765-494-7817, mayer36@purdue.edu

Source: Stephen Lindemann, 765-494-9207, lindems@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
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This, says the SVOD Forecasts Update report, would lead the market total to 1.75 billion, with China and the US collectively accounting for 48% of the total. The analysis found that China and the US had a similar number of gross subscriptions by end-2021 but due to government pressure, Chinas growth is decelerating, with 374 million subscriptions by 2027. The US is set to continue to grow, with 456 million subscriptions expected by 2027.Looking at individual SVOD companies, the report noted that three US-based platforms will control half the worlds SVOD subscriptions by 2027. Despite its maturity, Netflix will add 60 million subscribers between 2021 and 2027 but is set to be overtaken by Disney+ in subscription terms by 2028.In all, the Disney direct-to-consumer service is forecast to add 146 million subscribers between 2021 and 2027 to take its total to 276 million. About 106 million of Disney+ subscribers will be in the 13 Asian countries under the Hotstar brand in 2027. The SVOD Forecasts Update report also found that the growing HBO Max service is likely to add 65 million subscribers by 2027to total 90 million. Paramount+, including SkyShowtime, is forecast to increase by 55 million subscribers to reach 88 million by 2027.
You probably know that George Washington was Americas first president, but do you know about his enduring impact on people around the world? I did not until I visited Hainan, China in 2007.

At a family reunion, I struck up a conversation with one of my cousins, a Chinese citizen, and discovered we had a mutual love of politics and history. Although he criticized many recent American foreign policy decisions, he also revealed his intense admiration for George Washington.

He was astonished that after defeating Great Britain and winning American independence, Washington relinquished all his power to the peoples representatives and returned home to his farm. As a citizen of a country where the founding leader, Mao Zedong, entrenched himself in a lifelong dictatorship, my cousin found Washingtons resignation incomprehensible.

I realized then that for those who live under oppression, Washingtons deeds have served to make him a timeless rebuke to all oppressors. Unlike most victorious generals in history, he was able to resist the allure of power, allowing his fellow citizens to live in the freedom for which they had fought. He changed the course of history by proving that leaders ultimately could and ought to entrust power to the people.

Several years ago, I served as a historic interpreter at Washingtons estate, Mount Vernon. I took visitors through Washingtons home and explained that he gave up public office twice in his life: once after the Revolutionary War and again after serving two terms as president. Countless times, I saw people marvel at the idea that a man who lived in an era of kings and emperors relegated himself to the role of a humble citizen rather than embrace the trappings of authority. The most amazed guests were usually from foreign countries, particularly those where dictatorship was the rule. Although these visitors learned that Washington had real flaws, such as being a slaveholder, they understood that greatness, though imperfect, is still greatness.

In recent years, many Americans have lost that perspective. Some, tying Washington to modern-day racism, have even vandalized his statues and magnified his flaws to be his defining characteristics  despite the fact he was one of the most progressive founders on the issue of race. Meanwhile, countless people around the world continue to recognize his accomplishments.

We Americans used to recognize them as well. After Congress made his birthday (Feb. 22) an official federal holiday in 1879, we paid homage to Washington every year with parades and ceremonies. Starting in 1971, however, the significance of that day began diminishing. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted observation of his birthday from the 22nd to the third Monday of February. One motivation for this date change was to move it closer to Abraham Lincolns birthday (Feb. 12) so that both events could be combined into Presidents Day. During the ensuing congressional debate, Tennessee Congressman Dan Kuykendall warned, If we do this, 10 years from now our schoolchildren will not know or care when George Washington was born. Thats exactly what happened, even though Congress had not changed the name of Washingtons Birthday.

After noticing the day occasionally fell closer to Lincolns birthday, car and mattress salesmen dubbed it the snappier Presidents Day, and it stuck. As a result, most people today are unaware that the federal holiday on the third Monday of February is still officially named Washingtons Birthday. While many cities and states still refer to the holiday by its official name, most Americans call it Presidents Day.

My birth country, the Philippines, honors its national hero Jose Rizal each year. Turkey has a holiday to remember its founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Latin America has Simon Bolivar Day, India has Gandhi Jayanti, and Mexico has El Dia de Benito Juarez. These countries celebrate these figures even though they, like Washington, reflected the times in which they lived. While these other countries remember their leaders, year after year in America, we ignore our greatest Founding Father on his birthday.

Other than Washington, we Americans honor only one other persons birthday as a holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. We dont have a Civil Rights Leaders Day. Instead, weve chosen specifically to remember the most prominent American civil rights leader by his actual name. Yet, by celebrating Presidents Day, weve combined Washington with less esteemed chief executives such as Millard Fillmore and Andrew Johnson.

The Father of Our Country deserves better. His story has the power to inspire people of all backgrounds to demand more from their leaders. As beneficiaries of Washingtons legacy, we Americans can showcase that story to a world where tyrants still abound. We can start by remembering that it isnt Presidents Day  its Washingtons Birthday.

Richard Lim hosts the This American President podcast.
Bindi Irwin is remembering her dad, late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin, on his birthday.

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The 23-year-old television personality and conservationist paid tribute to Steve Irwin in an Instagram post Tuesday on what would have been his 60th birthday.

Bindi Irwin shared a throwback photo of herself with her dad. The picture shows a young Bindi Irwin looking on as Steve Irwin holds up a small snake.

"Happy Birthday to the greatest dad and Wildlife Warrior. Today I'll watch 'The Crocodile Hunter' with Grace Warrior and share stories about her incredible Grandpa Crocodile. I love you with all my heart. Your legacy lives on," she captioned the post.

Bindi Irwin's brother, Robert Irwin, 18, also honored their dad. Robert Irwin posted a throwback photo of himself and Steve Irwin riding on a motorbike.

"Happy birthday Dad. I love you and I miss you more every single day. My earliest memories are my fondest, thanks to you. Hanging on tight to the handlebars of the motorbike, when you'd take Bindi and I on your morning lap of the zoo - before going to get ice cream for breakfast," Robert Irwin wrote.

"Every minute spent with you was a blessing," he said. "I'm gonna ride that lap on your old motorbike this afternoon."

Steve Irwin died at age 44 in September 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb. Bindi Irwin said on the 14th anniversary of Steve Irwin's death in 2020 that her dad is "always" in her heart.

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Britney Spears is set to release a new memoir through publisher Simon & Schuster, according to multiple reports.

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Variety confirmed the news citing a source close to the pop star.

People magazine also confirmed that Britney Spears will be releasing a memoir and that she has signed a $15 million book deal.

Page Six was the first to report the news, citing publishing insiders.

The memoir will cover Britney Spears' career and relationship with her family.

The book deal comes after a Los Angeles judge formally ended her conservatorship in November, which was handled by her father Jamie Spears.

Her father became her legal guardian in 2008, taking over all of Britney Spears' financial decisions amid mental health concerns.

Britney Spears recently announced that she was invited to testify before Congress about conservatorships by Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Charlie Crist, D-Fla.

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/21/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

The Bachelor alums Maurissa Gunn and Deandra Kanu have appeared to slam Maurissa's ex-fiance, Riley Christian , who recently broke his silence on the couple's split.Maurissa, 25, recently retweeted two of Deandra's fiery Twitter posts that were seemingly aimed at Riley, 32.Deandra, 25, wrote on Friday, "I'm not an inherently messy person, but when I see things in real time and then see someone skew that perception for social media itas very scary.""It's not okay by any means to be the catalyst of your own demise and then go onto socials and ask for the publics sympathy," she added in a second tweet. "There are always two sides to a story."While Deandra didn't name Riley directly, her tweets came only one day after Riley posted a lengthy statement on Instagram about how he was trying to "heal" and bounce back from his breakup with Maurissa, who accepted the New York attorney's marriage proposal on Season 7 of last summer.Riley captioned a photo of himself in a blue suit on Thursday, February 17, "It takes a while for me to heal, but I thank you all for your patience. This has not at all been an easy time.""This has been one of the most difficult times of my life, but as with everything I always do my best to move forward with hopeful and positive spirits. But you see, I was always taught by my pops that 'we bend but don't break.' But some very good people showed me otherwise."Riley proceeded to thank a good friend and his mother for their support as well as give his father a shout-out, saying how his dad would be proud of him for the man he is today.Back on February 9, Maurissa also spoke out about her difficult adjustment to single life."I'm back baby, and feeling better than ever. I know we're already in the month of February, but this year I have decided to focus on ME and put ME first," Maurissa wrote on Instagram."These last few months haven't been easy, but let me tell you today I feel amazing. Taking time to heal at my own pace was the best thing I could do. I would not be where I am without the amazing support system I have."She added, "Thank you to everyone who has helped me through, and a huge [shout-out] to @black.on_ for reminding me who the heck I was and believing in me to become the BEST version of myself. Let's see what this year has to offer!"Following weeks of breakup speculation, Riley and Maurissa confirmed their split in a joint statement on January 24, three months after their engagement aired during 's Season 7 finale."We have decided to go our separate ways. Never did we imagine this, but we've come to a point where we both need to work on ourselves," the couple said in a statement at the time."We've appreciated everyone's love and support so far throughout our journey," they continued, "and we just ask that you please respect our privacy as we navigate through this."Maurissa initially sparked the breakup rumors when she began slowly removing photos of Riley from her Instagram account, seemingly taking jabs at her ex-fiance.Maurissa also shared a video without her engagement ring and a cryptic quote that read, "All that glitters is not gold," which suggested Riley may not have been all that he was cracked up to be.The Bachelor alum Natasha Parker offered some insight on the breakup in late January given she's very close friends with Maurissa and the girls had appeared on 7 together last summer."[Maurissa] was just saying how there was so much that happened between them that they kind of just wanted to keep it between each other, which I totally get," Natasha, 33, said during the January 27 episode of her "Click Bait With Bachelor Nation" podcast.Natasha, however, suggested Maurissa had sacrificed a lot in order to be with Riley and so Maurissa was struggling in the relationship."I think that they just have very different lives, at least from my understanding of what she was saying," Natasha shared."She completely integrated into his life and I think that she kind of missed her family, she missed her friends."Maurissa, originally from a small town in Montana -- where her family still lives -- moved from Atlanta to New York to be with Riley after the show aired last year.Natasha noted how moving to New York "is not easy," adding, "It's a hard city, and if you're not used to it, [it's tough]."When comparing Riley and Maurissa to other couples from 's seventh season, Natasha pointed out how the engaged couple "jumped right in" to real life "as far as living together right away."Natasha's podcast co-host Joe Amabile and his fiancee, Serena Pitt , for example, are still trying to decide where they'd like to settle down together."But [Maurissa] went full throttle. She put her all in and it didn't work out. She told me she has no regrets, and I think that's a beautiful thing," Natasha noted.She added, "[Maurissa] did clarify they broke up a little while ago. The reason why they took so long to say something officially is because they wanted to both be sure that they wanted to go their separate ways."But The Bachelor alum Demi Burnett insisted in early February people don't know the real reasons why Maurissa and Riley broke up and appeared to suggest Riley may have been at fault for the split."Y'all got the Maurissa and Riley break up SO WRONG ," Demi tweeted on February 3.Demi claimed she was not after attention and was just trying to relay the truth about why Maurissa and Riley decided to end their engagement."I'm mad at the BS being portrayed!" Demi wrote on Twitter."I don't want to talk about it bc it's stressful and not my business to tell! BUT LOOK DEEPER LISTEN TO UR INTUITION."Neither Maurissa or Riley responded to Demi's tweets, but Maurissa noticeably "liked" both of them!Riley and Maurissa, who fell in love and got engaged on 7 in Summer 2021, were anything but shy when it came to posting adorable photos of each other and gushing about their feelings on Instagram once they moved their romance into the real world.The couple celebrated Christmas together in December and subsequently uploaded images of them posing in front of the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.Maurissa sweetly wrote late last year, "All I want for Christmas is you," before deleting the photo with Riley on her Instagram.Additional signs pointing to a breakup fans noticed prior to Riley and Maurissa's split announcement was when Maurissa posted photos of herself making funny faces on January 7 and captioned the slideshow, "Don't worry, be happy."Maurissa also received chocolate-covered fruit from her friend Martha, whom she considers a sister, amid the breakup rumors, Us Weekly previously reported.Martha reportedly wrote on the card, "If you haven't heard this today, I'm proud [of you]. You're an amazing person."Maurissa replied on January 7, "Don't know what I would do without you sister."For Riley's part, he uploaded a video of himself working out in early January with a cryptic caption about getting "knocked down," which may have been a reference to a rocky romance with Maurissa."We ain't come this far just to come this far. Work hard, stay humble, but still let 'em know that you got it. No matter how many times we get knocked down we get back up. Giving it everything we got all 2022," Riley wrote at the time.Riley also tweeted, "Try not be stagnant when facing obstacles that are beyond your control. Just do what you can. That way, when things finally do fall into place, you'll be able to hit the ground running."While Maurissa wiped most of her Riley photos from Instagram well over a month ago, Riley chose to keep most of his pictures with Maurissa on his account -- until People confirmed their split in late January.There is currently no sign of Maurissa on Riley's Instagram page, and so it appears the former couple doesn't want to be reminded of memories they had shared together.Back in October 2021, Maurissa told People that she was planning to move to New York City to be with Riley and then have a "wedding and then some babies."When Maurissa accepted a pear-shaped diamond engagement ring from Riley on the beach in Mexico in Summer 2021, the pair became the franchise's first-ever Black couple to get engaged.Riley and Maurissa fell head over heels in love with each other in Paradise, but Riley was still a little unsure as to whether he was going to pop the question after the pair's overnight Fantasy Suite date.Riley assured People last year that it "was never a thought" to leave the resort alone but he had to take a moment or two to reflect on the idea of potentially making Maurissa his fiancee."[I thought to myself], 'This is everything that you've ever wanted -- having a fiancee and being able to start a family.' I knew where I was already leaning towards," Riley explained at the time."It's just like, 'This is a big decision, take some time to think about it. Okay, you thought about it.' It didn't take that long. 'And now, go propose and get your lady.'"Riley proceeded to call himself the "luckiest" man in the world to have Maurissa by his side.Prior to appearing on , Maurissa competed on Season 24 of The Bachelor starring Peter Weber and Riley competed on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams ' edition of The Bachelorette in 2020.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Tom Holland detailed his experience starring with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home while appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

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"Honestly, mate, it was the most incredible experience of my career. To share the screen with them, you know, playing Spider-Man, while being a wonderful experience and like completely life-changing, it also can be quite alienating," Holland told Meyers on Monday.

"When you're 19 and someone gives you this opportunity and your life changes, it's quite hard to figure out how to navigate. So, to almost have like two older brothers that had been through it before me, to be able to share that experience with them, was amazing," he continued.

Holland also described a moment he shared with his fellow Spider-Men that was later added into the Marvel film.

The actor said he was struggling to get emotional for a certain scene when he approached Maguire and Garfield.

"So, I went up to Andrew and Tobey, I nearly said Spider-Man and Spider-Man, and I basically just said, 'Thank you, thank you for being here. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of this incredible opportunity. It means the world to me.' And we all embraced and we all started crying," Holland said.

"I remember the writers sort of seeing that being like, 'Yep, that's how we're going to end the film. That's brilliant. Well done, Tom.' And then the end of the film is us having this moment where I'm like, 'Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.' And then we have this beautiful hug so it was nice," he continued.

Holland currently stars in Uncharted, based on the PlayStation video game series of the same name. Holland said he got the role of a young Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter, after the actor pitched an idea to be a young James Bond.

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"I'm such a big fan of James Bond and you know I've loved Daniel Craig 's movies and I just thought if they were to move on, it would be really exciting to see like how James Bond becomes James Bond," Holland said.

"So I pitched this idea for a movie, which is kind of a stupid idea, where essentially you wouldn't tell the audience that it was a James Bond movie until the end. But from a marketing point of view that's a nightmare," he continued.
The news desk has compiled a list of events going on throughout the upcoming week that are open to the public. The list features Russian Cartoon Night, the 22nd Annual Mary Frances Early Lecture, the University of Georgia Diversity and Inclusion Career Conference, a Global Conversation on Muslim Women and Comics and 101 Things to do in Athens.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Cloudy with periods of rain. High 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
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Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Mostly cloudy. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Two companies named in a federal grand jury subpoena investigating former state official Konstantinos Diamantis were the primary beneficiaries of millions of dollars worth of hazardous waste abatement work on state buildings since 2017, records show.

Asbestos Abatement and Insulation Services (AAIS) Corporation and Bestech Inc. of Ellington are two of the four companies that the state Department of Administrative Services chose in 2017 to be on an exclusive list of contractors that would handle all abatement work on state buildings. The list was originally intended for state agencies and municipalities that needed emergency work done.

Since the contract went into effect, there have been 284 projects, each identified as a separate work order under the one contract, including abatement at college campuses and the former Seaside Sanatorium in Waterford.

Diamantis team was in charge of the contract, state officials said Friday. AAIS and Bestech were among the names that federal authorities asked officials to search for in a subpoena issued in October that centers on Diamantis.

The grand jury investigation has raised questions about whether Diamantis, who ran the Office of School Construction Grants & Review  first at DAS and then at the Office of Police and Management  pressured municipalities to hire specific contractors, construction managers and hazardous waste and asbestos removal companies.

An analysis by the CT Mirror shows that AAIS and Bestech got all but 15 of the 284 purchase orders issued by the state for hazardous waste disposal and demolition from fiscal year 2017 through 2022  contracts that are paid for by the state and not tied to school construction jobs.

On Friday, after receiving questions about the arrangement from the Connecticut Mirror, the state abruptly canceled the contract, even though it was supposed to run until April.

In July 2021, state officials created a new contract, identified as 20psx0154, to increase the number of contractors on the hazardous waste abatement list from the four on original contract 16PSX0110.

DAS spokeswoman Lora Rae Anderson said Friday that state officials are going to amend the 2021 contract and that guidance for both state and municipal use is going to be updated. She did not give a timeline for that update or explain what it would entail.

Anderson said Diamantis school construction grant team was in charge of the hazardous waste and abatement contract.

Representatives from AAIS and Bestech, as well as Diamantis attorney Norm Pattis, did not respond to requests for comment last week.

Two companies, 98.8% of the moneyThe Mirrors analysis shows:

Since the 2017 fiscal year, the state has paid out about $29.2 million for hazardous waste and asbestos abatement work under DAS contract 16PSX0110. AAIS received $20.6 million of that and Bestech $8.2 million, purchase orders show  about 98.8% of all the money spent through the contract.

The state issued 284 purchase orders under the emergency contract.

One of the contractors, Haz-Pros, got five jobs. Environmental Services Inc. got 10.

AAIS was named on 214 purchase orders, including exclusive agreements to do work at all state colleges and vocational schools. Some of the work was assigned by other state agencies, such as the Military Department, but the majority were assigned by DAS.

Bestech Inc. got the remaining 55.

Wow, I had no idea it was that much money, Raymond Newbury, Haz-Pros Asbestos Services Manager, said Thursday in an interview.

We did not get that many jobs, Newbury said. I knew they (AAIS) were getting most of the work. I thought it was just the familiarity with the people that dealt with the contractors.

I would call Mike

Newbury said the contact for almost all abatement jobs was not Diamantis but Michael Sanders, who worked on the school construction grant team that Diamantis oversaw. Sanders had been doing state abatement contracts for years, first at the old Department of Public Works before moving to DAS.

Sanders died in December. The state medical examiner's office has ruled his death a drug overdose, but the investigation is still open.

I would call Mike a couple times a year and tell him that I could really use some work, Newbury said. But you know, when I asked Mike, he would say that AAIS were just cheaper.

A review of the pricing lists submitted by the four companies who were awarded the contract shows that while AAIS offered cheaper prices on asbestos removal for other jobs such as mold remediation and lead paint removal, the price ranges were very close among the four contractors.

Sanders' role

Sanders is listed as the Construction Services Associate Project Manager in the "memorandum of understanding" that transferred the school construction program from DAS to the Office of Policy and Management in 2019. The grant program went to the oversight of OPM when Diamantis was named its deputy secretary.

Anderson said Diamantis and his team, specifically Sanders, were in charge of the hazardous waste abatement contracts.

"Municipalities are responsible for their own contractor procurement and contracting per state statutory requirements for bidding. Therefore, the Department of Administrative Services does not select vendors for towns," Anderson said.

Gov. Ned Lamont fired Diamantis from his OPM position on Oct. 28, days after the federal subpoena was served. When told he would be placed on administrative leave from his school construction job, Diamantis retired.

Diamantis had run the school construction grant program for more than six years. Its unclear when Sanders joined the school construction grant team, but Newbury said Sanders was the only person he dealt with since the contract went into effect.

A May 2020 letter from Bristols former corporation counsel Dale Clift shows that Sanders was deeply involved in one hazardous waste abatement school contract in Bristol in 2020. According to Clift, Sanders advised the city to reject the lowest bid, from Select Demo Inc., and instead hire Bestech.

Clifts letter said that the directive delivered by Sanders was issued by Diamantis.

(Sanders) represented that you were directing all bids for abatement and demolition to be rejected, Clift told Diamantis in the letter. This directive came so late in the process and was so surprising, the project personnel sought and received verbal reinforcement and validation of your directive over the next several days.

The city eventually hired the low bidder anyway.

Sanders worked in state government for 27 years until he died in December under what police described as suspicious circumstances.

Police found the 53-year-olds body at a home in Old Saybrook on the evening of Dec. 17. Police arrested the man living in the house and charged him with risk of injury to a minor and possession of narcotics.

The states Chief Medical Examiner later listed Sanders cause of death as an accidental overdose tied to cocaine and fentanyl.

Manchester project questioned

Around the same time that Bristol officials say they were being pressured by the state to hire Bestech, a similar scenario was playing out in Groton  this time involving AAIS, who were not the low bidder for a hazardous waste disposal/demolition contract there.

Groton also eventually chose the lowest bidder, Stamford Wrecking, but only after that companys lawyer  New Haven attorney Raymond Garcia  questioned why his client wasnt getting the contract.

In January 2021, Garcia was contesting another contract in Manchester, which was in the process of renovating the Buckley Elementary School. In two letters to city officials, Garcia warned they needed to put the contract out to bid for everyone and not just the contractors on the states emergency list.

But assistant city attorney John F. Sullivan responded in a letter saying that Manchester was just following the states guidance.

The contract in question is identified as State DAS Contract 16PSX0110. The Town is selecting a bid from one of the four contractors approved by the state for this type of work under this contract, Sullivan wrote.

The city asked the contractors on the states list for bids, and three of them  AAIS, Bestech and Haz-Pros  submitted bids, with AAIS getting the contract as the lowest bidder, for $1.47 million.

After the Manchester contract went to AAIS without Stamford Wrecking getting a chance to bid for it, Garcia took his concerns to Attorney General William Tong on Feb. 2 in a three-page letter that outlined how the 2017 contract was being circumvented.

A new contract

The discussions among Garcia and state officials, including Diamantis and Assistant Attorney General Margaret Chapple, led to the issuing of a new directive to municipalities on March 2, 2021. The directive, signed by Diamantis, clarified when municipalities should use the states hazardous materials abatement contractors list for their school projects.

The directive states that if municipalities planned to use one of the companies on the so-called emergency contractor list, they needed to solicit a minimum of four bid proposals in order to be eligible to get state funding.

Then, in July 2021, state officials put the old hazardous material abatement contract, which was set to expire in April 2022, out to bid again in order to get more contractors on the list.

DAS contract 20psx0154 added more contractors to the emergency list. In addition to AAIS, Bestech and Haz-Pros, four new companies are included: Manafort Brothers Inc., New England Yankee Construction, Omni Environmental and Stamford Wrecking Company, which had been battling the state for nearly a year.

Newbury said he was notified about the new contract and did bid to stay on the list, even though he hasnt gotten much work out of it.

I think the contract is in effect, but I don't know anybody that's used it yet, Newbury said.

State records show that only one purchase order has been issued under the new contract: a $1.45 million purchase order on Feb. 8 for a hazardous material remediation at Norwalk Community College.

The contractor is AAIS.
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TORRINGTON  Community members reacted with shock, sadness and anger upon learning that LARC will shut down its popular summer camp program after 50 years and is hoping to sell the property.

Renamed Camp Moe a decade ago to honor 12-year-old Moe Renzullo, an avid camp attendee with Down syndrome who died of leukemia in 2010, the LARC camp has served as a special place to many children over the years at the Tall Timbers site off Route 4.

This is a difficult decision as many parents in the area rely on the program but we anticipate that our community will understand, LARC Executive Director Michael Menard said in a statement.

LARC, a Torrington-based nonprofit supporting residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, bought Tall Timbers from the Girl Scouts of Connecticut Council in 2016 for $1.2 million. In prior years, the agency had leased space to host its annual summer camp there.

Menard said the decision to close the camp was based on the cost of running it for a short two months each summer, and that the agency no longer can support it.

Since 2017, LARC has struggled to optimize and maintain Camp MOE and the 165-acre property, purchased in 2016, to house the camp, Menard said in a statement. Every year, the agency staff and resources are stretched to the limits, hiring and training staff and trying to accomplish all of the work required annually to keep the property safe for the 21/2 months during which camp is held.

LARC wont run a Camp Moe program going forward, Menard said.

The agency has no plans to run a program similar to camp, he said. We will be offering playgroups for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder through the agencys Autism Resource Center starting this spring.

The hope is to find a buyer to continue a summer camp at Tall Timbers, Menard said.

The agency will work with a Realtor with experience in selling a property similar to Tall Timbers, he said. Once the property assessment is completed, the information will be available. Ideally, The Arc of Litchfield County would prefer to sell the property to a buyer who will continue to run the property as a camp.

After Moe Renzullos death and the renaming of the camp, the agency opened its enrollment to all children, including those with a variety of disabilities, making it a unique summer experience for those with and without special needs.

Moes father, Emil Renzullo of Torrington, said he has received many phone calls from upset parents reacting to the news of the camp closing.

Camp families are going crazy, he said. So many people have reached out to me, asking what the heck happened. I tell them the same thing; for some reason, Mike Menard thinks this is going to go away and the publics going to accept it. But I dont think thats going to happen.

Renzullo oversaw the annual Miles for Moe road race that provided funding for camp scholarships. When asked whether there were any plans to buy the property from LARC to keep the camp going, he said no.

Rezullos daughter, Stephanie, ran Camp Moe when former longtime director Catherine Marchand Beyer retired in 2019 after 45 years. Now, Renzullo said, the organization has lost its focus on the local community.

I always thought LARC was about the community, but since it has a new regime, they could care less, he said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the agency to temporarily close its doors in 2020, LARCs board of directors and leadership team re-focused on the agencys financial stability, its core programs and the steps needed to strengthen the organization, Menard said.

LARCs entire mission  and our effort every day  is to support individuals and families in the community, Menard said. We have continued to do so through COVID, through staffing shortages, and through this difficult decision. We will continue to support those in our community who count on us.

Jon Sheaffer, founder of the nonprofit Kids of Summer Foundation, said he and his members were devastated by the news the camp is closing.

Kids of Summer is holding its annual plunge fundraiser this Saturday at Camp Moe, using the money raised to pay for camperships for local children this summer. Last year, Scheaffer said, Kids of Summer provided money for 300 weeks of camp, which was distributed to local children who otherwise couldnt afford to attend a summer program, including at Camp Moe.

Although it is just one of the many camps we support through our foundation, Camp Moe will always have a special place in our hearts, Sheaffer said. We started there and with their collaboration we were able to support many campers at Camp Moe over the past three years, hold our annual Plunge fundraiser, and grew a strong and steady relationship with everyone at the camp, including many of the campers. We will certainly miss everything about Camp Moe.
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TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The wealthy Sackler family upped its cash offer to settle thousands of opioid-related lawsuits against the family and their company, Purdue Pharma.

Instead of paying out $4.5 billion, the company is now offering $6 billion to settle the slew of lawsuits.

But the family still wants all civil claims against them related to Purdue and opioids ended, and a ban on future such claims, according to a mediator's report filed late last week in bankruptcy court, The New York Times reported.

Eight states and the District of Columbia refused to sign on to an earlier proposal because of those protections for the Sacklers.

In her new mediator report, federal bankruptcy judge Shelley Chapman said that a supermajority of those states agreed to the new, sweetened offer, but there are still holdouts and no deal has been reached, according to the Times.

The bankruptcy plan requires that the Sackler money, plus billions more from Purdue, fund programs from states, municipalities and tribes that are dedicated to the treatment and prevention of opioid addiction, and to compensate victims.

We remain focused on achieving our goal of providing urgently needed funds to the American people for opioid crisis abatement," Purdue Pharma said in a statement, the Times reported. "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.

While negotiations continue on the second offer, a stay against all litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers that has been in place since September 2019 was extended this week until March 3, the Times reported.

In their earlier cash settlement offer, the Sacklers said they would pay a total of $4.55 billion, including a $225 million federal settlement. The new offer is for $5.5 billion, plus an additional $500 million contingent on the sale of their international pharmaceutical companies, the Times reported.

The Sacklers' efforts to protect themselves from liability have been criticized widely by legal experts and the public.

More information

Visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse for more on the dangers of opioids.

SOURCE: The New York Times
After some students handled essay questions Thursday, Emporia Public School leaders faced ESSER III questions from the public.

A panel of assistant superintendents and other officials explained their ideas and answered questions during a half-hour livestream webcast. It followed an online survey by the district which closed Tuesday.

Detailed results from the survey were not disclosed. But several district priorities were revealed for using ESSER III state grant money, including a push to provide new mathematics resources immediately.

Our timeline for math is really short, said Judy Stanley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Student Services. One of the things we heard from teachers is that we want these resources this year, if we can possibly get them.

The survey found staff and parents really want a textbook, hands-on, Stanley added. Any new resources would be used by the district for six to seven years.

Answering one question, Stanley said the district is focusing on math before reading because assessment scores in that area has dropped farther in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the school year ends, the district hopes to organize activities four days a week during summer break to keep students engaged and avoid a drop in knowledge levels.

We could offer some field trips to places in Emporia, and possibly outside of Emporia, Director of Information Systems Ryan Karjala said. Those places would be targeted, and attendance would be highly encouraged but not compulsory.

Come fall, the after-school options for students could include a fixed Boys & Girls Club location.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Rob Scheib said the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas is interested in expanding to Emporia. Right now, it has three locations in Wichita.

They are recognized as an at-risk program and qualify for all kinds of funding that we dont qualify for, Scheib said.

The Clubs currently work in collaboration with the Emporia Recreation Commission and the Emporia Arts Council on child care.

The ESSER III funds are designed to help school districts deal with the impact of COVID-19. Currently, remote learning for students who test positive for the virus is in what one official called a pause.

Well be revisiting that in a couple of weeks, Human Resources Director Jared Giffin said. The Kansas Legislature limited how many days districts can hold virtual classes.

Giffins focus in the web cast was on digital learning platforms for remote instruction. He said teachers can use them in face-to-face situations, if theyre comfortable with them.

We dont want the technology to be used just for the sake of using technology, Giffin said.

The next step in the ESSER III process is for Emporia Schools to submit an application to the Kansas State Department of Education.


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The strikers will have to pay big fines or remain in detention.

Cambodian authorities push a female NagaWorld employee into a bus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the afternoon of February 22, 2022.

Authorities in Cambodia detained more than 100 striking workers from the NagaWorld Casino Monday and Tuesday for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols.

Thousands of workers walked off their jobs in mid-December, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of eight jailed union leaders and 365 workers they say were unjustly fired from the hotel and casino.

Cambodian authorities have said the strike is illegal and allege that it is supported by foreign donors as a plot to topple the government.

Earlier this month, officials in Phnom Penhs City Hall directed the striking workers to stop their protest out of concern they would spread the coronavirus. Activists dismiss the claim as an excuse to end the peaceful protest.

Authorities rounded up 64 of the striking workers on Monday and 39 on Tuesday. Two workers in the group of 64 tested positive for COVID-19, while the other 62 were released. The group of 39 workers, meanwhile, had not been released as of Tuesday evening.

After their arrests, the workers were taken to the premises of an NGO called the Cambodian Women for Peace and Development in Phnom Penhs Prek Phnov district. The facility appeared to have been long abandoned and did not have running water, Meach Srey Oun, one of the 39 workers, told RFAs Khmer Service Tuesday.

They put us in a remote building thats really dirty and refused to let us leave. Our families are worried, she said.

She said that at least two of the workers were injured when they were arrested Tuesday morning and that security guards sexually abused the workers by touching their breasts. They were forced to fill out forms with their names, phone numbers and addresses before they were allowed to eat dinner.

We dont know the reason behind our detention. We have received no information about our arrests, Meach Srey Oun said.

She said the workers are continuing to strike because there are 11 union members, including leaders, who remain in detention.

We will continue to demand justice and until justice is prevailed, we will continue the demand, Meach Srey Oun said.

Authorities should never have become involved in the dispute between NagaWorld Casino and its workers, Am Sam Ath of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (Licadho) told RFA.

He dismissed concerns about the propagation of COVID-19, noting that the workers had recently finished quarantine procedures.

If authorities continue their actions, there will be more criticism, he said. We want to see the dispute be resolved peacefully to prevent this dispute from getting bigger.

Licadho and other civil service organizations issued an open letter to authorities calling for the release of all detained union members.

The charge of incitement to commit a felony levied against the union leaders and activists sends the message to NagaWorld strikers that their labor rights can be flouted with impunity while they will face legal action merely for calling out their companys labor violations and seeking redress, the letter said.

This could set a dangerous precedent, emboldening employers to ignore inconvenient labor standards, and potentially leading to a roll-back of hard-earned labor rights in Cambodia, it said.

RFA could not reach Phnom Penh City Hall spokesperson Met Measpheakdey for comment Tuesday. The city government issued a statement late on Tuesday saying the 39 workers are being tested for COVID-19. It said the detained workers must pay fines of between 1 million to 5 million riel ($245-1,230) or remain in detention.

City Hall urges all NagaWorld workers to stop gathering in violation of health measures and cooperate with authorities to ensure public health and order, the statement said.

Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Canberra says Beijing broke international law when a Chinese navy ship pointed a laser at an Australian spy plane.

A PLA Navy 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 happened 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 airplane plane crew was endangered.

In the latest statement released on Tuesday, the Australian Department of Defence 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 Defence Studies Centre, 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 defence forces personnel.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison followed up by demanding China to 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 we're expecting answers, the prime minister said.

A file photo showing a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane flying over the Indian Ocean during an exercise with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, Dec. 14, 2021. Credit: 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 of 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. 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 shone into 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.
Ngawang Gyaltsen was one of 21 monks who participated in the 1987 Lhasa Uprising.

A Tibetan monk who served a 17-year sentence for his participation in the 1987 Lhasa Uprising has died at the age of 61, RFA has learned.

Ngawang Gyaltsen, one of the 21 monks of Lhasas Drepung Monastery who in 1987 took to the streets in a show of support for the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence, passed away Monday at 5:30 p.m.

For his actions in 1987, Ngawang Gyaltsen was convicted of undermining national security and remained in prison until his release in 2006.

It is so heartbreaking to hear about the passing away of another political prisoner. We must offer our prayer and with his demise the Tibetan youths in exile must realize the courage, determination and aspiration of our brothers and sisters inside Tibet, Ngawang Woebar, another monk who participated in the 1987 uprising, told RFAs Tibetan Service.

Ngawang Gyaltsen committed his whole life to speaking against repressive Chinese policies in Tibet. He continuously protested the [Chinese Communist Party] regime following the 1987 uprising and dedicated his life to Tibet.

Following his release, he entered the Shag Rongpo Gaden Dargyaling Monastery in Nagchu County (in Chinese Naqu), where he had been enrolled as a child. He was a well-known artist who studied thangka painting and was proficient at ritual dance.

At that monestary, Ngawang Gyaltsen resisted a re-education campaign imposed by Chinese government officials based there. They required the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama and other important Tibetan Buddhist figures.

He was later forced by authorities to leave the monastery, and restrictions were placed on his movements and on who he was allowed to contact. He was again taken away by police late at night on Feb. 24, 2015, sources told RFAs Tibetan Service at the time.



Gyaltsen was later tried on unknown charges and was sent to Drapchi prison in Tibets regional capital Lhasa to serve a three-year term in addition to his time spent in pre-trial detention, Free Tibet said after his release in 2019.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Fraudsters in Turkey were foiled in their attempt to steal millions of dollars from a Turkish bank account belonging to a prominent Uyghur businessman serving a lengthy prison sentence in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region, Uyghurs with knowledge of the situation said.

The criminals used fake documents to try to transfer 225 million Turkish lira (U.S. $16 million) from the bank account of Ekber Imin, a 54-year-old Uyghur real estate developer known by the nickname Akbar Skyscraper in his hometown of Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian), according to Turkish media reports.

Imin, whose name in Chinese is Aikebaier Yiming, was the head of the Guzel Makan (Beautiful Land) Real Estate firm and several other companies in Hotan. He went missing in mid-2018 and was later confirmed to be jailed on charges including extremism, along with two of his brother and at least 20 of his employees, official sources told RFA in a previous report.

In January 2020, RFA reported that Imin had been sentenced by Chinese authorities in 2018 to 25 years in prison for having foreign contacts and spreading extremism by incorporating ethnic and religious elements in the buildings he developed.

While investigating Imins whereabouts, RFA learned from publicly available records that Guzel Makan, which also had dealings with foreign entities, was established in 2007 and had total combined assets of 13.3 million yuan (U.S. $1.9 million).

Chinese authorities arrested Imin in 2018 and imprisoned him, as they have done to other prominent Uyghur businesspeople amid an intensified crackdown the mostly Muslim ethnic minority group that began in 2017. Authorities usually claim that the businesspeople have trade or financial ties with foreign terrorists or terrorist groups.

The phony documents used by the would-be thieves indicated that Imin agreed to transfer money to their bank account, according to reports by pro-government media in Turkey. RFA was not able to obtain the court documents because the case still under investigation.

Imins second wife who lives in Turkey became suspicious and notified judiciary authorities after the fraudsters contacted her to try to obtain information, thereby preventing the transfer form taking place, Turkish media reported.

The Turkish prosecutor generals office, which began investigating the incident, determined that Imins signatures on documents submitted to the bank by the fraudsters and their lawyers had been forged after they compared samples of his signature on real estate documents to the ones on the bank papers.

Turkish prosecutors said that Chinas judiciary and the Chinese Embassy in Ankara helped them with the investigation, according to the media reports.

The embassy told the prosecutors office that Imin had returned to China and was still there, and that he had not consented to anyone representing him since 2015. The embassy also said that Imin did not know the individuals who claimed he owed them money and tried to get the 225 million lira from his Turkish bank account.

Though the prosecutors office froze Imins account, the involvement of Chinese officials in the matter has raised concerns among other Uyghurs living in Turkey, worried about Chinas long authoritative reach beyond its borders.

Legitimate representatives

Lawyers who work on Uyghur refugee cases have said that only Imins legal heirs or other blood relatives would be able to transfer money from his bank account.

Abdulehet Udun, a Uyghur activist living in Turkey and Imins former business partner who used to handle the real estate moguls money transfers, said that now no one can access Imins money unless they are immediate relatives and have been authorized by Imin.

The good news is that now no one can take his money and neither can China, said Udun, who is also head of the Konya branch of the Satuk Bughrahan Science-Cultural Foundation, Uyghur cultural and education group based in Istanbul.

Although the lawyers involved in the crime are Turkish, the fraudsters themselves could be Uyghurs, he said.

What we know who about who was involved in this case is that they all are Turkish lawyers, but behind this could be Uyghurs because he did not have any business relations with local Turks, Udun said. Only the Uyghurs knew he had so much money and knew that he had transferred money to Dubai and Turkey.

Abdullah Tikic, an attorney who represents Uyghur refugees in Turkey, told RFA on Feb. 14 that it is likely that China will get Imin while he is in prison to designate representative to handle his bank account in Turkey and obtain the money.

If Imins legitimate heir is his wife, then he could have summoned her to court if he had been in Turkey and proved that he was married, but that is not the case now, he said.

Even if the man were here without his marriage certificate, if they had a child or children, the children would have been given a DNA test, and then they would be legally entitled to the money, Tikic said. He has no choice but to send someone from China as a representative. Otherwise, the money will remain in the Turkish bank.

Tikic, who represents Uyghurs in Turkey with substantial amounts of money still in China, said that if China forces Imin to appoint a representative, the money will be returned to China, and his family in Turkey likely not get it.

The attorney said that other Uyghurs in Turkey fear that they may never be able to reclaim money they left in Chinese banks and could not take with them when they left Xinjiang.

The most difficult part of the issue is that many Uyghurs in Turkey who are struggling financially had assets and money in China, but could not bring their money to Turkey, he told RFA And to do that successfully, the Chinese judiciary has to be involved.

Such procedures are lengthy affairs require formalities in both China and Turkey depending on whether the money was deposited in the name of a company or an individual, he said.

Imins case was reported in Turkish media around the time that Turkey and China had signed a cooperation agreement on anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing on Dec. 30, 2021.

The agreement, which requires all parties to provide each other with information on the financial activities of specific individuals and companies involved in any crimes, sparked concern among Uyghur human rights groups about the financial and economic security of Uyghurs in Turkey.

Though the cooperative agreement does not impose any absolute obligations on Turkey, it is still dangerous for Uyghurs living in Turkey, Tikic said.

Economically speaking, it is dangerous, he said.

It is not clear what information and about whom Turkey has already provided, he said. What I mean is that Turkey doesnt have an obligation to provide information on people if their information is related to public order and the interest of the country.

Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Ukrainian government soldiers on the outskirts of the eastern city of Horlivka say they are being increasingly shelled by Russia-backed separatists. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence bids of separatists in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and ordered his troops to the territories. Western countries have strongly condemned the move, calling it a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Despite the shelling, Ukrainian forces near Horlivka say they won't be provoked.
NOVOLUHANSKE, Ukraine -- Just a couple of hours before Russias president moved to redraw Ukraines borders again, artillery shells blew out the upstairs windows of Maria Artyomovas home, ripped a hole in the roof of a two-story building housing a grocery and small apartments -- and killed her neighbor, Roman, as he worked in a tin-roof shed 20 meters from her front gate.



We just want it to stop. Thats all, said Artyomova, a 75-year-old retired village secretary and schoolteacher who was in her kitchen giving her diabetic husband an insulin injection when the shelling started -- the worst in at least five years.



The eight-year war in eastern Ukraines Donbas region, where Novoluhanske is located, entered a dangerous new phase with Vladimir Putins February 21 announcement that Moscow would recognize the independence claims of the Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.



Putin also prepared to send Russian troops into the regions -- officially, this time; until now Moscow has denied dispatching forces to the Donbas despite ample evidence of their involvement in a war that has killed more than 13,200 people.

And on February 22, he said Russia recognizes the separatists claims to the two provinces in their entirety, deepening concerns that Russian could soon roll into towns like Novoluhanske, on the government-held side of the line of control.



Putins announcement and the bellicose speech that preceded it also added to fears that Russia, which has massed what U.S. officials say are up to 190,000 troops near Ukraines borders, in Russian-controlled Crimea, and in the Donbas, could launch a large-scale invasion at any time.



It followed days of increasing gunfire and artillery shelling along the jagged, meandering line of control.

For many in Kyiv and the West, Putins words and actions sounded like a declaration of war against Ukraine. For Artyomova, and for others who have tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy in their lives in the Donbas, Russias recognition of the separatists claims was just the latest in a litany of distant political insults -- a barrage of bad news whose relevance is often outweighed by the more immediate concerns of daily life.



Of course, we want Russia and Ukraine to get along together, she said as the dull thud of artillery fire echoed from the front line about seven kilometers away.



Would Putins announcement change anything? I dont know, she said. Will there be tanks? I dont know. All I know is the shelling, it was frightening, so unbelievably frightening. 'We're Getting A Bit Nervous'



In the yard next door, where the neighbor, Roman, was killed, Raisa Andriyonova, 74, swept glass shards and metal scraps into a neat pile with a straw broom as workers arrived to put plywood on the shattered windows of surrounding buildings.



Andriyonova said she expected nothing good to come out of the latest development.



Anything that stops this madness; thats a good thing, she said, adding: I dont think that [Putin] really knows what hes doing. Hes old already.



A few blocks to the south, on Novoluhanskes outskirts, an abandoned farm-equipment warehouse has been repurposed into a forward post for a mechanized infantry unit opposite a series of separatist positions. For that reason, the neighborhood regularly witnesses heavy shelling.

The companys commander, Anatoliy, whos been deployed to this position for about seven months, said the mortar fire has gotten noticeably heavier in recent days. Asked if anything had changed in the 18 hours since Putins announcement, he shrugged.



Well, no, he said, In fact, it was a little tense before the announcement. There had been mortar fire in the past -- It's just that it's never targeted civilians here.



A day earlier, in Zaytseve, a village about five kilometers to the west, on the northern outskirts of the separatist-held town of Horlikva, the mood in the bombed-out brick structures, warrens of mud trenches and sand-bagged sniper positions of  company of airborne assault troops was fairly positive.



The weather's good, less mud now, the guys are in good spirits," said a private named Oleksiy, who like the other soldiers, provided only his first name, under military rules. "But yeah, we're getting a bit nervous.



They either want to scare us or make us respond, said another private, Andriy. But we dont react to their provocations because they are using an innocent civilian population as a human shield. If we responded, we might hit them. If they want to scare us, we would have been scared a long time ago.



He was wary of Moscows intentions, saying: Putin is not the man to make concessions. He wont hold to any of his words. You cant trust him.

Accessing the position means walking through the deeply rutted dirt roads of the village, where most of the houses are now abandoned and collapsing into piles of brick and rubble. A handful of residents remained, including Oleksandr, a 59-year-old retired miner who lives on his pension and the income from a smattering of farm animals, and gave only his first name.



Two days earlier, at least seven mortar shells or rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), fell in a neighboring courtyard, something he said hadnt happened in a long time, since at least 2018. His bigger complaint was the electricity had gone off again.



Theres no electricity now, and no one is doing anything about it. Us locals had walked around, to try to find the problem, but thats it, he said. No one is coming to help, he said.



Asked about the possibility of Russian troops pushing past the line of control, or into Zaytseve even, he replied: How could I know about the Russian troops if I dont even have any electricity? Why would I even think about Russian troops?
Along with many other concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin's quickly implemented decision to recognize the separatist entities Moscow supports in eastern Ukraine as independent states on February 21 immediately raised this question: What, exactly, has Moscow recognized?

When the Russia-backed separatists seized swaths of land in the region known as the Donbas in 2014, they drafted unrecognized "constitutions" that claimed dominion over the entire territory of Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, or oblasts, a total of more than 53,200 square kilometers.



Following months of intense fighting and a February 2015 cease-fire deal that failed to end the war between Kyiv and the Russia-backed forces, the two sides were separated by a line of contact that left the Ukrainian military in control of about two-thirds of that territory, including the important Azov Sea port of Mariupol. The separatists hold the other third, including the two provincial capitals, Donetsk and Luhansk.



The executive orders that Putin issued on February 21 did not specify whether Russia considered the separatist entities to exist only within the bounds of the territory they control or on the territory they claim, as well. And Russian officials spent the next day offering vague and sometimes contradictory statements on which path Putin had chosen.

The difference could be crucial, said analyst Konstantin Skorkin of the Moscow Carnegie Center, last week when the Russian legislature was discussing recognition.

"[The separatists] could restart their fight to establish their territorial integrity," he said. "This could mean a spike in tensions and the resumption of military activity on the basis of their territorial claims, which could include Russian forces in one way or another."



Late on February 22, however, Putin clarified that his recognition of the separatists did, in fact, include their territorial claims, potentially throwing open the door to further military conflict with Ukraine.



"We recognized them, which means all their founding documents and constitutions, which say that their borders coincide with the Luhansk and Donetsk regions when they were part of Ukraine," Putin said in Moscow. "But I stress that we hope very much that these issues can still be settled by peaceful negotiations, although for the time being it is out of the question because combat activities are going on there, and the situation is deteriorating."

Warnings Of A Massive Invasion



Kyiv has insisted it has carried out no military activity in the Donbas region and that all shelling along the line of contact has come from the Russia-backed separatist forces. Russia has up to 190,000 troops poised near its borders with Ukraine and in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea, according to U.S. estimates, prompting Kyiv and Western governments to warn that a massive invasion could be imminent.



Around the time Putin spoke, the Federation Council, the upper chamber of Russia's legislature, hastily approved Putin's request to deploy military forces outside of Russia. There has been compelling evidence of Russia's military presence inside Ukraine for many years, despite Moscow's denials that it is a party to the conflict. The Federation Council's decision paves the way for the open deployment of Russian forces inside the territory controlled by the separatists, as well as in other parts of Ukraine.

Before the vote, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov told lawmakers without evidence that "the Ukrainian leadership has taken the path of violence and bloodshed."



"On the borders of the DNR and the LNR," Pankov said, using the abbreviations by which the separatist formations are commonly known, "Ukraine has built up a 60,000-strong military group, including heavy armor, rocket systems, and multiple-launch systems."



Even before Putin's intentions were clear, representatives of the separatist formations in Ukraine began pressing their claim for the entire territory.



In an interview with Russian state television, the head of the separatists in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin said the two formations "have their borders within the Donetsk and Luhansk regions."



"Time will tell what is to be done next," he added.

Live Briefing: Ukraine In The Crosshairs RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

A leading separatist in Luhansk, Dmitry Khoroshilov, told journalists on February 22 that the so-called "people's republic" that the separatists have proclaimed includes the entire pre-war Luhansk Oblast, parts of which are "occupied by Ukrainian forces."



"I think we will urge Ukraine to withdraw its forces voluntarily," he said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, suggesting that anti-Kyiv forces would seek to seize control of the entire province if that doesn't happen.



Another separatist leader in Luhansk, Rodion Miroshnik, said the two separatist groups have "every right, formal and informal" to push Russia and Ukraine to accept the borders established in the groups' "constitutions."



Shortly before Putin's comments, the separatists formally asked Kyiv to withdraw its military forces from the territory of the two regions that remains under Ukraine's control.



Throughout the day on February 22, Russian officials seemed uncertain about Putin's intentions and the implications of the latest developments.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two formations had been recognized "in those borders within which they were proclaimed."



When asked specifically if the recognized structures included Mariupol, Peskov said: "I have nothing to add. In those borders within which they exist and were proclaimed. And were proclaimed and exist."



That sounds highly contradictory, because the borders the separatists have proclaimed -- the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces -- lie far beyond the existing borders of the territory the control.

Peskov's remarks could have indicated that Moscow was sowing confusion deliberately. Later the same day, comments from Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova suggested that Russia wanted to keep its options open -- and keep the threat of additional territorial claims in reserve.



There is "nothing surprising in the fact that there are sovereign countries...whose borders are not decided or simply not determined -- plenty of them," she said, adding: "So this is a question for the future, [a question] that will be resolved."



Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko was also enigmatic in his comments.



"Russia recognizes the DNR and the LNR inside the borders within which the leadership of the DNR and the LNR realize their authority and jurisdiction," Rudenko said.



Prominent pro-Kremlin Russian television commentator Vladimir Solovyov, however, wrote on Telegram that the Donetsk separatists "need access to the Sea of Azov and control over the port of Mariupol."



The separatist entities will be recognized within the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts at the beginning of 2014," he predicted.

Economist and blogger Khazbi Budunov wrote on Facebook before Putin's remarks that, if Russia's recognition extended to the separatist-claimed parts of the two Ukrainian regions, it was tantamount to "an attack by Russia." He called the uncertainty "the main intrigue of the hour."



Political analyst Aleksandr Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote that Russian recognition of the separatists' territorial claims would mean "the military pressure on Ukraine -- and through it, on the West -- is not letting up."



Liberal former State Duma Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov wrote that, if Moscow's recognition embraced the separatists' additional territorial claims, "it would be a full-on assault and must be treated as such."

RFE/RL's Russian and Ukrainian services and Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, contributed to this report.
More than 100 people who were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol have arrived in Zaporizhzhya, the Mariupol city council said, as Russian forces resumed their assault on the complex.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The council said in a statement that the people who arrived in Zaporizhzhya -- a city about 230 kilometers northwest of Mariupol -- were receiving assistance after emerging from weeks in the bunkers of the sprawling Azovstal plant.



Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 156 people were evacuated. She said several hundred more people remained inside the plant and tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly remain in Mariupol.



"There is no medicine, water, or communication services," she said at a briefing on May 3, adding that the authorities needed to rescue everyone who wants to escape.



The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross coordinated the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly from the steel works.

"We would have hoped that many more people would have been able to join the convoy and get out of hell. That is why we have mixed feelings," Pascal Hundt of the ICRC told journalists on a video conference call.



Osnat Lubrani, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said that 101 women, men, children, and older people could finally leave the plant, and several dozen more joined the convoy in a town on the outskirts of Mariupol. Some evacuees decided not to stay with the convoy and headed to destinations other than Zaporizhzhya, Lubrani said.



A few women who arrived in Zaporizhzhya held up handmade signs calling on the Ukrainian authorities to evacuate soldiers still holed up in the plant and their relatives and loved ones who are trapped.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the continued coordination with Kyiv and Moscow will lead to more humanitarian pauses that will allow civilians safe passage from the fighting.

WATCH: Current Time reporter Borys Sachalko comes under fire as he accompanies a Red Cross team attempting to evacuate a village that lies between Russian-occupied Kherson and Ukrainian-held Mikolayiv in southern Ukraine.

Despite the calls for additional evacuations, Russian troops began to storm the plant soon after the latest group of people got out, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications under the National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on May 3.



According to the Vereshchuk, Russia purposely resumed the assault after some civilians got out.



"This was their plan: to allow some civilians to leave and then continue bombing. However, civilians remain there, there are people who did not have time to get out from under the rubble because the blockages were so heavy that in two days they simply could not lift them physically. We need to continue the humanitarian operation, including Azovstal," Vereshchuk said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also urged that evacuations from the steel plant be allowed to continue.



Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on May 3, calling on Russia to rise to the level of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council by ending its devastating aggression, an Elysee statement said.



The storming of the plant comes days after Putin said he had called off plans for such an operation. Putin instead said he wanted Russian forces to blockade the sprawling plant "so a fly can't get through."

Later on May 3, Russian strikes began targeting the western city of Lviv. The strikes happened just before 8:30 p.m. local time. It wasnt immediately clear what was targeted.



Mayor Andriy Sadoviy wrote on social media that people in the city should take shelter. Train service out of Lviv was suspended.



Sadoviy acknowledged in another message that the attacks had damaged power stations, cutting off electricity in some districts.



The governor of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said Russian troops shelled a coke plant in the city of Avdiyivka, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 more.



"The Russians knew exactly where to aim -- the workers just finished their shift and were waiting for a bus at a bus stop to take them home," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. "Another cynical crime by Russians on our land."

Kyrylenko said 11 more people were killed in the shelling of four towns in the region. The number includes five killed in the town of Lyman and four in Vuhledar.



Kyrylenko said the death toll on May 3 was the highest on a single day since a Russian strike on a train station in the city of Kramatorsk killed 57 people on April 8 and injured 109 others.

WATCH: Ukrainian troops southeast of Kharkiv survey heavy damage to a community cultural center, reflecting on the impact on locals, now all but gone.

Ukrainian officials say the Russian military also struck railroad infrastructure across the country on May 3.



Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the state-run Ukrainian railways, said the Russian strikes hit six railway stations in the countrys central and western regions, inflicting heavy damage.



The governor of the Dnipro region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said Russian missiles struck railway infrastructure in the area, leaving one person wounded and disrupting train service.

Earlier on May 3, in a video address to the parliament in Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced 300 million pounds ($376 million) worth of extra military aid for Ukraine.

Britain has already sent military equipment, including missiles and missile launchers, to Ukraine. The new aid will consist of electronic warfare equipment, a battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment, and thousands of night vision devices.



In his speech, Johnson referred to a 1940 address by World War II leader Winston Churchill as Britain faced Nazi Germany's aggression.

"The British people showed such unity and resolve that we remember our time of greatest peril as our finest hour," Johnson told the Verkhovna Rada. "This is Ukraine's finest hour, an epic chapter in your national story that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come."

"We will carry on supplying Ukraine...with weapons, funding, and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no one will ever dare to attack you again," Johnson said.

In Brussels, the EU's executive indicated it was prepared to propose another sanctions package to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. But Slovakia and Hungary will not support sanctions against Russian energy, including on oil imports.



The two countries say they are too reliant on Russian oil and there are no immediate alternatives.

The sanctions will also target the Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, which will be excluded from the global banking communications system SWIFT, unnamed diplomats said.

Fighting also raged in the strategic port city of Odesa and across Ukraine's east. A 15-year-old boy was killed in a fresh Russian strike on Odesa, the city council said.

Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, was under shelling, the military said on May 3, while the General Staff said Ukrainian forces were defending the approach to Kharkiv from Izyum, some 120 kilometers to the southeast.



Since Russia launched its unprovoked war on February 24, its troops have failed to completely take over any major Ukrainian city.

On the diplomatic front, Germany's conservative opposition leader traveled to Kyiv on May 3 for meetings with Ukrainian officials, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn't be visiting Ukraine any time soon.

Friedrich Merz, who heads former Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, visited the town of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has been heavily bombarded by Russian forces.

Scholz refused to go to Ukraine because of Kyiv's refusal to invite Germany's head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whom Ukrainians accuse of cozying up to Russia during his time as foreign minister.

"It can't work that a country that provides so much military aid, so much financial aid...you then say that the president can't come," Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF late on May 2.

The United States warned that Moscow was planning to formally take over regions in Ukraine's east.



Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, said Russia is planning to imminently annex the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, using referendums after failing to overthrow the government in Kyiv.



Russia encountered surprisingly staunch resistance in the north around the regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, which forced it to redeploy its troops in the south and east, where fighting has intensified in recent days.



Ukraine's east and south are seen as key strategic goals for Russia, allowing it a land link to Crimea.

Separately, Russia's state news agency TASS quoted the Defense Ministry on May 3 as saying that more than 1 million people, including nearly 200,000 children, had been taken from Ukraine to Russia in the past two months.



Defense Ministry official Mikhail Mizintsev said those civilians "were evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation from the dangerous regions" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and from other parts that came under Russian control.

No details were provided on the location or circumstances of the moves.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, and dpa
At the end of a bitter and bellicose speech in which he took aggressive aim at Kyiv and the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was recognizing the Moscow-backed separatist entities that control parts of eastern Ukraine as independent countries -- and quickly signed a decree making it official.

For years, and even in recent months, it was widely believed that Putin would refrain from making such a move. After all, it would put a potentially powerful lever of influence over Kyiv -- the Minsk accords, agreements aimed to end the war that has killed more than 13,200 people in the Donbas since 2014 and resolve the conflict between the separatists and Ukraines government -- out of reach.

So, why did he do it? Here are some possible reasons.

Minsk Mired

Signed in February 2015, the agreement known as Minsk 2 was seen by Moscow as a way to gain strong sway over Ukrainian policy -- domestic and foreign -- by handing a large measure of autonomy to the Russia-backed forces who had held parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions -- the Donbas -- since the spring of 2014.

But Russia and Ukraine have fundamental disagreements over key aspects of the pact, including the sequencing of the confidence-building steps it calls for. And Putin may have given up hope that the agreement would ever be implemented on Moscows terms.

Avoid A Wider War  Or Just Postpone It?

Listening to Putins address to the nation late on February 21, one might be excused for thinking he was about to announce what the United States has said could come at any moment, with more than 150,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraines borders: a large-scale military assault on the neighboring nation.

It still could: Putins litany of complaints about Ukraine echoed previous harangues about a country he suggested was a fabrication of the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, hinting at ambitions that could hardly be satisfied by declaring two chunks of the country independent.

And several analysts predicted that recognition would only be the first step toward what could be a major military campaign aimed at bringing down the government in Kyiv.

But at least for now, Putin may have seen recognition as a way to extract something he can claim as a win while avoiding two extremes -- a massive new invasion and the bloodshed that would ensue, on the one hand, and the appearance of a climbdown in the face of Ukrainian and Western resolve on the other.

At the same time, Russia will presumably be able to continue exerting military pressure on Ukraine. In the Donbas itself, that pressure may loom larger than ever: The separatists claim the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in their entirety, not just the smaller chunks of territory that they hold, so recognition carries the implicit threat of a push to take over the rest of the two provinces.

Putin may have hinted at that possibility when he suggested in his speech that some parts of Ukraine should rightfully belong to Russia. Another form of pressure, in fact, is the suggestion that Russia could formally absorb the two territories, something that two of Putins top lieutenants hinted at -- ostensibly by mistake -- in the closely choreographed and national televised Kremlin Security Council meeting that preceded his address and the recognition decrees.

Domestic Concerns

Putins speech sounded like its aim could have been to prepare Russians for a more aggressive effort to subjugate Ukraine at some point in the future. But while a persistent and unprecedented clampdown on civil society and dissent has weakened the opposition and sapped the peoples potential to protest, Putin may understand that for most Russians  struggling with the COVID pandemic and economic straits -- recognition of the Moscow-backed separatists is far more palatable than a major war with a neighbor few see in quite the same light as his repeated remarks about Ukraine suggest he does.

Weaken Kyiv

In the eyes of the Kremlin, the recognition decree takes a bite out of Ukraine, excising a chunk of its territory eight years after Russia seized control of the Crimean Peninsula.

Putin may hope that this will weaken Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He won election easily in 2019 after a campaign in which one of the main platforms was a pledge to end the war in the Donbas -- but not by surrendering territory.

And Divide The West

A full-fledged invasion would be likely to increase unity in the West, bolstering the resolve of the United States and the European Union to present a common front.

Putin could be calculating that recognition will leave Western countries struggling to agree on how to respond and on what kind of sanctions to impose, particularly if Russia and the separatists do not seek to push into government-held territory in the Donbas and if Moscow begins to pull forces back from the borders -- though so far there has been no indication that the latter would happen soon.

Provoke A Provocation?

Putins recognition decrees indicated that Russia would send military forces into the Donbas very soon, at least for a limited period of time -- something it has denied doing throughout nearly eight years of war there, despite evidence of substantial involvement of Russia troops and officers.

Putin may hope to prompt a military response that could serve as a pretext for the further use of force to achieve his aims in Ukraine.

Main takeaway from that barnburner of a speech is that Russia now has given itself a pretext to respond to attacks on [the separatists] with no need to conceal its direct military involvement, Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation think tank, wrote on Twitter.

Until now, Russia didn't have a justification for overt military intervention even under its own laws, now it will, Charap wrote. This is an important element of the narrative that was missing.

Buckle up, in other words, he added, bad things ahead.
Residents of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, spoke out against Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize areas controlled by separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. On January 21, after Putin signed decrees on recognition, one person called it "nonsense," while another said it may "start a war."
Written By

Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December 2020 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

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How diamonds became Syrians' best friends

22 february 2022 News

Louay al-Zahid, the owner of Al-Malaka jewelry shops in the Syrian capital Damascus, told al-monitor.com that diamond prices have fallen for a second week in a row in the Damascus markets, reaching 10% below the previous prices. Zahid said that his stores across the capital serve about 100 diamond buyers per day as the demand for diamonds in Damascus has increased dramatically.

Sales are up for the second week in a row. Gold and diamond dealers expect their diamond revenues to increase significantly for the first time since the Syrian crisis as demand has risen by more than 30%, he added.

Jamil Qaisar, the owner of the Qaisar jewelry shops located in several Syrian cities, told that the price of a carat of diamonds in the Syrian market reached 160,000 Syrian pounds (about $50) this week.



Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished






Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

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Rutland, VT (05701)

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Vietnam has announced many preferential policies for investment in fields such as high technology. However, most of the FDI enterprises expect to hire high quality human resources in Vietnam before they think about investing in the country.

Lack of suitable human resource

Datalogic Vietnam Co., Ltd, an Italian FDI enterprise, planned to recruit more personnel from the beginning of 2022, to meet all future requirements when the orders begin increasing. Mr. Dang Van Chung, Director of Datalogic Vietnam, said that he will recruit about 15% more personnel in the production division and about 20 engineers in the Research and Development Center (R&D). According to Mr. Chung, personnel in the production sector are not difficult to recruit, but engineers for the R&D sector are not easy to come by. Currently, high-quality human resources have many options, so any company wishing to recruit them must offer really attractive packets and policies.

Similarly, Bosch Vietnam, a German FDI enterprise, also has an urgent need to recruit personnel for the coming years. Bosch is a global software technology company and it has plans to open a new software center in Hanoi in February, with the goal of increasing the number of software engineers in Vietnam to more than double by 2025, to about 6,000 people. Mr. Guru Mallikarjuna, General Director of Bosch Vietnam, said that the remuneration and welfare packet at Bosch is always a top priority to ensure competitiveness and provide the best care for employees. The company also wants to constantly focus on building an attractive employer brand.

Talking about this situation at a seminar at the end of 2021, Mr. Phan Huu Thang, former director of the Department of Foreign Investment, expressed regret when recounting the story of Foxconn wanting to expand its tablet production base 2 in Bac Ninh province, but could not find enough human resources to meet the demand, so they had to move to the US. Mr. Thang said that among the 4.7 million employees directly working in FDI enterprises, upto 980,000 people are foreign experts, but according to a survey on labor resources, 80% do not have training certificates. He also said that 60% of FDI enterprises when asked said that it is difficult to find high-quality human resources, and this is not only the situation in Bac Ninh province alone but is the same across the whole country.

Human resource problem

In addition to attractive remuneration policies and packages to attract high quality human resources, one of the solutions chosen by many FDI enterprises is to partner with training institutions and universities to get the right local human resource to meet their requirements.

For instance, Bosch in cooperation with LILAMA2 College offers an industrial engineering apprenticeship program (TGA program) of German standards, where students work while studying, with funding from Bosch. Students will learn and train in a professional environment, ensuring full development of professional knowledge and skills, as well as essential soft skills. They also receive a monthly allowance and the same benefits as young employees at Bosch, besides being guaranteed a job at Bosch after graduation. Bosch Vietnam also cooperates with leading universities in the country to organize competitions and training programs to develop capabilities in automotive technology, the Internet of Things, and AI, for students and young entrepreneurs.

Not just businesses, but localities are also preparing human resources to attract FDI. From the beginning of 2022, Nghe An province planned to attract quality human resources. Mr. Tran Bang Viet, General Director of Dong-A Solutions, one of the people invited to build a human resource development project for Nghe An, said that provincial leaders want to maintain and develop the local workforce, and at the same time attract Nghe An workers back to their hometown to work. According to Mr. Viet, the preparation of localities is necessary, but we need a model of human resource development for the whole society. Mr. Viet says that human resource is not only a problem of FDI enterprises but is also very much so for domestic enterprises too.

Many experts agree that the human resource problem in the coming years will not show signs of slowing down, but on the contrary, will increase much more as the requirements of enterprises will increase. Currently, many businesses are facing difficulty as their human resource is weak and inefficient. Some businesses have admitted that in the market there are too many job opportunities, and Vietnamese personnel also change jobs far too often, leading to instability and increasing recruitment costs. Some surveys also showed that currently the cost of middle management in Vietnam is quite high compared to the lower level of some countries, while the quality is not as expected. This can make Vietnam lose its current competitive advantage.

Recently, the Prime Minister issued a Decision approving of a strategy for the development of vocational education and training programs for the period 2021 to 2030 with a vision until 2045. This decision clearly points to the fact that vocational education development is the most important task in human resource development. In order to take advantage of the golden population opportunity, training human resources of high quality and professional skills to serve in the socio-economic development of the country is now absolutely vital. Hopefully, this strategy will contribute to resolving the current lack of quality human resource.

Thanh Dung
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Rangers employed by the Carlsbad Police Department to patrol the citys parks, beaches and open-space preserves earned such high marks in their first nine months that the pilot program became permanent Tuesday.

Trespassing, vandalism, off-leash dogs and illegal campsites are addressed by the two full-time, unarmed, uniformed rangers, who carry handcuffs, a Taser and pepper spray. They patrol individually, working four 10-hour days a week, and are authorized to issue citations for minor violations.

Job well done, Mayor Matt Hall said before the City Council voted unanimously to make the pilot program permanent. Its been a real plus all along our open-space areas.

Carlsbad is one of the few cities in San Diego County to hire full-time park rangers, though several city parks have live-in caretakers. Some cities, such as Escondido, employ full- or part-time rangers in their parks and recreation department.

El Cajons police department created two park ranger positions earlier this year, partly because of recent complaints about animal control and homeless issues. Del Mar, the countys smallest city, has one park ranger to back up lifeguards and sheriffs deputies patrolling the citys beaches. Most of the full-time park rangers in San Diego County are county or state employees.

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Carlsbad has 27 parks, nearly 50 miles of trails, and 13 nature preserves, the largest of which is the Lake Calavera preserve in the citys northeastern quadrant. The Lake Calavera trails are popular with hikers and mountain bikers. The summit of a volcanic plug, once a column of molten lava, is a frequent destination at the elevation of 513 feet.

At Batiquitos Lagoon, in Carlsbads southwestern quadrant near Encinitas, one of the most frequent problems has been people letting their dogs run without a leash on the preserves two-mile trail, said Deb Mossa, vice president of the lagoon foundations board.

Since the inception of the ranger program, that has diminished considerably, Mossa told the City Council. That has just been wonderful for Batiquitos.

It really has made a difference, said Fred Sandquist, president of the lagoon foundation.

Mossa and Sandquist both praised the rangers for their friendly and professional way of dealing with the public.

City Council members said they have heard nothing but positive comments from residents about the program.

This program was based on a philosophy of education first, police Capt. Mickey Williams told the council.

In all cases, the rangers talk to people first and try to gain their cooperation before issuing citations or taking another action, he said.

Statistics presented Tuesday back up that approach.

The two rangers made a total of 4,684 educational contacts and issued 1,310 verbal warnings, 109 written warnings, and 10 citations during their first nine months.

Most of their time was spent in the nature preserves, where the rangers made about 90 percent of their educational contacts. They made 477 of the contacts and issued four of the citations at parks, beaches and lagoons.

The ranger program is expected to cost the city a little under $300,000 in the fiscal year ahead.

Nearly half of the cost of the pilot program, or about $98,000, was provided by the San Diego Association of Governments, the regions planning agency. That money is unavailable for the permanent program.

The vehicle used for the program, a Toyota Tacoma truck, was purchased and outfitted using $50,875 in asset forfeiture funds, which are the proceeds from property seized in drug enforcement efforts.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
Sanford, NC (27330)

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Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, asked the head of the FBI to investigate whether federal law enforcement officials can take any action to prevent police from using DNA collected from rape victims to tie them to unrelated crimes, vowing legislation to prevent the practice, if necessary.

Schiffs letter follows District Attorney Chesa Boudins recent announcement that his office found a case where San Francisco police used DNA collected from a rape victim to link the victim to an unrelated property crime.

Schiff sent the letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray Tuesday asking him to examine deeply concerning reports from Boudins office.

Schiff said he wrote to Wray because the FBI administers a federal DNA database and has the ability to prevent law enforcement agencies from improperly uploading DNA profiles obtained from crime victims. The congressman said he would pursue legislation to prevent potential violation of law.

Though there are still many unanswered questions about the extent of this practice, the fact it may have occurred at all is deeply disturbing. I fear it will have a chilling effect on sexual assault reporting, Schiff wrote. Any perception among victims that law enforcement views them as a potential offender could further reduce already low rates of reporting of sexual assaults.

Schiff asked Wray to answer a series of questions that appear to probe how common the practice of using victim evidence is among law enforcement agencies  and how it can be stopped. He asked:

 Whether law enforcement agencies are permitted to upload details from crime victims to the national DNA database.

 How common it is to use that practice and whether the FBI plans to prohibit it and expunge any profiles that have been uploaded.

 Whether the FBI has the authority to prohibit the use of the federal database to include samples obtained from crime victims in separate state and local DNA databases.

Schiff concluded his questions by asking whether Wray will seek to communicate to state and local law enforcement agencies why holding a DNA profile from a crime victim in this way, particularly a sexual assault victim, will have a chilling effect on reporting of rapes and sexual assaults.

Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement Tuesday that he shared Schiffs concerns that such a practice risks having a chilling effect on sexual assault reporting. We must never create disincentives for crime victims or survivors to cooperate with police. He added that he had also halted any possibility of a misuse of DNA profiles of victims and survivors moving forward.

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Scott said that the Police Department was still investigating the underlying case and that he welcomed the involvement of our partners at the FBI to review our practices.

Schiff ended the letter by saying he looks forward to working with the FBI to ensure that survivors rights and dignity are upheld by law enforcement around the country and doesnt intend to drop the issue.

If necessary, he said, I stand ready to draft legislation to ensure that DNA sexual assault kits are not used in this manner.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Supervisor Hillary Ronen have said they are considering legislation at the state and city levels that would ban the practice.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan

@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
The high-stakes battle over the status of hundreds of thousands of California drivers for gig companies such as Uber and Lyft has entered a new phase.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is asking the National Labor Relations Board to authorize the drivers to form unions to negotiate wages and working conditions with companies that insist they are not the drivers employers. President Biden has nominated an outspoken critic of the companies practices to a key Labor Department position, with a contested Senate confirmation vote upcoming. Bidens Justice Department has also asked the NLRB to support union rights for the drivers.

And Proposition 22, the $200 million California ballot measure sponsored by Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other companies in November 2020 to classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, is headed for higher courts, after an Alameda County judge ruled the measure unconstitutional.

In short, the legal and political war over the ride-hailing companies and their workplace rules has just begun.

Were not protecting American workers the way they should be. I think people are starting to realize that, said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, a former owner of restaurants in Concord and Berkeley, and a supporter of employee status and union rights for the drivers. Changes on such far-reaching issues, he said in an interview, dont happen overnight.

And theyre not without consequences, as a lawyer for the Yes-on-22 campaign, Kurt Oneto, observed after nearly 59% of the states voters approved the 2020 ballot measure. If the Biden administration took federal action to undo Prop. 22, Oneto warned, a future Republican administration could do the exact opposite  it might make Prop. 22 mandatory nationwide.

On Feb. 10, Bonta joined attorneys general from 14 other states and the District of Columbia in asking the NLRB to overturn decisions in 2019 by the labor board, controlled by appointees of President Donald Trump, and its general counsel that classified the drivers as contractors with no right to join unions. The board said then that the drivers had entrepreneurial opportunities to market their services and therefore should not be considered employees.

Without the right to organize, these workers are more vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace, the state officials told the NLRB, describing workers entrepreneurial opportunities as irrelevant.

In a statement accompanying the filing, Bonta said, Its because of unions that Americans today can enjoy eight-hour workdays, overtime, paid sick leave, workers compensation, and more. Federal and state laws provide those rights to employees but not to independent contractors.

Bidens Justice Department has taken a similar stance, asking the NLRB to adopt a nationwide standard that adequately protects workers rights to organize.

The current board is likely to agree and set a nationwide standard that allows the drivers and others in similar situations to organize and join unions, said William Gould, a Stanford labor law professor and former chairman of the NLRB under President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1998. That would not overturn Prop. 22, but it would give the workers some bargaining power with their companies.

On the other hand, said Veena Dubal, a law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco and a Prop. 22 opponent, any such decision would be challenged in the U.S. appeals court in Washington, D.C., which became more conservative during Trumps term and has found entrepreneurial opportunities to be a key factor in worker classifications.

Its ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court, not a friendly forum for organized labor  one notable decision in 2018 found that public employee unions violated non-members free speech rights by requiring them to pay for their state-mandated representation at the bargaining table.

Bonta and his colleagues sent an important political signal of their position, but the courts are unlikely to go along, Dubal said.

A different scenario awaits in the Senate, which will soon consider Bidens nomination of David Weil to lead the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division, which enforces federal minimum wage and overtime laws.

Weil held the same position under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. He has criticized Uber and Lyft for their labor policies, and said in a Los Angeles Times column in 2019 that the companies status as employers is really quite clear.

His nomination stalled in a Senate committee last year, with all Republican members opposed, but advanced on an 11-10 vote last month when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was absent. If Weil is confirmed, he will have the power to declare a nationwide standard that effectively overrides the California ballot measure and defines ride-hailing drivers as employees, said Stanfords Gould, the former NLRB chairman.

The feds can go beyond a less generous employee eligibility standard, Gould said. Although Weils office could not directly enforce Californias minimum wage, which for large employers is now twice the federal minimum of $7.50 an hour, Gould said the office could authorize state officials to apply state wage and labor laws to the drivers.

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The Labor Departments position could change, of course, under a new Republican administration. But meanwhile, Prop. 22 faces an uncertain legal future in California.

In a ruling last August, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch found the ballot measure unconstitutional on multiple grounds:

 The state Constitution authorizes the Legislature to regulate workers compensation, and Prop. 22 was not drafted as a constitutional amendment, just an initiative to change state law.

 Prop. 22s requirement of a 7/8 vote by the Legislature to amend any of its terms interferes with legislative authority over labor issues and collective bargaining.

 The state Constitution limits ballot measures to a single subject, but Prop. 22 covers at least two subjects: the self-declared rights of Californians to drive their cars as independent contractors, with specified benefits from the companies, and their lack of access to collective bargaining.

The companies are challenging the ruling in a state appeals court in San Francisco and are continuing to enforce Prop. 22, although neither Roesch nor the appellate court has issued a stay that would let them disregard his decision. The courts ruling, probably sometime this summer, is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court, which has usually deferred to the voters on ballot measures but also has been more sympathetic to unions than its federal counterpart.

Dubal, of UC Hastings, pointed to the courts unanimous ruling in the 2018 Dynamex case that set standards, later approved by the Legislature, saying companies must classify their workers as employees unless they can prove the workers are running their own independent businesses. Prop. 22 exempted the drivers from that ruling and the ensuing state law, AB5.

There is a really good chance the California Supreme Court will find Prop. 22 unconstitutional, she said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Plastic sandwich bags filled with antisemitic flyers were found outside doorsteps in three Bay Area cities Sunday, according to law enforcement officials.

In the North Berkeley hills, hundreds of residents reported finding the plastic bags delivered randomly along streets, the Berkeley Police Department said in a statement.

In Palo Alto, dozens of plastic bags containing antisemitic flyers were found in random locations across the northern part of the city on Sunday, said Lt. Con Maloney.

Similar flyers were also found in Tiburon on Sunday, police said.

No arrests were made, and officers in all three cities were investigating who distributed the bags.

Similar hateful messages were found in San Francisco last month and in neighborhoods across the United States, including in Los Angeles, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach in Southern California.

In a statement on Sunday, the Berkeley Police Department and the City Council said the hateful messages distributed across the region was the result of a small, fringe white supremacist extremist group that targets Jewish communities as well as other minority groups throughout the Bay Area.

To our Jewish neighbors, be assured that as a community, Berkeley will stand up together to reject anti-Semitic messages and all forms of hate speech. The Berkeley City Council stands united in our zero-tolerance position against all forms of hate speech in our city, the statement said.

Maloney with the Palo Alto Police Department in an email said the flyers found in the city did not contain threats or anything criminal.

He said the plastic bags included rice (perhaps to help them from being blown away by wind) and a flyer with numerous federal government officials, identifying them as Jewish.

The flyers also reportedly include a website link with various videos espousing certain viewpoints many on topics of political nature.

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Seth Brysk, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, said his organization has been tracking the cowardly actions of a small, fringe group that has targeted Jewish, LGBTQ and immigrant communities in the Bay Area in recent months.

We encourage people to continue to put out messages of solidarity to reject this form of hate, which in many ways is an attempt to undermine our very democratic ideals and institutions about the full participation of all members of our community in our politics, Brysk said.

Anyone with information about the plastic bags found in Berkeley can contact the Police Department at 510-981-5900.

To contact the Palo Alto Police Department, call or email Lt. Maloney at 650-329-2637 or con.maloney@cityofpaloalto.org.

You can also report any antisemitic incidents to the Anti-Defamation League at adl.org/report.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
The landslide school board recall spotlighted the political muscle of the Asian American community in San Francisco.

On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Chronicle reporter Roland Li joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about that power  especially for Chinese voters  and what it means for the city.

Also on the episode: Activist Gaynorann Siataga talks about how Pacific Islanders are often rendered invisible in discussions about the AAPI vote, and about the impact of the recall of Faauuga Moliga, the first Pacific Islander to serve in elected office in San Francisco.

Photo above: Faauuga Moliga (right), canvasses with Ponipate Rokolekutu (left) and Gaynor Siataga on Election Day.
SACRAMENTO  State Sen. Scott Wiener says a housing and homelessness crisis on Californias college campuses has become so dire that the state needs to add a major exemption to its premier environmental law to speed up construction.

Wiener unveiled a bill Tuesday that would streamline housing projects by allowing the UC, CSU and community college systems to skip the lengthy review process required under the California Environmental Quality Act.

That law  commonly known as CEQA  has often been used to delay or block campus housing projects. Wiener has long called for reform, but the effort took on a new order of magnitude last week after UC Berkeley sent thousands of potential students letters informing them that the prestigious university could be forced to cap its enrollment for fall semester due to a court order.

Whats happening at Berkeley is the most extreme example of something thats been happening at UC for a long time, Wiener, D-San Francisco, told The Chronicle. The rate of homelessness among college students is off the charts. Its a moral failure.

The California Supreme Court is set to decide whether to uphold a lower courts order that the university cap enrollment at 42,237  its fall 2020 enrollment  and halt the construction of two buildings intended to house faculty and add classroom space, which neighbors said would increase noise, traffic and other quality-of-life problems in the area.

The case against Berkeley was brought by a neighborhood group that complained the university has, for years, added more and more students into a finite amount of space with little regard for the impact that boisterous young people have on the area.

Wiener said its a poignant example of how anti-housing groups have used CEQA as a pretext to oppose projects for reasons that are unrelated to the environment. He said building on-campus housing is actually beneficial to the environment because it encourages students and professors to live where they learn and work. The alternative, he said, is more urban sprawl that increases emissions from vehicle traffic and pushes people to build in wildfire-prone areas.

CEQA is all too often used for goals that have nothing to do with the environment, Wiener said. Its an extremely important law, but its tentacles have grown so dramatically in the last 50 years that CEQA, in some ways, is the law that swallowed California.

His bill, SB886, would allow the states three public college systems to build housing without conducting CEQA reviews. Colleges and universities would only be allowed to claim the exemption for housing projects on land they own, provided its not farmland, wetlands or in a very high fire-risk zone. The schools would also be required to use skilled construction workers who are paid prevailing wages.

Wieners proposal is likely to draw fierce opposition from neighborhood groups who argue many popular UC and CSU campuses have grown so quickly that theyve created burdens for surrounding communities, with noise, increased traffic and litter.

Enrollment in Californias public colleges has soared over the last few decades, particularly at high-demand schools like Berkeley. Housing construction hasnt kept pace  about 5% of UC students are homeless and an additional 11% live in hotels or transitional housing, according to a report by the Legislative Analysts Office.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
At 16, Victorria Moran-Hidalgo had bright eyes and a tough spirit, and seemed to be searching for a perfect home or a sense of belonging, according to several family members.

When the Stanislaus County teenager was found dead Friday morning on the 600 block of Minna Street in San Francisco, family members and city leaders were stunned.

Police officers who helped paramedics at the scene deemed it a possible overdose, according to a news release. The San Francisco County medical examiner declared the death suspicious, police said.

Moran-Hidalgos mother, Sylvia Hidalgo, conveyed feelings of devastation in a Facebook post two days later, after the medical examiner publicly identified her daughter.

At this time I have no answers as I am still dealing with investigators and looking for answers myself. My baby girls story will be told one day but for today as her mother, I ask you to please respect our privacy during this difficult time, she wrote on Facebook.

Hidalgos nephew, Marcos Hidalgo, said his aunt adopted Victorria, who, according to other family members, had grown up in and out of the foster care system.

She was having a hard time, and then my aunt adopted her, said Marcos Hidalgos sister, Rianna Hidalgo. She said she believes Victorria had trouble moving past the trauma of her early years. Eventually, she and Sylvia had a falling-out, Marcos said, and Victorria ran away.

At one point, she lived in a group home, Rianna Hidalgo said.

An investigation into her death is ongoing; as of Tuesday, police had made no arrests.

Moran-Hidalgo was reported missing in Stanislaus County in September 2021, but the Kern County Sheriff Office located her, said Sgt. Luke Schwartz, a spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Sheriff in Modesto.

According to Schwartz, Moran-Hidalgo was not listed as a missing person at the time of her death.

Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the district that includes SoMa, expressed frustration and grief over the teenagers death.

Its hard to imagine anything more sad than a young girl dying on our streets, Haney said. He said hes been communicating frequently with San Francisco police and firefighters to ensure they fully investigate the circumstances of Moran-Hidalgos death  including where she got the drugs that led to a potential overdose.

This is why its so urgent to confront the drug epidemic in our city with everything we have, Haney said, describing San Franciscos wave of overdoses as a regional issue, since people travel from other places to purchase substances in SoMa and the Tenderloin.

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We need all the coordination and resources we can bring into it, and we need help from the state and federal government as well, Haney said.

The police are reviewing security camera footage and trying to find potential witnesses to interview, Haney said.

Very few of the people who died from accidental drug overdoses in the past few years were under 21. In 2021, though about 650 people died of fatal overdoses, according to the most recent preliminary data, details were only available for 469 of them. Out of those, only three were under 21. In 2020, there were eight people under 21, half of them in their teens, out of more than 700 deaths.

On Sunday, a large arrangement of multicolored roses was placed on the sidewalk near where the girl was found.

Anyone with information can call the SFPD Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411.

Chronicle staff writer Yoohyun Jung contributed to this report.

Rachel Swan and Jessica Flores are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com, jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan @jesssmflores
Hank the Tank, an enormous black bear whos developed a raging appetite for human food, is facing possible euthanasia after breaking into more than two dozen homes in a gated South Lake Tahoe neighborhood over the past seven months.

The 500-pound bear has broken windows, smashed through front doors and ransacked garages in search of food, authorities say. Hes undeterred by efforts to haze him away from food with sirens, Tasers and beanbag shots.

Nearly everyone agrees the bear needs to be removed from the Tahoe Keys community where hes roamed since at least August. But having incited both aggravation and exasperated affection, not everyone is in agreement on how Hank should make his exit.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says it has three options for dealing with bears that have lost their natural fear of humans and pose a threat: Move them to another part of the forest, send them to a zoo or animal sanctuary, or put them down. While euthanasia may seem like the cruelest alternative, state officials say relocating a bear, whether to the wild or captivity, carries its own set of problems that can mean pain and suffering for the animal.

There is no fairy tale ending for this bear, said Peter Tira, spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Residents say they dont want the bear to be killed.

The bear is still free and wild and hasnt been in a house since Friday, said Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, a wildlife rescue group that is trying to find a sanctuary for Hank. But garbage day is coming up, and hell be back in town for that. We need to get him off the streets, and we need to do that quickly.

Food-habituated bears are a common nuisance in places like South Lake Tahoe, where the wildlife has easy access to human treats left in unlocked cars and unsecured trash bins. As the animals get more accustomed to the food, some become increasingly inclined to break into places where they know there will be plenty.

After last summers Caldor Fire, with thousands of people evacuated from their homes, bear break-ins increased fivefold in some towns. But the animals usually are pushed back with increased community vigilance  mostly, doing a better job securing food and trash  along with efforts by state and local authorities to discourage the behavior.

Hank, though, has been stubborn. And hes very, very large, which makes him potentially better able to wreak havoc.

He became a noted troublemaker in the lakeside neighborhood of Tahoe Keys last summer, and since August hes been blamed for at least 33 reports of extensive property damage and 28 home break-ins. The most recent report was Friday, according to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Hank was reported inside a home, and police banged on the exterior of the house until he left through a back door.

This bear is extremely food-habituated and has used its immense size and strength to break in and through front doors and garage doors, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a notice posted Thursday.

The agency has tried trapping the animal but has been unsuccessful and in recent weeks withdrew its traps while it tries to forge a new plan for what to do with Hank.

State officials say they dont like to move bears to other wilderness areas for fear of introducing disease or setting up conflicts with other bears. They have also not been able to identify a sanctuary that would be appropriate for Hank. Sending wild animals into captivity often involves lengthy vetting and onerous permitting. If they cant relocate him somewhere safe, they will have no choice but to trap and kill him.

But Bryant said residents are strongly opposed to euthanasia, pointing out that its hardly the bears fault that hes become comfortable around people and attached to their delicious food. They believe that Hank developed his preference for human food largely because of an influx of visitors last summer who didnt know how to properly keep it away from bears.

We want to catch the bear, but only if we have a guarantee that he wont be killed, Bryant said.

She said shes heard from several sanctuaries that are interested in taking Hank, along with donors who are willing to pay for the cost to trap and move him. But she said that so far the state Fish and Wildlife Department has not reached out to any of the sanctuaries.

Bryant noted that Hank is an especially heavy bear  black bears are typically around 200 pounds  but hes not yet breaking records in Tahoe.

There was one in Tahoe City 20 years ago that was 960 pounds. He was older and just tall and big all around, Bryant said. Hank is kind of short, but hes really, really hefty, and Im thinking he probably tops out at close to 600. But thats because hes figured out how to get into garages, and hes figured out garbage day, and he knows thats when everyone puts out their packages for him.

Garbage day in Tahoe Keys is Friday, she said.

Erin Allday and Kurtis Alexander are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com, kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday, @kurtisalexander
Last year, investors bought nearly one in seven homes sold in America's top metropolitan areas, the most in at least two decades, according to the realty company Redfin.

Those purchases come at a time when would-be buyers across the country are seeing wildly escalating prices, raising the question of what impact investors are having on prices for everyone else. Investors were even more aggressive in the final three months of the year, buying 15% of all homes that sold in the 40 markets.

Real estate investors can be large corporations, local companies or wealthy individuals, and they generally don't live in the properties they are buying. Some look to flip homes to new buyers, while others rent them out.

Neighborhoods where a majority of residents are Black have been heavily targeted, according to a Washington Post analysis of Redfin data. Last year, 30% of home sales in majority Black neighborhoods were to investors, compared with 12% in other Zip codes, The Post's analysis shows.

"We know historically that places where minorities live are undervalued or lower priced," Redfin's Sheharyar Bokhari said. That, he said, makes them more attractive to investors, driving up prices for residents.

The effect of investor activity differs city to city. Regions with the highest share of investor purchases are in the south, stretching from Florida to Arizona, with a quarter of all home sales in Atlanta and Charlotte last year going to investors. But some of the most targeted Zip codes overall are in the Rust Belt, especially heavily minority neighborhoods in Detroit and Cleveland.

The growing number of investor purchases has drawn increasing scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly as buyers target minority neighborhoods.

"One of the reasons housing prices have gotten so out of control, is that corporate America sensed an opportunity," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, last week at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, a panel he chairs.

Brown took direct aim at private equity firms and corporate landlords in particular.

"They bought up properties, they raised rents, they cut services, they priced out family home buyers, and they forced renters out of their homes," he said.

Investors have been snapping up homes in and around downtown Cleveland at a staggering rate, putting three of the city's Zip codes among the top 15 nationally in the rate of investor purchases last year.

Sally Accorti Martin, the former longtime housing director for South Euclid, a small city east of Cleveland, testified at the hearing that a majority of the city's roughly 1,600 rental units are now owned by companies from other states, and that tenants have suffered as a result.

Martin said the city passed a series of ordinances aimed at stopping predatory behavior, to limited effect. One provision, called "pay to stay," allows tenants to pay any unpaid rent and fees up until their eviction hearing.

"Unlike mom and pop landlords, large out-of-state investors typically don't have much empathy for their tenants," she said. "Residents can be a day late in paying rent and face an eviction notice."

In other cases, investors buy properties that might otherwise be the first home purchases for families looking to accrue wealth that they can pass down to their children or grandchildren. A lower homeownership rate among minorities has contributed to a much lower rate of wealth accumulation.

"There is a massive racial homeownership gap in this country, which is a serious problem because owning a home is a key to building intergenerational wealth and reducing racial inequality overall," Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said.

In the hearing, Democrats as well as Republicans on the committee, led by Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., raised concerns about an underlying problem: the stringent zoning rules in many cities that prevent more homes from being built.

Bokhari, from Redfin, echoed that concern in discussing his research. In the shortage that comes from too few homes being built, he said, there is profit to be made. "If we were building enough housing there wouldn't be as much investing activity in the housing we have," he said.

"If we had enough homes to meet this demand," he added, "everyone would be able to buy a home.

- - -"

The Washington Post's Ted Mellnik contributed to this report.

- - -

The Washington Post analyzed Zip code-level data provided by Redfin. Redfin defined investors as buyers whose name included the keywords "LLC," "Inc," "Corp" or "Homes," or whose ownership code includes the keywords "association," "corporate trustee," "company," "joint venture" or "corporate trust." (For our analysis, Redfin excluded the buyer keyword "Trusts" from its analysis to be more conservative in its findings, since some families own their homes through trusts.) Redfin included the 40 most populous metros where counties disclose sales prices. Redfin's metro boundaries are either Metropolitan Statistical Areas or metropolitan divisions, depending on the metro.

The Post excluded Zip codes with fewer than 10 sales in 2021 from the maps, and those with fewer than 25 sales from the race and income analyses.

Race and income data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

"Buy now, pay later" promises simple payment plans that can make financing your next purchase easy and affordable.

These plans typically divide your total purchase into four equal installments with zero interest. The first installment is due at checkout, and the remaining three are due every two weeks until the loan is paid in full.

But even a simple payment plan can turn complicated when youre juggling three or four of them at a time  a problem unique to buy now, pay later, which unlike other forms of financing, doesnt look at similar existing debts when extending an offer.

Know the risks of multiple buy now, pay later loans

While certain debts like credit cards and traditional loans are reported to the three major credit bureaus, buy now, pay later loans typically arent, so lenders dont know how many loans you have outstanding and cant assess your ability to afford more.

This will likely change in the coming months as TransUnion, Equifax and Experian work to increase the visibility of buy now, pay later on credit reports to better track the loans across lenders, while still protecting the credit scores of consumers who may be taking out multiple loans in a short period of time and successfully paying them off.

For now, borrowers can continue taking on debt from multiple buy now, pay later providers. And though plans may be advertised as no-cost, the consequences of falling behind are anything but, says Marisabel Torres, director of California policy for the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit research and policy organization.

"There needs to be more transparency," she says. "Its not just, 'zero financing, zero fees.' If you miss a payment, you will incur fees. You will incur some type of penalty."

While many buy now, pay later providers charge late fees, which can dig borrowers further into debt, others send defaulted loans to collections, jeopardizing borrowers credit scores.

There are also consequences on the other side of the transaction. Even if a buy now, pay later provider doesnt penalize you for falling behind, your bank might if you overdraw an account tied to the loan, like a debit card.

"Could you be triggering nonsufficient fund fees or overdraft fees? Could you be kicked out of the banking system? Those are very real consequences that are tied to not being able to keep up with a loan payment," Torres says.

Establish a budget for buy now, pay later payments

For borrowers who take multiple buy now, pay later loans, the most important thing to do is plan your spending ahead of time, says Jordan Nietzel, a certified financial planner based in Columbia, Missouri.

If you dont already follow a monthly budget, start by reviewing your income and expenses over the past three months to identify how much money is coming in and going out.

Assuming theres a surplus of income you want to spend on buy now, pay later purchases, set a total dollar limit for what you can commit to monthly payments, instead of evaluating loan offers individually.

Nietzel says looking at buy now, pay later loans as a whole is particularly important since the small installments make the debt seem more manageable than it is.

"We tend to think, 'Well, no big deal, I can definitely make this $10-a-month payment,'" he says. "You dont realize that if you do that several times, those payments stack onto each other."

Resist the temptation to overspend

Budgeting can also help address one of the top concerns about buy now, pay later: the ease of overspending at checkout.

Since buy now, pay later plans automatically divide your purchase, its easy to lose sight of what you originally planned to spend. For example, a $100 purchase becomes $25 with a pay-in-four plan. For some shoppers, this could mean filling their carts with more items.

Paul Paradis, president of Sezzle, a buy now, pay later provider that partners with Target and other retailers, says his company has little to gain from encouraging customers to overextend themselves.

"Since we don't charge interest, and we make the vast majority of our revenue from our merchant fees, we actually lose out if we encourage overspending," he says. "Unlike credit cards that make money when people don't pay on time, we lose money when people don't pay us back on time."

However, Nietzel and Torres note that the willingness of major retailers to pay merchant fees in the first place likely means consumers are spending more.

If buy now, pay later plans tempt you to overspend on a regular basis, youre better off ditching them.

"It may seem like it's easier for your cash flow to stomach, but over the long haul youre paying the same amount," Nietzel says. "So if its causing you to buy more than you wouldve otherwise, thats when it really becomes a problem."

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

Jackie Veling writes for NerdWallet. Email: jveling@nerdwallet.com.

The article Avoid the Risks of Having Multiple Buy Now, Pay Later Loans originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Theyre loud. Theyre feral. Theyre messy. And according to Hawaii residents, theyre everywhere.

To curb Honolulus booming feral chicken population, lawmakers are proposing a bill that would eradicate them by deploying a special contraceptive bird feed, KHON 2 reported. While the five-year pilot program was initially intended for Pearl City, a small community of 45,000 on the North Shore of Pearl Harbor, its now state-wide since the chickens are considered a road and health hazard.

They crow at any time, it could be early morning, it could be afternoon, it could be late night, Pearl City resident Zarex Domingo told the outlet. And they go on the roof, and they poop all over. So I have to watch where I walk every time I leave the house.

While the New York Times reported that the chickens have been on the island for the last 800 years, in areas like Kailua and Kauai, the wild fowl population has exploded in part due to tourists feeding them garbage and cat food. Years later, the National Geographic confirmed local lore that Hurricane Hurricane Iwa and Hurricane Iniki helped blow open coops on the island, allowing the birds to breed beyond control  since then, the population has soared.

As a result, Hawaii has been engaging in a yearslong battle with the wild fowl population: lawmakers have recently enforced strict $500 fines for feeding the feral birds, and the city of Honolulu launched its own special chicken management program in 2016. The citys Department of Land and Natural Resources also provides specific instructions on how to capture and euthanize the birds if theyre roaming around residents homes.

However, State Senator Bennette Misalucha whos behind the new bill is confident that it will be a non-violent solution to the islands ongoing issue. We want to be humane, you know, we were very mindful about that, she told KHON 2.
MANISTEE COUNTY  Munson Healthcare may downgrade to pandemic level orange, within the next couple of days, according to Dr. Christine Nefcy, chief medical officer for Munson Healthcare.

Nefcy announced at the beginning of the weekly press conference on Tuesday, that the COVID-19 test positivity rate in the area that Munson Healthcare covers was below 20%. She had said that below 20% positivity is one of the main metrics that is used when moving from the highest tier  pandemic level red  to pandemic level orange.

Overall the state of Michigan has a 14-day average of 12% COVID-19 positive. The single-day average for the state as of Feb. 17 was nearly half that with a test positivity rate of 6.4%.

Dianne Michalek, the chief marketing and communication officer of Munson Healthcare, confirmed what Nefcy said.

"I can confirm that we are just finalizing some operational concerns and we will get that information out to the public as soon as we are able to make those changes," Michalek said of downgrading from pandemic level red.

Nefcy also noted that Munson could further downgrade to level yellow if the current trend of falling case counts and lower hospitalizations continues.

She added that the downgrade will likely depend on not seeing a new surge from the omicron subvariant called BA.2. She also emphasized that these decisions would be coming from objective methods like cases per 100,000 people, the number of patients in Munson Healthcare hospitals for COVID-19 infections, as well as staffing levels.

Health officers from local health departments including District Health Department #10, Grand Traverse County Health Department, the Bezie-Leelanau Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, all noted dropping case rates. Some even began to announce new guidance in regards to masking.

Lisa Peacock, health officer for the Benzie-Leelanau Health Department and Health Department of Northwest Michigan, broke down some terms that people may be hearing in the coming weeks and months, particularly as local health departments announce the new guidance.

Peacock stated that the COVID-19 cycle can be broken down into three primary 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 the severity of illness and hospital capacity. Increased communication to the public regarding possible new risks.

Peacock said that much of the area and the state as a whole are in the recovery phase. Both the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the District Health Department #10 recently announced via a press release that they were issuing new guidance on masks.

"MDHHS recommends that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, practice universal masking when in high-risk, congregate settings such as long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, corrections facilities and healthcare facilities. It is also important that individuals wear a mask during isolation and quarantine periods to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. School districts and organizations are encouraged to continue to consider their local conditions when determining their masking policies," the release reads in part.

However, MDHHS said that it still believes that masking in school settings is still appropriate with the current case count.

"At this time, universal masking is still recommended in all school settings. This will continue to be the recommendation until the amount of COVID-19 in our areas decreases further," the MDHHS release said.

DHD#10 also agreed with the statement with Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director for DHD#10, saying as much during Tuesday's press conference. She also added statements to the joint press release from DHD#10 and MDHHS.

"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," said Morse in the news release. "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.

Tuesday's press conference can be viewed at facebook.com/munsonhc/videos/262987049352217l.
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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces onto their territory for "peacekeeping" purposes, a dramatic escalation in a crisis that is threatening a full-scale war.

Putin's action - in direct defiance of U.S. and European warnings - was swiftly condemned by Washington and Brussels, with top officials promising sanctions in response to the recognition of the self-declared republics. Secretary of State Antony Blinken decried the recognition as "a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

But amid reports of Russian military columns already appearing in the breakaway territories late Monday, the White House stopped short of announcing the full-fledged sanctions that President Joe Biden had said Russia would face in the event of an invasion.

For weeks, Putin has been holding the world on tenterhooks, with some 190,000 Russian personnel and enabling forces amassed around Ukraine's borders, even as top Russian officials have denied plans to mount an offensive in Ukraine.

In a televised address to the Russian nation Monday, Putin dropped much of the pretense, recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, and demonstrating to the international community that feverish rounds of diplomacy had left the 69-year-old former KGB officer undeterred.

"Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood," Putin said during a seething speech that delved into Soviet history to undermine the idea of Ukraine as an independent nation.

He dismissed Ukraine as a puppet state of the West and warned that the country could develop its own nuclear weapons, calling this a "real threat" that the West might help Kyiv achieve.

"The level of threat for our country is becoming greater and greater," Putin said. "Russia has every right to take countermeasures to enhance our security, and that's how we plan to act."

Putin authorized the Russian Defense Ministry to send forces into the self-declared separatist republics for "peacekeeping" purposes in official government decrees published by the state news agency RIA Novosti. Previously, the Kremlin denied putting Russian forces in the separatist enclaves, though their presence there has been well-documented by Ukrainian, European and American officials.

The agreement with the two breakaway territories signed by Putin also says Russia can have military bases there. Separatist leaders, however, do not control the entirety of the two Ukrainian regions, and it is unclear whether Russian troops would enter just the portions held by separatists or extend into the Ukrainian territories that Putin regards as part of the republics.

Since 2014, the Donbas region has been divided into separate territories: the Kyiv-controlled parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics." Russian-backed separatists claim all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as their territory, but they control about one-third of the region - about 6,500 square miles - along the border with Russia.

A senior Biden administration official characterized Putin's speech as an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine.

"This was a speech to the Russian people to justify a war," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for weeks has been urging the West to impose sanctions in response to the buildup of Russian forces and materiel around his country, but U.S. and many European officials have said the threat of sanctions should function as a deterrent to Putin and be triggered only after he invades Ukraine.

The senior Biden administration official said economic sanctions probably would be imposed Tuesday but did not characterize their scope.

The administration also announced a ban on U.S. trade with the breakaway regions.

Late Monday, the United Nations Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis, following a request by Kyiv citing Russia's decision to recognize the separatist regions.

Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, formally requested the meeting in a letter that cited Russia's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent nations, as well as Moscow's "ongoing aggravation of the security situation around Ukraine" and threat to "international peace and security." The Washington Post obtained a copy of the letter.

The situation presents a precarious moment for the White House. For weeks, Biden and allied leaders have been warning Russia that an invasion would result in severe sanctions on the Russian financial sector and export controls that would hobble the Russian economy.

Now, they have to decide whether Putin's decision to move Russian forces into the breakaway territory constitutes the sort of invasion that would trigger the full-fledged package of measures.

"Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step," the senior administration official said in a call with reporters, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter. "Russia has had forces in the Donbas region for the past eight years."

Dozens of evacuees from the separatist regions were glued to their cellphone screens Monday, watching an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council called by Putin to decide whether Russia would recognize the territories' independence.

The evacuees in Taganrog Hotel, set up to accept the influx of people evacuating from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, were convinced that Putin would accept the council's recommendation and recognize the regions.

Hopes were high that this would put an end to a life in a gray zone.

"Were you listening to Putin? We were just now, and we are so happy that after eight years they are finally going to recognize us," a woman, who declined to give her name, said in the foyer of the hotel.

"Why do you think no one is attacking Crimea? Because Putin made it part of Russia officially," she added.

Biden, who met with his national security team at the White House, held a flurry of calls with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. They were unified in their condemnation of Putin's action and discussed next steps in a coordinated response.

Putin has long waged a campaign of disinformation, falsely accusing Ukraine of "genocide" against the regions and claiming that Kyiv has mounted intensifying military attacks there. Putin has produced no evidence for his accusation.

In his lengthy address Monday, Putin advanced his controversial take on Ukraine's history, decrying the collapse of the Soviet Union and dismissing Ukraine as a pseudo-state created by the Bolsheviks in the days of Soviet Premier Vladimir Lenin. Ukraine, he said, was "a colony with puppets at its helm," where Russian speakers were oppressed.

"You want decommunization? That completely works for us. We are prepared to show what real decommunization means for Ukraine," he said, appearing to suggest that he might seek to dismantle the country.

His speech, which lasted roughly an hour, expressed his long-held belief that Russia has been wronged by history and attacked by Western powers. He said Lenin and the Bolsheviks mistreated Russia by tearing away its historical territories and voiced a litany of grievances against Ukraine, which has been steadily moving toward the West for the last eight years.

He attacked NATO's expansion, saying Western countries wanted to hold Russia back and had never taken Moscow's concerns into account.

"NATO completely ignores our protests," he said, alluding to his demand for a guarantee that Ukraine never be allowed to join the transatlantic alliance. "They spit on them and do whatever they want."

He warned that the West was using Ukraine as "theater of potential warfare" against Russia.

Putin threatened Ukrainians responsible for bringing democracy to the country, a statement all the more chilling amid reports that Moscow has compiled a hit list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to concentration camps following a military occupation. "We know their names," he said, "and we will find them and bring them to justice."

He finished by announcing a step that he said "should have been done a long time ago" - to decree Donetsk and Luhansk independent states. The move breaches a 2015 Minsk peace agreement that was supposed to restore the two separatist regions to Ukraine's control, but that deal was vaguely worded and never fully implemented.

Russia fomented uprisings in those two areas after annexing Crimea in 2014 and following Ukraine's Maidan revolution, which ousted a pro-Moscow leader and ushered in a Western-leaning government.

Putin's decree drew immediate rebukes on both sides of the Atlantic. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called it a "blatant violation of Russia's international commitments."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed that Europe and its partners "will react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine."

Putin, in his speech, dismissed the prospect of sanctions. "They're again trying to blackmail us, again threatening us with sanctions, which by the way, they will bring against us anyway," he said. "The goal is the same: to restrain the development of Russia."

"All pretenses are gone," said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The mutual-assistance treaty Putin signed with the two regions now allows him to send Russian troops in "without any pretenses" of them being part of "an indigenous grass-roots separatist" rebellion.

"That in itself would be an act of war against Ukraine," said Rumer, a former U.S. national intelligence officer on Russia.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions are only partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists. If Russian troops pushed deeper into those parts of the regions held by Ukraine, the Ukrainian army would resist, Rumer said. "It could get very bloody."

- - -

The Washington Post's John Hudson and Sammy Westfall contributed to this report.
The 500-pound black bear thats been wreaking havoc on a wealthy Lake Tahoe neighborhood broke into yet another home on Friday as he continues a seven-month streak of evading police and California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials.

Known by locals as Jake, Yogi, or Hank the Tank, according to a recent article from CBS Sacramento, the bear has caused extensive property damage to 33 residences and is responsible for at least 152 incident reports in the area, Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the CDFW, told SFGATE.

Whats problematic about this bear is how large it is, he said by phone Sunday afternoon. (Adult males typically weigh 150 to 300 pounds, though individuals over 600 pounds have been recorded in California.) 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. A lot of these calls are emergency calls people are fearful for their safety.

The animal was last seen on Catalina Drive in the Tahoe Keys, where he broke a small window and forced himself into a home while the occupants were inside. They proceeded to call police, who cleared the house and hazed the bear until he exited through the back door and fled the property  a course of action that usually involves making noise with loud sirens, firing bean bags at the animal, or anything that might make a bear think twice about interacting with humans again, said Tira.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department/Facebook

The problem is, he continued, It seems to do little good. This bear has been hazed and chased off a million times, but keeps returning.

Jake, or Yogi, or Hank, is what Tira describes as a severely food habituated bear, one that has lost all fear of people and thinks of them as a food source. In a meeting held Wednesday, members of a local homeowners association agreed to allow CDFW personnel to capture the bear. Previous trapping efforts, which tend to yield more success for the department in the wooded settings where it usually operates, have proven futile in the residential areas where the bear has become acclimated. The traps were also repeatedly vandalized by some residents, leaving officials with no choice but to reassess their strategy.

After the incident Friday, officials collected DNA evidence to make an accurate match when or if they capture the bear. Right now, theyre exploring possible relocation options and looking into accredited facilities such as zoos and wildlife sanctuaries that could take the bear in, but Tira said every decision poses its own unique challenge.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department/Facebook

You relocate a bear like this, you relocate a problem to another community, he said. You relocate it to the wilderness, and they starve because theyre not used to hunting for food. They die a slow, agonizing death.

Not all wild bears do well in captivity either, he noted.

Its a stressful environment. They can suck up veterinary resources and time, Tira said. And there may not even be a facility that can take the bear in at this time. We may not be able to get permission, and theres lots of laws that restrict and rightly safeguard the movement of animals across state lines.

Euthanasia is a last resort, he said. But some residents believe that while the bear they fondly refer to as "Chunky" or The Big Guy has a right to be there, they hope to see him safely transported to a wildlife sanctuary.

Hes a well-known local, a spokesperson for the Bear League, a Tahoe-based nonprofit that advocates for the animals, told CBS. We dont want anybody to get hurt. We dont want the bear to die either. Its how the community feels. They dont want bears to pay the price for human ignorance.

The bear isnt considered a threat to people, but Tira said its difficult to determine what specific events may have led to its pattern of bold behavior. He explained the CDFW manages a year-round education program to inform residents, tourists and local businesses about how to bear-proof their properties and safely coexist with the animals, which is done in partnership with law enforcement, the U.S. Forest Service and California State Parks. Still, Tahoes dense bear population coupled with high traffic areas filled with residents and tourists means encounters with the animals arent exactly uncommon.

Theres lots of opportunities for bears to access human food and garbage, unfortunately, Tira said. Once they access it they realize its a lot easier to get food that way. And leftover pizza might be a more calorie-dense meal than grubs or insects, for instance.

When the pandemic hit, out-of-towners came to Lake Tahoe in droves, and reports of conflict with bears in El Dorado County subsequently doubled. Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, told SFGATE in 2020 it was a unique year for the level of unpreparedness among visitors.

A lot of folks, unfortunately, do not have a clue about the rules for visiting and vacationing and staying in bear country, Bryant said at the time. People call because they saw a bear and think he escaped, like, dont they live in a zoo? What is a bear doing walking loose? Its just been mind-boggling, the attitude.

The devastation of last years Caldor Fire also encouraged bears to freely roam Lake Tahoe as more than 22,000 residents were evacuated from the area, and reports of intrusions doubled or tripled once people returned, Simon Brown, a public information officer with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, told SFGATE at the time.

Courtesy of the Bear League

When reached by phone on Sunday, Bryant told SFGATE the current problem is that while the Keys "has more bears per capita than any other neighborhood" they for years refused to allow people to install bear boxes.

Some of the animals were born there, but others seek it out for its prime hiding spots and food because many of the trash cans aren't locked up, she said. Recently, the local homeowners association approved use of the boxes, according to Bryant, but residents have to go through a costly application and permitting process to obtain them before they can place them on the curb next to their trash bins.

"They think having them by the houses is unsightly," said Bryant. "I think seeing a hole punched in every other garage door by a bear is considerably more unsightly."

South Lake Tahoe Police Department/Facebook

Bryant said she received a call about the bear from a Keys resident who saw him on her Ring security camera Thursday afternoon. They chased the animal away before he was spotted again Friday.

"Based on the calls we get from the public, the calls we go out on and the bears we know, the number of bears that come in and forage within the Keys is definitely double any other neighborhood," she said.

The Bear League has reached out to the CDFW with a number of accredited wildlife sanctuaries they hope to see the bear transported to  some within California and others that are out of state  but Bryant said they have not yet heard back from the department. (She declined to share the names of the sanctuaries but said the organization has worked with several of them in the past.)

"We want the bear off the streets and to put an end to this," said Bryant. "But he shouldn't die."

As the community remains at odds, the fate of the animal is still up in the air.

Everythings on the table, if you will, Tira said. Theres no guarantee that we will catch the bear.

SFGATE reached out to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department for additional comments and did not hear back by time of publication.

SFGATEs California Trending News reporter Ariana Bindman and Tahoe editor Julie Brown contributed to this report.
In the Oakland Hills, not far from Skyline Boulevard, stands an unmarked stone pyramid looking over San Francisco. Its just up the hill from a small, battered white cabin. Nearby, a stone funeral pyre collects eucalyptus leaves by a bench with one of the best views in the Bay Area. These obscurities were all built by one eccentric man over a century ago  a poet, adventurer, scoundrel and celebrity of his time who went by the name of Joaquin Miller.

Cincinnatus Heine Miller was born in either 1837 or 1841. Miller's exact birth date, birth place and even birth name are unclear, largely due to Miller being a very unreliable narrator to his own story. Miller gave at least three different birth dates to reporters over the years, to which the Oakland Tribune wrote, "Just why he did this no-one ever knew. He loved controversy." As for his birth place, Miller once said he was born somewhere in Indiana, "in a covered wagon, pointing west."

Wikimedia Commons

Before he built his strange empire in Oakland, Miller lived an extraordinary life with far too many bizarre adventures for this story. But in summary: As a child Miller moved to Oregon and then made his way to California during the Gold Rush. There, he was involved in numerous battles with Native Americans. After getting struck in the cheek with an arrow in one conflict, Miller claims he sided with the Native Americans and was run out of town. It's written that after battle Miller did indeed live alongside the Wintu tribe in Northern California, and even fathered a daughter, Cali-Shasta, also known as Lily of the Shasta, with a Native woman. In 1859, Miller was arrested and jailed for stealing a horse in Shasta County, where he claims he was broken out of jail by his bride.

In Idaho in the 1860s, Miller was elected as a judge in Grant County. In Alaska he lost two toes to frostbite. In New York he married a third wife. Between working as cook, a judge, a newspaper editor, Pony Express rider and poet, Miller also found the time to join mercenary William Walker on his invasion of Nicaragua, where Miller's friend somehow became dictator.

Andrew Chamings

In San Francisco, Miller befriended California's first poet laureate Ina Coolbrith, who soon became his mentor. It was Coolbrith who convinced Miller to change his name, suggesting that "Joaquin" sounded far more literary and romantic than "Cincinnatus."

Miller's flamboyant poetry was universally rejected by publishers in San Francisco, so the adventurer moved to London to try his luck. It was there, in 1871, he penned his most lasting work, Songs of the Sierras.

And I have said, and I say it ever

As the years go on and the world goes over

Twere better to be content and clever

In the tending of cattle and the tossing of clover.

The 220-page book of poetry honoring the American West and its distant mysteries was an immediate hit in London literary circles. Almost overnight Miller was anointed as the great interpreter of the new world. The poet attended dinner parties with Lord Tennyson and was celebrated is a brilliant, if eccentric, bard and frontiersman from across the pond. He was given the nickname "Poet of the Sierras."

Archival / Unknown

Despite his newfound fame, back in America Miller's work continued to be derided for being histrionic. As the San Francisco Chronicle wrote in a profile on Miller in 1871, "Californians incline towards prose and solid facts, instead of poetry and fleeting fancies." The paper did celebrate the Miller's singularity, though, writing, "Joaquin Miller was riding his bare-backed steed with imaginary stirrups, up and down the Sierras and bathing his elastic imagination in the rays of the setting sun."

Gold Rush poet Bret Harte, who received countless unsolicited manuscripts from Miller, wrote that the ambitious poet's verse exhibited "a certain theatrical tendency and feverish exultation, which would be better kept under restraint."

Miller's writing was so bombastic that most of his diaries and memoirs are considered untrustworthy, making his life story confusing and, in places, almost mythical, as he likely intended. What we do know is that after all of the above wanderings, wars and wives, in 1886 Miller settled on the lush 70 acres of land at the foot of the Oakland Hills he probably deliberately misspelled "The Hights."

Andrew Chamings

Miller wanted to created a true Bohemian retreat there. He built his wooden home, that still stands today, as a tiny artist's salon. He named it "The Abbey," but if you take a walk around the structure today you'll seen it's little more than a tiny, albeit charming, Victorian cottage.

As described in a 1953 biography of Miller, the aptly named "Splendid Poseur," the building consisted of "a single small room with a porch ... visitors often said that the room looked like an unfinished museum." On the walls of the main room hung artifacts of Miller's adventures, including bear claws, Mexican saddles, sheep horns and "weapons of all sort."

"Wherever there was a vacant spot, Joaquin had tacked up photographs of actresses and of himself, magazine and newspaper clippings concerning himself," biographer M. M. Marberry wrote.

Inside that shrine to adventure and ego, some of the best-known artists of the time visited. Mark Twain, Gertrude Stein, John Muir, Walt Whitman and Jack London are all said to have spent time in "The Hights" with Miller.

In the hills above the property, Miller planted cypress, pine, olive and eucalyptus trees. (Alongside Miller's trees, one redwood on the property, off a trail, is reportedly the largest redwood in the East Bay, though the exact location of this "sentinel" tree isn't shared by the parks department.)

Miller lived in Oakland with his ailing mother and daughter, Juanita, who would play the lyre, turning her father's verse into song. He spent his days watching over San Francisco, drinking whiskey, building strange monuments and writing. He loved the land so much he decided it would be where he would finally end his travels and see out the rest of his days.

To cement this dream he built a pyre atop the hill, on which he asked friends to burn his body when the time came.

Andrew Chamings

The unmarked stone pyramid built by Miller on Lookout Point is actually a monument to Moses, symbolizing Miller's reverence for the Ten Commandments. (His three wives, children born out of wedlock, horse thievery, the Native Americans and Nicaraguans slain in battle and pin-ups inside his cabin walls maybe reveal a different, less morally pure, life.)

When Miller died in 1913, his body was not set aflame on the pyre as requested. Weeks later members of the notorious Bohemian Club, of which Miller was a member, belatedly honored the request by torching his urn in the stone pyre. The raucous ceremony was the talk of the town. Hundreds attended the event in the hills, including actors, writers and curious Oaklanders. Coolbrith's ode to her friend, "Vale, Joaquin," was read aloud as a band played. According to the Tribune, "movie men" attempted to shoot some footage of the event for a picture, as opportunists attempted to grab fistfuls of the now twice-burned ashes of the folk hero. Miller's wife Abigail watched the chaotic scene with some glee, telling the paper, "How Joaquin would have enjoyed this! He loved flames."

After Miller's death, the land was acquired by the City of Oakland in 1919. The 500-acre park, road and school that bear that his name today are arguably better known than his literary output, which has faded in appreciation compared the the greats that spent time at his retreat. In 1941, the Art Deco 2,000-seat Woodminster Amphitheater was opened and dedicated by Juanita Miller, who had a special reserved seat there during her lifetime.

Andrew Chamings

Alongside the pyre, the pyramid and the Abbey, Miller also built monuments on the property to explorer and senator General John C. Fremont, and poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. A statue of Miller on horseback facing the setting sun was dedicated by Juanita in the 1940s.

Next time you're in the Oakland Hills and see the name Joaquin Miller, venture off Highway 13 and into the woods to find the strange, scattered monuments built by one of California's most curious men. Miller, a fraud and a hero, may have been captured best by editor Louis Untermeyer, who wrote in 1930:

"Miller shouted platitudes at the top of his voice. His lines boomed with the pomposity of a brass band; floods, fires, hurricanes, extravagantly blazing sunsets, the thunder of a herd of buffaloes  all were unmercifully piled up. And yet, even in its most blatant fortissimos, Miller's poetry occasionally captured the grandeur of his surroundings, the spread of the Sierras, the lavish energy of the Western World."
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A rebound in shoppers, rent collections and tenants in Westfields shopping centres has coincided with veteran chief executive Peter Allen stepping down as head of the $16.4 billion ASX-listed Scentre Group.

The helm change at the real estate behemoth will see chief financial officer Elliott Rusanow take over running the group just as it recovers from two years of COVID-related uncertainty.

Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen is stepping down. Credit:Russell Shakespeare

The retail landlord, Australias largest shopping centre manager, has reported a strong uplift in its funds from operations - a key earnings measure in the property sector - to $862.5 million for the full year to December, a rise of 12.7 per cent.

Mr Allen took on the role of inaugural chief executive of Scentre eight years ago after it was formed following a restructure of billionaire Frank Lowys Westfield Group, which left its Australian assets parked under Scentre Group and its US and UK business held by Westfield Corporation.
Senior managers at an Indigenous education venture founded by Noel Pearson have called for their chief executive Bernardine Denigan to be stood down following revelations that she allegedly bullied and humiliated staff in the workplace, leading to alarming levels of staff turnover.

The majority of managers at Good to Great Schools Australia (GSSA), which is co-chaired by Mr Pearson, emailed the organisations chief operating officer on Monday requesting an independent review into the allegations revealed in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, as well as Ms Denigans current behaviour towards the managers and their teams.

Good to Great Schools CEO Bernardine Denigan and founder Noel Pearson. Credit:GGSA

Our expectation would be that Bernardine Denigan be stood down effective immediately and throughout the course of this independent review, the email sent by six of 10 managers currently working in key operational roles across the organisation said.

This masthead on Saturday reported claims from more than 20 former and current GGSA employees that alleged Ms Denigans regular behaviour in the workplace included yelling and name-calling, belittling or disciplining staff members in front of their colleagues, targeting specific employees, undermining workers credentials and micro-managing performance.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, furious about being kept in the dark about the complete shutdown of Sydneys rail network, instructed senior staff to urgently investigate the timeline of events that led to the debacle.

An internal dossier was provided to the Premiers office on Tuesday, which included details of text messages sent between ministerial staff and the rail agency in the hours leading to the decision to switch off the passenger rail network.

Commuters disembark from a train at Parramatta Station on Tuesday. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Transport Minister David Elliott came under repeated fire to explain when he was told about the transport agencys decision to close the network, which disrupted hundreds of thousands of commuters on Monday.

Labor leader Chris Minns grilled Mr Elliott over a text message between the ministers chief of staff and a bureaucrat before 11pm on Sunday, citing it as evidence the government had advance knowledge about the imminent shutdown.
Coalitions renews slavish devotion to fossil fuels The PM misrepresents the truth, saying that power prices would go up if coal plants were closed too quickly (Plan to hasten end of coal at AGL draws PMs disapproval, February 22). Quite the contrary is the case, as he should know. As the market becomes dominated by more renewables, electricity prices have and will consistently be reduced. His opposition to Mike Cannon-Brookes fine example of can-do capitalism can only be understood in the context of his government being largely controlled and owned by the fossil fuel industry. This is not a new suggestion: just ask Malcolm Turnbull. Josie McSkimming, Coogee We have known for years that the switch from fossil fuels to renewables was inevitable not only for the sake of future generations but also because of economic viability (Small communities need seat at the power table, February 22). The proposed takeover of AGL are the direct results of advancements in technology and market forces yet our Prime Minister claims that without coal-fired power, prices of electricity will increase. A report by the Australian Energy Market Commission late last year predicted that electricity costs to consumers would fall over the current financial year and fall further by 2023-2024, thus making a nonsense of the Prime Ministers claim. The tragedy is, as Shirley Jackson has pointed out, despite the success of the Latrobe Valley Authority in helping the local community smooth the transition away from coal, there is no national transition authority because our federal government refuses to recognise that coal is on the way out. Peter Nash, Fairlight With the ever-growing presence of climate insecurity in our national conversation, perhaps the Prime Minister would not have been so disapproving of accelerated coal-powered electricity plant closures if his government was to have any real input into ending emissions. Had the wasted billions of taxpayer dollars in rorted or backward policies been better spent, we probably wouldnt need to rely on the private sector to do the governments duties. Zac Barlow, Jerilderie The federal Coalition have been trying to paint themselves green with concern for koalas and the Great Barrier Reef. When it comes to the welcome prospect of a dirty polluting power station closing early, both Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor are disappointed. The green paint is coming off in strips, revealing their true stance. The Coalition has no plans to reduce pollution. They are supporters of burning fossil fuels with no regard for future consequences. Dennis OHara, Wanniassa (ACT)

Phone distress signal strong Mel Robinson is not alone enduring a one-bar mobile phone reception (Outrage over outages in town cut off, February 22). Here on the Central Coast, part of Greater Sydney and a bushfire prone area where reliable mobile coverage is an essential, we experience the same one-bar scenario. Despite the promise from local federal Liberal member Lucy Wicks that all would be resolved by the first quarter of 2021, may I remind her that it is now the first quarter of 2022, and were still waiting. Bill Young, Killcare Heights Remember those dreamy ads for the NBN in 2010 that promised to radically change the way we worked, communicated, used our leisure time? Everyone, no matter where they lived in this great country, would have the world and all its possibilities open up to them. The residents of Kundabung and other small towns, 12 years down the track, would now happily just settle for the most basic of services. Joan Brown, Orange Pandemic clear-out Talk about alternative universes (Great jobs reshuffle offers brighter future and Return to an office frozen in time, February 22). As one of Tim Connors 91 colleagues no longer on the timetable teaching academic English to international students  in my case, prematurely and unwillingly retired from work I loved  I must remonstrate with Jo Masters and her optimism about job vacancies ... at record highs and the great jobs experiment because it ignores the experience over the past two years of thousands in the higher education sector. Brett Johnson, Erskineville

Runway overlooked The announcement of additional funding for Australias Antarctic program is welcome but does not compensate for recent abandonment of plans to construct a year-round runway near Davis Station (Drone fleets and autonomous vehicles added to Antarctica research program, smh.com.au, February 22). Such a facility would permit transport between Australia and Antarctica of personnel belonging to all nations programs, not just ours. This would allow Australia to act as gatekeeper for East Antarctica, retaining leadership and oversight of international activities within the Australian Antarctic Territory. In its absence, it seems likely that China will construct its own runway. Jeremy Smith, Armidale Nothing beats real data Anne Summers clear-eyed precis of the first-rate domestic violence research released at Australias National Research Organisation for Womens Safety annual conference  reports grounded in hard data and analytical substance, rather than hashtag slogans and online posturing  could also serve as a gentle but firm reminder from their elders to the rock stars of millennial feminism that lasting change demands empirical rigour, intellectual nuance, advocacy endurance and grinding, consensual negotiation (Lethal lovers: National plan needed, February 22). The more uncritically obsessed #MeToo cultists might also note that none of the expert policy professionals behind the two reports Summers cites are celebrities. I bet that some of them arent even on Twitter. Jack Robertson, Birchgrove

Service quality erodes Correspondents all agree (Letters, February 22). How many times must we go through this failure of government when essential services are handed over to the profit sector? It is as plain as day that profit will take precedence and service a poor second. The government should provide essential services and certainly not with volunteers. VET, TAFE, social housing  there is a long list of failures. We must send the strongest message come election time so that the Morrison governments systemic mismanagement is never repeated. Steve Johnson, Elizabeth Beach Dont our governments realise that every dollar of profit made by privatised businesses is a dollar not spent on the recipients of that care or service? It is a dollar less to pay workers a decent wage, a dollar less on the niceties of life for our aged, a dollar less for our roads and hospitals. And just how many of those dollars go offshore? John Holstein, Yerong Creek Have to love a first world country where you need volunteers and the army to help care for your aged citizens. Summer is finishing so why not rope in the lifesaving clubs of Australia as well. Wayne Stinson, Merimbula

Traffic tunnel blow-back As some writers have noted, the swing in the seat of Willoughby may, in part, be a reflection of the anger at having the Harbour Tunnel foisted on residents (Letters, February 22). I was involved in the fight to save Ashfield Park from the proposed ravages by the WestConnex tunnel. Residents concerns about the concentrated pollution from the ventilation stacks were assuaged by promises that air quality monitors would be placed in sections along Parramatta Road and in Haberfield Public School. I cannot find any evidence at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website of air quality data being collected from local monitors, only the general Rozelle site which averages data for all of this part of Sydney. The monitoring station in the grounds of Haberfield Public School seems to be out of action most of the time and there does not appear to be any publication of data from that site. The compulsory acquisition of homes in Ashfield and Haberfield saw huge pain and disruption to peoples lives and loss of much local heritage. The promises that the WestConnex project would ease congestion on Parramatta Road and make the corridor more liveable remain a joke, as anyone who drives along Parramatta Road between Strathfield and Ashfield can attest that truck drivers are avoiding the tolls and traffic flows on that section remain heavy. Friends of mine at the St Peters end of the project report more rat runs through their suburbs as people try to avoid the tunnel. Residents in Rozelle/Annandale will have three ventilation stacks next to each other spewing concentrated pollution into their homes and onto the new parklands where children will be playing sport. This is a government which ignores all the international and national health research about unfiltered tunnels and venting of concentrated traffic pollution in high-density residential areas. The residents of northern Sydney affected by the tunnel are right to raise their fears. Kerry Barlow, Ashfield

Joans legacy I am very saddened to read that Joan Croll has died, leaving a personal and public legacy that will never be forgotten and impossible to replace (Tributes and celebrations, February 22). Her pioneering achievements in breast cancer screening, one of the Battlers for Kellys Bush, a patron of the arts, all those letters to the Herald. It was always a joy to read them. Over the years my wife and I came to know her and husband Frank who died in 2003. Now they are together. Wish I could excise this sad morning from my life. Bye, Joan. Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood The family notice acknowledges her epistolary skills, yet like all contributors to this page the good doctor was much more, recognised by her nation for her chosen fields of endeavour and an example of how each of us can play a role in broader society. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook The final word Graham Finn says that anyone who uses woke loses the argument (Letters, February 22). The problem is that people who call themselves woke dont usually have any argument to start with. David Morrison, Springwood
Sydneys Kingsford Smith Airport flung open its arrival gates to international tourists on Monday for the first time in two years. And not a moment too soon given the preparations that are now officially under way to welcome a very, very important visitor Down Under.

Step forward Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the Princess Royal.

Everyones favourite royal  we dont have to pretend any more, do we?  is pencilled in to attend the opening night of the Sydney Royal Easter Show as the guest of honour  if the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and the state government are able to pull off what could be the most audacious plan in years.

The princess is the societys president and patron across the Commonwealth.

Already, things are looking positive. This week, four representatives from Buckingham Palace jetted into Sydney for discussions on the potential royal visit and to scope out locations, an itinerary and how the trip would unfold. Within the state government, there are hopes the Princess Royal will be able to squeeze in a trip to some farming regions across the state at a time when agricultural production is booming.
The mayors of Queenslands two largest cities have increased pressure for daylight saving to be reintroduced in the state, marking the 30th anniversary of 1992s failed referendum on the issue.

And, for the first time since she was elected Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk has opened the door to the prospect.

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has marked the 30th anniversary of Queenslands failed daylight saving referendum by calling for another vote. Credit:Albert Perez/Getty

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said a referendum could be held at the same time as either the next local government or state election, both of which will be held in 2024.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate, whose city was at the front line of the annual debate, backed Cr Schrinners calls.
War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith told soldiers at training exercises in Australia that Afghan prisoners should be shot dead and discussed placing weapons on prisoners bodies to make it appear that they had been killed in combat, the Federal Court has heard.

Person 19, a former SAS soldier, told Mr Roberts-Smiths defamation case in Sydney on Tuesday that the decorated soldier instructed a patrol member during a training exercise in Perth in 2012 to shoot a soldier who was playing the role of an Afghan detainee. The pretend civilian was kneeling facing a wall and was not an enemy combatant, Person 19 said.

Ben Roberts-Smith arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney this week. Credit:James Alcock

Mr Roberts-Smith said to Person 10, I want you to shoot the PUC, Person 19 said, in a reference to the person under the control of Australian forces.

He remembered that command distinctly because it was unusual, he told the court, and the soldier playing the role of the Afghan detainee looked quite surprised because no one had expected to hear that phrase.
Workers are being encouraged to return to city offices from Monday, but with many employees keen to hang onto the flexibility they gained during the pandemic, some of the citys biggest employers are carefully navigating the transition.

While some are keen to get back into the office and reclaim their homes as a place to live after the state government lifts its work from home recommendation on Friday night, others are reluctant to return to long, crowded commutes and expensive takeaway lunches.

NAB employee Sandip Kumar in one of the banks very empty CBD offices on Tuesday. Credit:Jason South

The approach of employers varies. Some, like Victoria Police, are mandating five days a week in the office for the majority of staff, while others, such as Telstra, are sticking with hybrid work and a location agnostic approach to where staff work from.

Australian Industry Group Victorian director Tim Piper said there would be very few companies not instituting some version of hybrid work.
Never has the gap between the cost of units and houses been so wide, with the pandemic property boom lifting prices in almost every suburb in Perth.

Domain head of research and economics Nicola Powell said it was a tough reality for owners of units who had their sights set on the Australian dream of owning a house.

If two people from different countries fall in love and want to make a long term go of it, theres no compromise. Credit:Shutterstock

While units were not exempt from the rising market, it was the price of houses that really stole the show, she said.

It has become especially difficult in the capital cities, where the price gap between units and houses has completely blown out since the pandemic hit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin. Credit:AP Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine, Stoltenberg said in Brussels. We continue to call on Russia to step back ... its never too late not to attack. Russias parliament approved treaties with the two regions a day after Putin said he was recognising the independence of the two enclaves, which adjoin Russia and have been controlled by Russian-backed fighters since 2014. Putin said the territory covered the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions, not merely the parts currently controlled by separatists. The move appeared to increase the likelihood of conflict. Celebrations in Donetsk late on Monday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the breakaway republic as independent from Ukraine. Credit:AP

He also signed a decree on deploying Russian forces there, and on Tuesday parliament formally granted his request to use troops abroad with immediate effect. A deputy defence minister asked the chamber to deploy troops in Donbas  an umbrella term for the two regions. The prospect of a disruption to energy supplies and fears of war  stoked by reports of shelling in some areas and movements of unmarked tanks overnight in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk  rattled international financial markets and sent oil prices surging to their highest level since 2014. The European Union is ready to take further action against Russia if Moscow keeps on ramping up its military activity in Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday (AEDT). Ukraines breakaway territories and their historical borders

She spoke shortly after the EUs foreign ministers agreed to sanction 27 Russians and entities, as well as banks, the defence sector and limiting Russian access to European capital markets. Loading Our action today is a response to Russias aggressive behaviour, von der Leyen said during a press conference. If Russia continues to escalate this crisis that it has created, we are ready to take further action in response, she added, also stressing the need for the EU to be less dependent on Russia for gas.

In Donetsk, some residents celebrated, with cars flying Russian flags and sounding their horns. But several blasts were heard in the city on Tuesday, and some people questioned whether Putins moves would bring peace. Germany is Russias biggest customer for natural gas, and the decision by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to freeze the pipeline  built but awaiting approval  was widely seen as one of the strongest measures Europe could take. Scholz said he had asked his Economy Ministry to take steps to ensure that certification could not take place for now. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that reservists would be called up for military training but said there would be no general mobilisation of the armed forces. In a national address, Zelensky welcomed the offer by Turkey to broker talks between Ukraine and Russia.

He welcomed the sanctions announced by Western governments against Russia and referenced Scholzs decision on the pipeline. Zelensky said he would meet 150 major Ukrainian businesses to persuade them to stay in Ukraine. Loading He ended his address by saying: We desire peace and calm but if we are quiet today then tomorrow we will disappear.

The Kremlin regretted Germanys move and said it hoped the delay was temporary. Putin said Russia aims to continue uninterrupted supplies of energy to the world. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile agreed to continue to work together to target those who supported what Johnson called Putins aggressive approach. Russias actions dont just threaten Ukraines sovereignty, but are a blatant attack on freedom and democracy, the leaders agreed, a joint statement said. Sanctions so far Loading

The US

The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russias sovereign debt, the countrys elites and their family members, Russian state development corporation VEB.RF and its military bank. The sovereign debt sanctions, the harshest of the penalties, effectively cut Russia off from Western financing and means it will no longer be able to trade in new debt on US or European markets. Biden, who signed an executive order on Sunday blocking new investments in the separatist territories by US persons or businesses, said the US would continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates. Meanwhile, Congress members havent been able to agree on a bipartisan package to impose sanctions on Russia. Britain

The UK imposed sanctions on five Russian banks including Bank Rossiya and Promsvyazbank. Three individuals saw their assets frozen: Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg. UK sanctions kicked in immediately. The EU

The European Union imposed sanctions on 351 members of the Russian parliament Duma who voted for recognising the separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, plus another 11 Russians who proposed the recognition; three Russian banks that finance military or other operations in the region: VEB.RF, Bank Rossiya and Promsvyazbank. It imposed restrictions on Russian government to access EU capital and financial markets and services, and on trade by the two breakaway regions to and from the EU. EU sanctions still need to be confirmed by member states. Japan

Japan has prohibited the issuance of Russian bonds in Japan and froze the assets of certain Russian individuals, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday. He said further steps would be considered should the situation worsen. Australia

Australia has imposed sanctions, including travel bans and financial bans on Russian individuals and entities as part of a first tranche of measures. It will follow the US in placing financial sanctions on the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. It will also use the recent Magnitsky laws which target individuals for human rights abuses.
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. U.S. President George W. Bush (C) speaks during a ceremony at the White House in 2004 marking the expansion of NATOs membership from 19 countries to 26. Credit:Reuters The most important, and sole, voice at the top of the Clinton administration asking that question was none other than the defence 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. Loading 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. The late George Kennan, a former US ambassador to Moscow, predicted, back in 1998, a bad reaction by Russia to the expansion of NATO into eastern Europe. Credit:AP 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. Loading 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. Loading 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.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered peacekeeping troops into eastern Ukraine, ratcheting up the prospect of war in Europe even higher despite weeks of feverish diplomacy. On Tuesday morning (AEDT), even as talk continued of an eleventh-hour peace summit between Russia and the US, Putin officially recognised the independence of the two Russian-backed breakaway regions in the east of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, that have been the scene of a long-running standoff with Ukrainian soldiers. Then he sent Russian troops in on peacekeeping missions. The move has been slammed by Western leaders as a violation of international law, an act of war and the greatest threat to security in Europe since World War II. Countries, including the United States, Britain, the European Union, and Australia, are slapping sanctions on the rebel-held areas  and Russia itself, with bigger hits to its banking and technology sectors to come as the West warns of a looming full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a fiery speech on Tuesday, Putin railed against threats to Russian security by the expansion of Western military alliance NATO and said he was confident that Russian citizens supported his decision, repeating his claims that Ukraine should be part of Russia. His parliament has now authorised troops to go in not just to separatist-held strongholds but all of Donetsk and Luhansk that the rebels want  which includes Ukrainian-held territory and could ignite a bigger conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 21. Credit:AP Is this an invasion? Its not yet clear whether Russian forces will remain in the east or whether they will push deeper into Ukraine, kicking off the full-scale invasion US intelligence warns is imminent.

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Ukraine and the wider world still view the separatist territory as Ukrainian, after rebels seized parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in the wider eastern Donbas region in 2014. NATO and the US have been quick to point out this latest move is a further invasion of Ukraine by Russia: in 2014, Putin seized on revolution in Ukraine (that toppled its then pro-Kremlin president) as a pretext to annex the countrys Crimean Peninsula for Russia. The Kremlin has long backed separatists in Donbas and had operated in the region covertly. (The eight-year conflict has claimed more than 14,000 lives, including 298 passengers on commercial flight MH17, shot down in 2014.) But its decision to now formally recognise and move into the rebel regions is an explicit rejection of the shaky ceasefire agreed in 2015 known as the Minsk agreements, which had been touted by some diplomats as a framework for current negotiations, despite escalating violations in recent days. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden noted Putin had since claimed these breakaway states extend even further than the areas under separatist-control  into Ukrainian-held land. Hes setting up a rationale to take more territory by force in my view ... to go much further, Biden said. This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Australias Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, called a national security meeting on Wednesday and announced that Australia would be in lockstep with the US and UK in imposing an initial tranche of sanctions on Russia. The invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun, he said. This invasion is unjustified, unwarranted, unprovoked and unacceptable. Russia is now at peak readiness to conduct a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is likely to occur within the next 24 hours. What sanctions have been imposed? Australia has announced it will initially impose measures including travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation as well as sanctions on the separatist regions of Ukraine.

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The US will freeze the assets of two Russian banks in US jurisdictions and will apply targeted sanctions against Russian elites with close links to Putin, while the UK has applied sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian billionaires. Loading The EU will impose sanctions to prevent Russian institutions from accessing EU financial and capital markets and will freeze the assets of three banks linked to the separatist regions as well as extending trade bans on Crimea. It will also apply travel bans and asset freezes on the 351 members of the State Duma, Russias lower house, who voted for Russias recognition of the separatist regions, and on 11 other Russians who proposed the recognition. The US, UK, EU and Australia have said further tranches are expected in the event of further military incursions by Russia. And the Prime Minister has said Australia is working on improving its cyber defences in anticipation of a possible counter response from Russia following the announcement of the sanctions, although he said there has been no evidence so far of any cyber retaliation. Germany, meanwhile, has stopped its certification of Russias new $11-billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, so the completed pipeline cannot begin to operate.

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What are the signs of war? The US says its intelligence shows Russian forces at the Ukrainian border have swelled to190,000, and are planning to attack Kyiv. Moscow has warships in the Black Sea and has been running military drills with close ally Belarus (just a three-hour drive from Kyiv). The New York Times reports that military vehicles and soldiers without insignia have been seen parked on highways near Rostov-on-Don, a Russian city about 100 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. Several cyber-attacks on the Ukrainian government have been blamed on Moscow. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says all the evidence suggests Russia is planning the biggest war in Europe since 1945, positioning not just soldiers but blood supplies and other essential equipment beyond that used in training drills. Last week, Russia claimed it was pulling troops back from the border, after repeated official denials it planned to invade. By Thursday, Russian-backed separatists were shelling the Ukrainian side, including a kindergarten. In a pre-recorded video message, they claimed Ukraine was planning an imminent attack on civilians, which Ukraine denied. People were put onto buses for evacuation to Russia, as several explosions rocked the city of Donetsk, though there were no reports of injuries or independent confirmation of the circumstances. Experts say the escalation of violence in the east is exactly the kind of false flag, or Russian sabotage operations, that the West has been warning would be used by Moscow to sow violence in the region and create a pretext for war. Putin has already made false claims that Ukraine is carrying out a genocide against Russian speakers in the east, many of whom Russia has now issued passports to, and the Russian authorities have announced an investigation into supposed mass graves of the victims of Ukrainian forces. In 2014, when Putin sent his little green men  soldiers without Russian insignia  into Ukraine to seize Crimea, they also did so under the pretence of defending Russian speakers against a revolution they labelled a fascist coup. When it sent troops into Georgia in 2008, waves of cyber attacks and disinformation also hit first. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced he was pulling out of an upcoming meeting with Russias foreign minister as Russia had now rejected diplomacy, though the US left the door open to future talks if Moscow pulled back from a full-scale invasion.

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US President Joe Biden speaking about Ukraine on Tuesday. Credit:AP What does Putin want? With Russia at its back, a clutch of NATO countries to the west and the Black Sea on its doorstep, Ukraine has become the epicentre of the Kremlins fight to keep control of eastern Europe. Ukraine has close ties to Russia, but has been an independent nation since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. It wants to join a growing list of countries in the region to become part of the NATO alliance. Loading Putin still sees Ukraine as part of Russia and experts say he wants to restore some of the glory of the Soviet era, extending his sphere of influence in eastern Europe to keep a buffer between Russia and the West. He questions why NATO, which formed after World War II to safeguard peace in Europe (and contain the Soviet Union), has continued to expand since the Soviet Union broke apart. He doesnt just want NATO to disavow talk of Ukraine ever joining its alliance, he wants them to pull back their forces from eastern Europe too, effectively rewriting the old boundaries agreed in 1997. Until those demands are met, Russia has so far said it will not deal with the US on other issues both sides have flagged they are open to negotiating on, such as greater restrictions on nuclear weapons in the region. On Tuesday, Putin blamed NATO for turning Ukraine into a theatre of war and called the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia.

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SABA:--- Personnel of drinking water bottling plant Saba Splash last week completed a three-day training on important aspects in the production, bottling, and distribution of drinking water. The training was done by Water Opleidingen from the Netherlands and Vitens Evides International (VEI) assisted with the coordination of the training.

Plant manager Oscar L. van der Kaap and Saba Splash employees Justin W. P. Linzey and Shannon Levenston participated in the training. This was training to refresh their knowledge, but also to learn new techniques which ensure the quality of the water during the sampling process and the bottling process. Other aspects were also part of the training, such as employee safety, and hygienic working.

Overall the trainers Fred Rihkers and David Den Dulk were very pleased with the Saba Splash employees and the facility, which was constructed with funding of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IeW) in the Netherlands. The facility opened early November last year. At the new plant, 3-gallon and 5-gallon water bottles are filled, using a state-of-the-art system that produces healthy, safe and affordable drinking water, providing a basic need for the Saba people.

We are fortunate to have such a professional bottling plant here on Saba. Now we have a properly trained and dynamic team that will ensure that the quality of Saba Splash is well maintained, said Commissioner Bruce Zagers. The Commissioner congratulated the team upon the completion of the training and thanked them for their efforts in building the Saba Splash brand.

Day 1 of the training consisted of, among other things, training on the job that focused on how the treatment of drinking water is structured, how the process line works within the bottling plant for making and supplying drinking water, how to maintain a safe and hygienic process, how to ensure that the drinking water from the bottling plant meets the requirements of the drinking water law BES, how to ensure business continuity, and how the quality control system is set up and used in practice to meet the legal quality standards.

Day 2 of the training focused on how to make drinking water, the extraction, seawater and spring

purification, Reversed Osmosis (RO) installation, the basic distribution overview that included the

construction and design, pipes and materials, and the water quality in the grid. Day 2 also included a session on working safely, and an on-the-job training that focused on the storage of materials and the logistics of the process of water supply to customers.

Working safely, the chemical and microbiological aspects of the drinking water process were the focal points of the third and last day of this successful training. At the end of the training, the participants received a certificate.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Be The Change Foundation (BTC), with the help of local artists, sponsors, and volunteers, has added eight new murals to the Philipsburg area. Over the weekend, the results were officially unveiled during an opening tour and breakfast ceremony to celebrate artists and main sponsors of the project.

The project, called @colormesxm, aims to add color and art to St. Maarten through murals, promote local artists, and encourage residents and visitors to explore less-visited areas and share the island's beauty through photographs on social media platforms.

Nine artists helped complete the 8 photo-friendly murals in Philipsburg: Claudio Arnell, Tes & Annabelle Verheij, Nascha Kagie, Lucia Trifan, Jessica Murtha, Adam G, Magueda Jackson & Jimmy 'Mash' Sabas. Over 200 volunteers engaged in the project, helping to prepare, clean, scrape, or paint the walls.

Laura Bijnsdorp, the project coordinator for @colormesxm, shares that: "The Foundation and artists have received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community. We'd like to thank everyone who motivated our artists through compliments, offering refreshments or a helping hand!

During the opening tour, the artists presented their murals and shared some of the feedback they received from the community. Other attendees of the tour included representatives from the primary funding agency Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR), co-sponsors Dutch Representation Office (VNP), Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten & Sherwin Williams, tour company WeAreSXM, guests from the Department of Culture and Ministry of TEATT & local press.

Also present were Kaishah Peters the financial advisor for BTC, and Frances Rovelet from the Down Street Business and Community Council Association, who helped identify available walls in Philipsburg. PPG Paints St. Maarten, Drywall Systems, Tri-Sport, Adam Robb, Bart Van Der Meijden, Armond Solomons, Family Sprott, and several other companies or individuals also contributed to the project  which the Foundation is grateful for.

Since 2020, the @colormesxm project by Be The Change Foundation has helped to add over 20 murals to town. Persons can find these murals through a free map, available on www.colormesxm.com. Signs are also placed next to all the murals on which persons can learn more about the artist, project, and find a QR code to access the projects Instagram, map & videos. In addition, the Philipsburg Art Walk activity can also be found on TripAdvisor.

The project's first phase focused on Philipsburg, primarily on Front Street, Back Street, and the connecting alleyways. This second phase added murals to the Down Street area. The second phase of this @colormesxm project has been funded by the Government of the Netherlands under the Sint Maarten Trustfund, through Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR), administered by VNGI, overseen by The World Bank.

Besides @colormesxm, Be The Change Foundation executes a number of community efforts throughout the year to support volunteerism and the work of other non-governmental organisations. SXM Doet, scholarships, small grants and beautification projects are a few examples of the Foundation's initiatives over the past years.

Find out more about Be The Change Foundation and @colormesxm on www.bethechangesxm.com & Instagram: @colormesxm
SABA:--- Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitization Alexandra van Huffelen arrived in Saba on Tuesday morning, February 22 for a two-day visit.

The State Secretary came in with a charter flight of WINAIR from St. Eustatius and was met at the Juancho Yrausquin Airport by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, who gave her a brief explanation of the completed airport renovation project, the solar park, and the construction of the new Fire Department.

Saba Electric Company (SEC) President Director Dexter Johnson and Head of Distribution David Leonce gave the State Secretary background information on the solar park, Sabas plans to move to 100 percent renewable energy, and the Saba Energy Strategy 2020-2025.

With a few stops along the way, the State Secretary went to The Bottom for a meeting at the Government Administration Building, first with the Executive Council and then with the Island Council. The main topics at these meetings included the good relationship between the Netherlands and Saba, the eradication of poverty and the reduction of the high cost of living, the governments strained financial situation and the need to increase the free allowance, and the challenges that Sabas economy faces, in particular the banking system. For Saba, it is important that the 30 million-euro structural Caribbean Netherlands Envelope is used for the free allowance and to address the issue of livelihood.

In the afternoon, the State Secretary has a meeting with the Saba Business Association (SBA), she pays a visit to a single father at the social housing project, and has a meet and greet with the Saba Youth Council and a number of young professionals, representatives of the different political parties, the schools and entrepreneurs.

On Wednesday morning, February 23, the State Secretary will be given a tour of the island whereby she will visit several projects and locations, including the new harbor project, the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), the waste management facility, the SEC power plant and the hydroponics farm. Saba is the last island that the State Secretary visits as part of her introductory tour of the six Dutch Caribbean islands.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Police were called on Monday, 21 February 2022, by one of the high schools as a student was found with marijuana-laced cookies. Police confiscated the cookies and thereafter conducted an information session on the dangers of consuming marijuana-laced products.

The following day, police were once again called by the same high school due to a student being in possession of a firearm. Police confiscated the weapon and arrested the student.

Over the recent weeks, the Police Force of Sint Maarten Police KPSM has issued numerous press releases concerning the behavior of secondary school students  in and outside of school.

Throughout the communique, the parents were urged to commit to improving the situation at the schools by talking with their children. Police, however, have seen no improvement in the situation. improved.

Activities in and around high schools continue to be a serious and dangerous issue that can have consequences for other innocent individuals.

Parental involvement, both at home and at school, can translate into long-lasting benefits for children from early childhood through adult life.

At some point as a parent, you will likely be faced with the dreaded call from the school or police informing you that your child(ren) has crossed the line.

Maintaining school discipline is an issue thats not going away. It will continue to be addressed by educators, law enforcement, and parents. Everyone has their part to play in the best interests of the community of Sint Maarten and the students themselves.

KPSM Press Release.
Somerset, KY (42501)

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Edith (Edi) Marie Smith, daughter of the late Glen Lester and Dorothy Jane Allison, was born in Youngstown, OH on Friday, October 11th, 1963, and she departed this life on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, having attained the age of 59 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death b
As exhibitions director of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, where he has worked for over three decades, Richard Klein has experienced the museum in a way few have.

He joined the museum in 1990 as registrar and preparator when visionary founder Larry Aldrich was still at its helm. He has seen the museum undergo leadership changes and even stepped up several times to help shepherd the museum through transitions, including a major expansion and name change in 2004.

Kleins passion is in working with artists though. In his current position since 2004, he has curated or co-curated nearly 100 exhibitions at the museum and worked with hundreds of artists from Frank Stella and Sol LeWitt to Kay Rosen and Brad Kahlhamer, to name a few.

Come June, he will step down and the final exhibition he organizes will debut next February. Tentatively titled The Elements, it will focus on artworks featuring a single element on the periodic table, such as copper, zinc, silver and iron.

Though Retirement had long been on his mind, he says he will remain invested in art. In March, Im going to be 67 years old and Ive been considering this for a while, he said. I just want the freedom to pursue various things that full-time institutional employment has prevented me from doing.

Scott Mullin/ for Hearst Connecticut Media

Few visitors to the Aldrich realize that Klein is also an artist. As a sculptor, he is known for his works made of found objects, particularly glass, assembled into biomorphic abstractions that explore deep time and geology. He is looking forward to spending more time on his art as well as pursuing independent projects, whether curatorial or art writing. Asked where he has left his biggest mark on the museum, Klein points to taking the Aldrich from small museum (which the New York Times once called a rich mans toy) into a leading contemporary art museum internationally respected.

Really bringing more professionalism to the museumI think thats the main arc of the changes here over the time I have been here, he said. As a state-of-the-art facility, we are not the largest museum certainly but the quality of the exhibitions that we do and the notoriety of them is known far and wide.

A contemporary art curator must be passionate about what artists are doing, what motivates them and why they are creating the work they are. If I am not learning something when I do an exhibition, its like I have failed, Klein said. I have to go into something not completely understanding it and realizing it is fascinating, compelling and out of that experience I am going to learn and become a more expansive person in this world.

Chad Kleitsch/ Contributed photo

Klein has curated important exhibitions from one surveying art made by Connecticuts prison population and Chinese artist Xu Bings Tobacco Project to a 2011 show with Israel-born artist Shimon Attie. In MetroPAL.IS., Attie recruited Israelis and Palestinians to read from their countrys Declarations of Independence in an immersive video installation that sought to find middle ground between the two diametrically-opposed sides.

It was a very moving and potent work of art that people still talk about, Klein said, noting the two documents were written about 30 years apart but were remarkably similar. So its kind of pointing at this midpoint where both these people want the same thing but they cant seem to get it.

Over his 30-year plus tenure, Richard Klein has helped the Aldrich build a strong foundation of artist-centric programs and visionary exhibitions, said Board Chair Diana Bowes. A virtual walking encyclopedia of all things Aldrich, Richard is a young soul who has embodied the spirit of the museum  curiosity, energy, a sense of adventure.

There have been light-hearted moments as well as controversial ones too. Who can forget Big Baby in 2004? A work of art is open to interpretation obviously but putting a 12-foot high baby in front of a museum, especially because it was winter, evoked all sorts of reactions from the public, Klein said.

Courtesy of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

A fun memory was working on New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, a longtime Ridgefielder, in 2010 for her project, No Early Birds'' poking fun at the tag sale phenomenon with her posters for a nonexistent tag sale that prompted a New York Times article and people to drive around to grab one of these limited edition posters like a scavenger hunt. He and a museum staffer drove around lower Fairfield County stapling Chast's posters to phone poles and trees for a Huge Multi-Family Tag Sale at the fake address of 145 Old Moccasin Lane.

Then there is the time that Klein and Korean-American Michael Joo were cutting and polishing Vermont marble in the museums parking lot while snow fell. Joos 2014 exhibition here, Drift, explored the idea of landscape lines having political ramifications, such as the bisection of the Korean peninsula or an ancient fault line running from New York to Vermont. The exhibit, which used a high-tech sealant to encase the marble in a frost layer, was one of Kleins most challenging exhibits. The logistics and the technology to pull this off were incredibly complicated, he said. When we invite artists to do things and build things here  those are the challenges because you can blow budgets really easily.

Jason Mandella/ Contributed photo

Paintings are easy to borrow for exhibitions, but Klein shares Aldrichs reputation for inventiveness. In 2019, he invited local weaver Helena Hernmarck to set up her 5-foot wide loom here and weave in front of audiences. Hes also hosted a pair of artists when they lived in part of the museum galleries 24/7 for several weeks.

Cybele Maylone, the museums executive director, quipped that its hard to believe the Aldrich existed before Klein. For over three decades, he has been a guiding force at the museum, shepherding generations of artists through our galleries, building community, and serving as a valued colleague for everyone on our staff, she said. While his departure is bittersweet, we will continue to enjoy the fruits of Richards career at the museum, and the incredible program he has been instrumental in building.

Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect that Klein hung the Roz Chast posters with a museum staffer not the artist.
Milton, PA (17847)

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A primary student gets a small cup of tangerine pieces to try, in celebration of February is Queen Tangerine Month at Ashtabula Area City Schools. Metz Culinary Teams Nutritious Friends program chooses a fruit or vegetable to promote each month. These items are then incorporated into the lunches for the students to taste.
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Almost 46 percent of construction employees earn between 4,000 and 10,000 RON a month, this being among the best-paying industries at the moment after IT, Management, Civil/industrial design, Research & Development, and Project Management, reveals a survey by recruitment platform eJobs, Agerpres reports.

"The construction industry was one of the few that managed to defy the pandemic, along with IT, Telecommunications or Retail. Not only did the sector not stagnate, but it also recorded growth throughout the 2 years of the pandemic. Despite that, the crisis is visible on other levels in this field, like for instance the acute shortage of workforce. There are over 3,200 job vacancies as we speak," mentions the eJobs survey released on Tuesday.According to data available so far in the eJobs salary comparison tool Salario, the average salary in Construction is 4,000 RON, placing this sector among the best paid at this moment, after IT, Management, Civil/Industrial Design, Research & Development and Project Management.The highest salaries currently introduced in Salario for construction employees are for management and IT positions. Some of the best paying jobs as per the salary comparator are general manager - with 34,000 RON, IT manager - 32,000 RON, chief financial officer - 25,000 RON, senior project manager - 25,000 RON and technical director - 25,000 RON.However, when it comes to specific positions, the salaries can far exceed the industry average, say the eJobs representatives. Thus, if large-scale projects are involved, the income of certain experts may be well above the national average for similar positions, like for instance design engineer - 20,000 RON, construction structures engineer - 20,000 RON, mechanical engineer - 18,250 RON, installation engineer - 17,719 RON, crane operator - 15,750 RON, architect - 13,500 RON, skilled worker - 12,000 RON, plumber/pipe-layer - 12,000 RON, mason - 11,670 RON and surveyor - 11,000 RON.More than a third (34.5 percent) of construction employees earn between 4,000 and 7,000 RON net per month, shows data entered by more than 370,000 experts in the Salario comparison tool, and 11.2 percent of the employees make between 7,000 and 10,000 RON net per month, while 3.2 percent earn more than 10,000 RON. On the other hand, almost half (48.2 percent) of construction employees earn between 2,000 and 4,000 RON net per month and 2.9 percent collect a monthly income of less than 2,000 RON.
The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) condemns the recognition by the Russian Federation of the "republics" Donetsk and Lugansk and expresses its concern at the "lack of a clear strategy of Romania in case of a major crisis, both at the eastern border of the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as to the Romanian citizens across the Prut".

"It is unacceptable to undermine the sovereignty of a state belonging to the international community. Denying, by the use of force, Ukraine's fundamental right to independence and its own foreign and security policy choices is an unequivocal act that we unequivocally condemn. Russia is questioning the existing international order, based on the rule of law, and replacing it with the rule of law. It is necessary for the Government, the President of Romania and the CSAT to develop a national strategy for crisis situations that may arise on Romania's border," said MP George Simion, AUR co-chairman, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

According to Senator Claudiu Tarziu, AUR co-chairman, the recognition of the two self-proclaimed separatist republics and the order of entry given to some troops hypocritically disguised as peacekeeping ones are part of the series of revisionist acts of the Russian Federation after the invasion of Georgia and illegal annexation of Crimea, Agerpres.ro informs.

"Not sanctioning Russia this time either would be unfair, contrary to the spirit and letter of the Minsk Accords and international law. Although diplomacy may seem to have failed, we call for a vigorous search for a peaceful solution to the dialogue and negotiations. We welcome any measures that may lead to the de-escalation of the conflict and the return to normalcy as soon as possible," Tarziu said.

At the same time, AUR expresses its concern about the fate of the Romanian minority in Ukraine.

"The disinterest of the Ukrainian authorities in the situation of our compatriots in the neighboring country, the ignorance of their rights and the constant refusal to remedy the shortcomings reported in accordance with relevant international conventions must give way to democratic and non-discriminatory policies towards all minorities, including the Romanian one," reads the AUR release.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu had a telephone conversation with his British counterpart Liz Truss on Tuesday, with the two officials "strongly" condemning the Russian Federation's recognition of the "independence" of self-proclaimed separatist republics Donetsk and Luhansk, component parts of Ukraine.

At the same time, Aurescu and Truss stressed the "flagrant" violation of international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country by the Russian Federation, along with its obligations as a signatory to the Minsks Agreement, shows a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release sent to AGERPRES.

Minister Aurescu presented to the British counterpart Romania's position according to which the international community "must sanction firmly, immediately and in coordinated manner the actions of the Russian Federation, in response to the latest developments, but also as a way to discourage future actions to destabilize the situation." The two ministers also agreed on the importance of "strong" support for Ukraine by the international community, including through measures to increase this state's resilience, Agerpres.ro informs.

At the same time, the head of the Romanian diplomacy referred to the need to further consolidate, in a coherent and unitary manner, the allied position of deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank, including in its south, on the Black Sea.

The two ministers discussed the creation of the NATO combat group in Romania. They agreed to continue close bilateral contacts and cooperation at the Allied level in order to adapt the response of NATO and allied states to current security developments, including by setting up a combat group in Romania.

According to the MAE, the British Secretary of State Liz Truss appreciated Romania's firm position in relation to the current developments in its neighborhood and agreed with the need to strengthen the collective commitment for the security of the allies on NATO's Eastern Flank.
Companies that operate in the Romanian air industry domain generate, at the current time, a turnover of approximately 400 million euro, according to data presented, on Tuesday, in a specialty debate, by Costel Neculai Dunava, the chair of the Committee for Economic Policy, Reform, and Privatization of the Chamber of Deputies.

"(...) An innovative cluster with national vocation could boost economic development, would revitalize the national aviation industry sector and would ensure the framework necessary for research and innovation. Before the 1989 revolution, the Romanian defense industry held approximately 100 companies where nearly 130,000 employees ran their activity, and exports exceeded the figure of 800 million dollars, our country being among the first ten states exporting military equipments. Today, the Romanian aeronautic industry produces a large number of products and components. The aeronautics industry is one of the segments with the fastest and most encouraging development in the Romanian industrial sector, with a growth of over 70% in the past five years. Presently 22 companies with integral state capital are still functioning, of which 15 belong to National Company Romaero SA, subordinated to the Economy Ministry. The private security industry is represented by 17 companies. The companies that operate in the aviation industry domain generate approximately 400 million euro in turnover," said Dunava.

"At the level of the private defense industry important sums are invested in projects subsumed to the domain of research with applicability in the military sector, the funds allotted being much higher than state budget financing. An example is Aerostar Bacau, a major subcontractor for the world aviation industry (...) An important opportunity for the Romanian defence industry can be the know-how transfer from exporting companies to local companies, through the extension of strategic partnerships with large concerns in the Euro-Atlantic space," the deputy mentioned.

The Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with the Committee for Economic Policy, Reform, and Privatization and the Committee for Industry and Services, with the Chamber of Deputies, is organizing on Tuesday, at the Parliament Palace, the event with the topic "Romanian aeronautic industry, perspectives and opportunities."
Romania's security status from the perspective offered by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI)'s legal responsibilities is stable, Cristian Chirtes, chairman of the Joint Standing Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for exercising parliamentary control over SRI's activity, said on Tuesday.

This is the main conclusion of the meeting of the Committee, attended by the director of SRI, Eduard Hellvig, and which aimed to present the security situation of Romania from the perspective of SRI's responsibilities within the country's borders and in the context of tensions in the region.

"A few days ago, I requested the presence of the SRI director in this meeting of the committee, which aimed to present Romania's security situation from the perspective of SRI's responsibilities within the country's borders and in the context of tensions in the region. Mr. Eduard Hellvig, answered the committee's questions after a presentation to the members of the commission and presented us with an updated situation of the general state of security from the perspective of SRI," senator Cristian Chirtes said at the end of the meeting.

According to him, two aspects were highlighted - the effects that the crisis in Ukraine may have on Romania and SRI's report on the main threats to national security resulting from the situation in Ukraine and the solutions identified to prevent and counteract them.

The senator also added that the topic of updating the national security legislation was put on the agenda of the discussions in order to speed up the adoption of bills on the national defence system and security for the creation and improvement of clear mechanisms necessary to manage a possible crisis situation generated in the current regional security context, Agerpres.ro informs.

"A general conclusion - the security situation of Romania from the perspective offered by the legal attributions of SRI is a stable one. Of course we developed punctual discussions on each of the legal missions of SRI, and the director answered all the members of the committee. There were a few conclusions. Cyber attacks - where in the context of the crisis, additional activities have been detected to make critical infrastructures vulnerable. Also, espionage actions carried out by secret services hostile to Romania have increased, especially in the context of the deployment of NATO troops in Romania. Information aggression has also increased - and we are talking primarily about misinformation and the phenomenon of fake news," the SRI oversight committee chairman explained.

There were also discussions about the main risks that may arise in addition, in the scenario of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

"For Romania these risks are related to the management of the migration phenomenon, the economic effects on Romania and the management of cross-border crime operations, and the SRI director presented to the committee members each of these risks. As to the mission of SRI, to inform its legal beneficiaries about all these risks and threats, to the question if on the territory of Romania the legal beneficiaries of this information were informed, the answer was "Yes, in time and in a useful way," stated Chirtes.

He noted that members of the committee were also informed that, as of February 21, the SRI had resumed handing over the archives of the former Securitate to the relevant investigation authority.

"There were problems with the spaces, but starting yesterday, this process of handing over the second large body of files began," the SRI oversight committee chairman stressed.
The commercial exchanges between Romania and the USA have recorded last year a historical value, totaling 2.271 billion euro on November 1, 2021, while the number of American companies in Romania was 8,191, according to the chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR), Mihai Daraban.

"Furthermore, because exchanges in goods must be differentiated from services, the value of latter rose to 2.5 billion euro. Furthermore, on January 1, 2022, in Romania there were 8,191 American companies, with a value of social capital of over a billion euro," added Mihai Daraban, quoted in a release sent by the CCIR.

The CCIR chair has participated on Monday at the reception organized together with the American-Romanian Business Council (AMRO), on the occasion of the announcement of the launching of the AMRO economic mission to Bucharest, which will take place September 14-15, 2022.

The event, organized with support from the Embassy of the United States of America in Romania, has benefited from the presence of representatives of the business environment of the two countries, as well as the presence of representatives of the central public administration in Romania.

In his turn, AMRO President and Founder, Eric Stewart, noted that he collaboration between AMRO and CCIR is a long-term one, but most importantly it's a collaboration that demonstrated, over time, the capacity of CCIR to help the business environment in Romania in what regards accessing new markets. As an example, in 2016, in the Select USA program, program that offers annually support in entrepreneurial education and development for more than 10,000 SMEs and entrepreneurs, there were only four Romanian companies. After a discussion with CCIR chair, Mr. Mihai Daraban, the delegation formed by Romanian companies participating in this program, in 2018, was not only the largest from Romania, but was also the largest in Europe and fifth in the world. This proves the organizational capacity of CCIR, as well as a higher degree of confidence of business people in Romania in their own strengths, opening, thus, new horizons to develop business.

The American-Romanian Business Council is a non-profit organization that promotes commercial relations between the United States and Romania. The mission of the Council is to increase trade and investments between the two states, to promote the Romanian-American bilateral relation and to educate the public regarding its importance.
National Defence Minister Vasile Dincu said on Tuesday that Romania could receive over 500,000 refugees, in the eventuality of a conflict in Ukraine.

"There are several estimates, nonetheless we could receive over 500,000 refugees, this is the figure for which we have prepared together with the Interior Ministry and the other institutions coordinating this matter. (...) There are several points. There is a plan in this sense which is prepared in all big cities, there are areas devoted to this in the border proximity," the Defence Minister said at Parliament.

He showed that Romania didn't expect major refugee inflows from Ukraine, in the context in which in 2014 most of them went to Poland.

"We don't expect major flows coming here on this occasion either, but one never knows, depending on the military developments, if it is the case, nevertheless for now we are talking about a hypothetical situation," the Defence Minister said, Agerpres.ro informs.

Asked what could be the worse case scenario for Romania, he said: "The moment there would be a generalised armed conflict to the east of our border and there would be other economic, social, electronic warfare effects, which have no boundaries and can extend, therefore everything that would mean an emergency situation, we have performed interservice, interinstitutional simulations. There is a committee working, they meet constantly, on a daily basis, on this topic on preparation level. This happened for the first time when there was some sort of an account of an announced death, so to speak, and then we have been preparing for weeks."

Vasile Dincu also pointed out that Romania is prepared to extract Romanians from Ukraine, in case of need.

"We are prepared, in case of need, to extract them from the territory," he said, showing that he was unaware of such requests.

The Minister pointed out that there are prospects for an armed conflict as well as the hope of a de-escalation in the region.

"There are prospects for an armed conflict as well, very many prospects, but it is unsure. Let us hope the diplomats will continue to talk, not the military. (...) The Russian Federation uses diplomacy to influence, to manipulate, too, because at the same time there are statements that forces are being withdrawn and there is almost a withdrawal calendar and there are also military actions, but there is hope as there has been convened, the date is not known yet, but there will shortly take place a NATO-Russia committee meeting, which wasn't scheduled because it is a result of the discussion of late. From this perspective, diplomats can still talk," said Dincu.

Asked if a possible conflict might also reach Romania, he said that "the population can rest assured."

"At the moment there is no prognosis in this direction. I believe the population can rest assured. Of course, in case of a conflict in Ukraine, the entire area would be affected. This does not mean there will be war on our territory."
Drawing investments and developing economic relations with the US represent two strategic points that should be capitalised on in the coming period, Finance Minister Adrian Caciu said at the meeting with members of the American-Romanian Business Council (AMRO).

"Drawing investments and developing economic relations with the US are two strategic goals for Romania, both countries having a special potential for strengthening economic cooperation," Adrian Caciu is quoted as saying in a Finance Ministry release sent to AGERPRES.

The meeting took place on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance, and was attended by representatives of AMRO member companies, including Bell Flight, Citibank, S2 Global and Lockheed Martin.

The main topics of discussion were the priority measures of the Ministry of Finance this year, which aim at fiscal consolidation and the allocation of resources for the development of the business environment, in order to stimulate activities that generate added value and new jobs in areas of strategic importance for the Romanian economy, Agerpres.ro informs.

In this sense, the Minister of Finance highlighted the priority he gives to the macroeconomic stability of Romania, the permanent dialogue with the business environment for the improvement of the transparency and the predictability of the fiscal regime.

In their turn, the representatives of the American companies appreciated the openness showed and presented proposals for the intensification of the bilateral commercial exchanges, the release reads.
President Klaus Iohannis stated, in a press statement, that Romania firmly condemns the recognition by the Russian Federation of the "independence" of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine, emphasizing that it is a flagrant violation of international law, and the international community must react firmly, Agerpres reports.

"Romania firmly condemns the recognition by the Russian Federation of the 'independence' of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are parts of Ukraine. This act represents a flagrant violation of international law, of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Furthermore, through this decision, Russia infringes the obligations that has as a signatory of the Minsk Agreements, which thus become void of content. Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is threatening, through its actions, the global peace and security guaranteed by the UN Security Council, deliberately infringing principles of international law provided by the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. The international community must punish firmly, immediately and unequivocally this decision lacking responsibility on the part of Russia," said the head of state in the press statement sent by the Presidential Administration.Iohannis showed that Romania reaffirms in this context its strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and will continue to coordinate with its partners and allies for the application of appropriate response measures.
Israel's Ambassador to Romania David Saranga in Constanta on Tuesday said that over 10,000 Israeli citizens were in Ukraine, out of whom approximately 4,000 had already left the Ukrainian territory, due to the tensions with the Russian Federation.

All Israelis in Ukraine were told to leave.

In Ukraine, there are more than 10,000 Israeli citizens. The Jewish community numbers more than 100,000 persons. We are talking about 10,000 Israelis who are still in Ukraine. About 4,000 have already left and, we, through the Foreign Ministry, have called on all Israeli citizens to leave Ukraine and come to Israel. (...) Most Israelis are in Kyiv and in the large cities, nonetheless Israelis and the Jewish community are everywhere. (...) We have called on all Israelis to leave that territory, our embassy, last evening, relocated from Kyiv to Lviv, said Saranga.

According to him, the diplomatic way is the only option to maintain peace.

We must know that the only option for peace is through the diplomatic way, only if the sides sit and talk, this is the only method to solve things, the ambassador said.

Israel's Ambassador to Romania David Saranga participated in the Port of Constanta on Tuesday in a ceremony for the commemoration of the victims of the 24 February 1942 tragedy, when ship Struma sank in the Black Sea. Over 760 Romanian Jews perished in the sea waters back then, on the background of the WWII events.
The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies are set to meet on March 1, at 12.00 pm, in a joint sitting, to discuss, among other topics, "the adoption by Parliament of a political declaration supporting the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," the two standing bureaus of the two chambers decided on Tuesday.

"We propose to the standing bureaus to include with the agenda of a joint meeting of the two chambers of Parliament that will take place in the next interval a separate item regarding the adoption of a political declaration," the internal memorandum signed by the chairmen of the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs reads, Agerpres.ro informs.

On February 16, 2022, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament heard the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, on the issue of security challenges in the enlarged Black Sea basin.

"Following the hearing, consensus was reached at the level of the specialized structures of the Parliament and, respectively, at the level of the Government representative on the opportunity to adopt, in the next period, a political declaration of the Romanian Parliament expressing the Romanian state's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence," shows a memorandum approved on Tuesday.

According to this document, the foreign policy committees "rallied, including on the basis of the favourable opinion of the MAE, the text of the political statement promoted on the same topic by the specialized parliamentary structures of the US Congress and the European Parliament, respectively."
Romania's oldest folk dance ensemble, the iconic 'Junii Sibiului' will perform at the World's Fair in Dubai starting with February 27 till March 9; the shows will include dances entered on the UNESCO world heritage list, such as the Calus ritual dance specific for the region of Oltenia, a release informs.

"'Junii Sibiului', Romania's oldest folk dance ensemble, which was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Knight by His Excellency Mr. Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania, reaffirms its status as an icon of Sibiu and implicitly of Romania, acting over February 27 - March 9 2022 as ambassadors of Romanian traditions at the World Expo in Dubai. In honor of Romania's Day at Expo Dubai, the 'Cindrelul-Junii Sibiului' ensemble will offer on February 28 an extraordinary performance at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheater, a venue intended for exceptional cultural events. The artistic concept, signed by choreographer and manager Silvia Macrea, includes folk customs and dances from all over the country, valuable vocal and instrumental pieces; on the bill are male only dances, the Oltenian Calus, included on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the 'Romanian Rhapsody' by George Enescu," the release states.





On Tuesday, March 1 'Junii Sibiului will take part in the official ceremonies organized on the occasion of the Day of Romania at Expo Dubai and will offer forays into Romanian folklore through musical and choreographic acts specific for the country's large ethno-folkloric areas.



Also, the Sibiu artists will perform in a series of micro-shows at the cultural events held in various venues at Expo Dubai: Romania's Pavilion, the Earth Stage and the Stage of Nations.



"We are honored by the invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the more so as this is the third time that our ensemble attends a world exhibition, after Expo Milano 2015 and Expo Hannover 2000. We want to show the world how beautiful and rich our country is through our folk songs, customs and dances," says choreographer Silvia Macrea, manager of the 'Cindrelul-Junii' Sibiu County Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture.



In Dubai, for the first time in the history of world exhibitions, each participating country has its own pavilion, with Romania's architectural design celebrating "New Nature" as its central theme.
The latest COVID-19 test positivity rate in Romania is 19.58pct, the Ministry of Health informed on Friday.

"Within a period of 24 hours, 14,775 positive people with the SARS-CoV-2 virus were reported in Romania, out of a total of 75,440 RT-PCR and antigen tests performed.

The ministry is asking people who have symptoms that may indicate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (fever, cough, fatigue, headache, loss of taste and smell, etc.) to call their family physicians, DSP call centers, or the 112 emergency line to request testing, Agerpres.ro informs.

People who show symptoms and are in Bucharest or Ilfov County can travel by their own means, not by public transport, to the centres specially created for the collection of samples for COVID-19 testing.

People who test positive can go to the COVID-19 assessment centres for consultation and treatment.

According to the same source, out of the 1,063 people admitted to the ICU, 929 are unvaccinated. Also, out of 215 reported deaths, 183 occurred in unvaccinated patients," according to the Ministry of Health.
Valeriu Gafencu, one of the most beloved 20th-century Romanian martyrs, was prayerfully commemorated on Friday, February 18, on the 70th anniversary of his martyric repose in the Lord.

The Divine Liturgy and a memorial service were officiated at the Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen in the eastern town of Targu Ocna, where Gafencu died in prison in 1952 at the tender age of 31, having been arrested by the communist authorities at the age of 20, according to basilica.ro.

What did these Christians become, through suffering, in communist prisons? They became saints, luminaries. Because if we judge the world by labels, then the sinful woman in todays Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) would have had no chance, preached Fr. Gheorge Holbea, professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest.

Or the Saviour Jesus Christ, perhaps unexpectedly for some, has shown that this will remain as a testimony of repentance in this Gospel that the Savior Jesus Christ will write to the end of the ages, not on paper, but in the being of all. May the good God help us to acquire this ethos that the saints had, those who turned hell into a Resurrection Paradise, Fr. Holbea said.

The memorial service following the Liturgy was served for Valeriu Gafencu and other confessors of the Targu Ocna Prison.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca met on Tuesday with representatives of American companies within the American-Romanian Business Council (AMRO), in which context the importance of the investments generated within the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership in the fields was underlined such as digitization, medicine, energy, defence, cyber, financial banking, natural resource exploitation.

According to a Government's release, the dialogue, which marked AMRO's tenth anniversary, benefited from the largest delegation of American companies arriving in Romania under the auspices of AMRO.

The participants in the meeting underlined the importance of the investments generated within the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership for the creation of economic opportunities, prosperity and jobs, in fields such as digitalization, medicine, energy, defence, cyber, banking, financial, exploitation of natural resources.

"We are interested in increasing the level of Romanian-American economic relations, offering opportunities for development and investment. The evolution of the security situation and the geopolitical context offer Romania attractiveness, also from the perspective of relocating business in the Asia-Pacific area," Nicolae Ciuca was quoted as saying in the press release, Agerpres.ro informs.

He also mentioned the benefits of new technologies, nuclear energy and renewable resources for managing the challenges posed by rising energy and gas prices.

With regard to major defence projects, the Prime Minister said that skills needed to maintain the equipment purchased from the United States were needed.

The Prime Minister also thanked the representatives of the American and US business community for their support to Romania in obtaining the official invitation to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which brings together countries with 90% of foreign direct investment worldwide.

"We need your presence here. At the meeting with the representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania, we launched the challenge to find out what are the investment intentions of American business people. I am glad to see, today, the answer to this question, through your presence, which is the best and most concrete proof of the American interest in investing in Romania. The reforms we are pursuing to meet OECD standards will make our country an even more attractive destination for investors, which will accelerate the pace of modernization and development that our citizens expect", the prime minister added, according to the release.
Former President of Romania and current MEP Traian Basescu considers that the Russian Federation should be excluded from the international banking system.

"Russia should be denied access to the international banking system, first of all technology sales to Russia must be halted and we should no longer buy gas from Russia. These are some essential elements. Basically, Vladimir Putin is reinforcing his army with European money, with gas money," Traian Basescu told RFI on Tuesday.

In his view, "it was foreseeable that Vladimir Putin's major goal was not to invade Ukraine, but to strengthen the autonomy of the two so-called self-proclaimed autonomous republics, Donetsk and Luhansk."

"We'll see how severe the sanctions are, because there are too many economic interests, at least in Europe. Let me remind you that sanctions have been imposed before, after the occupation of Crimea, and they were actually against Crimea, not Russia. I wouldn't want us to witness again a European decision to impose sanctions on Donetsk and Luhansk, they should be targeted at Russia," he said.

According to Basescu, "the Ukraine issue is not solved once the independence of the two breakaway republics is recognized."

"Putin's goal is to provide a land connection to Crimea, which means he will further envisage the Novorossiya project campaigned by Russian strategists, as this project aims to extend the occupation of Ukraine to the mouth of the Danube. (...) It is hard to say what else the West can do, apart from honest, severe sanctions against Russia, because military action is out of question and then all that's left is political and economic isolation, which Russia certainly cannot afford if they are thoroughly applied. At least this time the EU should be honest when it speaks about sanctions against Russia," Traian Basescu said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) reported that, in the context of the serious deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea region, the alert level for Ukraine has been raised to the maximum level "Leave the country immediately!", Agerpres reports.

"In the context of the serious deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Romanian citizens not to travel to this country, and those temporarily in Ukraine to leave the territory of this state immediately. At the same time, MAE strongly recommends avoiding traveling in the eastern part of Ukraine, respectively in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, in the Crimean Peninsula, as well as in the border area in northern and northeastern Ukraine, reminding Romanian citizens that the security situation in these areas has severely worsened," reads the MAE alert.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also advises Romanian citizens to remain vigilant, to avoid large crowds, to be constantly informed by reliable sources and to be able to promptly adjust their travel plans, depending on the security situation in the area.The Foreign Ministry recalls that Romania does not recognize the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which remain, according to international law, integral parts of Ukraine."The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the diplomatic mission and consular offices in Ukraine, is ready to provide protection and consular assistance to Romanian citizens on the territory of Ukraine," the cited source said.The MAE reiterates the request to the Romanian citizens who are in Ukraine to notify their contact details of their presence in Ukraine through the e-consulat.ro platform (https://www.econsulat.ro/CetateniRomaniInregistrati/Inregistreaza) or by contacting the nearest consular office by phone (Romanian Embassy in Kiev: +380936252717, Consulate General Chernivtsi: +380635669918; Consulate General Odessa: +380955412788; Solotvino Consulate: +380682140918).The MAE also reminds that a telephone line dedicated to Romanian citizens who are temporarily in Ukraine and requesting protection and consular assistance has been activated at the level of the Consular Department of the MAE - phone 0040 -751.084.537.
President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the package of sanctions to be taken against Russia following Russia's serious violation of international law.

"I had a consistent call with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the immediate sanctions package to be taken following Russia's serious violation of international law resulting in the grave escalation of security situation in the Black Sea region," Iohannis wrote on Twitter.

Also on Tuesday, the Romanian head of state had a telephone conversation with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on the security situation in the Black Sea region, Agerpres.ro informs.

"I had a very substantive call today with President Andrzej Duda to discuss the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following the actions by Russia which gravely violate international law and joint measures to be taken at NATO and in the Bucharest 9 format," Iohannis wrote on Twitter.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on the security situation in the Black Sea region.

"I had a very substantive call today with President Andrzej Duda to discuss the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following the actions by Russia which gravely violate international law and joint measures to be taken at NATO and in the Bucharest 9 format," Iohannis wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca met on Tuesday with the Director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), Christian Zinglersen, the main topics of discussion being investments in renewable energy and the development of the energy sector.

According to a government press release, the context of the current energy crisis, significant at both national and EU level, was analyzed.

"The two officials stressed the need to manage the impact of the crisis on both economic sectors and citizens, assessing the main factors influencing rising energy and natural gas prices in the EU. Renewable energy investment and energy development have been the main points of discussion. The participants showed that the EU Member States need solidarity during this period, in order to support each other in the process of supplying gas or electricity," reads the release.

In the same context, the Romanian Prime Minister stressed the importance that the Government attaches to major investments in the field of energy and welcomed the announcement of the European Commission on the inclusion of natural gas and nuclear energy in the category of resources that can be used during the transition period.

"We need a balanced approach that ensures both the protection of the population and of the economy, as well as the implementation of measures that reduce the pressure of prices in a sustainable way. In this sense, we will invest heavily, using resources from the national budget and through EU funding in diversifying energy resources, developing renewable energy production capacity and supporting the local business environment in implementing such projects. For the Government, intervention to support both domestic consumers and the business environment is a priority, by respecting the market rules, according to the European normative framework," Nicolae Ciuca gave assurances, as cited in the release.
The Chamber of Deputies has adopted a draft law on Tuesday through which it is approved for Romania to pay a yearly fee to the shared budget for the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence, our country being a "sponsor nation" of this Center.

There were 291 votes in favor and 3 abstentions.

The draft law concerns approving a yearly payment for Romania's contribution to the shared budget of the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence for 2021, as well as the payment for the following years, throughout the entire duration of Romania's participation as a "sponsor nation" to this center. The sums necessary to pay the annual fee will be ensured from the state budget, through the annual budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"A payment is approved for the annual fee, worth 18,039,88 Euros for the year 2021, as well as the yearly fee payment for the following years, throughout the duration of Romania's participation as a sponsor nation to the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence. Starting with 2022, the annual payment is ensured in the limit of established sums by Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence. The equivalent in RON of the necessary sums for paying the yearly fee is ensured from the state budget, through the annual budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is calculated based on the RON/EURO exchange rate of the National Bank of Romania, available at the moment of payment," the draft reads.

The Chamber of Deputies is a decisional forum for this draft law.
The President of the Senate, Florin Citu, leader of the National Liberal Party, states that the recognition by Russia of the 'independence' of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk represents a flagrant violation of international law and will draw the most severe response from the international community, Agerpres reports.

"We firmly condemn the recognition by Russia of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. This is a flagrant violation of international law and will draw the most severe response from the international community. Romania firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," wrote Citu, on Tuesday, on Facebook.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed, on Monday evening, the decree to recognize the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine.
ST. LOUIS  State and local leaders gathered Tuesday in Midtown for the grand opening of a new 110,000-square-foot facility for meat manufacturer and packager Deli Star, which aims to grow to nearly 500 employees by the middle of the decade.

Deli Star, which supplies companies with meats and other food products, had operated in Fayetteville, Illinois, about 35 miles southeast of St. Louis until a fire destroyed its production facility in January 2021. It is leasing its new location in the Villa Lighting building at 3049 Chouteau Avenue and investing some $99 million to outfit a portion of the structure for its production facility.

Company leaders held back tears as they described working to hold the company together and build a new facility to resume large-scale production.

In just over a year, our team went from a pile of ashes to creating one of the finest food production facilities in the industry, CEO Justin Siegel said.

The company, which also operates a research facility in the City Foundry development nearby, says it will employ 150 people this year and as many as 475 after five years, with an average annual wage of $68,000.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson attended and thanked the company for investing in Missouri. The state of Missouri is providing about $8.7 million worth of tax credits, sales tax exemptions and training benefits to the company.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones also welcomed the company to the city, which is providing 10 years of 50% real and personal property tax abatement and a sales tax exemption on construction materials. As part of the incentive deal, the company has agreed to work closely with St. Louis Public Schools to train and recruit employees.

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ST. LOUIS  Koplar Properties said it plans to build 293 luxury apartments at the corner of Lindell and Kingshighway boulevards in the city's Central West End neighborhood.

The $135 million development would be 30 stories, said Sam Koplar, president of St. Louis-based Koplar Properties. The property is currently a parking lot and is adjacent to the One Hundred luxury apartment building.

The St. Louis Business Journal first reported the news. A spokeswoman for Koplar Properties said the company is partnering with Chicago-based Albion Residential, and the developers are seeking subsidies, according to the Business Journal.

But St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has said she wanted to deemphasize tax incentives in areas like the central corridor that have seen millions of dollars of new development.

And her administration has blocked incentives for other nearby projects, such as Midtown mixed-use district City Foundry STL, until developers pledged money to the citys Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Koplar Properties also is working to redevelop the former Clayton police headquarters in St. Louis County into a hotel. And it led the redevelopment of Maryland Plaza in the Central West End in the early 2000s.

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ST. LOUIS  A man from St. Louis pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday and admitted participating in a series of frauds, including one that bilked a Wisconsin company out of $159,000 they paid for N-95 masks.

A co-conspirator of Prince J. Vamboi, 40, a citizen of Sierra Leone living in St. Louis, posed as a member of a group of businesses formed to discuss the supply and cost of safety equipment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke said during Tuesday's hearing.

In late March or early April of 2020, one of those companies was trying to find N-95 masks. Vamboi's co-conspirator emailed them and claimed to know a company with a large number of masks.

Vamboi opened a bank account in St. Louis using an alias, and his co-conspirator told the company, Verona Safety Supply, to send $159,000. Verona never received the masks.

Vamboi had set up a series of bank accounts in 2019 using a fake U.S. visa and other documents to receive the proceeds of various frauds, including the cashing of a counterfeit check for $35,098. He also received a $18,750 loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, which was supposed to help companies avoid pandemic-related layoffs, Klocke said.

Vamboi pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday to bank fraud and three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Vamboi is scheduled to be sentenced May 24, and could face 15-21 months in prison under recommended federal sentencing guidelines. He will also be ordered to repay the money.

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Since moving to St. Louis in 2015, Tara and Michael Gallina have opened the nationally acclaimed Vicia in the Central West End and its more casual sibling Winslows Table in University City. Now, after two fraught pandemic years, the couple is ready to expand again, with three new restaurants in the works.

The Gallinas announced the new projects  one named, two still undisclosed  Wednesday as part of a broader transformation of their restaurant group, which they have renamed Take Root Hospitality. They have also made the chef Aaron Martinez a partner in Take Root and elevated him from Vicia executive chef to culinary director of the entire restaurant group.

Martinezs cooking is incredible, Tara Gallina tells Off the Menu. Regular customers have been telling her the food at Vicia is the best its ever been.

Martinez will draw on his Mexican heritage for Take Roots first new project, Taqueria Morita, which will operate out of Vicias newly constructed pavilion. (Vicia is located at 4260 Forest Park Avenue.) Named after the morita chile, the taqueria will feature tacos and seasonal fare in Vicias vegetable-focused spirit.

Taqueria Morita will be a casual counterpoint to Vicia. Upscale from its 2017 debut, more recently the Gallinas flagship restaurant has ditched a traditional menu entirely for its Farmers Feast format in which the kitchen team plans the meal for each customer.

That approach was Michael's dream for Vicia, he says, but its not a place that everybodys gonna go all the time. Im excited about the taqueria being able to fill that void (where) we always wanted to have a very approachable restaurant where everybody (can) come and experience it.

Taqueria Morita is scheduled to debut in late May. Meanwhile, with Martinez taking on his new role for Take Root, longtime Vicia employee Jane Chatham is now that restaurants chef de cuisine.

Creating new opportunities for Take Root employees is part of the restaurant groups growth strategy, Tara says.

I think Michael and I just really wanted to create a platform so that the people that work with us have things to grow into, she says. And we want to retain these people and not feel like they have to step away, you know, to do something else and to have more opportunity.

As for the other two restaurants that Take Root is developing, Tara describes one as revamping something old. The other, she says, is a big project that will be a little bit outside city limits.

More on both of those restaurants as Off the Menu learns it.

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Simple Plan and Sum 41 are joining forces for The Blame Canada Tour taking place at 7 p.m. May 21 at the Pageant. The show is a co-headlining event as the bands join forces for the first time.

Set It Off is also on the bill.

Tickets are $43.75-$53.75 and are on sale at ticketmaster.com. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test is required for entry.

105.7 the Point is presenting the show.

Get more information at thepageant.com.

In a statement, Simple Plan says: Were so happy to finally be able to play shows again and couldnt be more excited to head out on the Blame Canada tour with Sum 41. Its hard to believe this will the first time we will co-headline a tour together, but the timing couldnt be better as we both celebrate the 20th anniversary of our debut albums.

Simple Plan continues: We have a lot of fans in common and we know they have waited for this for a very, very long time! After not being able to tour for almost 2 years due to the pandemic, were gonna go out there and play our hearts out, enjoy every second of being on these stages and well make sure everyone in the crowd has the time of their lives!

Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley adds: We have known the guys in Simple Plan for a very long time and know these shows are going to be great. We cannot wait to hit the road with them.

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The bread pudding at Cyranos Cafe in Webster Groves is a standout on the dessert menu thats been in place since the cafe opened in 2003. Owner Carolyn Downs developed the rich recipe to create a bread pudding thats light and full of flavor.

The dish starts with fresh brioche bread, crusts removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes. Downs tosses the bread with a rich creme Anglaise cooked custard. She shared her secrets with Post-Dispatch readers for success.

You just want to be gentle with the creme Anglaise. You dont want to scramble the eggs in too-warm milk, she says. I always mix my egg yolks and sugar together, then add the warm liquid gradually. She tempers the egg and sugar mixture first, adding a little hot liquid first, then proceeding to add all the warm milk in a slow stream, whisking gently.

She tosses the bread and custard together gently, then immediately puts it into the pan, and places it directly into the oven. We dont let the bread sit and soak up all the liquid, she says. That keeps our bread pudding fluffy.

Downs offered a shortcut to the creme Anglaise preparation. You can make it in a pinch by melting down Breyers vanilla ice cream  or any kind of ice cream, Downs says. We tested the recipe as given, but didnt yet make the melted ice cream version. We plan to experiment with it soon.

Downs, who is a big fan of southern cooking, and also of Commanders Palace in New Orleans, suggested a few modifications with Mardi Gras in mind for the dessert. We sometimes top it with Mardi Gras colors of green, gold and purple colored sugars. You could add pecans to the pudding or to the bourbon sauce, a praline element.

Cyranos isnt just for great desserts, however. The cafe offers full seasonal lunch and dinner menus as well as appetizers, cocktails and drinks. Downs keeps the menus at the cafe, named for the poet and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac, close to its French roots.

The cafe hosts private parties as well for all special occasions. Erin Bode also sings at the cafe, her dates listed regularly on Cyranos Facebook and Instagram pages.

I knew we wanted bistro-type food from the first when we opened Cyranos. I remember rereading the book, going through it page by page looking for different food items. They met at the cafe, she says.

Were looking forward to the new Cyrano de Bergerac movie, which opens Feb. 28. We will have specials around the movie, she says.

Downs also anticipates making strawberry desserts in March each year as well. By the end of March, we start offering our strawberry desserts, like strawberry panna cotta. Its a little early, but I like to pretend I live in New Orleans, where there will be strawberries, so we will have some strawberry desserts.

Cyranos Cafe

603 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves

To request a recipe Would you like to request a recipe from a restaurant that is still open in the St. Louis area? Send your request along with your full name and the city you live in to reciperequest@post-dispatch.com.
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

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has promised to wage a vigorous review into the origins of the coronavirus if Republicans retake the Senate and he lands a committee chairmanship. Paul spoke to supporters at a campaign rally Saturday in Kentucky. The libertarian-leaning Republican is seeking a third term this year in Kentucky. He says hes in line to assume a committee chairmanship if the GOP wins Senate control after the November election. With that power, he promised to get to the bottom of where this virus came from. U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of COVID-19 but believe Chinas leaders didnt know about the virus before the start of the pandemic.
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

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
ST. LOUIS  An appeals court on Tuesday declined to revive a criminal charge of tampering with a witness that had been filed against a St. Louis police officer.

Last July, Circuit Judge Lynne Perkins dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Sgt. Jatonya Clayborn-Muldrow, saying it had been filed after the one-year statute of limitations had expired.

A three judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District said the tampering statute does not criminalize a continuing course of conduct, and Clayborn-Muldrow had no contact with the victim on March 16.

Prosecutors said on March 15, 2020, Clayborn-Muldrow asked the alleged victim not to file charges against the alleged assailant, a police officer, according to the appeals court opinion.

Prosecutors claimed the attempted witness tampering continued in the police internal affairs unit on March 16, 2020, when Clayborn-Muldrow asked who was interviewing the victim, the opinion says.

Prosecutors charged Clayborn-Muldrow on March 16, 2021.

The appeal by St. Louis prosecutors was further hamstrung by a failure to raise an exception to the statute of limitations for public employees, and a failure to provide a transcript of the oral arguments in front of Perkins, the appeals court said.

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EAST ST. LOUIS  A former inmate of the federal prison in Greenville, Ill. pleaded guilty to a federal charge Tuesday and admitted attacking a guard.

Dakota Holland, 26, pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and admitted throwing a soap bottle out of the food slot in his cell door on Aug. 3, 2020, striking a correctional officer just below the eye, his guilty plea says.

The officer was trying to put hand restraints on Holland, who was in the prison's special housing unit, at the time.

Holland, of Indianapolis, is serving a five-year federal prison sentence after being caught during a 2018 traffic stop with a stolen handgun and about 6 grams of methamphetamines, according to court records.

Both Holland's lawyer and prosecutors have agreed to recommend 366 more days in prison when Holland is sentenced later this year.

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ST. LOUIS  The man charged with putting a woman in a headlock, killing her, was the father of her youngest child, an infant boy who was inside the apartment where she died, her relatives and court documents say.

Samuel G. Williams held the woman in a deadly chokehold in the Dutchtown neighborhood Sunday, telling police she had burglarized his apartment on Dunnica Avenue, authorities said. The woman, Anitra Whitehead, was dead when officers got there.

Prosecutors on Monday charged Williams, 46, with first-degree involuntary manslaughter. He served nearly a decade behind bars for fatally stomping a man over a drug debt and tying him up with Christmas lights.

On Sunday evening, Whiteheads screams and her gasps for breath could be heard on the 911 call, court documents say, as Williams strangled her.

Whitehead, 38, and Williams had an on-again, off-again relationship and were the parents of an 11-month-old boy, said Whiteheads sister, Michelle Smith.

Police were called to the four-family flat at 3940 Dunnica Avenue for a burglary about 6:20 p.m. Sunday. Officers found Whitehead unconscious and not breathing. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Their baby son, King Terrell Whitehead, and Williams 6-year-old daughter were in the first-floor apartment when Whitehead died, Smith said. The children were unharmed, she said.

St. Louis police Detective Beary Bowles said Whitehead kicked in the door of Williams apartment. Williams subdued her and called 911 to report (her) crime and then proceeded to strangle her to death over the course of several minutes, Bowles said in court records.

On the 911 call, Whitehead can be heard screaming in agony, pleading with Williams that she would not do it again and gasping for air in an effort to breathe, Bowles said. Police found evidence that she had vomited.

Williams told detectives Whitehead hit him before he strangled her, police said. Williams also told detectives he was worried about what she might do to the children in the house if he released her.

Whiteheads relatives insist she didnt break into Williams apartment.

She had keys to the house, and she lived there most of the time, said Smith, a sister. Half of her things were there.

Smith said the death is murder, not manslaughter. Missouri law defines involuntary manslaughter as recklessly causing a persons death. In a chokehold, Smith said, you have the opportunity to release a person so they can breathe.

Prosecutors and police were weighing the Castle Doctrine, Missouris self-defense law, under which people who encounter an intruder in their homes are given more leeway in using deadly force.

Whitehead and the babys father shared care of their son. Williams watched his son last weekend and left a message with Whiteheads 72-year-old father to have Whitehead come pick up the boy.

He lured her there, said Whiteheads brother, Wayne Whitehead. It was not a burglary.

Williams recently filed taxes claiming, falsely, that the baby boy lived with him full time so he could get a tax break through earned income credit, said Wayne Whitehead.

He did that against her will, Wayne Whitehead added.

Anitra Whitehead even took to Facebook on Sunday morning, seven hours before she died, complaining about her babys father.

Ive made some dumb (expletive) choices but this dude is by for the worst of them all, she wrote. Whitehead said he wasnt doing anything for their son.

Anitra Whitehead had complained to some relatives that Williams had a volatile streak and was abusive, said Smith, who added that she never witnessed abuse.

Anitra Whitehead had a background as a certified nursing assistant. Police listed her address in the 4700 block of Alaska Avenue in St. Louis. She was the mother to two other children, both girls: 7-year-old Amyah and 2-year-old Mia. They are not Williams children. Whitehead and Williams had been neighbors when they started a relationship, Smith said.

Smith is caring for Whiteheads daughters and is trying to get authorities to allow her to take the 11-month-old boy, too. She said she thinks he is being cared for by his fathers family.

We are trying to keep all three children in our family, Smith said in an interview. Prayers for her children. She didnt deserve this.

Smith and Wayne Whitehead both said they were unaware of Williams violent criminal past.

In 2007, Williams pleaded guilty of second-degree murder and felonious restraint in the death of 39-year-old Donnie Stewart. On Jan. 21, 2004, Stewart was found unconscious, badly beaten and tied with strands of Christmas tree lights in an alley in the rear of the 5700 block of Mimika Avenue. Apparently Stewart was stomped by acquaintances over a drug debt, police said at the time.

Stewart never regained consciousness. He died Feb. 12, 2005, in a rehabilitative nursing home. Stewart had lived in the 3300 block of Hamilton Avenue.

Williams and another man beat the victim at Williams apartment. They were arrested and charged with assaulting Stewart. After Stewart died, prosecutors upgraded the charges. Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, said Williams served roughly 12 years in prison and jail combined, before being released on parole in 2015. His parole ended in 2016.

His co-defendant, Reginald Thimes, pleaded guilty of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Thimes was sentenced to five years probation.

No attorney or relatives of Williams could be reached for comment for this article. Judge Clinton R. Wright ordered that Williams be held without bail. Another hearing is scheduled next week to review bond conditions.

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ST. LOUIS  Police on Monday identified a 33-year-old man killed earlier this month when he crashed a truck into the back of a semitrailer downtown.

Kevin Ruck, of Marthasville, was driving north on South Fourth Street near Spruce Street around 10:25 p.m. Feb. 10 when he hit the back of a semitrailer that was preparing to back into the dock at the Tums building, police said.

Ruck's vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Tundra, caught fire, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the semitrailer, a 63-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The crash was still under investigation Monday, police said.

Katie Kull  314-340-8087 @KatieKull1 on Twitter kkull@post-dispatch.com
JEFFERSON CITY  A police investigation released on Monday shows that a flaw in a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education webpage had been in place since 2011 and that no one had noticed the flaw until a Post-Dispatch journalist pointed out the weakness.

The 158-page report also showed that reporter Josh Renaud hadnt accessed anything that was not publicly available, nor was he in a place he should not have been, according to a Missouri Highway Patrol interview with DESE spokeswoman Mallory McGowin.

She said Josh Renaud appears to have only accessed open public data, the report notes.

The report was released more than a week after Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson announced he would not be charging Renaud in connection with the investigation.

Thompsons decision was reached almost seven weeks after his office received the report from the Missouri Highway Patrol, which had been tasked with the probe by Gov. Mike Parson in October.

Parson had suggested prosecution was imminent throughout the probe.

But, according to the report, McGowin said a vulnerability that left 576,000 teacher Social Security numbers exposed would have been there since 2011, when the application was implemented.

I asked her if this had ever been brought up before, and she stated not in the two years she had worked at DESE. She stated employees who have worked at DESE since 2011 have said the same thing, the police report notes.

McGowin told police when the website was brought online in 2011, the practice exposed by Renaud would have been OK.

She stated since then, that process is no longer considered best practice, the report said.

Further, McGowin said the database  like other state computer services  is actually overseen by Parsons Office of Administration, which the governor controls.

The highway patrol said it spent about 175 hours on the investigation. Three officers assisted in the probe. No cost estimate was provided.

The investigators also talked with cybersecurity expert Shaji Khan, who had verified for the Post-Dispatch that the flaw existed.

Khan, who teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said he was alarmed by the information hed received about the vulnerability.

He (Khan) stated by the time he was done looking, he realized how bad the situation was and indicated the state needed to be notified immediately, the report notes.

Khans attorney, Elad Gross, said last week that Thompson would not be charging Khan either.

In a statement Monday, Gross said the report clearly shows that state officials committed all of the wrongdoing here.

They failed to follow basic security procedures for years, failed to protect teachers Social Security numbers, and failed to take responsibility, instead choosing to instigate a baseless investigation into two Missourians who did the right thing and reported the problem, Gross said.

We thank the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Cole County Prosecutors Office for their diligent work on a case that never should have been sent to them, Gross said.

Parson launched the investigation after the Post-Dispatch reported Oct. 13 that more than 100,000 Social Security numbers of Missouri educators had been vulnerable. Renaud found teachers Social Security numbers were accessible in the HTML source code of some publicly available DESE webpages.

The newspaper informed DESE of the flaw and delayed publication until the department could take action to protect the privacy of individuals in the database.

While DESE had initially planned to thank the Post-Dispatch for finding the flaw, Parson instead held a news conference during which he alleged Renaud had been hacking the states computer system.

The governor cited a state statute that says someone tampers with computer data if he or she without authorization or without reasonable grounds to believe that he has such authorization accesses a computer system and intentionally examines information about another person.

Emails later obtained by the Post-Dispatch found that the FBI told state cybersecurity officials that there was not an actual network intrusion and the state database was misconfigured.

The records showed that Angie Robinson, cybersecurity specialist for the state, had emailed Department of Public Safety Director Sandra Karsten to inform her that she had forwarded emails from the Post-Dispatch to Kyle Storm with the FBI in St. Louis. Robinson said the FBI agent indicated there was no network intrusion.

The emails also revealed the proposed message when education department leaders prepared to respond in October:

We are grateful to the member of the media who brought this to the states attention was the proposed quote attributed to Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

Instead, the state eventually described Renaud as a hacker.

Essential reading: Governor threatens Post-Dispatch after discovery of data vulnerability A Post-Dispatch reporter, Josh Renaud, alerted the state to security flaws on a teacher certification website, and Gov. Mike Parson responded 

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JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri schools are overusing and misusing student suspensions, parents and advocates told a House committee Tuesday.

The testimony came in response to legislation allowing the government to track school suspensions and expulsions heard by the House Committee on Government Oversight.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Dottie Bailey, R-Eureka, would require schools to report information on suspensions and expulsions to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It would also prohibit suspending or expelling kids based on truancy, other absences from school, or prior disciplinary actions and any kids from kindergarten to third grade.

Removing kids from school, advocates of the legislation said, doesnt address the underlying causes of negative behavior and exacerbates other issues.

On a whole what this bill will do is force districts into thinking, Hey, we need a different way. We need a total paradigm shift in thinking of how do we best serve these kids in the state of Missouri, Bailey said.

Schools would collect data on the race, disabilities, free lunch qualifications and other demographics of the children, as well as any alternative punishments that were used prior to the suspension or expulsion, the type of offense committed, the duration of the punishments and the number of repeat offenses.

The information, Bailey said, will start to help the state identify and address areas where the punitive practices have become a problem.

Missouri has one of the biggest gaps between out-of-school suspensions of Black students and white students in the country, said Jeff Smith of the American Civil Liberties Union.

In one recent year, Black students missed 180,000 school days due to suspensions  more than every other racial group combined, Smith said.

The punishment also disproportionately targets Missouri students with disabilities, Smith noted, who are twice as likely to be suspended as their peers.

Having kids constantly put out of school, parents testified, puts a financial burden on the family, requiring them to take time off work.

A mother of three children, two with autism, told lawmakers shed struggled supervising her kids as they went through behavioral issues and were pulled out of school. She said she eventually dropped out of a college program for social work, and one of her children was put into a residential facility.

What happens with these suspensions is we push them so far to where theres no coming back, she said.

Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lees Summit, said more troubled kids problems often originated at home. Sending them back home doesnt just deprive some kids of an education, Ingle said, but takes away a source of food and a vital safety net.

The measure outlines and requires the consideration of alternative strategies to keep kids in school, like having students correct their offenses with community service or training school staff to recognize and address trauma.

The legislation is House Bill 2533.

Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com
All of the groups interested in collecting and distributing Missouris new tax-credit scholarship funds for private schools have religious affiliations, according to the state treasurers office.

The application process to help manage the MOScholars program signed into law last year closes March 11. Groups that have indicated an intent to become educational assistance organizations starting next fall include:

Agudath Israel of Illinois, part of Agudath Israel of America, the arm and voice of American Orthodox Jewry that advocates for its constituents at federal, state, and local levels (to) provide social, educational, and youth services, according to its website.

Childrens Tuition Fund, an arm of the Colorado-based Association of Christian Schools International, operating in seven states with tax-credit scholarship programs including Illinois.

Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph Bright Futures Fund.

The Herzog Foundation, endowed by the late Missouri businessman Stanley Herzog. The foundation launched in 2020 to catalyze and accelerate the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish, according to its website.

Missouri District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation, based at the St. Louis Archdioceses Cardinal Rigali Center to raise scholarship funds that mostly go to students in Catholic schools.

Its unclear how many applicants will be approved. Six of eight scholarship-granting organizations in Illinois similar tax-credit system approved in 2017 have religious affiliations, although the largest, Empower Illinois, is secular.

While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that state programs providing funding to private schools cannot exclude religious schools, the state could still impose religion-neutral rules that prevent discrimination, said Bruce Baker, professor of educational theory, policy and administration at Rutgers University.

In practice, the scholarship or voucher programs amount to state-sanctioned discrimination, Baker said.

More than 80 private schools in Florida that accepted vouchers in 2019 had policies allowing for expulsion of students based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Most of these states that have gone down this road to let conservative Christian schools access voucher programs, they like what those schools are doing and have no interest in regulating them, Baker said.

The MOScholars program allows residents to receive a credit of up to 50% of state tax liability for donating to the educational assistance organizations. The groups will then grant the annual scholarships of up to $6,375, prioritizing those students with special needs or from low-income families. Eligible students can apply for the scholarships to start in the 2022-2023 school year.

The state treasurers office is expected to publish its rules by early March on how the program will be run.

In its first year, the program could add up to $25 million less in tax collections, that would instead divert to private schools and education companies that arent subject to public records laws and state oversight. The scholarships can only go to students in charter counties or cities with more than 30,000 people, including St. Louis city and St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties.

Under the law, private schools must not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin to qualify for the scholarship funds. Participating private schools will not be required to change their admissions policies or curriculum.

State Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, who sponsored the bill last year, said its too early to comment on the groups applying to run the program. He said the law protects against religious discrimination by the educational assistance organizations.

Its pretty well established in American law that you cant discriminate for immutable characteristics like religion, he said.

Under federal law, religious groups including schools may discriminate in hiring decisions and implement faith-based policies for student enrollment and tuition. The schools are also exempt from protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ultimate aim of the program is to give families access to more options in a variety of school types, said Peter Franzen, associate executive director of the Childrens Education Alliance of Missouri, which is funded by school choice advocate Rex Sinquefield. The parent advocacy group has held informational sessions and received about 1,500 inquiries about the program.

In the end it comes down to parents being able to put their kid in a school that works for them, Franzen said. We know there are families out there that are going to want this, and we want to get it to them as soon as possible.

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ST. LOUIS  Some offices in the St. Louis Development Corp. and Community Development Administration needed to improve their record keeping and monitoring procedures, Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway said in a report released Tuesday.

The audit report found no major problems at SLDC and the St. Louis CDA, giving the offices an overall rating of good, the second-highest general rating from the state auditors office.

But auditors did find internal accounting procedures that needed improvement in the citys land bank, the Land Reutilization Authority, and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority. Both agencies fall under the SLDC umbrella.

The report said the LRA, which obtains title to tax delinquent property and works to sell it back to private owners, did not adequately track receipts from land sales. And it said some money for land sold by the LCRA during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, was deposited in the LRAs bank account. The real estate holdings of both entities are managed by the same staff.

In another SLDC department, staff werent issuing receipts for application fees developers pay for tax abatement and other development incentives, the audit found.

The audit also recommended LRA update its land price policies, which are a decade old. LCRA should rebid a management contract for the parking garages it owns downtown. The LCRA is on a month-to-month contract with a parking management company that has held the contract since 1983, according to the audit.

In its response, SLDC said it had instituted better receipt tracking and other accounting controls at LRA and LCRA. Its also updating its pricing policies for LRA land and plans to discuss issuing a request for proposals for parking operators by the end of March.

The audit also included a review of the Community Development Administration, which is a direct part of city government and not SLDC. Auditors recommended better recordkeeping of cash received there, too. It also noted that CDA personnel failed to examine at least one entity sharing part of a Community Development Block Grant, federal grants allocated locally by CDA.

In response, the CDA said it would file and record receipts more quickly and ensure monitoring visits are performed for agencies receiving CDBG money. It said that a staff member had left, which is why the missed review noted by auditors occurred.

The auditors office noted that the CDA said it would make similar improvements after a 2018 audit, but that fixes were not entirely effective.

Auditors also noted that the SLDC does not have a record retention policy for electronic communication such as text messages and personal email accounts where official city business is conducted. SLDC said it would await the development of the citys policy regarding retention of electronic communications and structure it based on that policy.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Nearly four years after he resigned from office and retreated from the capital city, former Gov. Eric Greitens returned Tuesday to officially launch his bid for U.S. Senate.

No matter what the mainstream media does, no matter what the Republican establishment does, no matter what the left does, were going to win this race, Greitens told a group of reporters after he submitted paperwork to run in the Aug. 2 Republican primary.

Tuesday marked the first day of candidate filing for the primary. Greitens joined more than a dozen other Republicans in filing paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

The former governor, in a poll released Saturday by Remington Research Group and Missouri Scout, continued to lead the rest of a crowded field, registering 25% support among likely Republican primary voters surveyed.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt garnered 22% support, while U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler came in third, at 18%.

I think however big or small the field is were going to do great. Because at the end of the day, this is a race about the future of the country and people know that they need someone who is willing to stand up and fight for them, Greitens said Tuesday.

While Greitens exuded confidence, Hartzler expressed disgust.

As governor, Greitens faced allegations of campaign finance violations and of assaulting and threatening his former lover. The controversies preceded his resignation on June 1, 2018.

Hartzler, after filing her own Senate paperwork, said Tuesday she would support the Republican nominee in the general election unless its Eric Greitens.

Greitens former lover testified to a GOP-led Missouri House committee that before he was governor, Greitens tied her up in his basement, blindfolded her, restrained her and insisted she give him oral sex even though she was crying.

Its not conservative to tie a woman up in your basement and to assault her, and to bring shame and disgrace on our state, Hartzler said. And he did. Missouri deserves better.

Schmitt said Im never going to quit on Missouri when asked what distinguished him from Greitens.

Greitens resigned less than 18 months into his four-year term as governor.

Asked if he agreed with Greitens that the former governor had been exonerated of wrongdoing, Schmitt said, I think hes going to have to make that case to Missourians.

Theres a lot of questions that were left unanswered when he left.

Schmitt also commented on U.S. Sen. Josh Hawleys recent endorsement of Hartzler.

I look forward to serving with Sen. Hawley in the Senate, Schmitt said.

Crowded GOP race

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, also filed paperwork to run for U.S. Senate. He has been seeking the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Trump knows Ive been with him longer and stronger than anybody, Long said.

He jabbed Hartzler, saying she should seek the backing of former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo., who said last week he was looking for a center-right candidate to run as an independent for Senate.

Tell him to call Vicky Hartzler, Long said when told Danforth was looking for an independent, centrist Republican. I think Vickyd make a great centrist Republican for Jack Danforth to run. Theyd make a great team.

Hartzler, asked to respond, said, I respect Jack Danforth and what he did for our state, but I think what we need right now is someone with a track record for conservative leadership, whos a fighter in Washington.

St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey was one of the first candidates in line Tuesday morning.

McCloskey, who entered the race as a political newcomer after he and his wife, Patricia, waved guns at racial injustice protesters outside their Central West End Home in 2020, said he offers voters a different choice from the other candidates.

If you like the status quo ... vote for the traditional candidate, McCloskey said.

The sixth well-known GOP candidate, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, also sought to differentiate himself as he filed paperwork Tuesday.

Eric Greitens was unfit to serve then as Governor and hes unfit to serve now and thats why Im in this race. Missouri deserves better, Schatz said on Twitter.

If you want someone who will say and do anything to get elected then youll have plenty of options and, frankly, Im not your guy, he said. If you want an authentic job creator who will get the job done, Id be honored to earn your vote.

China ties

Long and Hartzler on Tuesday also dinged Schmitt over past actions related to China. In the state Senate, he sponsored efforts to turn St. Louis international airport into a hub for China air cargo, proposing up to $480 million in tax breaks over 15 years.

Schmitt voted in 2013 to allow for foreign ownership of farmland. In 2015, he voted to loosen oversight of foreign purchases.

Told Long had called him Shanghai Schmitt, Schmitt said its a total misrepresentation of my record. Im the attorney general that has sued China  the first one to sue China for unleashing the coronavirus on the world.

Hartzler said that she stood apart when it came to challenging China. She criticized Schmitts support of the China hub and also slammed Greitens appearance on Chinese television when he visited Asia as governor in 2017.

Hartzler is a member of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, which was targeted by Chinese sanctions in 2020.

Here you have a candidate whos truly focused on addressing the threats from China, Hartzler said. You have another person who tried to turn our airport into a China hub.

She added, and then you also have a former governor, who went over to China and pandered to them.

Other candidates

In addition to the Senate, filing for the states eight congressional districts, state auditor, all 163 House seats and half of its 34 state Senate districts began Tuesday.

Early birds at candidate registration included former state Reps. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, and Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville.

Lavender is seeking the redrawn 98th House District seat in St. Louis County.

Lavender, who has two years left before term limits bar her from running again, served in the House from 2015 to 2021.

She opted not to run for her last term in the House last election, instead running and losing a race to represent the 15th Senate District, covering west St. Louis County.

Spencer filed to run for state Senate and said it doesnt bother him that the boundaries for the district remain in flux due to a bipartisan commissions inability to agree on new lines.

Candidates running for the states eight congressional seats and half of the state Senate seats filed to run in districts that have not yet been finalized.

I think no matter where they are, my constituents know my history of serving them. They know Im involved in the community, Spencer said.

State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and state Rep. David Gregory, R-Sunset Hills, are both competing for the GOP nomination for state auditor.

Democrats had gone without a candidate for auditor  until Tuesday.

Former Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant, announced his candidacy for the job being vacated by the states lone Democratic officeholder, Auditor Nicole Galloway.

The final date for candidate filing is March 29.

Other Republicans who filed for Senate include: Hartford Tunnell of Carthage; Deshon Porter of St. Louis; Dave Sims of Kansas City; Patrick Lewis of Wellsville; C.W. Gardner of St. Louis; Robert Allen of Defiance; Bernie Mowinski of Sunrise Beach; and Dennis Lee Chilton of Springfield.

Eight Democrats had filed paperwork for U.S. Senate: Lucas Kunce of Independence; former state Sen. Scott Sifton, D-south St. Louis County; Gena Ross of Platte City; Lewis Rolen of St. Louis; Spencer Toder of St. Louis; Carla Coffee Wright of St. Louis; Jewel Kelly of Festus; and Josh Shipp of St. Louis.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22.

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Natural gas service for the entire town of Potosi was knocked out Tuesday  leaving officials worried that outages could last days even as winter weather moved into the area.

Joseph Blount, mayor of the Washington County town of roughly 2,500 people about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis, said the outages affected about 1,000 local households and businesses and close to 3,000 people in total.

By midday, officials were scrambling: The Red Cross helped set up an emergency shelter at Potosi Southern Baptist Church. Gas personnel from outside areas drove in to assist getting service back up and running. Officials estimated the town could be without gas for as many as three days.

By 6 p.m., workers had repaired the main but still had to restore individual gas line services  door to door.

Some restaurants stayed open during the outage. But Josh Thiele, owner of Hubs Pub and Grill on West High Street, said with gas appliances down he couldnt sell much food.

We can do salads and beer, he said.

He was using space heaters to keep the place warm. But he worried about the community: Are heaters going to be able to keep up? Are water lines going to freeze and bust?

The problem started Tuesday morning, when contractors working to install a larger gas line broke the main serving the town. No one was hurt in the accident, gas was shut off, and students at local schools were sent home early, according to Blount. The break happened more than 2 miles outside of the city limits, he said.

The town raced to restore service at individual homes and businesses, while freezing temperatures loomed in the forecast.

Conditions in Potosis part of the Ozarks were expected to plunge below freezing overnight, reaching a low of about 18 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Snow and sleet were expected Wednesday and Thursday, with highs just below freezing.

Blount said about two-thirds of the city relies on the municipally owned gas system for heating, while the remaining third has fully electric heating. Some residents outside of town have wood stoves, he said.

He encouraged those affected to go to the emergency shelter or visit friends or relatives with working heaters.

By Tuesday evening, with the main fixed, workers began going door to door to relight pilots and restore service to the rest of town.

Other facilities, such as nursing homes and a nearby prison, were on track to get gas fixed quickly, Blount said.

He said theres even a chance local schools might even be in session on Wednesday.

Hopefully, its not three days, he said. Were really hoping it can be restored faster.

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Since the 1990s Chinese DMR (designated marksman rifles) were based on the bullpup (magazine behind the trigger) assault rifle modified, with a smaller magazine and telescope sight. This DMR fired the Chinese 5.8/42mm round. It's unusual for sniper rifles to use a small round like this. Chinas proprietary 5.8x42mm cartridge, which is a little wider than the 5.56 NATO but shorter in overall length, is mainly used in the Type 95 assault rifle and a QBB 95 squad light machine-gun. The DMRs use the "heavy" 5.8mm round which has a heavier steel core bullet for longer ranges and accuracy. This proved less effective than Western designated marksman rifles using the larger and heavier 7.62/51mm NATO standard round.

Meanwhile the older non-bullpup Type 81 rifle appeared in a designated marksman version using the 7.62/51mm round, a smaller magazine and modified to only operate semi-automatically. This version was used by Chinese police snipers as well as a growing number of elite army troops and members of special forces (commando) units. Some regular army units have obtained this Type 81 rifle and use it as an unofficial sniper rifle and DMR.

The Type 81 was designed by the Chinese in the 1970s to replace the Russian SKS carbine and AK-47s after China and Russia cut diplomatic and trade relations because of a border dispute. This was the first Chinese designed modern rifle, rather than a copy of a foreign design. The operation and accuracy of the Type 81 was superior to the original AK-47. Despite that, fewer than half a million were built and it entered service in 1983. Type 81 was originally designed to use the SK-47 7.62/39mm round, but was later upgraded to handle the more powerful and accurate 7.62/51mm round. Someone added a high-quality scope and 20 round magazines to the rifle and China reinvented the original American DMR. The U.S. DMR was based on the 7.62mm 1950s M-14 rifle that was only used for semi-automatic fire and had a 20-round magazine. It was replaced in the mid-1960s by the M16. At that point 1.3 million M14s had been built and many found a new purpose as a DMR.
It was recently revealed that Israel refused to sell Ukraine Iron Dome rocket defense systems so as not to anger Russia. At the same time Israel was dismayed at the timid reaction of NATO and the United States to the Russian decision to recognize the half of Donbas their proxy forces already occupy and now send in Russian troops as peacemakers. Israelis compare this to the British reaction to German efforts to annex portions of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The British, without consulting the Czechs, agreed to the German annexation plans, which were then carried out. The Czechs did not resist because they had been sold out by their allies in return for a promise by Hitler that he had no further territorial ambitions. In 1939 Germany invaded Poland and that started World War II. Israelis fear the West is doing the same to them, because of their proposed deal with Iran to lift economic sanctions while ignoring continued Iranian work on ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

Israel believes the Russians respect power and exploit weakness. Israel points to how they and Russia have become more open about their cooperation in Syria, and elsewhere in the region. Russian and Israeli senior officials frequently meet in Russia or Israel to discuss details of this partnership and often release details of their Syrian arrangement and any new developments. Israel and Russia have been cooperating in Syria for decades but in 2015 that relationship had to be modified. For the first time Russia had substantial combat forces in Syria and at a time when Israel was carrying out airstrikes against Syrian and Iranian forces threatening Israel. Russia is supposed to be protecting Syria from rebels and foreign interference. Because of Israeli military superiority and willingness to humiliate Russia if they try to stop Israeli airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria, the Russians talk but do not act. Russia has another vulnerability when it comes to Israel and that is continued access to Israeli technology. Israel has halted some of that cooperation in the past when Russia caused problems for Israel. The Israelis believe Russia is a bully that makes threats they cannot follow through on. Russia has learned that Israel does not back down from threats, while NATO and the United States do.

This is a problem for Israel because the United States supplies much of the money for Iron Dome development and has a say in who it can be exported to. The Americans recognized the Israeli need to maintain the cooperation they have achieved with the Russians in Syria. Despite that, Israel fears the Americans would openly block an Israeli efforts to provide Iron Dome or other air defense systems to Ukraine. The U.S. did approve of the Iron Dome sale to the UAE (United Arab Emirates). Israeli firms now have sales offices in the UAE, to handle the sale and service of military and non-military items sold to Persian Gulf customers. Now the Gulf Arabs are wondering how strong American resolve against Iran really is.

Israel has the most successful economy in the region and trade-minded countries like the UAE have long done business unofficially with Israel. The American-brokered 2020 Abraham Accords made it possible for Arab states to establish diplomatic and economic relationships with Israel, and the UAE was the first to do so. The strength of the Israeli economy was recently demonstrated when Israeli GDP grew by a record 7.5 percent in 2021. This came after a 2.2 percent decline in GDP in 2020, the worst year of the covid19 pandemic. Israel also led the way in developing treatments for covid19. This did not go unnoticed, or unused, throughout the region. The improved relationships have made it possible for Israel to export its growing natural gas production via pipelines through Egypt and Jordan.

February 18, 2022: In the north (Lebanon border) a Hezbollah UAV crossed the border and remained in Israel for about 30 minutes. An Iron Dome missile was fired at the UAV but missed and Israel sent aircraft to take down the intruder. Hezbollah declared this a great victory, without mentioning that the UAV was being tracked and about to be destroyed. In retaliation Israel sent some jets to fly very low over Beirut, the Lebanese capital. Iron Dome has been modified to deal with low flying UAVs and cruise missiles and nothing has been said about why that did not work this time.

February 16, 2022: In the north (Golan Heights) several Israeli surface-to-surface missiles were launched against targets in southern Syria (Damascus province).

In the south (Gaza) a Hamas tunnel under construction had a partial collapse, killing one of the Hamas men working on it. These tunnels try to cross the border but Israeli tunnel detection technology has improved to the point where most tunnel projects are detected when they cross the border and destroyed.

February 15, 2022: In the north, across the border in Syrias Daraa province, there have been nearly twenty assassinations and related acts of violence so far this month. This level of violence has remained fairly constant for three years. This is part of the undeclared war between Iranian and Syrian forces going on there since 2018. Anonymous assassins use pistols and hidden bombs to kill those who work, or worked for government forces or Russia and Syria backed local militias. Russian and Assad forces openly force Iran-backed groups and individuals out of the area. There is no open violence because Iran, Syria and Russia are still officially allies. Near the Israel border Russian and Syrian pressure has prevented Iranian attacks on Israel. Russia and Syria have also been checking locals to see if they are Lebanese Shia wearing authorized Syrian army or police uniforms rather than Lebanese Shia using stolen uniforms. This border security operation is a big deal for Syria and Israel and a major embarrassment for Iran, which is why Iran has not cranked up its usual media outrage to complain. Israel will sometimes fire on Iranian forces operating in Daraa, especially near the Israeli border. Israel also shares intel with Russia and Syria about Syrian officers who are secretly working for Iran. The Iranians pay well, and in dollars. Israel will sometimes release evidence of this to the media, so that Iranians back home have another reason to oppose Iranian foreign wars. Negotiations have been underway between Iran and Russia/Syria for over a year but are not making much progress. The covert Iranian violence is just another incentive for Syria to get the Iranian agents out of the area.

February 14, 2022: In the north, across the border in Syria (Daraa and Suwayda provinces plus Damascus) over a thousand Iranian mercenaries arrived to help deal with locals protesting the Assad government and Iranian presence. The mercenaries were nearly all foreigners from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. These reinforcements traveled from eastern Syria (Raqqa and (Deir Ezzor provinces) and used multiple routes to avoid Israeli airstrikes.

In western Iran, Israel was blamed for a damaging fire that broke out in a military base, as well as several other recent disasters at facilities involved with ballistic missile and nuclear weapons developments.

February 13, 2022: In the West Bank Israeli troops destroying the home of a terrorist who had killed an Israeli student last year, was attacked by a mob throwing rocks and fire bombs. The troops opened fire on the bomb throwers and killed one and wounded several others. One Israeli soldier was injured by falling debris.

February 12, 2022: Israeli media revealed that Israeli intelligence (Mossad) has, over the last two years, provided information to Turkey that prevented twelve ISIL or Iranian terror attacks in Turkey. This has quietly played a role in making it possible for Israeli tourists and business travelers to safely visit Turkey. Mossad providing Israeli media with this information is believed to be related to growing Turkish efforts to rebuild diplomatic and military relationships that were damaged two decades ago when Islamic political parties gained control of the government.

February 9, 2022: In the north, across the border in the Syrian capital Damascus, Israel carried out attacks against air defense systems around the city. This was in retaliation for another Syrian SAM (surface to air missile) failing to self-destruct when it missed its target and instead continuing on into Israel. In this case the SAM detonated before it hit the ground in northern Israel. This has happened before but this incident appeared suspicious so Israel launched airstrikes against Syrian air defenses. This SAM was one of many Syria fired to try and stop Israeli surface-to-surface missiles fired from northern Israel against Iranian targets near Damascus earlier in the day, which set off more attacks.

In the north, across the Syrian border in Latakia province, Russian forces turned on their wide area electronic jamming equipment briefly, and caused problems for commercial aircraft in Israel and Turkey. This has happened several times recently. Israel protested this and Russia said it was necessary because their military bases were threatened. Latakia province is largely Shia and a government stronghold. Unfortunately Latakia borders Idlib province, where some Islamic terror groups continue trying to launch attacks on the Russian bases. In response Russia has brought in a wide array of electronic countermeasures, some of them it uses rarely because it disrupts Israeli GPS systems. Since late 2015 Russian electronic jamming equipment has been arriving in Syria, initially to jam ISIL and NATO communications. In response NATO and Israel have deployed more EW gear and personnel and this has led to a generally unseen (and unreported) electronic war over Syria. Israel demonstrated that they could handle Russian jamming, with the side effect of disrupting Russian air defense systems. As a result of this Russia and Israel added electronic jammers to the list of things they wont use on each other in Syria. Exceptions are made when the Russian Latakia bases face an unexpected threat. Russia supplies details to Israel. This information is rarely made public.

February 8, 2022: In the West Bank three al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Islamic terrorists were killed by Israeli troops participating in a army-police effort to arrest them and others responsible for earlier attacks on Israelis. Another Palestinian was arrested and two assault rifles were recovered. Police are still seeking a fifth suspect.

January 31, 2022: In the north, across the border in the Syrian capital Damascus Israel carried out several air strikes against Iranian weapons warehouses operated and guarded by Lebanese Hezbollah gunmen. This was the first Israeli airstrike since Russian announced, on the 24th, that Russian and Syrian warplanes, including early warning aircraft, would conduct joint patrols along Syrians southern borders to detect and prevent airstrikes from Israel. This was all largely symbolic because Israeli warplanes rarely enter Syrian air space to carry out attacks on targets in Syria. Instead, Israel uses air-to-surface missiles launched from Israeli fighters in Israeli, Lebanese or Jordanian air space.

January 26, 2022: In the south (the Egyptian border in Sinai) Israeli troops stopped a major effort by smugglers to being drugs into Israel after sundown. This effort involved the smugglers bringing some wheeled armored vehicles to the border when they opened fire on the Israeli troops as a distraction while unarmed trucks carrying the drugs sought to cross the border. Attracted by the gunfire an Israeli border police vehicle showed up to investigate. The Israeli soldiers mistook the border guard vehicle for a smuggler vehicle coming to pick up the drug shipment. The troops opened fire on the Border Guard vehicles tires, to disable it. Two border police were injured. The smuggling effort was thwarted.

January 25, 2022: In the south, across the border in Egyptian Sinai five soldiers were killed while on patrol when an Islamic terrorist roadside bomb exploded near them. This was unusual because the Islamic terrorists in Sinai have been increasingly staying out of sight because the security forces and the local tribes are both looking for then.

January 20, 2022: The Israeli foreign minister spoke on the phone to his Turkish counterpart. This was notable because this was the first such contact in thirteen years. The Turkish Foreign Minister called because he had heard that the Israeli Foreign Minister had contracted covid19, and called to tell his fellow Foreign Minister to get well soon. Until 2000, Turkey and Israel were allies and had close economic and military relationships. That changed in 2000 when Turkish voters elected an Islamic government that pledged to reduce the chronic corruption that was visibly damaging the economy. After about a decade it was clear that the Islamic government was more interested in staying in power than improving the lives of Turks. The Islamic party was also unpopular with many voters because of the new hostility to long-time ally Israel and efforts to regain Turkish influence in the Arab world. The anti-corruption efforts began to unravel and now the economy is a mess and voters are ready to curb the power of the Islamic parties. T he Turkish Islamic politician, Recep Erdogan is responsible for all these changes since 2000, has been personally running things in Turkey since 2004, first as prime minister and then as president, is trying to repair some of the damage.

Turkey and Israel have been working on improving their diplomatic, economic and military relationships for several years and that effort has been proceeding slowly. At the same time the Turks have been increasingly hostile to Iran and that includes ignoring Iranian requests during the 2020 war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey sent advisors, armed UAVs and Syrian mercenaries to help the Azeris score their first victory over Armenia in a three-decade long territorial feud. Iran was also unhappy with the fact that the Azeris gave credit to the many Israeli weapons they had purchased over the last decade. This included the Israeli Barak 8 anti-aircraft system which intercepted a number of Russian ballistic missiles fired at Azerbaijan by the Armenians. One of those ballistic missiles was an Iskander, a recent Russian design that was supposed to be more difficult to detect and intercept. Iran is also angry about how its campaign in Syria is proceeding and how unhelpful, or even hostile, their allies Turkey and Russia have been. Russia has been a discreet intermediary between Turkey and Israel and has long urged the Turks to improve relations with Israel. There has been little official notice of this effort, which is what made the Turkish Foreign Ministers phone call such a big deal.

January 14, 2022: American diplomats declared that Iran has less than a month left to either come up with a realistic approach to negotiations. If the Iranians persist with their unrealistic negotiating tactics, Western efforts to restore the 2015 treaty will evaporate and the Western nations will back, or tolerate the Israeli solution. This was expressed by American diplomats saying that if Iran persists the American would employ other measures. This apparently includes returning to the 2020 level of oil smuggling enforcement and applying more sanctions, as well as letting Israel defend itself. The Americans and their European allies finally came up with an agreement Iran would accept. That was because the agreement basically ignored the Iranian ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Israel responded by increasing its preparations for an air strike on Iranian weapons development targets.
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Vitura (Paris: VTR) has chosen to supply its Hanami campus with geothermal energy, connecting it up to a network that is particularly effective in using renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Vitura's strong commitment to the energy transition

For its Hanami campus in Rueil-Malmaison, Vitura has opted for renewable, low-carbon heat by connecting the property up to a geothermal network, currently under construction. This will provide tenants with renewable, locally sourced, competitive energy for many years to come.

The City of Rueil-Malmaison has selected Rueil Energie, a subsidiary of ENGIE Solutions, to create, develop and operate a heating network supplied with more than 55% local and renewable geothermal energy. The contract will run for 24 years, starting in October 2023. The network will be connected to the SITRU1 household waste processing plant, adding a second source of renewable energy and bringing the proportion of renewable and recoverable energy on the heating network to 65%.

The connection will be live from 2023 and will eliminate 430 metric tons of Hanami's CO2 emissions per year. Hanami campus tenants are eager to be able to contribute to the fight against global warming.

At more than 25 km long, the Rueil-Malmaison heating network will eventually supply 12,000 housing unit equivalents.

A decision in line with Vitura's global asset management strategy

This initiative reflects Vitura's commitment to the environmental transition and demonstrates the relevance of its asset management strategy.

The decision to connect the Hanami campus to the Rueil Energie network will have a positive impact on the property's ecological footprint. It also makes sense from a management standpoint, since the value of the energy saving certificates and the trade-in of the existing boilers cover the amount of the connection fees. In addition, operating costs are expected to be lower than they were before the gas price surge, with the gap continuing to widen inexorably over time.

To find out more, a page dedicated to the project can be found on the Rueil-Malmaison heating network website (in French only).

About Vitura

Created in 2006, Vitura (formerly Cegereal) is a listed real estate company that invests in prime office properties in Paris and Greater Paris. The total value of the portfolio was estimated at 1,455 million at June 30, 2021 (excluding transfer duties).

Thanks to its strong commitment to sustainable development, Vitura was named the number one Global Sector Leader in the 2021 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmarks (GRESB) listed office property companies category and received two Gold Awards from the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) for the quality and transparency of its financial and non-financial reporting.

Vitura is a REIT listed on Euronext Paris since 2006, in compartment B (ISIN: FR0010309096). The Company had a market capitalization of 579 million on February 18th, 2022.

For more information, visit www.vitura.fr

About ENGIE Solutions

ENGIE Solutions helps cities, industries and the service sector transition to carbon neutrality, by consuming more green and decarbonized energy, and less energy in general.

ENGIE Solutions activities concentrate the skills of the ENGIE group in France with regard to heating and cooling networks, on-site production of electricity and heat (photovoltaic and cogeneration/boiler rooms), carbon-free mobility (electric, bioNGV and hydrogen), public lighting and operation/maintenance and energy efficiency services.

In France, ENGIE Solutions has more than 15,000 employees and generates 5.1 billion in sales.

For more information, visit http://www.engie-solutions.com

1 SITRU (syndicat intercommunal pour le traitement des residus urbains  intercommunal union for the treatment of urban waste).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220221005409/en/

For more information, contact:



Investor relations

Charlotte de Laroche

+33 1 42 25 76 42

[email protected]



Media relations

Alienor Miens/Marion Bouchut

+33 6 34 45 34 09

[email protected]

Source: Vitura
NW Natural Water Company, LLC (NW Natural Water), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), recently signed two agreements to acquire utilities in Southeast Texas, expanding the companys footprint in the region.

NW Natural Water subsidiaries have executed agreements to acquire assets of Water Necessities & Rural Water near Beaumont, Texas and Caney Creek Utilities in Montgomery, Texas.

Were excited to see NW Natural Water continue expanding, especially in Texas  one of the countrys fastest growing states, said Justin Palfreyman, NW Natural Waters president. We look forward to welcoming these new customers and continuing to deliver clean, safe and reliable water and wastewater services.

The acquisitions are subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and are expected to close in 2022. When all pending acquisitions close, NW Natural Water will serve over 145,000 people through approximately 60,000 connections in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Texas and Arizona.
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(Tribune News Service)  Dual federal lawsuits have been filed against the Air Force arguing that the service has unjustly denied requests for religious exemptions from the militarys COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Both suits were filed in Cincinnatis federal court, with the more recent action naming at least 18 plaintiffs, of whom 10 officers and one enlisted Airman are said to serve, or recently have served, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

In a separate but related case, a second lieutenant serving at Wright-Patterson is suing Air Force leaders over what he said was the perfunctory denial of a request for a religious exemption.

That suit was filed last month by a second lieutenant serving at the 455th Operational Support Squadron at Wright-Patterson. It seeks a preliminary injunction against the Air Force from taking punitive action against him.

The more recent suit, representing the 18 plaintiffs, was filed last week.

On a perfunctory basis, the request for the religious exemption was denied, citing force protection requirements; in fact, the Air Force has failed to approve a single religious accommodation request, 2nd Lt. Michael Poffenbargers attorney wrote in the initial January filing. While at the same time, it has approved thousands of administrative or medical exemptions to the same requirements.

A hearing in Poffenbargers suit is scheduled in Daytons federal court Tuesday morning, said the plaintiffs attorney in that case, Kentucky attorney Chris Wiest.

Earlier this month, the Air Force said it approved the first religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with eight exemptions approved, along with one appeal that had sought an exemption.

In his suit, Poffenbarger said he was interviewed multiple times by an Air Force chaplain to determine the sincerity of his beliefs. The result of each interview confirmed the sincerity of his beliefs and that the Air Forces vaccination policy substantial burdened those beliefs, the suit said.

More plaintiffs may be named. In Poffenbargers suit, Wiest filed on behalf of Poffenbarger and those similarly situated.

In January, Judge Thomas Rose denied the plaintiffs request for an emergency temporary restraining order. A motion to reconsider that decision was also denied.

In a response filing, Air Force attorneys said Poffenbargers motions for restraining orders should be denied for multiple reasons.

The Air Forces interest in protecting the health of its service members to carry out its mission is indisputably compelling, and there is no basis for the court to conclude that plaintiffs proposed less restrictive alternatives ... would protect the militarys compelling interests as effectively as immunization, the service said.

A spokeswoman for the Air Force Tuesday said it is the Department of the Air Forces policy not to comment on litigation.

Defendants listed in Poffenbargers suit include Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Lt. Gen. Robert Miller, Air Force surgeon general; and Col. Raymond Smith, commander of the 445th Airlift Wing, which is based at Wright Patterson. In all, seven defendants are named in that action.

Earlier this month, that case was reassigned to Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry, who serves in Daytons federal court.

A federal judge in Georgia temporarily blocked the Air Force from punishing an officer who filed a lawsuit in January after she was denied a religion-based exemption from the vaccine mandate, Stars and Stripes newspaper reported last week. The unnamed officer is based at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., the newspaper said.

The Air Force has said that those who refuse to obey the order to be vaccinated will face disciplinary actions, including discharge from the service without involuntary separation pay.

(c)2022 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

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(Tribune News Service)  The U.S. Army has released more information about the Jan. 24 accident that led to the death of 20-year-old Spc. Karolina Ferrer-Padilla on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Ferrer-Padilla was killed when a piece of equipment landed on top of her, according to a Preliminary Loss Report released by the Army this month.

According to the report, Ferrer-Padilla had been removing a jack stand during a tire change of a containerized kitchen. The mobile kitchen tipped over roughly 90 degrees and landed on top of her.

Due to reduced traction from an icy surface, the soldier was unable to get clear of the equipment, the report said.

Ferrer-Padilla was killed instantly, according to the report.

It was really a tragic accident, said John Pennell, chief of media relations for U.S. Army Alaska.

Were doing everything that we can to support the soldiers family and her coworkers, her fellow soldiers who were there when she was killed, Pennell said. The loss of a soldier is traumatic no matter the cause.

Ferrer-Padilla, of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, was a petroleum supply specialist with the 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. Ferrer-Padilla joined the Army in September 2019 and trained in South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, officials said following the accident, and reported to Alaska in August 2020.

Spc. Ferrer-Padilla was a dedicated professional, loving wife, and faithful friend, Lt. Col. Justin Pritchard, 6th BEB commander said in a statement following her death in January. An aspiring leader, she brought joy and inspiration to all her fellow paratroopers.

(c)2022 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska)

Visit at www.adn.com
Army Lt. Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla will take responsibility for all U.S. military operations in the Middle East and neighboring nations in the coming weeks.

The Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to confirm Kurillas nomination to lead U.S. Central Command and be promoted to a four-star general. He will soon replace Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who has commanded CENTCOM since 2019, according to the Pentagon. McKenzie is scheduled to retire in April.

Kurilla, who now commands the Armys 18th Airborne Corps, is a 1988 U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate whose storied career has seen him lead special operations and conventional forces in Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, the elite 75th Ranger Regiment and its 2nd Battalion, and he has also served as the assistant commander of the Joint Special Operations Command and as the Pentagons deputy director for special operations and counterterrorism.

In a widely documented incident in Mosul, Iraq, in 2005, Kurilla, who commanded the 25 Infantry Divisions 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry at the time, was shot multiple times in a close-quarters battle, but he continued fighting and commanding his troops. That incident led to one of Kurillas two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star Medal with V device for valor, according to the Army.

He will take over a CENTCOM in transition, after the U.S. military last year withdrew all its forces from Afghanistan and ended its official combat mission in Iraq. Nonetheless, some 2,500 American troops remain in Iraq to train that nations forces in their ongoing fight with the remnants of the Islamic State group. Another roughly 1,000 U.S. forces remain in Syria, where they primarily work with local forces battling ISIS terrorists there.

Despite the U.S. shifting focus away from the long-running wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan toward major power competition  namely with Russia and China  Kurilla, 55, warned this month that the region will remain critical for U.S. national security. He cited Irans continued negative influence throughout the region  supporting bad actors including militia groups in Iraq and Syria that regularly target U.S. troops with rocket fire and Houthi militants in Yemen who sparked a civil war there and have fired missiles into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kurilla also warned nine of 10 of the worlds most dangerous terrorist groups including ISIS and al-Qaida remain active in the region and intent on attacking Americans. He added Russia and China have made their own inroads in the CENTCOM region, where they have sought to gain influence in recent years.

"All of these ill trends are accelerated by water scarcity and food insecurity across the region, Kurilla told senators during his Feb. 8 confirmation hearing. "China has significantly increased its investment and influence in the region and Russia acts as a spoiler. If confirmed as the CENTCOM commander, I will protect American interest in the region with these challenges in mind.

Despite the Pentagons recent focus shifts, McKenzies tenure at CENTCOM remained busy. He oversaw the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan last year and has led the ongoing operations against ISIS militants, including two special operations raids  one in 2019 and a second this month  that killed the terrorist groups top leaders. He also oversaw the January 2020 drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian top general Qasem Soleimani amid heightening tensions between the United States and Iran. Tehran retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on an Iraqi base housing American troops, which did not kill any Americans but resulted in more than 100 traumatic brain injuries among the U.S. forces there.

Kurilla is deployed now to Germany where he is leading a task force of U.S. troops bolstering NATO ally defenses amid worsening tensions between the alliance and Russia over Moscow threats against Ukraine.

Pentagon officials declined to comment Tuesday what impact the volatile situation in Europe would have on Kurillas status. The Senate on Thursday also confirmed Kurillas replacement to take over command of the 18th Airborne Corps.

Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue will be promoted to lieutenant general and take the Corps reins from Kurilla. Donahue, who is now the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, is also deployed to Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis. Donahue was the last American service member to leave Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon.
(Tribune News Service)  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.

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.

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.

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.

dress@dailypress.com

2022 The Virginian-Pilot.

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TAMPA (Tribune News Service)  A federal judge has ruled that a Navy commander and a Marine lieutenant colonel who have refused the COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds can continue serving for now, saying the military has failed to show a compelling government interest in denying the exemptions.

The 48-page ruling was issued in Tampa on Friday by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday in a lawsuit brought against defendants including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The pair have been identified only by rank and testified anonymously, with the judges consent, in Tampa earlier this month. They described themselves as practicing Christians who believe vaccines would introduce impurities into their bodies. Each also expressed concern about fetal cell lines, used in the research and development of various vaccines and many common medicines.

The military denied them a religious exemption to its service-wide vaccine requirement. They could face discharge if they dont comply.

Merryday said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act requires that the military grant a religious exemption to any service member harboring a sincerely held religious objection to COVID-19 vaccination unless there is a compelling governmental interest and no less-restrictive alternative is available.

The Navy and the Marine Corps have failed manifestly to meet the requirement, the judge wrote. He issued an injunction allowing them to continue serving without any punitive or retaliatory measure pending a final judgment in the case.

Merryday had issued a temporary injunction earlier, barring the military from disciplining the pair through last Friday. He notes in his followup ruling Friday that the officers likelihood of ultimately prevailing in the lawsuit is a requirement in granting the injunction.

The Navy commander leads some 320 sailors aboard a guided-missile destroyer based in Norfolk, Va. The lieutenant colonel serves as a logistics officer at Marine Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The lawsuit was brought by the Liberty Counsel, a religious organization that has fought against the militarys mandate.

In their arguments, the two officers have presented the vaccination alternatives required under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Merryday said, including the natural presence of COVID-19 antibodies as well as masking, social distancing, and isolation  all measures that the Navy and the Marine Corps successfully implemented for more than a year before the development of vaccines.

The Navy commander refuses vaccination to remain true to his faith, which requires the preservation of his body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, the judge said. The lieutenant colonel voices a sincere objection to any substance . . . connected with aborted fetal cell lines. In practicing her religious belief, (she) finds her opposition to abortion irreconcilable with accepting any COVID-19 vaccine.

Merryday takes issue with the militarys contention that the proposed alternatives are less effective than vaccination and must be implemented in conjunction with immunization, saying it cannot identify any 100 percent effective method to defeat COVID-19.

2022 Tampa Bay Times.

Visit tampabay.com .
In analyzing Russias incursion into Ukraine, some commentators have focused on factors specific to the actors in this case - Putins desire to show that post-Soviet Russia remains a global power, for example, his hatred of democracy or the Russian view that Ukraine is historically part of their state. But those factors pale beside the fact that one country (Ukraine) has been positioning itself to join an alliance (NATO) meant to counter the other (Russia).

This isnt just the view of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been demanding that NATO rule out ever admitting Ukraine. International affairs scholars know that, throughout history, few moments are more ripe for war than when the enemy of one country makes a bid to join forces with other adversaries. Such alliances can utterly transform the balance of power between two countries, and therefore, when a potential alliance is signaled, but not yet consummated, the nation that will be put at a disadvantage faces a huge incentive to strike.

Ukraines membership in NATO was hardly imminent, but Russia felt threatened enough by the possibility that it was willing to risk all-out war to prevent it. Recognizing the dynamic at play in this situation is the first step toward understanding the conflict. Its also the first step in recognizing how NATOs membership process may unintentionally invite this kind of crisis.

The relationship between alliance formation - imminent partnerships, especially - and war is a close one, as we explored in a recent scholarly article. In 1939, for instance, Britain made a commitment to defend Poland, but was not able to make good on the pledge right away. Germany attacked Poland before Britain and France could get into position. In 1954, the Chinese communists attacked islands held by the Chinese nationalists in a failed attempt to block an alliance between the United States and Taiwan. And in a situation remarkably similar to the current crisis in Ukraine, Russia attacked Georgia in 2008, after NATO membership for Georgia was proposed. Perhaps not coincidentally, Georgia is still not a NATO member.

Alliances - even defensive ones like NATO - bring about significant power shifts, creating a new landscape of winners and losers. When a country stands to benefit from a future power shift caused by joining an alliance, then it knows its hand will be strengthened in future negotiations. As a result, negotiations in the present - such as those between Ukraine and Russia over the status of two breakaway regions in Ukraines East - lack staying power. Whatever is agreed upon today can unravel after the power shift.

Political scientists refer to this phenomenon as a commitment problem - and commitment problems lead to crises and even war. Our research suggests that impending alliances are particularly dangerous when certain conditions apply. Conflict is most likely to occur when the alliance explicitly or implicitly targets another country; when the anticipated power shift from the alliance is large; when it takes time for the alliance to be fully implemented (opening a window for attack); and when an attack is likely to block the alliance.

Ukraines potentially joining NATO checks those boxes. NATO is a military juggernaut, and Ukraines situation would be utterly transformed if its 30 members were pledged to defend it. NATO also targets Russia, in the sense that its raison detre, at its founding, was to counter the Soviet Union. In Putins mind, war today to block NATO membership for Ukraine may lead to a better outcome than negotiating with Ukraine in the future, when it could be backed by the combined strength of NATO countries.

In principle, Ukraine and NATO could have defused the situation by committing to bar Ukraine from NATO. Russias aggressive incursion into eastern Ukraine suggests that this solution is now unlikely. But the underlying commitment problem, as well as other factors, made this approach unrealistic from the beginning. The NATO powers understandably didnt want to reward Putin for his aggression, and Ukraine itself wants badly to be under NATOs umbrella. Whats more, its not clear that NATOs rules permit such a concession: NATOs open door policy, based on Article 10 of its founding treaty, holds out the promise of membership to any European country able to fulfill specific obligations of membership (civilian control of the military, a democratic government, and so on). Why would Putin believe a commitment to rule out membership for Ukraine if it otherwise seems on track for meeting membership requirements?

Potential new alliances can always provoke hostility, but the path NATO lays out for potential members all but invites armed conflict - however inadvertently. To join NATO, countries must first be offered a membership action plan , a formal invitation and a tailored road map for future NATO membership. To obtain such a plan, prospective new members must first peacefully resolve outstanding international, ethnic, and territorial disputes. The problem is obvious: Putin can sabotage a states NATO bid by starting a conflict.

Hes done it before. In 2003, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made Georgian accession to NATO a priority. Five years later at a NATO summit in Bucharest, U.S. President George W. Bush pushed for a membership action plan to be offered to Georgia. However, separatist movements in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions served as a roadblock. Other NATO members, including France and Germany, were reluctant to extend a membership action plan under these conditions.

Seeing an opportunity, Russian forces invaded in August 2008. (In 2011, then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev boasted that Georgia would have already become a NATO member had Russia chosen not to attack.) Putin may have invaded the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, grabbing it from Ukraine, for similar reasons. By now, using force to thwart NATO bids is a standard play for Russia.

A better approach for defending Ukraine might have used the United States commitment to Taiwan as a model. That commitment is deliberately ambiguous - and therefore sidesteps the problem of creating a dangerous implementation window on the way to a formal mutual defense pact. Certainly, the United States stance on Taiwan does not create a road map for China to use armed conflict to prevent a U.S.-Taiwan alliance, as the NATO membership rules do.

The current standoff in Ukraine points to an underlying systemic problem. Telegraphing the possibility of a military commitment can trigger a dangerous race between efforts to implement and to block the alliance. NATO is likely to face these crises again, because its transparent and drawn-out membership processes exacerbate the dangers caused by potential alliances.

Even as the United States and its allies work diplomatically to end the Ukraine crisis, they should be thinking about how to change these structural flaws. In particular, the alliance might consider replacing its road map for future members with a more opaque, private, deliberative process, so that adversaries arent encouraged to preempt membership by instigating fights.

- - -

Brett V. Benson is an associate professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. Bradley C. Smith is an assistant professor of political science at Vanderbilt University.
(Tribune News Service)  Former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is scheduled to travel to Taiwan next month, one of the most senior U.S. dignitaries to visit the democratically ruled island in recent years.

Pompeo has accepted an invitation from the Taipei-based Prospect Foundation, the groups president, Lai I-chung, said Monday. The former top U.S. diplomat and potential Republican presidential contender will visit Taiwan from March 2-5, the Foreign Ministry in Taipei said Monday.

Pompeo will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on March 3, the Liberty Times reported. The former secretary of state will also meet senior management figures from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and China Steel Corp., although details of those meetings will remain private, the publication said.

Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under President Donald Trump from April 2018 to January 2021, was one of the administrations most vocal advocates for a more confrontational policy toward China. That period included visits to Taipei by two Cabinet-level officials, the most senior American delegations since the U.S. switched official ties to Beijing in 1979.

Higher-ranking American officials than Pompeo have visited Taiwan after leaving office, including former President Bill Clinton in 2005 and former Vice President Dick Cheney in 2017.

Beijing claims the island as Chinese territory and protests such visits, considering them a violation of U.S. agreements on avoiding formal ties with Taipei. Tsais ruling Democratic Progressive Party meanwhile views Taiwan as an already de facto sovereign nation awaiting wider international recognition.

Pompeo has long been sanctioned by China due to his anti-China actions and deeds, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday. The DPP authorities attempts to achieve independence with the help of the U.S. will only end up getting themselves burnt.

The visit comes as Pompeos name circulates as a potential contender for the Republican nomination in 2024, a bid that could be complicated by any comeback attempt by Trump. Pompeo is currently a distinguished fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute.

In the final days of Pompeos tenure, the State Department scrapped decades-old restrictions on how U.S. diplomats could interact with their Taiwanese counterparts. Pompeo will be joined by Miles Yu, his former policy adviser, the Liberty Times said.

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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  An Air Force weapons-load crew chief stationed at Osan Air Base died over the weekend, the 51st Fighter Wing announced in a press release Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Tyrell Harris, 34, was found unresponsive Saturday at his home in Pyeongtaek city and pronounced dead at a nearby South Korean hospital, according to the wing. The Maryland native was assigned to the 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, the press release said.

Harris will be missed immensely, Lt. Col. Jared Struck, the maintenance squadrons commander, said in the release.

Staff Sgt. Harris was a well-respected member of the 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Family, Struck said. The news of his untimely death has rattled us to the core.

Col. Joshua Wood, the wing commander, described Harris as a valued member of our team and a part of our Osan family, according to the release.

All of Team Osan are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Staff Sgt. Harris, Wood said.

Harris served in the Air Force for 15 years and had been stationed at Osan since 2019, wing spokeswoman Capt. Renee Douglas told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. Harris was also stationed at Kunsan Air Base for a year in 2015, she said.

Roughly 12,000 service members are assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing headquartered at Osan. The base is 8 miles north of Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas, and 30 miles south of Seoul.
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  The U.S. Air Force has sent a pair of Tokyo-based C-130J Super Hercules to Bangladesh to practice low-level navigation and tactical airdrop with local forces.

The aircraft and 77 airmen assigned to Yokotas 36th Airlift Squadron are participating in Cope South 22, Pacific Air Forces announced Feb. 15. The tactical airlift exercise began Sunday and runs through Friday.

The U.S. airmen are training alongside 300 troops and two C-130Js from the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Aircraft are flying out of Bangladesh Air Force Kurmitola Cantonment in Dhaka and Operating Location-Alpha in Sylhet, according to PACAFs statement.

The exercise aims to improve the forces ability to work together and support modernization of the Bangladesh Air Force, the statement said.

The Bangladesh Air Force is one of our most important regional partners, and Cope South allows us to strengthen this partnership through tactical airlift sorties and subject-matter expert exchanges, Lt. Col. Kira Coffey, the squadron operations director, said in the statement. This is critical to bolstering regional stability for our shared goal of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

A pilot from the 36th Airlift Squadron in Bangladesh, Capt. Madeline Atkinson, said she knew only a bit about Indias predominantly Muslim neighbor before arriving for the exercise on Friday.

The Yokota airmen are focused on helping their Bangladeshi counterparts become proficient operating a few new C-130J Super Hercules they recently acquired, Atkinson 29, of San Anselmo, Calif., told Stars and Stripes by phone Sunday from Dhaka.

I havent done anything like this before, but so far it has been amazing, she said.

Bangladesh Air Force pilots are flying on the U.S. aircraft and local troops will parachute from them during the training, Atkinson said.

The U.S. has good reason to make friends beyond the frame of competition with China and thats the case with Bangladesh, according to Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

Bangladesh is a country that would like to have good relations with both China and the United States, like many others, he said Friday in an email to Stars and Stripes.

The Bangladesh military has previously exercised with the U.S. military but the nations ties to China are substantial, too.

Bangladesh has joined Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which involves Chinese funding for infrastructure projects in countries all over the world. But the country has had to tread cautiously because of pressure from neighboring India, Asia Times reported Feb. 12.

China Harbor Engineering Co. has been upgrading the port in Chittagong near the main naval base in Bangladesh, BNS Issa Khan, the newspaper reported.

In January 2016, three Chinese vessels  the guided-missile frigates Liuzhou and Sanya and the supply ship Qinghaihu  made a five-day port call at Chittagong, according to Asia Times. The visit came months after China launched a frigate specially built for the Bangladesh navy.

Bangladesh purchased another two Chinese guided-missile frigates in 2015. In 2017, two Type-035 Ming Class Chinese submarines were delivered to Bangladesh, the report said.

Engagement with the U.S., including through military exercises, can underscore how and why the U.S. is a valuable partner and why Americas vision is worth buying into even if China isnt the focus of training, Chong said.

If the US is interested in strengthening the rules-based order it is essentially claiming is a good in itself, then it needs to show why such engagement is worth it for other states, he said.
The 2021 tax season is here, and with it a flurry of taxing questions for service members, civilians and their families serving their country overseas.

Should I enter my APO address or my stateside address on my tax return? Must I even file a state return? Can I change my state of residence to one without income taxes?

Taxpayers living and working for the Defense Department in places like Japan may turn to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance center or the legal office at their installation for reliable answers.

The VITA Tax Center prepares free tax returns for military members, civilian employees, retirees, and their dependents, who qualify for legal assistance from the Air Force, Capt. Joshua Smith, chief of legal assistance at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, said in a recent email to Stars and Stripes.

And, yes, Smith said, taxpayers should use their APO addresses on their state and federal returns while living overseas. U.S. citizens overseas qualify for a two-month extension to the tax-filing deadline, he said.

Besides base tax centers, Military OneSource, a DOD website at militaryonesource.mil that supports military and family members globally, provides free filing software and a step-by-step guide to help you through your taxes. The site uses MilTax, a DOD-approved electronic tax filing and support service.

The site also provides guidance on changes to the tax code and filing requirements that affect the 2021 tax year.

Stimulus payments and other efforts by the U.S. government to shore up the economy and help Americans financially during the coronavirus pandemic may mean a break for some taxpayers. Other payments, such as unemployment benefits, have their own reporting requirements.

For example, the child tax credit was expanded for 2021 to $3,600 for children under age 6 and $3,000 for ages 6 to 17. Eligible families automatically received monthly payments from July 15 through December 2021, totaling half the credit. They may claim the other half in their 2021 tax returns, according to Military OneSource.

Some bases offer legal help but do not have a tax center. Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, for example, does not have a tax center, but its legal office endorses Military OneSource as an option.

Taxpayers can also use Military OneSource at some tax centers, like Yokotas, but the service is not directly part of the centers operations.

The tax center services are separate from Military OneSource, but we are able to assist anyone who utilizes Military OneSource if they have tax law questions while processing their returns, Smith said in his email.
TOKYO  Japans prime minister has announced sanctions targeting Russia and two separatist Ukrainian regions recognized as independent by Russian President Vladimir Putin, joining an international effort seeking to pressure Russia to return to diplomatic solutions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that his government will ban new issuance and distribution of Russian government bonds in Japan in response to the actions Russia has been taking in Ukraine.

He said Japan will also suspend visa issuance to the people linked to the two Ukrainian rebel regions and freeze their assets in Japan, and will ban trade with the two areas.

Kishida repeated his strong condemnation of Russia for violating Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law.

He added: We strongly urge Russia to return to diplomatic process in resolving the development.
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TOKYO  The omicron wave of COVID-19 is waning in Japan as weekly averages continue to decline, but the coronavirus continues a daily ebb and flow.

Japan reported 59,909 new infections on Monday, its lowest daily tally in nearly three weeks, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Meanwhile, the seven-day average of new cases has fallen from 94,058 on Feb. 8 to 80,382 on Monday.

Tokyo registered 11,443 new cases Tuesday, according to public broadcaster NHK and metropolitan government data online. Tuesdays figure is 4,082 less than one week prior, according to metro data.

The city reported 8,805 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the lowest daily count since 8,503 on Jan. 24.

U.S. Forces Japan had not posted a daily case update as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, a holiday for many U.S. service members and their families in Japan. USFJ last reported 90 new cases on Friday.

Okinawa prefecture, where the bulk of U.S. forces are located, reported 674 new cases on Tuesday, the highest count in four days, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care. Another 128 people in the U.S. military population on the island also tested positive during the period, according to the department.

The Japanese government by Tuesday had not provided further details of its plan announced four days earlier to relax COVID-19 border restrictions and quarantine requirements for inbound travelers starting March 1.

Government spokespeople at a media briefing Friday said vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers may be admitted and must quarantine on principle for seven days, but quarantine measures would differ for each. Quarantine may end for subjects who test negative for COVID-19 on the third day.

All travelers, except those under the status of forces agreement that governs the U.S. military population in Japan, must apply online for entry. Proof of a negative test 72 hours prior to departure, a test on arrival and a test three days later are required of all new arrivals.

Travelers from countries designated higher risks for COVID-19 must quarantine at designated facilities, including hotels. Boosted travelers arriving from those countries may quarantine at home.

The list of designated countries has not been released, and neither has an online site to apply for entry. During the pandemic, the U.S. has been on the list of countries whose travelers are denied entry.

Conversely, the U.S. State Department on Feb. 7 issued a do not travel advisory for Japan due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases at the time.

Boosted, vaccinated travelers from other countries may not need to quarantine in Japan at all after March 1, although the tests are still required, according to conditions outlined on briefing materials provided to reporters on Friday.

Government representatives did not indicate whether SOFA members would be counted under the daily limit for arrivals increased from 3,500 to 5,000. A USFJ spokesman on Friday said the command would monitor and adjust its requirements for its population as needed.

Although tourist visas are temporarily ruled out entirely, short visits to relatives, family members and acquaintances in Japan may be possible after March 1, according to a spokesman at the Friday briefing.

As long as they have a receiving organization and their purpose is not tourism, visitors with family and friends in Japan should be eligible to apply for entry, the spokesman said.

Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
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KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  Defense Department schools in Europe are ending the policy of schoolwide notification to all parents in the event that a student tests positive for COVID-19.

The decision was made earlier this month in conjunction with the relaxation of public health protocols in some military communities, school officials said.

For schools in and around Kaiserslautern, the largest U.S. military community overseas, unvaccinated close contacts of a student who tests positive will be allowed to remain in school if they are symptom-free. The change also does away with individual contact tracing.

Changes in contact tracing may vary by military community depending on public health resources, the local command and guidance from the host country, Michelle Howard-Brahaney, the director of Department of Defense Education Activity-Europe, said in a letter to families last week.

All schools in DODEA-Europe, however, will discontinue the universal use of notification letters, she said.

In the past, schools emailed notification letters to all school parents anytime there was a new positive case associated with that school.

There will still be informational emails going out when necessary, DODEA-Europe spokesman Stephen Smith said Tuesday.

When students test positive, Air Force public health officials will now identify close contacts as a group by their classroom instead of notifying every close contact individually, Lt. Col. Will Powell, a spokesman for the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein, said Tuesday.

Parents of students who share a classroom will be notified by public health via email contacts provided by the school, according to a letter from Air Force public health sent to school nurses in the Kaiserslautern area and shared with Stars and Stripes.

The entire class is not required to quarantine, Powell said. Only students who test positive and close-contact students who develop symptoms should isolate, he said.

In another change, children identified as close contacts who are symptom-free may continue attending school, regardless of vaccination status, Powell said. They must take an antigen test five days after receiving notification of their close-contact status.

Previously, unvaccinated close contacts had to isolate, returning to school only after receiving a negative test after five days.

But a symptomatic close contact must obtain a PCR test immediately and isolate for five days, Powell said.

A repeat negative PCR test on day five is required for children to return to school after six days, and they cannot have taken any fever-reducing medications within 48 hours of returning to school, he said.

The changes are in accordance with German guidance and were coordinated with Army public health officials, Powell said.

The omicron variant is so widespread that contact tracing is unsustainable and hasnt achieved the desired outcome, according to an Army statement sent to Kaiserslautern-area schools earlier this month and shared with Stars and Stripes.

It has proven to be fast-moving with mild to asymptomatic presentation with little to no hospitalizations in our footprint, the statement said.

Howard-Brahaney said in her letter that minimal evidence of COVID-19 transmission has been observed in DODEA-Europe schools.

Face masks, however, will continue to be required indoors at all schools for the time being, a measure in line with current military and federal health guidelines, she said.

Principals and teachers will keep up efforts to include mask breaks and unmasked outdoor time for students as weather and spacing allows, she said.
The U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt is hosting a virtual presentation Thursday on how to register for and vote in the midterm election in November.

The presentation will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Central European Time and is open to veterans, military families and all interested Americans living in Germany.

The Zoom session is an opportunity to hear directly from consular officers and ask questions about voting and registration from abroad. Participants can also find out what resources are available at the consulate.

Those interested can register in advance at https://bit.ly/ACSV2022 or by email at germanyACS@state.gov, with RSVP in the subject line. The Zoom link will be sent before the session begins.
STUTTGART, Germany  The establishment of permanent American military bases in allied countries near Russia has been a NATO taboo for 25 years.

But Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement Monday recognizing the independence of two self-proclaimed peoples republics in eastern Ukraine and subsequent movement of troops toward the breakaway territories could be the impetus to cast aside an agreement limiting how NATO members base troops on the alliances eastern flank.

I believe the alliance and/or the U.S. are going to seriously reconsider our position on permanent basing in Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries, said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who led the U.S. Army in Europe from 2014 to 2017.

In an effort to assuage Kremlin fears about NATO, the alliance signed an agreement with Russia in 1997 that aimed to promote transparency and trust.

The NATO-Russia Founding Act said that no permanent allied bases would be set up in new member countries in the east, and troop deployments would be limited in scope and duration.

I think that act of good faith on our part has been rewarded with continuous Russian aggression, Hodges said.

Now pressure is building in NATO to stake out a more formidable military presence in countries once dominated by the Soviet Union, the predecessor of todays Russian Federation.

Critics of the NATO-Russia Founding Act say it became a relic following the 2008 war Russia waged against Georgia and its first invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

Russia loyalists in the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk peoples republics, and nearby parts of the Donbas region, have since been at war with the Ukrainian central government for several years. At times, Russian military members have fought alongside them.

Following Putins announcement Monday, Russian forces moved toward the region openly as peacekeepers.

Putins recent actions may be swaying allies who were hesitant to pull the plug on the founding act until now.

Earlier this month, French diplomats indicated an inclination to discard the act should Russia launch a new invasion in Ukraine, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine reported last week.

Other allies say its long past time for NATO to go bigger in the east. Poland and Romania have long sought permanently based U.S. troops on their territory.

Putins comments Monday about Ukraine, which he described as part of Russias spiritual space, were likely to heighten the sense of urgency among NATO allies Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, all of which have complicated histories with Russia and notable Russian-speaking communities.

On Saturday, during a joint news conference with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Lithuanias foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, reaffirmed his countrys quest for permanent American troops.

We need to make sure that (Putin) sees that his actions are creating a response in the Baltic region ... and we are reinforced, we are strengthened, and we do not allow him to even think about looking (in our direction), he said.

So far, the U.S. has sent 5,000 extra troops to Europe in response to the crisis around Ukraine, where between 169,000 and 190,000 Russian military members are assembled along the border areas, according to U.S. estimates.

The U.S. says Moscow could launch a full-fledged invasion any moment. But no extra forces have been dispatched yet to reassure worried allies in the Baltics.

Some security analysts say Russias aggressive moves should force the Pentagon to reexamine its global defense posture writ large, especially the Armys role in Europe, where troop numbers dwindled sharply after the Cold War.

Hodges said the Army in Europe needs more capability to maneuver faster in the east, along with added air defense weaponry. The Armys recently reestablished V Corps headquarters in Kentucky, which manages maneuvers along the allied eastern flank, has a small forward element of rotational soldiers in Poland. Basing the full headquarters in Poland would make them more effective, Hodges said.

Barry Pavel, director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, said in an op-ed published Thursday in Defense One that the U.S. Army now must prioritize Europe to counter Russia.

Beyond the Korean Peninsula, there should be no other top priority for the Army, he wrote. Europe is where its needed the most, and it has very limited roles elsewhere.
Russias mounting aggression against Ukraine is creating a new and potentially prolonged period of uncertainty about global oil and gas supplies.

A long conflict could send crude oil prices higher, taking the price of gasoline with them. It could also create more uncertain natural gas supplies for Europe, which relies on Russian exports to heat and power many of its homes and factories.

Russias ability to continue serving as one of the worlds largest oil and gas suppliers will depend on several factors: whether Western sanctions disrupt Russian exports; whether conflict damages Russian export pipelines traveling through Ukraine; and whether Russia resorts to curbing its exports to punish the West.

For now, analysts said they dont see a high likelihood of serious supply disruptions. But fears of widening conflict pushed prices higher Tuesday, with crude oil climbing 2% to almost $93 a barrel and European natural-gas prices rising more than 10% to 80 euros ($90.65) per megawatt-hour.

The most immediate fallout on Tuesday came from Germanys decision to suspend authorization of Nord Stream 2, a still inactive natural-gas pipeline from Russia that was designed to significantly boost Russian exports to Europe.

Because that pipeline isnt already delivering gas, the suspension of its commissioning wont lower immediate supplies to Europe. Germanys move will likely anger Moscow, though what, if anything, Russia will do about that is uncertain.

In a tweet Tuesday, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council, warned that Germanys decision means it will very soon be paying more than double for natural gas. He did not elaborate.

Bob McNally, a longtime energy consultant and former adviser in the George W. Bush White House, said crude oil prices could spike above $100 a barrel in the short term but would likely reverse unless there is a severe supply disruption.

I do expect now were probably headed over $100 a barrel just because now I think folks are seeing no one is taking a diplomatic off-ramp, McNally said. But he added: My view remains that the risk of an actual oil supply interruption is fairly low.

One risk for the West could come if Russia decides to retaliate against Western sanctions by carrying out cyber attacks against U.S. or European pipelines, McNally said. The United States accused Russian hackers of mounting last years attack on the Colonial pipeline, which led to panic buying of gasoline on the East Coast.

Russias domestic security agency last month arrested 14 alleged members of the REvil ransomware gang, including a hacker that U.S. officials said helped execute the Colonial Pipeline attack.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered an additional 800 U.S. troops, more than 30 helicopters and as many as eight F-35 fighter jets now in Europe to NATO countries on the alliances eastern flank as Russian troops begin to move into Ukraine.

The roughly 800 U.S. troops will deploy to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to reinforce and reassure our NATO allies today in response to Russian admissions that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, the president said in a public address from the White House.

The troops are part of an U.S. infantry battalion task force in Italy that will move to the Baltic region in the coming days, a senior defense official said Tuesday on condition of anonymity. An attack aviation battalion of 20 AH-64 helicopters from Germany will also join them.

The official did not name the task force, but Italy is home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is known as the Armys contingency response force in Europe, specializing in providing rapid forces when needed in the region, according to its website.

Additionally, up to eight F-35 strike fighter jets will move from Germany to several operating locations along NATOs eastern flank, according to the official.

The defense official did not reveal the strike fighters squadron, but the Air Force sent F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany earlier this month to bolster defenses. Those jets are from the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

An attack aviation task force of 12 AH-64 helicopters will also move this week from Greece to Poland, where the U.S. already has approximately 8,700 troops  about 4,700 of whom deployed to Poland from the U.S. in the past three weeks, the official said. The official did not specify the helicopters squadron.

These forces  comprised of aviation elements and ground forces  will move within the [European] area of operations to NATOs northeastern and southeastern flanks in coming days and are expected to be in place later this week, the official said. 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.

Last month, Russia sent thousands of troops to Belarus for what it said were joint military exercise. Since then, Russia has amassed more than 150,000 troops flanking Ukraine from its northern and eastern borders.

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 to NATO, Biden said. We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine.

The president also reiterated that he would not be sending troops into Ukraine to fight Russian troops, as Ukraine is not a NATO member.

Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia, Biden said.

Allies in the Baltic states have been calling on the U.S. and other NATO members to send in more reinforcements over concerns about potential Russian aggression. The area is widely regarded by many security analysts as especially vulnerable to Russia given Moscows geographic and military advantages.

The U.S. has already sent roughly 5,000 troops from the U.S. to Poland and Germany in the past three weeks and moved about 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania.

On Tuesday, Russian parliament approved Russian President Vladimir Putins request to deploy its forces abroad after the country on Monday recognized the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine: Donetsk and Lugansk, according to Russian state media.

The document does not impose any specific limits on the use of the military, with the number of troops, as well as 'the areas of their activity, their goals and length of stay outside Russia' to be decided by [Putin,] the Russian state-controlled RT news channel reported Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the Pentagon that Russias invasion of Donetsk and Lugansk is threatening the peace and security and prosperity of Ukraine and the trans-Atlantic community.

I know that we've all heard Russia's recognition of the [Donetsk] and [Lugansk] regions of Ukraine as independent states, Austin said. That violates international law and Russia's own international commitments, and it directly undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

So let's be clear  the U.S. support for Ukraine's self-defense, sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering, he added.

Biden said Russian forces remain poised to attack Ukraine and they have moved war planes, offensive missile systems and more troops closer to the Ukrainian border.

Additionally, Russia has naval ships operating just south of Ukraine in the Black Sea, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers and submarines, the president said.

The Russians have also moved medical equipment and blood bank supplies into position along the border, which Biden said indicates Putin plans to launch a large attack.

You dont need blood unless you plan on starting a war, he said.

Reporter John Vandiver contributed to this report.
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WASHINGTON  Pentagon officials said Tuesday that they are considering a request by Washington officials for National Guard troops to assist city law enforcement with traffic control ahead of an upcoming trucker protest planned in and around the U.S. capital.

Multiple truck convoys are leaving for Washington this week to disrupt traffic in protest of coronavirus-related government mandates such as mask wearing and vaccines, according to convoy organizers.

The U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency have asked the Defense Department to provide Guard troops to assist with their response, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.

Those agencies have asked for National Guard personnel to provide support at traffic control points in and around the district to help the USCP and DC government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries, he said.

The first convoy is scheduled to leave Scranton, Pa., on Wednesday and circle Washington at noon in Maryland and Virginia along I-495, known as the Capital Beltway, according to a statement by its organizers Bob Bolus and Towers Truckers for America. They intend to disrupt traffic flow to and from the city.

Another group, dubbed The Peoples Convoy, is scheduled to leave California on Wednesday and arrive in the beltway area March 5 to disrupt traffic in a similar way, according to a statement from the group.

The Pentagon had not decided as of Tuesday afternoon on the request to send troops, Kirby said.

If approved, it would be the first time D.C. National Guard troops are deployed under a new expedited activation process that Congress established last year after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.

The Capitol Police said Friday in a statement that they will help facilitate lawful First Amendment activity for the protest.

Law enforcement agencies across the national capital region are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, D.C., around the time of the State of the Union, the police agency said. The USCP is closely coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Park Police, the United States Secret Service and other allied agencies to include the D.C. National Guard.

The protests follow similar trucker protests in Ottawa, Canada, where truckers shut down traffic flow around the countrys parliament buildings. That protest ended Saturday after police were sent in to clear the area, according to The Associated Press. Police arrested 170 people.
(Tribune News Service)  Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. James H. Harvey, one the last surviving members of the historic fighter pilot regiment from World War II, last month picked up an award the airmen had won 73 years earlier.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the United States Army Air Corps. Upon completing his combat training in April 1945, an article from AARP reported that Harvey joined the 332nd fighter group, later known as the Tuskegee Airmen after the segregated airfield in Alabama where Black pilots received their training.

In 1949, a four-person team of Tuskegee Airmen won the USAF First Aerial Gunnery Competition at Nellis Air Force Base, according to a recent news article from AARP. The airmen werent recognized for winning the trophy, though, because they were Black. The trophy was put into storage and wasnt put on display until 2004.

We as a race of people werent expected to do anything  everything was negative. The only thing left for us to do was go out and win this meet, Harvey told AARP.

Harvey, 98, and the Airmen never let the lack of recognition define who they were. It didnt matter, though, Harvey said. Its the skill of the pilot that determines whats going to happen. They were there to compete, and we were there to win.

Decades later, the winners of the competition were still declared unknown. There was no official recognition at Nellis Air Force Base of the competition until January, when Harvey returned for a ceremony sponsored by AARPs Wish of a Lifetime honoring the teams win. Wish of a Lifetime contacted the Air Force Association to organize a ceremony for Harvey and the 332nd fighter pilots, according to AARP.

During the ceremony, the group mounted a plaque in the Red Flag building 73 years after the historic competition.

AARP Studios documented Harveys experience over the past year for its YouTube series, Reporting for Duty. The episode features footage of the 332nd Fighter Group competing in the competition, along with interviews more than 70 years later. For more information, visit www.AARP.org/Veterans .

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Stillwater, OK (74074)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
Community groups looking for funding for one-off projects can apply to Tauranga City Councils Community Grant Fund from 21 February 2022.

Established in 2021, the Community Grant Fund recognises the significant contribution of community groups to the social, economic, cultural and environmental wellbeing of Tauranga.

We know there are many people doing wonderful mahi in our community and its always encouraging to see the variety of projects being worked on, says Tauranga City Council Manager: Community Partnerships Anne Blakeway.

Last year provided some great insights into the ways that community organisations contribute to our city and we look forward to receiving applications for the first round of funding for 2022, she says.

This round, there is $280,000 available for funding of capital expenses and $216,000 for costs associated with operational expenses for community projects.

Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 are available for community groups, and there are two funding rounds each year.

The Community Grant Fund is contestable and provides one-off support for specific projects.

The fund is in addition to the current Match Fund, which provides small and medium grant funding of up to $10,000. Match Fund funding applications will open at the end of March.

Applications for the Community Grant Fund close at 5pm on Monday, March 21.

For full eligibility criteria and to apply online, visit our website.
The government is investing more into housing than ever, yet experts say its not how much but where its being spent that will make the difference.

They are serving the country, they are deemed as frontline, they are doing a really good job and yet their salaries are so low they are being forced into transitional housing.

Thats Bernie Smith, chief executive of the community housing provider Monte Cecilia Housing Trust. Smith says hes been shocked to see that even those working in essential civil service roles, such as teachers, nurses and police, have been coming to his organisation for support.

Two or three years ago families were surviving, living week to week. They werent going on holiday, they werent doing anything fancy, but they could afford to pay their rent.

He believes those same families are now being forced into homelessness by even a $10 increase in rents, due to the rapidly rising cost of living.

Some of them are getting into emergency motels, some are getting into transitional housing, and some of them are just waiting. And weve never had a wait list like this in our 39-year history.

That list is up to 400 families hoping for a place in one of the trusts 600 transitional and social housing properties. And there are now more than 25,000 families on the governments own waiting list for Kainga Ora homes, with 4,700 of those currently living in emergency accommodation.

With such spiralling numbers, its no surprise The Salvation Armys latest State of the Nation report describes the current housing situation as more than a crisis, its a catastrophe.

But housing minister Dr Megan Woods says the issues are neither new nor being ignored. She says the previous governments waiting list didnt reflect the actual needs in the community, while her government has doubled its spending on income-related rent subsidies and operational grants to community housing providers (CHPs).

Housing Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods, National Party deputy leader and housing spokesperson. Supplied photo.

We are under no illusions, there is no quick fix to this housing crisis, she says.

Weve added over 9000 houses since weve been in government and I think you can see that this is a massive tanker being turned around. We will have built 18,000 public houses by 2024 and that will be a record number of houses in a generation, but will that be enough? No, well have to keep going.

But those in the community housing provider sector say the government is actually making things harder for organisations such as theirs to build more houses.

The previous government had a capital grants scheme where a new development by a community housing provider saw 50 per cent of that cost forwarded to them to get the project off the ground, Smith says.

That assisted CHPs to build homes and we built 23 homes that way, and now they are mortgage free and wed love to leverage that, but we dont have the cash in the bank to do more.

Penina Trust has more than 100 social and transitional dwellings across South Auckland and is New Zealands first Pacific community housing provider. Its chief executive Roine Lealaiauloto shares Smiths concerns, adding that a fast-track consenting process would be a welcome policy shift.

Certainly upfront funding has worked in the past, she says. But the red tape is the real issue. If they could make it faster to get through all the hurdles and bureaucracy we would have more housing supply.

Community Housing Aotearoa chief executive Vic Crockford says another way the government could provide support is through underwriting developments.

While community housing providers are getting houses built, a lack of access to upfront capital has become a significant constraining factor, she says.

Weve suggested a government underwrite  or guarantee  for community housing providers. This would help de-risk the process of securing finance for the provider and lower the cost of borrowing. This could also unlock more impact investment opportunities for the sector.

Nationals housing spokesperson and deputy leader Nicola Willis says the community housing sector has a big role to play and says if re-elected, National would reinstate the capital grants scheme.

Since coming to office Labour has starved the community housing sector of the capital funding it so desperately needs. National would support a policy to provide capital grants funding to community housing providers.

While the government did end Nationals capital grants scheme, it has introduced a similar policy where CHPs can apply for operational grants to be paid upfront in order to use for development projects. Woods also points out that the previous government actually reduced the number of public houses overall by 1500 over its three terms, saying her government is committed to reversing that trend as well as supporting the community sector.

We are pulling every lever we can to bring on more houses, whether they be emergency, transitional, state houses, affordable rentals or opportunities for first home ownership. This is the first time in decades a government has had an integrated approach to housing and the first time weve had a minister of housing.

But Lealaiauloto says the government has to start trusting us more if it really wants to turn up the supply of new housing.

We understand the government wants to bring things in-house, and maybe theres an aversion to private sector ownership, but its important for the government to understand that were all in this together.

Were not driven by profit, were driven by community need, so its important they understand they need to be making it easier for providers. As were not only just building homes, were building lives.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Bay of Plenty's Toi Te Ora Public Health is releasing the latest statistics for Covid cases in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Opotiki district had 12 new Covid-19 cases yesterday bringing the total active cases in the Eastern Bay to 31.

At least eight of these are seasonal workers from Tonga working at Seeka, Opotiki.

This comes after news broke on Sunday that an Opotiki-based Seeka worker from Tonga, based in Opotiki, tested positive for Covid-19 at Whakatane Hospital over the weekend.

Seeka chief executive Michael Franks says that seven more of the Tongan workers who are all close contacts with the worker have now tested positive.

He says the worker had felt unwell overnight on Saturday and was transported to Whakatane Hospital.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board Covid-19 incident controller Trevor Richardson confirms a patient who presented with symptoms at Whakatane Hospital during the weekend tested positive for Covid-19.

He says the patient was admitted briefly before being discharged.

Staff were wearing the appropriate PPE, and all appropriate health board Covid processes were followed. These measures minimised any risk to staff and members of the public.

Franks says all of the Tongan Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme workers in Opotiki have gone into isolation and crews that had been in recent contact with the worker have been stood down.

As you would expect, because all of our RSEs are living in close quarters, weve got eight cases now confirmed. All casual and close contacts with the Tongan group have been stood down but they have no cases outside that group at the moment.

He says Seeka is not into its high-pressure work time yet.

We are not quite into the harvesting yet. We have just been tidying up the orchards. In many respects if there was a convenient time to get it its right now. Thankfully none of these people are really ill. Theyve only got mild symptoms.

Though he was not able to confirm what date the Tongan crew had arrived in New Zealand, he says they had not brought the virus into the country but had contracted it here in the community and they all had current vaccinations.

He says some of them have been travelling around other orchards and in that case they had shut those down too.

We just want to do the right thing and take care of our community.

As of this week, Toi te Ora Public Healths website has started breaking down Bay of Plentys Covid-19 statistics into districts so people can see in more detail how many cases there are in their area.

As of yesterday, the website showed that Whakatane had 13 active cases of Covid-19. Two of these were new cases on Monday and two were new cases yesterday. Whakatane has had a total of 22 Covid-19 cases since November 12.

Kawerau has three active cases with no new cases this week, and has had six cases since November 12.

Opotiki now has 15 active cases with a total of 17 cases reported since November 12.

Visit toiteora.govt.nz/public/covid-19/ to stay updated with latest statistics.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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From left, American Red Cross Regional CEO Eric Corliss and vice chair of the organizations Tampa chapter, Ela Landegger, pose with Belleair Mayor Mike Wilkinson and Town Manager J.P. Murphy following the presentation of a proclamation recognizing March as American Red Cross Month during the Belleair Town Commission meeting Feb. 15.
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In a nutshell: Roku is reportedly exploring the possibility of manufacturing its own branded television sets. The decision could be in response to ongoing supply chain issues that have made it harder for some manufacturers to gets sets to consumers. The problem indirectly impacts Roku's ability to grow its subscriber base, so one potential solution could be to cut out the middleman entirely and manufacture its own televisions.

A source familiar with the matter, who attended a focus group hosted by Roku earlier this month, told Business Insider that the company showed off a variety of models with varying feature sets, price points, screen sizes and names.

To be clear, Roku already licenses its smart TV platform to existing set makers, and some of them use the Roku brand name to market their sets. The moderator of the focus group reportedly made it clear that "this is a manufacturing operation."

A different source told the publication Roku has been focused on manufacturing TV sets for more than a year. "They recognized that owning the last bit of branding made a lot of sense, particularly if you are going into content," the source was quoted as saying.

Business Insider's report was first published last week but flew under the radar until recently. Share value in Roku is up more than eight percent on the day.

The set-top box maker has also seen an uptick in competition as of late from rivals like Samsung and Vizio. Even Amazon is getting in on the historically low-margin business, with plans to launch its own branded televisions later this year.
Apple's virtual assistant Siri used to feature a default female voice which was originally voiced out by real-life voice actor Susan Bennett. Now, you can change your voice depending on your preferred language and accent.

If you want to learn how to alter the default voice for this AI assistant in Apple devices such as Mac, iPad, and iPhone, here's everything you need to know to get started.

Changing Siri's Voice on iPhone and iPad

According to a report by Gizchina on Sunday, Feb. 20, changing Siri's voice is easy to follow through these steps. Make sure you never skip a step to make this successful.

On your iPhone or iPad, head to the Settings app. Search Siri and click it. After navigating your way to Siri, select your desired language. You can also choose your preferred dialect which would match the language. Then, go to the Siri Voice section. Begin customizing the accent and gender of Apple's voice assistant.

Related Article: Hey Siri: Meet Susan Bennett, the Real Voice Behind Apple's Voice Assistant

Changing Siri's Voice on Your Mac

In a similar article, changing the voice of Siri on Mac follows the similar process that we wrote for iPhone and iPad users. Make sure that you have an updated version for your device. We prefer that you have macOS Sierra or a later version.

First, start by accessing the Apple menu. From there, press System Preferences. Tap Siri. Using Language, begin altering Siri's dialect through various options that you can see. Proceed to change the gender and accent that you will use later for Siri.

Adjusting the Volume of Siri Voice

Apart from changing the accent, language, and gender of Siri from your Apple gadget, you can also adjust its volume. This process will only require you to speak a certain phrase to make that happen.

All you have to do is to utter "Turn up the volume" if you want to raise the volume of Siri. To lower it, you can say "Turn down the volume."

If you want to refrain from speaking, you can manually tweak the volume buttons for the same goal. Interestingly, you can incorporate your voice into Siri by retraining the AI assistant.

To begin, you need to go to the Settings of your device to start navigating the software. Search and switch off "Listen for Hey Siri: Now." To activate it again, simply say "Hey Siri."

In another report by The Verge earlier this month, London-based hardware company Nothing reportedly added Siri support for its Ear 1 earbuds. Aside from Apple's digital assistant, users can also summon Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant on the wearable device.

To read more about Siri-related news, you can check our previous report about Siri's upcoming capabilities. Around April 2021, Apple's patent unveiled that Siri could potentially bring tuning voice and whisper mode in its future update.

Elsewhere, Tech Times wrote in another report that visually impaired individuals might now have a hard time using Siri following the arrival of iOS 15.

Read Also: Apple's Siri Will Now Come in Two New Voices--Female Voice will No Longer Be Default



This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple's Foldable, the rumored iPhone Flip, is reportedly facing another year of delay, pushing its debut to sometime in 2025.

The foldable iPhone has been facing tons of delays in the past, while Apple has yet to confirm that it is actually working on a Samsung Galaxy Fold counterpart on its end.

iPhone Foldable Launch Delayed

As per a news story by CNET, the release date of the foldable Apple flagship phone has been a "moving target" since rumors have been unraveling its existence.

On top of that, the earliest that the foldable iPhone launch has reached is in 2023, which by now is only a year away.

However, the latest report from the analyst and CEO of the Display Supply Chain Consultants, Ross Young, is now claiming that its rumored launch would face a setback once again.

According to a report by 9to5Mac, the display analyst, Young, says that Apple appears to have decided to delay the launch of its first-ever foldable flagship for two more years, or in 2025.

Young admits that the Display Supply Chain Consultants expected the new delay after its discussions with various supply chains.

The display analyst went on to say that Apple seems not to be in a hurry to enter the emerging market of foldable smartphones. As such, Young said that its release could even go beyond the predicted year of its debut.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Shoots in Sales in 2021 | Foldable Phones Predicted to Grow 'Tenfold' by 2023

Foldable MacBook Display

What's more, Apple is reportedly investigating producing a MacBook that would be sporting a foldable display as well. Basically, the Cupertino-based tech giant is rumored to be looking into releasing a foldable notebook.

However, the catch is it would be seeing the light of day any time now, we'll actually have to wait for a couple of years to get our hands on it, Young claims.

The iPhone maker is reportedly looking into making its first foldable MacBook up to 20 inches in size.

The display analyst further said that the rumored foldable notebook of Apple could feature a resolution of up to 4K or UHD.

Meanwhile, the second display of the foldable could serve as a full-size keyboard when it is folded like how traditional laptops work. However, when it is unfolded into a massive display, its users could use it as an external display and connect a keyboard to it.

It is worth noting that all of this information regarding the foldable MacBook is still mere speculations. Apple has yet to confirm that it would be developing such a device.

However, it is to note that Young has been a reputable leaker of the upcoming Apple devices.

The display analyst further said that the foldable notebook of Apple is likely to launch after 2025.

Related Article: Apple Touch ID Will Not Come Back? iOS 15.4 Reveals iPhone Maker Focusing on Face ID Instead

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New Android banking trojan Xenomorph is now spreading via Google Play Store to access the bank accounts and steal funds from its targets.

Android's New Banking Trojan Xenomorph

As per a news story by Bleeping Computer, the latest malware in town is unlike most threats out there, which use malicious websites or phishing to spread.

Instead, the Xenomorph trojan is using an app listed on the Google Play Store to target its victims.

The news outlet disclosed that the new Android banking trojan has already infected more than 50,000 users from various European nations, such as Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Spain.

It is worth noting that the newly discovered malware is still under its early development stage.

Xenomorph targets numerous banking institutions in various locations in Europe to steal the money of its victims.

According to a recent report by the cybersecurity firm, Threat Fabric, the new banking trojan in town is actually similar to an older counterpart, known as the "Alien."

Meanwhile, Bleeping Computer suggests that it could mean that Xenomorph is the next-generation Alien. But it could also be possible a lone developer is behind both of these similar Android trojans.

Xenomorph Malware: How it Works

The new banking trojan works like most previous versions of the malware, which attempts to access the bank accounts of its targets to steal their money.

Once the trojan is installed on its target device, it uses its accessibility permission to create a fake login screen on top of banking apps.

What's more, the Xenomorph also replicates login pages of cryptocurrency mobile wallets and email apps.

If ever the account that the trojan is trying to access requires two-factor authentication, it could also access the text messages of the victim, making the operation successful.

Read Also: Android Joker Malware Alert: Mobile Security Firm Issues Users to Delete These Seven Apps NOW--Here's Why

Banking Trojan on Google Play Store

As per the latest report by The Record Media, the Xenomorph malware hides beneath an app from the Google Play Store, pretending to be a performance-boosting software that goes by the name "Fast Cleaner."

The app vows to scan and clean Android devices to make the sluggish machine perform faster than ever. Bleeping Computer notes in the same report that banking trojans have been using utility apps to lure their targets into an infection.

The Fast Cleaner app has already garnered a whopping 50,000 installs from the Google Play Store. However, the official app storefront of Android has already kicked out the trojan spreading utility software.

Related Article: Google's Android 13 Profile Switcher: Change Users on a Smartphone via the Lock Screen Soon [RUMORS]

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019.

Kenya's telecommunication industry regulator said it will roll out its 5G network on a pilot basis this year.

Matano Ndaro, the director of licensing, compliance and standards at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), said that the regulator has developed a roadmap that outlines strategies to facilitate the deployment of 5G technology.

"We are now set to hold a validation workshop in the next one month to discuss the comments received. Once we adopt the input from the stakeholders, we shall establish a national 5G forum and allocate pilot frequencies," Ndaro said when Chinese smartphone maker Vivo launched its 5G enabled device in the Kenyan market.

Ndaro revealed that the east African nation will begin to authorize the first 5G pilot projects this year and thereafter release the requisite frequency bands and subsequently issue 5G commercial licenses, saying that Kenya's telecom operators have already begun the process of deploying the 5G infrastructure across the country.

This is a tale of two countries, Zimbabwe and Kenya and their railway systems.



Zimbabwes economy was bigger than Kenya in 1990, today Kenyas economy is 5 times bigger than that of Zimbabwe.



ZANUPF introduced a train commissioned in 1965 by Ian Smith as a solution for 2021. pic.twitter.com/lrVn9qlPgt  Hopewell Chinono (@daddyhope) February 19, 2022

The communications regulator will facilitate the deployment of the technology, enabling the country to derive maximum benefits from the new frontier, Ndaro said, adding that the deployment of 5G, which offers extremely fast download and upload speeds, presents a myriad of opportunities for all sectors of the economy.

In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019, and is the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cellphones.

According to the Kenyan Communications Authority, the 3G/4G coverage now covers 96.3 percent of the country's population and 56.3 percent of the Kenyan landmass.
In the meetings carried out amid the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Venezuela and Iran reiterated their mutual support in overcoming the U.S. economic blockade.

On Monday, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Felix Plasencia affirmed that his country "was committed" to the use of natural gas as a means to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.

"We are sure that natural gas guarantees a cleaner transition. It also gives us confidence for the development of our peoples in the medium and short term," Plasencia said during the 6th Summit of Heads of State of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), which takes place in Qatar since Feb. 20.

During his speech, the Bolivarian Foreign Minister reiterated Venezuela's willingness to maintain dialogue and cooperation with GECF countries to overcome the political and economic challenges of our times.

As part of his agenda, Plasencia held meetings with the energy and oil ministers of Nigeria, Egypt, and Iran. In these bilateral meetings, Venezuela and Iran reiterated their mutual support in overcoming the U.S. economic blockade.

 Operation Iron Fist has been deployed across Venezuela following President Nicolas Maduro's urgent call to root out corruption at all levels and stop mafias that harm the people as well as the countrys efforts for economic recovery under US sanctions.



Watch, share!  pic.twitter.com/9gt8iAuB4H  venezuelanalysis.com (@venanalysis) February 17, 2022

We were received in a warm meeting by Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, who conveyed his fraternal greetings to the people of Venezuela and to President Nicolas Maduro, Plasencia said and announced that he and the Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand bilateral cooperation and oil-related trade exchanges.

We agree to intensify our efforts in all areas to continue countering the illegal and arbitrary unilateral coercive measures imposed by the U.S. against our peoples. Iran and Venezuela advance in the consolidation of their strategic association, Plasencia stressed.

The GEGF is an intergovernmental organization that comprises Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Peru, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.


Si-young Lee, criticized for posting 'pictures of her son' on social media... what kind of photo is it?
A New Orleans lawmaker said Tuesday officials in some public schools in his district say delays getting criminal background checks for teachers finished is a crisis and state leaders have shown little interest in resolving it.

"This has been a problem for quite some time," said state Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans.

"There appears to be no urgency from anyone in state government to solve the problem," he said. "So far, I have gotten lots of excuses and lots of rhetoric."

Hughes said he has contacted Gov. John Bel Edwards' office, State Police, which handles the reviews, and state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, who got alarmed about the issue earlier this month.

Asked what he has gotten from Edwards' office Hughes said, "I haven't gotten anything substantive other than they will look."

Brumley and others have said delays in mandatory criminal background checks for teachers are aggravating Louisiana's teacher shortage problem.

He said he has heard from both traditional and public charter schools and that some teacher candidates were even giving up and pursuing other jobs.

A spokesperson for State Police previously blamed the problem on a software issue. He said earlier this month the problem was "nearly resolved."

Neither Edwards' office nor State Police responded to a request for comment Tuesday.

Brumley said Tuesday he was told by the governor's office that, while an earlier computer glitch was resolved at State Police, a new one developed last week and a new backlog has developed. He said he was told once the latest issue is fixed a concerted effort will be made to undo the backup.

"I just want to impress upon them that this really does matter," Brumley said. "This is a major issue."

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"Teachers are so valuable right now we cannot afford to lose them over issues like these."

The background checks are aimed at ensuring prospective teachers with criminal backgrounds are kept out of the classroom.

In normal times the reviews take five-to-seven business days when the requests are filed in person and four to five weeks for those sent by mail.

Hughes said the issue is especially troublesome after back-to-back schools years marked by classroom starts and stops, distance learning and plunging test scores.

"We have already had over a year's worth of learning loss because of COVID," he said. "Now that our kids are back in school, they need to have highly-qualified teachers teaching them."

Delays getting full-time teachers in the classroom mean systems have to rely on substitutes or educators who handle other academic subjects to fill in.

It also comes a time when the ranks of teacher candidates in Louisiana are down 30%.

Hughes did not identify which schools have raised concerns.

Some school leaders have been reluctant to speak out publicly because of fears of possible pushback.

"My schools have told me they have been in a holding pattern for weeks now and there has been no resolution," he said. "They are calling it a crisis."

Hughes is a freshman lawmaker and formerly worked for the education advocacy group Stand For Children, Gov. Kathleen Blanco and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.
Louisiana's transportation chief said Monday closing lanes on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge will cause major headaches but steps are planned to avoid any "doomsday" traffic scenarios.

"This is not something we enjoy doing in terms of disrupting the public," Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, told the Press Club of Baton Rouge. "If it was easy it would have been done already."

He added, "This is a project we should have done probably two decades ago."

Wilson announced earlier this month that, as part of a $1.2 billion project to widen I-10, one lane in each direction will be closed on a three-mile stretch from near the "new" Mississippi River bridge to Acadian Thruway.

The lane reductions from three to two in each direction are scheduled for 2024 and will last about 14 months for an already jammed corridor that handles about 152,000 cars and truck daily.

Wilson said placing up to 10,000 state employees who work downtown on flex schedules  five days of work in four  carries the potential to trim traffic volume by up to 20%.

"This is something that is doable and manageable," he said. "We have had some really good experience and practice during the COVID pandemic."

Traffic volume plunged in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic when state employees and others worked from home.

However, flex times discussions are already sparking pushback.

The expansion, which will extend from La. Hwy. 415 in West Baton Rouge Parish to the I-10/12 split, represents the first overhaul of its kind since the federal highway was erected in the 1950s.

Wilson said state officials plan to rely on traffic models that show what alternate routes motorists pursue to avoid I-10 and signal timing aimed at ensuring traffic flow during those times.

He said DOTD also intends to work with Amazon and other firms in hopes they will make delivery schedule adjustments, especially during peak travel periods.

No brainer or waste of money? $500 million Baton Rouge bridge plan headed for heated debate Political battle lines are already forming on Gov. John Bel Edwards' proposal to spend $500 million for a new bridge across the Mississippi Ri

Heavy construction along the route is set to start in early 2023.

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The aim is to resume the current three lanes in each direction in 2025 and for four lanes each way to debut by the end of 2026 or early 2027.

Aside from nearby homes, what impact the work will have on businesses around the Perkins Road Overpass, whose owners have long voiced concerns, is unclear.

Parking disruptions near bars and restaurants are all but assured.

The work includes longer on-ramps that make merging easier and the installation of shoulders on parts of the corridor that lack any today. "We know from research and science that having shoulders is absolutely the smart thing to do for safety," Wilson said.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has asked the Legislature to allocate $500 million for construction of a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.

That plan will be debated during the 2022 regular legislative session, which begins March 14.

Some legislative leaders have questioned making a $500 million commitment amid a host of questions, including where a new bridge would be located.

Edwards' proposal also assumes that, aside from public dollars, the state would forge a public-private partnership in which private investors make a stake in the project in exchange for a long-term revenue stream.

Wilson said that, in a best case scenario, work on the bridge could begin in 4-5 years.

How long it would take to build is unclear.

The bridge could cost up to $2 billion.

College Drive overhaul about to start, including removal of over 250 trees More than 250 trees are set to be removed around the Interstate 10/Interstate 12 split as part of the overhaul of the College Drive exit, the 

He said reworking the College Drive exit for westbound motorists should be finished by the end of the year weather permitting.

That work will allow westbound travelers to exit at College without having to cross multiple lanes of high-speed traffic.
The Mission, by Tom Molyneux 

Stardust, by Joel Carnegie 

Touring nationally as a double bill, these two solo shows involve each performer reimagining on stage the life of an ancestor. The Mission tells the deeply moving story of Tom Molyneuxs great-great-uncle Allan McDonald, one of the first Aboriginal soldiers to enlist for World War I.

It begins on the volcanic plains of western Victoria, with the eruption of Budj Bim in Gunditjmara country more than 30,000 years ago. The Gunditjmara were warriors: they fought and died in numbers to protect their lands from white invaders. Losing that war meant the ancient spirit of Budj Bim was replaced by a new god. Aboriginal survivors formed a community at Lake Condah Mission, where they quarried and built a bluestone church from the ancient rock nearby.

Tom Molyneux stars in The Mission.

Allan McDonald was a half-caste  and managed to pass the racist selection process used for enlisting Aboriginal soldiers. He fought at Gallipoli and Beersheba and, on returning to Melbourne, was denied both a war pension and the free housing available to other returned servicemen. He eventually settled at Lake Condah and lived long enough to see the 1967 referendum on Aborigines, which finally gave First Nations people legal equality.
A mini workers revolt has occurred at the other newspaper over COVID-19 death statistics. The storm followed the Herald Sun sending out a tweet on Friday that read: Alarmist bureaucrats crippled society and destroyed countless livelihoods over a virus that data shows killed just 83 healthy Australians.

The tweet linked to a piece by star columnist Rita Panahi headlined National panic attack came at massive price. Reporting staff raised concerns about the piece with editors, who removed the inflammatory tweet.

On Tuesday, Hun health editor Grant McArthur was out and about on social media promoting a make-good article on the stats, calling it a better breakdown [on] ABS Covid data than some others and adding: Any notion we could ignore pub health measures cause only the unhealthy die from Covid is more than a stretch.

But wait. Nowhere in the controversial column was there a reference to just 83 healthy Australians. That was tweeted by the online team. The Herald Sun columnist was apparently none too impressed by the clickbait spin and went the full Panahi at the kids on the social media desk. As you would.

ROYAL REQUEST
A council in Melbournes north-east could have prevented the tragic death of a grandmother who was crushed by a falling tree and stung by a swarm of bees during a morning walk in a popular park, a coroner has found.

Elaine Betty Sime, 72, was walking along Templestowes Ruffey Lake Park trail with her husband of 50 years, Stuart Sime, on April 3, 2020 when there was a loud cracking noise and a tree collapsed on top of the pair, trapping them.

A beekeeper and council officers inspect the bees after the tree came crashing down on the couple. Credit:Justin McManus

Documents released by the Coroners Court of Victoria describe how the tree collapsed on top of the couple, pushing Mr Sime to his knees and covering him in foliage. As he tried to free himself from the branches he heard an almighty roar and a swarm of bees began attacking his face.

Struggling to fight back the insects, Mr Sime was eventually able to unlock his phone and call his son, whose wife raised the alarm and dialled 000.
Freedom under fire

As an Australian-Ukrainian, I am filled with dread and fear as I watch the unfolding events in Ukraine. Ukraine has its own proud history, culture, acknowledged sovereignty and should be allowed to determine its own destiny. My Ukrainian parents would have been upset but not surprised that the bullying and destabilising of this rich country continues. My parents endured a Stalin-induced famine during the 1930s that killed nearly 4 million people, the Russification of many parts of the former USSR through forced translocation of Russians into neighbouring countries of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and other parts of the former Soviet Empire to enable dominance of the Russian language and culture. Even the Ukrainian national anthem composed in the 1860s was not allowed to be sung until its independence some three decades ago. The first line of the national anthem gives you a sense of Ukrainians: Ukraines freedom has not yet perished... All Ukrainians have ever wanted is freedom and self-determination. Stop Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Vera Lubczenko, Geelong West Eyes on the superpowers

Peter Hartcher, (All eyes are on the bigger bear, 22/2), is right to conclude that, notwithstanding Russias destructive meddling in Ukraines eastern region, the US has made a clear-cut calculation that it is the economically and militarily advanced leviathan, China, that represents the greater long-term world threat. As a historical analogy, one might cite the World War II alliance between the dominant Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler and Italys posturing Mussolini. Vladimir Putin is a master of political theatrics but the power differential between his nation and China says it all. The global contest is between the superpowers of US and China: end of story.

Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza Protect democracy

In 1938, Hitler annexed part of Czechoslovakia to protect German-speaking Czechs, before taking over the whole country. Hitler also incorporated Austria into Germany in the Anschluss. Emboldened by the lack of action by the rest of Europe he went on to invade Poland in 1939 and started a war that devastated Europe and only ended with Allied boots on the ground. In 2022, Putin has annexed part of Ukraine to protect Russian speaking Ukrainians. He will take over the whole country in the next few weeks if nothing is done to stop him. Belaruss President has offered up his country to Russia, remaining separate but doing Russias bidding. The Baltic states may well be next. As a committed pacifist, I cant believe I am saying this, but the only thing that will stop Putin is European and American boots on the ground.

Louise Kloot, Doncaster Appeasement maybe

Is the reason why NATO, and the US in particular, are reluctant to support Ukraine militarily that Putin has a point? Like it or not, for over 200 years Ukraine has been more or less under Russian suzerainty. Large parts of Crimea and eastern Ukraine are inhabited by Russian-identifying people. Perhaps the short-term solution is for Ukraine to trade off those predominantly Russian parts to Russia in return for recognition of Ukraine sovereignty over the rest of the country. Appeasement maybe, but better than having it all taken by force with thousands of civilian casualties.

Daniel Cole, Essendon Better than Trump

Joe Biden is working hard and effectively with others to block the Ukraine invasion plans of Putin. Donald Trump would never have done the same.

Tony Delaney, Warrnambool

Abbotts simple view

Tony Abbott is alive and well (New Iron Curtain: Abbott warns Baltic states, Poland will be next if Russia invades Ukraine, 21/2) returning to his boyhood when the world was divided into two  the goodies and the baddies (the USSR). He wants such simplicity back again. The world was never that simple and he should know that Poland is now a member of NATO and the prospect of the Russians attacking it is next to zero.

John Rome, Mt Lawley, WA Real can-do capitalism

How thrilling to see a genuine can-do capitalist take his vision for energy reform up to this short-sighted federal government (Mogul hits back at PM on AGL bid, The Age, 22/2) with a proposal that could achieve significant emissions reductions. This government is now confronted with its failure to plan for generational change to new energy models. It can only watch as industry steps into the void their lack of leadership has created, and enacts bold visions with decisiveness. What an exquisite dilemma Mike Cannon-Brookes has created for this government. It might actually have to support a solution that helps manage climate change, by speedily closing down old-world energy sources. Careful what you wish for Messrs Morrison, Joyce and Taylor. And welcome to the 21st century.

Sally Holdsworth, Malvern East Wasting an opportunity

How sad it is to see the PM look a gift horse in the mouth. A serious investor comes to help him with his technology not taxes plan and he rejects it without fair consideration. Once again he demonstrates his lack of imagination.

Nigel McGuckian, Bendigo Embrace the change

The transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy is upon us. The endgame is a national electricity market incorporating no coal-fired generation and limited gas-fired generation. Cannon-Brookes joint bid to takeover AGL, although audacious, was timely. In addition to his proposal, AGLs earlier planned closures of its coal plants highlight that regulators and policy makers need to be planning and implementing a rapid and equitable transformation of energy sources. Everyday Australians are supportive of renewables as shown through their actions  over 3 million households have solar panels installed. This renewable revolution is the challenge and opportunity of our time: it is to be embraced, not feared.

Amy Hiller, Kew Billionaire plays

What contrasting headlines on the front page of The Age on Monday. A billionaire who wishes to spend his fortune on enabling the early closure of coal-fired power stations and Clive Palmers obscene sums spent on political attack without as much as a mention of policy. Australians consider with great care who you vote for.

Libby Gillingham, Mornington

Earn political relevance

In defending election expenditure, your correspondent (Letters, 22/2) conflates campaign spending with speaking. Election campaign ads and other material are almost invariably uninformative and often disingenuous and negative. We would be no worse off if it all disappeared. This in no way affects politicians freedom to speak. However, it would pressure them to compete for our attention by saying something relevant about why we should vote for them.

Mark Freeman, Macleod Freedom to splash cash

While your correspondent advocates freedom of speech, the model he advocates gives the greatest freedom to the one with the most money.

James Proctor, Maiden Gully Palmers positive

A rare positive from the COVID pandemic, Clive Palmer pulled out of his speech at the National Press Club (Clive Palmer gains edge over Pauline Hansons One Nation in a growing contest for disaffected voters, 22/2). He is apparently suffering from COVID-like symptoms, which is concerning as he is unvaccinated, having previously claimed he doesnt need the COVID jab. He and everyone should get triple vaccinated as the disease doesnt distinguish between political affiliations. Keep well Clive, the newspapers need the money from your ugly black and yellow ads and we all need newspapers to give us honest political reporting.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill Driver error

Are there some poor E-scooter riders? Yes, I agree with your correspondent (Letters, 22/2). And some bicycle riders who disregard red traffic lights, dont wear helmets, look at their phones, ride on footpaths  and hit pedestrians.

And yes, it is always the other blokes fault when accidents happen. Did someone mention motor car drivers and accidents? Poor skills and lack of respect come in many forms.

John Simmonds, Fitzroy Let us take a power nap

I have just returned to Victoria after 12 months on the road towing a caravan as a grey nomad. On re-entering Victoria I was assailed by different message boards, all with variants of the need to pull off the road and take a power nap. Unfortunately, the reminders were useless as none of the boards was followed by a place where I could pull over. Compare that to Western Australia where there are well-designed and maintained areas to pull over every 20 or so minutes. Each comes with signage flagging that sites are within 5 kilometres, 1 kilometre, then 300 metres, then now  so lots of warning for a tired driver to plan ahead. Every pullover also comes with a clean toilet block.

The lack of pull overs in all directions around Melbourne means that an interstate driver travelling through needs to spend hours travelling to the other side of the city.

Stephen Ransom, Hampton

Quit the labels

The fact that your correspondent refers to conservative views being on The Drum and other ABC programs is part of the problem (Letters, 22/2). He sees these panellists first as conservatives, whatever that means, and whatever follows as a conservative point of view. Perhaps we should all stop applying narrow labels and just listen and engage with all sorts of people and stop trying to put them into boxes.

Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: And another thing Ukraine crisis

More and more, President Joe Bidens warnings to Russia look like a bouquet of lettuce leaves.

Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

Before Australia provides its renowned cyber security prowess to Ukraine (Australian cyber spies aid Ukraine, The Age, 21/2) could they possibly do something to stop the scam phone calls I keep getting?

Greg Lee, Red Hill AGL bid

Scott Morrison says, Our government is very committed to ensure we sweat those assets (Mogul hits back at PM on AGL bid, 22/2). Were all sweating as the world heats up. Climate change is happening now. Catch up.

Belinda Burke, Hawthorn Mr Morrison, the Stone Age didnt end because we ran out of stones, and we dont have to go to the end of the coal age.

Gillian Upton, Balaclava Mr Morrison last month: can-do capitalism will solve climate change, signs carbon-neutral pledge. Mr Morrison this week: criticises can-do capitalism for trying to shut down a coal-fired power plant.

Benjamin Levy, Caulfield North It seems Mr Morrison still cant accept that the push against coal is not about lower power bills.

Rex Niven, Eltham
Borders dont matter any more. Russias President says that Ukraine is part of Russias spiritual space. So its OK to send troops and tanks across the border to seize territory of a neighbouring country.

That is precisely what Vladimir Putin is now doing. Its in brazen violation of the UN Charter, which forbids the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres immediately pointed out.

Oddly, the charter makes no reference to the supernatural right of nations to make claims on each other according to their imagined spiritual spaces. Whatever. No one is going to enforce the charter in any case.

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses a threat to global security. Credit:Getty

Western governments, including Australias, are huffing and puffing and imposing sanctions on Russia. But no one is stopping it. Not the US. Not NATO. Certainly not the UN Security Council, over which Russia wields a veto as one of its five permanent members.
Opinion columnist Zach Freeman says the United States has more to loose than gain by interfering in the Ukraine conflict.
Marcus Peterson walks past a downed tree in his yard Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Jennings, La., after Hurricane Delta moved through.
Construction on the 16.2 mile Purple Line light rail service could begin this spring. The light rail line will take passengers from Bethesda to New Carrollton.
The Market Street side of the busy Newark Penn Station is seen Aug. 15, 2019, in Newark, New Jersey. The facility serves both bus and rail travelers.
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The family and attorneys of the Ahmaud Aubery raise their arms in victory after all three men were found guilty of hates crimes at the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 22, 2022. (Lewis M. Levine/AP Photo)

3 Men Convicted in Ahmaud Arberys Murder Found Guilty of Federal Hate Crimes

The three men convicted in 2021 in the death of Ahmaud Arbery were found guilty on Feb. 22 of federal hate crimes.

A jury convicted Gregory McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryan after deliberating for about four hours.

All three men were found guilty of violating Arberys civil rights by attacking him because of his race, and of attempted kidnapping.

The McMichaels were also found guilty of using a firearm while carrying out a violent crime.

The hate crimes felony carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The charges were brought in April 2021, about a year after the McMichaels and Bryan chased down Arbery when they spotted him running in their neighborhood, Satilla Shores, which sits outside Brunswick, Georgia. Travis McMichael then shot Arbery with his shotgun after a scuffle over the weapon ensued.

Federal prosecutors said the trio, through force and threat of force, injured and intimidated Arbery because of Arberys race and color.

Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arberys mother, told reporters outside the courthouse Tuesday that she was very thankful that a good jury was selected.

We got a victory today, but theres so many families out there that dont get victories, she added.

(LR) Travis McMichael, William Roddie Bryan, and Gregory McMichael during their trial at at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., in a file photo. (AP Pool)

The defendants actions and the racism that fueled them have inflicted enduring trauma on Mr. Arberys family, his friends, his community, and communities across the country, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in prepared remarks in Washington.

A lawyer for the defendants, who were already sentenced to life in prison, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After the first round of convictions, Bryan could get parole after serving 30 years, while the McMichaels were denied any chance of parole.

The new convictions came after a judge rejected a plea deal the McMichaels reached with federal prosecutors, which led to the father and son each withdrawing their pleas.

U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood, a George W. Bush nominee, said she listened as family members urged her not to accept the deal, which would have seen the men serve years in federal prison before being moved to state lockup.

Assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke said the Department of Justice (DOJ) respected the courts decision and had only entered the agreement after getting approval from Arberys family.

What we got today, we wouldnt have gotten today if it wasnt for the fight that the family put up, Cooper-Jones said on Tuesday. What the DOJ did today, they was made to do today. It wasnt because its what they wanted to do.

I cannot imagine the pain that a mother feels to have her son run down and then gunned down while taking a jog on a public street, Garland responded. My heart goes out to her and the family. Thats really all I can say about this.

Jack Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report.
This illustration photo shows a person checking the app store on a smartphone for "Truth Social"owned by Trump Media & Technology Groupwith its website on a computer screen in the background, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

A Message to Donald Trump: Beware of Chinese Hackers

Commentary

Donald Trump is back. On Feb. 20, Truth Social, his new social media platform, went live. Now, just a few days later, its one of the most popular apps in the country.

Why is Truth Social important?

In short, Trumps new platform will directly compete with Big Tech tyrants, especially the likes of Twitter and Facebook.

Silicon Valley elites are watching Truth Social very carefully. You know who else is watching?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

This is why Trump and his team must be on full alert. After all, if theres one thing the CCP loves doing, its infiltrating influential platforms. Considering theres little love lost between Trump and the CCP, Truth Social could find itself targeted by Chinese hackers in the not-so-distant future.

To add fuel to the potential Beijing-initiated fire, Trump is also likely to seek reelection, according to a recent Axios report; yes, the former president is planning to run for office in 2024. With President Joe Bidens approval ratings at an all-time low, and Trump still very much favored among Republican voters, why wouldnt he run?

Furthermore, an increasing number of Americans are worried about China, and an increasing number of Americans think Biden is weak on China. Could Trump walk back into the White House? The answer appears to be yes.

With the reemergence of Trump, we should expect to hear some harsh words from Beijing. Not that long ago, lest we forget, the Trump administration was targeting China with some of the toughest economic sanctions in recent times. Last year, the CCP responded by sanctioning 28 former Trump administration officials. Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have unfinished business. Because of this, genuine dangers exist.

President Donald Trump, poses for a photo with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

As China becomes a dominant player in all things cyber, including hacking, Trump needs to be on full alert. Truth Social will draw huge attention, both at home and abroad, including from bad actors based in China.

Chinas Considerable Cyberthreat

In this age of advanced warfare, China continues to recruit and train some of the worlds best hackers. Over the last couple of years, the sheer number of CCP-linked hacks have been, for a lack of a better word, staggering. Not surprisingly, the United States has been targeted more than any other country.

In 2015, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that it had been targeted by CCP-backed hackers; the data breach targeted the records of more than 21 million Americans. Since then, a number of reports have documented Chinas continued attacks on the U.S. Navy and its industrial partners.

In 2020, a U.S. federal grand jury charged four members of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army with orchestrating one of the largest thefts of personally identifiable information by state-sponsored hackers ever recorded, involving 145 million Americans.

Social media platforms have also been targeted. In March 2021, Facebook accused Chinese hackers of using its platform for nefarious purposes.

Shortly after Facebooks accusation, Hafnium, a Chinese hacking group, carried out attacks on Microsoft exchange servers. At least 30,000 separate entities were affected, including U.S. government agencies and defense contractors.

More recently, it took Chinese hackers just 15 seconds to hack into an iPhone 13 Pro, one of the most sophisticated smartphones on the market.

Its clear to see that the threat from China is immense; theres ample reason to believe that such threats will become more significant in nature. As the journalist Michelle Quinn recently wrote, Chinese hacking groups are rapidly expanding their cyberespionage campaigns. The attacks, which have been increasing over the past year, look to exploit social, economic and political intelligence from countries around the world.

These hacks are linked to Chinas Ministry of State Security, the nations civilian intelligence agency, which has taken the lead in Beijings cyberespionage, consolidating efforts by the Peoples Liberation Army, according to Quinn.

When it comes to cyberespionage and elaborate hacks, China is leading the way.

Which brings us back to Trump and his new platform. Of course, Truth Social may never be targeted by CCP-backed hackers (or any hackers at all). Nevertheless, its best to be prepared for the worst.

In July of last year, Gettr, a social media platform launched by Jason Miller, Trumps senior adviser, was hacked. Were Chinese hackers behind the attack? Honestly, we dont know. But China is home to some of the best hackers in the world.

Trump is no fan of the CCP, and the CCP is no fan of Trump. With the dawn of Truth Social, and with the likelihood of Trump running for reelection, expect Beijing to take action. Remember, cyberwarfare is not just a new type of warfareits now the dominant form of warfare.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Beginning in England and then landing in France, the Britfield series includes two books with a third one (set in Italy) on the way. C. R. Stewart joins the show to discuss how he took the idea of two orphans, displaced royalty, a vast array of colorful characters, and turned the entire globe on its head. Also hear how the author is working to intertwine adventure, history, and virtue into a singular narrative.

C. R. Stewart is the creator of the Britfield series. He is the founder of Devonfield, a production company in film, publishing, and education. Stewart earned a BA in British Literature and European History from Brown University, an MBA from Boston College, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Advanced Management and a Ph.D. in Technology and Strategy at Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.

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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington, on Jan. 5, 2022. (Carolyn Kaster/Pool/Getty Images)

DOJs Crackdown on Chinese Espionage Comes Under Fire, But Some Argue Program is Necessary to Counter CCP Infiltration

News Analysis

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is completing a review of its anti-espionage China Initiative, which critics of the program hope will result in a shift away from its controversial targeting of academic researchers.

The news follows numerous allegations of racial discrimination and misconduct leveled by academics and civil rights advocacy groups. It is now believed that the Biden administration will pull back its efforts to target academic researchers as part of the program and reorient to focus more clearly on espionage-related cases.

Though some groups have called for the wholesale abolition of the program, defense and security experts believe that the initiative is necessary to stem the tide of technology theft being perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Thus reforming the program is preferable to repealing it, they say.

The China Initiative, I do think its necessary, said Timothy Heath, a senior defense researcher for the Rand Corporation, a defense-focused think tank.

I think that what were already finding is that this competition with China is going to be tough. Current policies are headed in the right way, but additional measures are necessary in order to keep pace with how much China is stealing and carrying out influence activities in the U.S, Heath said.

What [the DOJ] could do better is to message that what the Justice Department is trying to do is stand up and protect ethnic Chinese Americans from the Communist Party and it wants to be an ally of, and work with the ethnic Chinese American community to guard against illegal CCP efforts to carry out espionage, recruit, subvert, and carry out political influence activities.

What is the China Initiative?

The China Initiative was launched by the Trump administration in 2018. Its purpose was broadly to counter national security threats stemming from the CCPs use of espionage, fraud, and cybercrime against the United States.

The effort tended to be associated at first with the trade war between former president Donald Trump and CCP leader Xi Jinping, though experts had long warned of CCP efforts to use legitimate institutions as cover for its espionage efforts.

Former attorney general William Barr called the CCPs efforts to steal from and infiltrate the United States a technological blitzkrieg. The technologies targeted for stealing, Barr said in 2020, could be found in Beijings Made in China 2025 plan, which lays out core technologies the regime aspires to dominate in the futureincluding artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace.

U.S. officials have also warned that by partnering with private enterprises and academic research institutions in the United States, the CCP could adroitly exploit research and technology being developed in the United States to the benefit of its own military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Likewise, FBI director Christopher Wray said in 2020 that almost half of the FBIs nearly 5,000 counterintelligence investigations were connected to China. In February, he said that over 2,000 cases were directly tied to CCP efforts to steal information or technology.

According to a November statement by the DOJ, roughly 80 percent of all its economic espionage charges concern cases that would benefit the CCP in some way.

The [CCP] have made no secret of their desire to dominate the most cutting-edge technologies and industries, and they have directed their bureaucracies and officials to acquire those technologies through whatever means necessary, Heath said.

The China Initiative was thus founded to root out hidden threats and prevent the CCP from gaining competitive advantage by stealing technology and trade secrets from U.S. firms, technology startups and research institutions.

Who is Targeted and Why?

The China Initiative has leveled charges against at least 162 individuals to date and most of the associated legal battles are still ongoing.

Among the Initiatives successes are the arrest and conviction of ex-CIA operative Jerry Chun Shing Lee for leaking information regarding CIA activities to the CCP; Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer who attempted to recruit spies in America and steal aviation technologies; Zheng Yan, who led a group that attempted to export military boats to China; and Xuehua Peng, who provided U.S. intelligence information to Chinese officials.

Such victories have made the program a valued tool for legislators concerned about malign CCP influence in the United States.

As a former federal prosecutor who worked on counterintelligence threats from the CCP, I appreciated the prior administrations establishment of the DOJs China Initiative to bring focus to this very real threat, said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) in an email.

McCaul pointed to statements made by Wray in January, when he said that a China-related investigation counterintelligence was opened every 12 hours.

Weakening our response to this threat would be a failure of law enforcement and another sign that this administration is retreating from those who wish us harm, McCaul said.

Part of Beijings whole-of-society effort to obtain foreign technology involves the use of non-traditional collectors, such as academics and company employees, according to the FBI. Such individuals have also been targeted by the initiative.

Such cases include those of Candace Claiborne, a public servant who traded State Department documents for gifts from the CCP; You Xiaorong, who stole trade secrets from her employer, Coca-Cola, for a Chinese business; and Li Chen and Yu Zhou, researchers who secretly established a company in China where they marketed products and services based on trade secrets they stole from their employer, the National Childrens Hospital.

Further, a large number of researchers caught in the crosshairs of the DOJ were charged with procedural offenses, namely with lying about or failing to disclose their ties and funding arrangements with Chinese institutions. The most notable case was the December conviction of former chemistry chair Charles Lieber, who was found guilty of charges relating to lying about his links to the Chinese state-backed recruitment program Thousand Talents Plan. While participation in the program is in itself legal, U.S. officials have described the plan as a conduit through which American technology and know-how are transferred to China.

In all, 24 China Initiative cases are based on charges related to making false statements, visa fraud, or wire fraud.

This cohort of cases concerning researchers has become a lightning rod of criticism, with some arguing that such targeting has been heavy handed, as well as unwarranted given the DOJ has apparently struggled to demonstrate that harm was done.

Many of the initiatives big-ticket cases have been marred by a series of apparently mishandled cases against researchers in the United States.

Most recently, the DOJ brought charges of fraud and lying on official documents against a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, Chen Gang, only to have them dismissed after prosecutors admitted they could not prove that Chen had hidden ties to China when seeking federal grant funding for his research.

In a separate incident, Tang Juan, a biology researcher at the University of California Davis, was arrested in July 2020 for allegedly lying on a visa application about her service with the PLA.

The FBI did not inform Tang of her rights during the arrest, however, including the right to refuse to answer questions, and her case was dismissed in July 2021 after she spent had 10 months between jail and house arrest.

Likewise, the DOJ dropped its charges against five visiting Chinese scientists who were accused of lying about the extent of their ties to the Chinese military. It offered no explanation as to why the charges were dropped.

Lawmakers demanded to know what the cause was, but were told only that there were recent developments. Others, meanwhile, expressed concerns that the program was being dismantled due to pressure from above by the Biden administration.

The DOJs decision to abruptly drop several of its cases has also increased fears of racial discrimination and an intelligence community run amok, as critics of the program take the hastily put together cases as evidence of an anti-Chinese bias. As such, the initiatives targeting of academic researchers, the overwhelming majority of which have been ethnic Chinese, has come under intense fire.

There are yet efforts to maintain the program, however, amid a prevalent belief that it does in fact improve national security.

The long reach of the Chinese Communist Party is a real and present danger to the United States, said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in an email. Beijing is rabidly pursuing American secrets and seeking to gain influence.

The China Initiative is a step in the right direction to confronting this problem. While there is more work to be done, canceling the initiative altogether would leave us without a plan to confront Chinese espionage and sends a dangerous signal that the U.S. is not seriously focused on combating the Chinese Communist Party.

Problems Both Real and Imagined

As the Initiative has drawn on, it has increasingly been accused of mishandling cases, fueling racism, and stifling innovation. Some criticisms appear warranted, others less so.

For instance, several publications attacked the program for a perceived lack of results. Perhaps the most widely cited of which was a study by the MIT Technology Review, which cast the initiative as a simultaneously bumbling, shadowy, and failed attempt to improve national security.

That study drew fury towards the program by implying that it was failing to find wrongdoing. Its authors stressed that less than a third of the initiatives cases resulted in a conviction.

Those findings are misleading, however. Indeed, the assertion obfuscates the fact that some 48 percent of the cases documented by the MIT Technology Review have not been concluded at all, meaning that they still could result in conviction.

The results of concluded China Initiative cases as of Feb. 22 2022. (Source: MIT Technology Review)

Indeed, of the 59 cases listed by MIT as having been concluded, 45 resulted in either a guilty plea or a guilty verdictmeaning that over three-quarters of those cases have concluded in a DOJ victory.

Of those cases that have concluded, one resulted in a pardon, one in a mistrial, one in a settlement, two reached a deferred prosecution agreement, nine were dismissed by the government, and 45 resulted in a guilty plea or verdict.

The status of unconcluded China Initiative cases as of Feb. 22 2022. (Source: MIT Technology Review)

Another problem is the 70 cases that MIT labeled simply as pending with little activity. These charges are unlikely to be resolved any time soon, but not for lack of evidence.

In most such cases the accused is currently considered a fugitive, and has fled back to mainland China, or was in China the entire time, like the spate of Chinese state-sponsored hackers charged in the past few years. Perhaps as a point of credit to the program, many alleged CCP military-linked researchers fled the country after the U.S. government ramped up investigations of PLA-tied students and imposed visa restrictions targeting such individuals.

Concern over how the program is being handled, fueled in no small part by the claims of studies like that in the MIT review, have created something of a culture of fear in the academy, and particularly among ethnically Chinese researchers and scholars.

To this end, Brown University President Christina Paxson expressed concern that tighter federal government scrutiny of links with China among U.S. universities would hinder research and ultimately undermine the American economy.

Concerns About Race and Association

There are growing signs that public impression of the program and its failed cases against researchers has chilled the amount of international research being done between China and the United States, and that it has frightened ethnic Chinese researchers in America.

A joint survey conducted by the University of Arizona and the Committee of 100, a nonprofit group focused on improving Sino-American relations, found that over 42 percent of scientists of Chinese heritage felt racially profiled by the U.S. government, compared to just eight percent of non-Chinese surveyed. More than half of Chinese scientists felt fear or anxiety about being surveilled by the U.S. government.

Among Chinese scientists in America who conducted research that involved China in the last three years, over 40 percent actively worked to limit their collaboration with counterparts in China. Out of that number, 61 percent said they did so specifically because of the China Initiative.

Further, 42 percent of Chinese scientists said that they were now considering ending their time in the United States because of the initiative.

Thus, regardless of its positive effects on national security in the immediate term, the China Initiative does risk a negative effect on the amount of international scientific research being done in American universities, which could hurt the nation both economically and in terms of security in the future.

This is due to two interrelated factors. The first being that, by losing the talent of Chinese researchers who would otherwise come to the United States, the United States is preventing itself from drawing all the best talent that it can.

The second is that, by remaining in China, whatever research those Chinese researchers conduct will invariably fall into the hands of the CCP, which maintains a policy of military-civil fusion which explicitly states that civilian technology and research must be to the benefit of the Chinese military.

A commentary published by the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, expounded on this idea by defining the problem of the China Initiative in terms of freedom of association.

It argued that, because the initiative apparently sought to charge researchers for their association to entities that may present a threat to national security, rather than actually being a threat themselves, the program was undermining the right to freedom of association, which has long been recognized as a covered under the first amendment.

To be sure, the lines do blur. Because of the CCPs military-civil fusion, it is impossible to tell what is military and what is civilian because everything is both simultaneously.

This makes the process of defining appropriate and inappropriate associations very difficult, as is well documented in the case of MITs Chen Gang. Even though the DOJ dropped all charges against Chen, the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security put the Chinese department that Chen had been working with on its unverified list, making it more difficult for anyone in the United States to continue working with it.

The incident raises questions at the crux of the concept of free association: If a department in China is working to steal from the United States, ought a U.S.-based researcher be held accountable for working with them, even if they had no knowledge of such motive?

Moreover, if the CCP is primarily associating with ethnically Chinese researchers, how can the DOJ prevent racial bias in its efforts?

The CCP Intentionally Targets Ethnic Chinese

In addition to whom the Initiative is targeting is the less spoken of but equally important issue if why they are being targeted.

The vast majority of those charged under the initiative are ethnically Chinese. It is a simple fact that, according to Heath, would be immensely difficult to get around precisely because the CCP makes a concerted effort to pressure, implicate, and control people of Chinese descent.

Certainly, I agree with critics that you have to manage the program in a responsible way and avoid as much as possible unnecessarily discriminatory and provocative accusations, Heath said.

Its tough, you know. It gets to an issue with the Chinese approach to espionage, and that is to target ethnic Chinese people, and its hard to get around that fact. That is who the PLA targets. That is who the Chinese government targets.

Indeed, ten of the DOJs ongoing China Initiative cases are against individuals alleged to be part of Operation Fox Hunt, a covert CCP program launched in 2014 that aims to harass, surveil, and intimidate Chinese citizens living overseas.

In these cases, the accused are alleged to have been recruited by the CCP to harass or intimidate ethnic Chinese abroad. In one such case, Chinese agent Xu Yanjun is alleged to have downloaded 200 family photos of a GE employee, whose family is in China, in an effort to coerce the employee into becoming a spy.

They try to play on a sense of ethnic kinship, and they exploit any cultural background thats related to China to recruit and influence people, Heath said. Therefore, you just cant avoid that that is going to be an issue when you try to counter those types of efforts, because the same people will be the subject of scrutiny.

Heath said that, despite the current difficulties, there were paths forward to both ease tensions and increase inclusion of ethnic Chinese in America while still combatting malicious foreign influence.

One helpful thing is that the Initiative has drawn attention to a problem that I dont think previously got a lot of attention, and that was the efforts of the Chinese government to coopt, subvert, and recruit Americans of ethnic Chinese heritage, Heath said.

I think a way to try to counter unfair suspicion, discrimination and prejudice, is to publicize what we know about the [CCP] strategies and efforts to target ethnic Chinese people, Heath added.

But he also stressed that agents for the CCP were never restricted to any one race.

Just bringing to attention to the public that the threat is the Chinese government, and not ethnic Chinese people, and that anybody can be an agent [would help], Heath said. Its not just Chinese people. It can be white people, it can be black people, it can be anybody.

A Necessary Effort, but Reform is Needed

No hard evidence has been brought forward to suggest that the DOJ has engaged in racial discrimination during the conducting of its China Initiative. The program has, indeed, highlighted numerous vital threats to national security in the form of CCP infiltration into civilian sectors.

The China Initiative does appear, however, to fail to meet basic standards of transparency expected by any free society, and its method of charging individuals without clear evidence and dismissing some charges without clearly stating its reasons gives critics reason enough to question its competency in pursuing the matter.

Until such transparency is achieved, ethnic Chinese in America may feel caught between two hunts.

On one side is the CCPs effort to coerce and intimidate them into working against the United States and to subvert their will to that of the CCP. On the other is a fear of being wrongfully caught up in the United States frantic efforts to prevent anyone and everyone from association with CCP-sponsored individuals and institutions.

At the end of the day, Heath believed that the initiative could continue its successes, mitigate its failings, and further improve the security of the nation. To achieve that, the DOJ merely needed to clearly and unambiguously state how its efforts were designed, not to question Chinese in America, but to protect them.

[By] messaging the importance of standing up with Chinese Americans, political leadership can clarify to Chinese Americans and send the message that Chinese Americans are an asset to America, not a suspicious group, Heath said.

The more the U.S. government and Justice Department puts out that message, I think the better it helps clarify what theyre trying to do and clarifies the message that its the CCP that is the issue.

Chinese Americans are our people, Heath added. They are no different than anybody else Theyre Americans and the government has an interest in helping to protect them from foreign influence and thats what its trying to do.
A New York Police Department officer and a subway conductor look down the subway platform at the Grand Central subway station in New York, on May 18, 2021. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

At Least 6 People Stabbed on NYC Subway Shortly After Mayor Unveils New Safety Plan

At least six people were stabbed in New York Citys subway system over the weekend, the New York City Police Department said, just hours after officials unveiled a new plan to address safety and combat violence on public transit.

The first of the attacks unfolded shortly after Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 18 announced the Subway Safety Plan aimed at addressing public safety concerns on the citys subways.

The joint initiative also aims to support homeless individuals and provide services for those with serious mental illness on New York Citys subways.

It went into effect Monday and includes comprehensive investments in both short and long-term solutions to help tackle the issues currently impacting the subway system.

But the NYPD said a string of stabbings had taken place over the weekend, with the first happening shortly after the initiative was announced, inside a Queens subway station on Friday evening.

A male victim was allegedly slashed in the forearm around 5 p.m., the NYPD told NBC New York. He was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, police said.

On Saturday, at least four incidents were reported, including one early in the morning when a homeless man was allegedly stabbed after an attempted robbery at Jamaica station in Queens, police told NBC.

Incidents

In another incident just before 3 p.m. Saturday, on the 3 train platform at Livonia and Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn, police said a male punched a 20-year-old woman in the back before pulling out a knife and stabbing the woman three times in the abdomen following a verbal dispute, according to NBC.

At around 8:30 p.m on the same day, a 24-year-old man was the victim of an attempted robbery, police told NBC. Two teenagers approached the victim and tried to rob him and a struggle ensued. The young man was stabbed in the leg with a boxcutter and the suspects fled the scene.

New York Mayor Eric Adams pictured on Jan. 3, 2022. (Getty Images)

Around 30 minutes later, another attack took place at the W. 116th Street station. In that incident, a 31-year-old man was riding the 1 train when he came across two people smoking an unknown substance. The victim asked the smoker to move, to which the suspect allegedly responded by pulling out a knife before stabbing the victim in the arm, according to NBC.

He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

A sixth person was stabbed Sunday evening on the 6 line near Canal Street, NBC News reported, citing the NYPD.

The Epoch Times has contacted the NYPD for comment.

Safety Plan

Unveiling the new plan to combat violence and homelessness on public transit last week, Mayor Adams, a Democrat, said it is cruel and inhumane to allow unhoused people to live on the subway, and unfair to paying passengers and transit workers who deserve a clean, orderly, and safe environment.

The days of turning a blind eye to this growing problem are over, and I look forward to collaborating with the state, the federal government, TWU, advocates, and law enforcement to solve this challenge. It will take time, but our work starts now, he said.

The plan includes multiple steps to address the issues currently impacting New York Citys subway system, including deploying up to 30 joint response teams to high-need locations across the city, incorporating medical services into DHS sites that serve homeless people, offering on-site physical and behavioral health care to those in need, and streamlining the process of placing homeless individuals into supportive housing, among others.

A budget for the initiative is unclear.

The new initiative comes after an Asian woman was pushed to her death in front of an oncoming train in the city in January.

Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, was waiting on the southbound platform inside Times Square subway station on Saturday morning when Simon Martial, 61, who has mental health issues, pushed her onto the train tracks and she was struck by an R train, officials said.

Police are investigating the incident but believe the attack was unprovoked.
Australia Commits $800 Million to Strengthen Antarctic Foothold Amid Chinese Expansion

Australia will be reinforcing its strategic and scientific capabilities in the south pole while concerns loom of Chinese economic expansion in the region.

The $800 million (US$580 million) boost will raise Australias total investment in the region over the next decade to $3 billion.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison highlighted the funding would bring a swathe of new hardware to Antarctica while continuing to support scientific research operations.

The money we are investing in drone fleets, helicopters, and other vehicles will enable us to explore areas of East Antarcticas inland that no country has ever been able to reach before, Morrison said in a release on Feb. 22.

A sizable $136.6 million will go towards Australias inland traverse capabilities, critical charting activities, mobile stations, and other core activities.

Australias Antarctic team will also receive $60.6 million worth of drone fleets and other autonomous vehicles, along with $35 million for four new longer-range helicopters that will allow access to previously unreachable parts of the continent.

My government will continue to back our world-class scientists and expeditioners with the necessary funding and resources, because their research on the frozen continent and in the southern ocean is critically important to Australias future, Morrison said.

When asked about Chinas attempt of dominance in Antarctica, Morrison said Australia would continue to keep the region protected from those who did not have the best interest at heart.

We are a treaty nation when it comes to Antarctica, and we take those responsibilities incredibly seriously, Morrison said at a press conference on Feb. 22.

It is also about ensuring that we protect Antarctica and that we have good knowledge about whats going on there, and were able to push through now, particularly with the airlift capability, the drone capability, and the undersea capability.

So we need to keep eyes in Antarctica because there are others who have different objectives to us, and we need to make sure, not just for Australias interests but for the worlds interests, that we protect this incredible environment that we have responsibility for, he said.

Chinas Increasing Assertiveness in Antarctica

The increased investment comes on the back of fears of overstepping by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in relation to the internationally recognised Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).

The ATS, established in 1961, remains a crucial agreement governing international relations on the continent. The treaty is considered one of the most successful sets of international agreements because it has relied on the goodwill and peaceful cooperation between nations to uphold.

However, former senior analyst with the Australian government Claire Young outlined a growing number of attempts by the CCP to exert influence over the ATS and to use Antarctica for its own economic benefit.

The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) provides Australia with a peaceful, non-militarised south; a freeze on challenges to our territorial claim; a ban on mining and an ecosystem-based management of fisheries, Young said in a Feb. 16 brief titled, Eyes on the Prize: Australia, China, and the Antarctic Treaty System.

But China wants to benefit economically, and potentially militarily, from Antarctica. It is increasingly assertive in the ATS, primarily over fisheries access, and active on the ice.

For example, concerns have grown regarding the installation of ground stations in Antarctica for Chinas GPS system, Beidou, and that the high-frequency radar equipment could be used to jam U.S. satellitesalthough Young noted that this was unlikely.

Young also pointed to Chinas access to technologies through joint projects with Western nations.

Australias own government funded scientific research agency, CSIRO, terminated a five-year Antarctic research collaboration with Chinas Qingdao National Marine Laboratory following concerns of risks to national security.

Young suggested Australia should solidify its support for the ATS while increasing the substance and profile of its Antarctic activities.

Australia should front load its support for the ATS, increasing both the substance and profile of our Antarctic activities, she said.

Canberra should monitor Chinese activities in Antarctica and the ATS and step up its maritime awareness of the Southern Ocean, but refrain from geostrategic panic, Young added.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne speaks during a news conference with Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the State Department in Washington, DC on Sept. 16, 2021. (Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Australia Working With Partners on Deep and Serious Sanctions on Russia: Foreign Minister

Ministry in contact with remaining Australians in Ukraine

Australia is working with democratic allies to impose additional sanctions on Russia following President Vladimir Putins decision to send troops into the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Australia has been working with like-minded partners, including the United States, UK, and Canada on what our sanctions options look like, Foreign Minister Marise Payne told 2GB Radio on Feb. 22.

Australia has been imposing autonomous sanctions in relation to Russias threats to Ukraine for many years now, she said, noting that any additional sanctions would be deep and serious and have a real impact.

I dont think its useful to run details of the sanctionsall that does is enable those who might be sanctioned to try to avoid them, she added.

Payne also said Australias Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with 1,400 citizens in Ukraine.

Many have been their for a very long period of time, and in fact essentially thats their home  weve endeavoured through the post in Kiev, and through my department, to engage in contact with them, she said.

The minister also appealed to Russian leaders that an invasion of Ukraine was not inevitable.

This does not have to happen. There are still choices to be made by Russia here, and we hope that we can see productive discussions continueand this be avoided, Payne said.

Russia currently has around 150,000 troops stationed along the Ukrainian border with ongoing concerns Putin could invade the eastern European nation.

Instead, on Feb. 21, Putin signed a decree recognising the independence of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraineterritories internationally recognised as being under Ukrainian control.

Subsequently, Russian forces began mobilising and entering those provinces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a presidential address, responded sharply.

Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, he said.

All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership. The recognition of independence of the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions might mean the unilateral withdrawal of Russia from Minsk agreements.

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions in response to the move, prohibiting new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to and from the two breakaway regions.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said additional measures were under consideration in response to Putins blatant violation of Russias international commitments.
Ukrainian troops patrol at the frontline outside the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian Diplomats Ordered to Evacuate Ukraine

Australian diplomats have been ordered to evacuate Ukraine following the mobilisation of Russian forces into the two breakaway provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne condemned President Vladimir Putins decision to deploy troops under the pretence of peacekeeping and said Australia was working with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and other governments on swift and severe sanctions.

The Australian government condemns President Putins declaration today that the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine are independent states, she said in a statement on Feb. 22.

We continue to urge all Australians to leave Ukraine immediately. Do not delay. The safety of Australians and officials is our priority, she added.

Australian embassy operations in Lviv have temporarily closed and its officials have deployed to eastern Poland and Romania to assist Australians seeking to depart Ukraine, the minister said.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is holding out hope that diplomatic talks can prevent any escalation.

Russia should step back, it should unconditionally withdraw, back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours, he told reporters on Feb. 22.

Its unacceptable, its unprovoked, its 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.

On Feb. 21, Putin signed a decree recognising the independence of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraineterritories internationally recognised as being under Ukrainian control.

Subsequently, Russian forces began mobilising and entering those provinces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a presidential address, responded sharply.

Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, he said.

All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership. The recognition of independence of the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions might mean the unilateral withdrawal of Russia from Minsk agreements.

The head of Ukraines diplomatic mission to Australia, Volodymyr Shakivskyi, said the situation was deteriorating.

We still hope that we can find a way out of this situation. As every nation, we would like to have peace and avoid a worst-case scenario, he told ABC Radio on Feb. 22. We believe the chances for the peaceful resolution is going down.

There is no military solution for Ukraine, Ukraine will only rely on political and diplomatic measures to bring those territories back.

Australia is working with democratic allies to impose additional sanctions on Russia following President Vladimir Putins decision to send troops into the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Australia has been imposing autonomous sanctions in relation to Russias threats to Ukraine for many years now, Foreign Minister Marise Payne told 2GB Radio on Feb. 22, noting that any additional sanctions would be deep and serious and have a real impact.
The shot from Nine's "A Current Affairs" program including an image of Stromectol, the U.S. brand name for ivermectin, which was published on Feb. 21 and subsequently edited and removed. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times)

Australian News Show Apologises for Implying Queen Could Benefit From Ivermectin

Australian news program A Current Affair has apologised for accidentally implying Queen Elizabeth IIwho is suffering from COVID-19could benefit from being treated with ivermectin.

The segment produced by the program showed a video package including a voiceover, interview, and images of two different drugs, which, when edited together, unintentionally implied to the viewer that general practitioner, Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal, was suggesting the head of the British royal family could benefit from ivermectin

The program, which aired on the evening of Feb. 21, starts with footage of Dr. Haikerwal walking around his clinic.

The voiceover begins: Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal says a COVID patient the Queens age should be isolating and might benefit from new medicines currently approved for high-risk patients at Australian hospitals.

Queen Elizabeth II speaks during an audience where she met the incoming and outgoing Defence Service Secretaries at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Steve Parsons/Pool/Reuters)

The video then cuts to images of Sotrovimab, a novel monoclonal antibody treatment, and Stromectol, the U.S. brand name for ivermectin.

The interview with Dr. Haikerwal then picks up again with the doctor saying: These tablets, or these infusions, can make a dramatic difference to their immediate welfare and health to how they feel, but also the long term benefits as well.

The choice of positioning the shot of Stromectol in between the narration and Dr. Haikerwals quote conveyed a meaning the show did not seem to intend.

The clip was quickly picked up on social media and gained tractiongiven the contentious nature of ivermectin.

Queensland Senator Gerard Rennick posted the clip on his Facebook page saying, What does Channel 9 know that we dont? Is Ivermectin (Stromectol)  being administered to COVID patients at Australian hospitals?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration and Health Departments have been caught out lying on so many occasions it would not surprise me, he said.

A spokesperson from the program said producers had apologised to the doctor and the program has been corrected.

Last night our report on the Queen contained a shot that shouldnt have been included. The shot was included as a result of human error, according to a statement sent to The Epoch Times.

We were highlighting an approved infusion medication called Sotrovimab and the report accidentally cut to a shot of Stromectol. As a program, weve done numerous stories highlighting the concerns around taking Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

The Nine logo in Melbourne, Australia, on July 26. 2020 (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

We did not intend to suggest Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal endorsed Stromectol. Weve apologised to him this morning, and he has accepted that apology, the statement read.

The spokesperson added that A Current Affair did not intend to suggest the Queen was using ivermectin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Haikerwal took to Twitter to post a link outlining what drugs were approved in Australia to treat COVID-19.

Australias federal Department of Health re-emphasised that ivermectin does not have regulatory approval for treating COVID-19 in Australia or in any OECD country.

Oral ivermectin (Stromectol) is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of river blindness, threadworm of the intestines and scabies, and is available on prescription for these indications, a federal health department spokesperson said.

Certain specialists are permitted to prescribe ivermectin for unapproved indications where the specialist believes it is appropriate for a particular patient. This restriction is outlined in the Poisons Standard.

Drug regulatory bodies including Australias TGA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have taken a firm stance against the use of ivermectin for treating COVID-19.

In November, the TGA fined an Australian man $7,992 (US$5,754.84) for advertising ivermectin and zinc lozenges to treat the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Ivermectin is a generic medicine that can be produced cheaply in many places around the world and has been widely used in humans against parasitic worms, and to combat scabies, lice, as well as rosacea. It is also used as an anti-parasite drug in livestock, including horses and cows.

Some doctors and healthcare professionals have considered ivermectin as a suitable alternative for tackling COVID-19, especially when used in early treatment.
Ukrainian troops take part in a military drill outside the city of Rivne, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Positions Itself Between Moscow and Washington in Ukraine

News Analysis

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has positioned itself to benefit from escalating tensions in Ukraineregardless of what side, if any, initiates a military confrontation between Kyiv and Moscow.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 19 with calls to reject division and confrontation and instead embrace the banner of multilateralism.

These announcements coincide with the rapidly deteriorating geopolitical situation in Eastern Ukraine. Wang reaffirmed Chinas commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries. Ukraine is no exception to the principle.

The CCP leaderships call for a diplomatic solution and a halt to aggression in the region should not be interpreted as a departure from a deepening Moscow-Beijing axis; rather, it is representative of the China-first, realpolitik approach to international relations that is the cornerstone of CCP foreign policy. That is the only true North Star principle that is guiding Chinese decision-making.

Many saw the Feb. 4 meeting between CCP leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as indicative of a burgeoning anti-Western entente between the two nations. This is only part of the story. While the CCP is always ready to express solidarity with any country that challenges the preeminence of the United States in the international orderespecially if that challenge is a military oneBeijing is too savvy of a player to irreversibly commit itself to Putins Russia.

Instead, Xi has carefully curated a geopolitical position that ensures Chinas economic interests are enhanced regardless of the situations outcome. Western sources are reporting shelling by Russian-backed separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine; Russian media contends that there has been increased Kyiv-directed shelling of the Donbas region, resulting in civilian casualties. Should Russia launch a military incursion into the region, severe economic sanctions are certain.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pose for a photograph during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

China will be the only country that finds itself in an advantageous position should this occur. The meeting between Xi and Putin resulted in over 16 agreements that are meant to increase economic and technological cooperation between the two countries. This includes a Chinese commitment to purchase Russian oil and gas valued at over $100 billion.

Russias being ostracized from the world economic community will undoubtedly make it more reliant on its relationship with China and, thus, puts it more firmly under the influence of Chinese geopolitical power. Additionally, Beijing will be in a strong position to renegotiate deals made with Moscow to secure better terms.

However, Beijing would not be unwise enough to help Russia bypass the sanctions placed on it. European countries and the United States are major economic partners for China, much more so than the current level of its economic cooperation with Moscow.

The CCP has strong bilateral relations with Ukraine as well, and will not be willing to jettison that partnership. Kyiv is a member of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road) investment project, making it an important component of Beijings drive for ever-expanding international influence. Siding with Russia over Ukraine could set a bad example for other aspiring BRI countries as well (or, at least, countries that China aspires to join BRI).

China additionally wants to make sure that it is vocal in its support of Ukraines territorial integrity. Beijing has long been a proponent of state sovereignty and the belief that no third party or multilateral institution has a right to take direct action against the domestic policies of another country. That is part of the reason why China has never acknowledged the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Comparing Russias position to Eastern Ukraine and Crimea to the Chinese stance regarding Taiwan is a false parallel, however, as Beijing considers the island to be an estranged part of the country. Any actioneven by forceto reunite the two is thus perceived by the CCP as not only legitimate, but inevitable.

Just like Chinas commitment to Russia is contingent on international circumstances, however, its alignment with the United States and Western Europe should also not be overemphasized either. Further evidence that China is hedging its bets and not overcommitting one way or the other is that Beijing recently voiced condemnation of U.S. defense ties with Taiwan.

China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced countermeasures against U.S. defense contractors Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin. Citing relevant provisions of the countering foreign sanctions law, Wang stated Beijings intention to safeguard Chinas sovereignty and security interests.

Russia and China both agree with the principle of state sovereignty and disapprove of multilateral incursions into countries domestic affairs. An example of their unity on this front was the abstention of both from voting for a no-fly zone over Libya in 2011. Another example is both Moscow and Beijings condemnation of the NATO airstrikes on Serbia in 1998.

Beijings approach to the issue of sovereignty has more to do with national interest and less to do with principle, however. The CCP walks the tightrope of condemning the U.S. disregard for Russias security interests, while simultaneously denouncing any use of force in Eastern Ukraine (including by Moscow) and calling for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Should a military confrontation ignite in Eastern Ukraine, it will be unlikely that it is irrefutably clear who initially employed force. The finger pointing over shelling and allegations of potential false flag operations already swirling around the conflict ensure that both sides will cast the blame on the other.

Regardless, Beijing has positioned itself to reap the greatest amount of economic and geopolitical benefit possible from a military confrontationor lack thereofin Ukraine.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House about Russian military activity near Ukraine, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Announces Sanctions Against Russia, to Send Troops to Baltic States

President Joe Biden has said that the United States will impose sanctions on Russia far beyond the ones that it imposed in 2014 following the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Biden said in a Feb. 22 White House speech, signaling a shift in his administrations position. We will continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.

Russian elites and their family members will also soon face sanctions, he said, adding that Russia will pay an even steeper price if Moscow decides to push into Ukraine. Two Russian banks and Russian sovereign debt will also be sanctioned.

Also in his speech, Biden said he would send more U.S. troops to the Baltic statesEstonia, Latvia, and Lithuaniaas a defensive measure to strengthen NATOs position in the area. Russia shares a border with the Baltic states.

A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to go into the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine after a lengthy speech in which he recognized the two regions independence. Western powers decried the move and began to levy sanctions on certain Russian individuals, while Germany announced that it would halt plans to move forward with the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

In the United States, Biden is facing bipartisan pressure to take more extensive actions against Russia following Putins decision. However, a recent poll showed that a majority of Americans believes sending troops to Ukraine is a bad idea, while a slim minority believes its a good one.

All 27 European Union countries unanimously agreed on an initial list of sanctions targeting Russian authorities, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and EU foreign affairs head Josep Borell said the package will hurt Russia  a lot.

Earlier on Feb. 22, Borell said Russian troops have already entered the Donbas region, which makes up Donetsk and Luhansk, which have been under the control of pro-Russia groups since 2014.

Also on Feb. 22, the Russian Parliament approved a Putin-backed plan to use military force outside Russias borders as Putin confirmed that Russia would recognize the expanded borders of Luhansk and Donetsk.

We recognized the states, he said. That means we recognized all of their fundamental documents, including the constitution, where it is written that their [borders] are the territories at the time the two regions were part of Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Feb. 22, Putin said Ukraine is not interested in peaceful solutions and that every day, they are amassing troops in the Donbas.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky again downplayed on Feb. 22 the prospect of a Russian invasion and proclaimed that there will be no war.

There will not be an all-out war against Ukraine, and there will not be a broad escalation from Russia. If there is, then we will put Ukraine on a war footing, Zelensky said in a televised address.

The White House began to signal that it would shift its own position on whether its the start of an invasion.

We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, the White House deputy national security adviser in public remarks. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway.

For weeks, Western governments have been claiming Moscow would invade its neighbor after Russia gathered roughly 150,000 troops along the countries shared borders. They alleged that the Kremlin would attempt to come up with a pretext to attack, while some officials on Feb. 21 said Putins speech recognizing the two regions was just that.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Feb. 22 that Russias latest invasion of Ukraine was threatening stability in the region, but he said Putin can still avoid a full-blown, tragic war of choice.
President Joe Biden speaks about Russia and Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 15, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Warns Americans of Pain at the Pump Due to Russian Sanctions

President Joe Biden on Tuesday acknowledged that U.S. gas prices may keep rising due to his sanctions on Russian assets, saying that defending freedom will have costs.

As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well and here at home. We need to be honest about that, Biden said at the White House. But as we do this, Im going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at [the] Russian economy, not ours, he continued.

Since taking office last year, gas prices have steadily risen across the United States, reaching close to $5 per gallon in some areas. His critics have said that the price influx is, in part, because he shut down the Keystone XL Pipeline and wouldnt renew drilling leases as the administration has pushed for electric vehicles.

The president said that he will try to come up with a plan to limit the pain that Americans feel at the pump after the sanctions against Russia, one of the worlds top producers of oil and natural gas. Russia is a major supplier of oil to the United States, capturing the No. 2 spot among foreign oil suppliers last year.

Were closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. Were executing a plan in coordination with major oil-producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability in global energy supplies, Biden remarked Tuesday. This will blunt gas prices.

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.

Earlier, Biden said he would sanction Russian sovereign debt and some Russian elites as well as Russian bank VEB and a military bank. Those sanctions were issued after Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized two Ukrainian breakaway regions as independent nations and signed an order to send Russian troops into the area.

Biden on Monday also signed an executive order blocking new American investment, trade, and financing from flowing into the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics, which have been held by pro-Russian separatists since 2014. The separatist areas broke away shortly after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, a move that also drew sanctions under the Obama administration.

The president reiterated that he wont send any U.S. troops into Ukraine, but he promised new troop movements in NATO member states.

Ive authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia, Biden said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
This picture shows a quiet street in the business district in Sydney, Australia, on June 26, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Big Australian Corporations Push for More Skilled Immigrants

The business sector has called on the Australian government to temporarily boost the level of skilled migration to tackle acute labour shortages exacerbated by the loss of workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Business Council of Australia (BCA), an industry association whose members comprise the chief executives of over 100 of the countrys largest corporations, has made many recommendations to the Australian government over a wide range of topics in its submission to the 2022-23 budget.

In particular, the council recommended the federal government push up the annual permanent skilled migration ceiling to 220,000 in the next two financial years, before letting it revert to 190,000 in 2024 to 2025.

A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told The Epoch Times that Australias Migration Program was carefully designed to achieve a range of economic and social outcomes that meet the countrys needs while taking into account many factors.

The size and composition of the permanent Migration Program is set on an annual basis, the spokesperson said.

When planning the Migration Program, a wide range of factors are considered including stakeholder views, immediate and long-term economic and social needs, and the family reunion needs of Australians.

A cleaner wipes the front of a Gucci store in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 28, 2021. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

The council also recommended that the pre-election budget issued on March 29 concentrate on upgrading the labour forces skills.

The proposal included a new ambitious national skills agreement expected to better match training with the needs of learners and their employers. In addition, it also called for the government to prolong the Boosting Apprentice Commencement wage subsidy to another 12 months at a reduced rate.

We need to throw everything at addressing the structural issues threatening to stall momentum in the recovery such acute worker shortages and record low business investment, while laying the foundations for long-term and stronger economic growth, BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

The country has moved beyond waiting for COVID to reach its end point. We can no longer sit back and wait for a return to normal.

Westacott said that more government big spending was not the right approach to speeding up economic recovery.

Its about ensuring business can take the baton and drive faster and sustained private sector-led growth, she said.

Meanwhile, the BCA wanted to encourage more women to return to work and help them to move up in their careers after having children by proposing a shared carer paid parental leave bonus that supports couples to share parental responsibilities.

A customer wearing a face mask gets her hair cut in the central business district of Sydney, in Sydney, Australia, on June 25, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

In the field of tax, the BCA called for support for states that wanted to implement necessary tax reform. For example, the federal government could assist with stamp duty removal by providing states with an explicit guarantee that they would not suffer any disadvantage in the allocation of GST revenues.

At the same time, the council called for the Department of Treasury to drive up the turnover threshold for the 25 percent company tax rate to either $250 million (US$180 million), $500 million, or $1 billion instead of the current $50 million level.

It also suggested that the federal government lower the tax rate to 25 percent for all companies from the current 30 percent when fiscal conditions permit.

Additionally, the BCA proposed a 20 percent investment allowance for all companies so that they could improve their investments further.

The council also wanted the government to send a positive signal to foreign investors by allowing regular and trusted clients of the Foreign Investment Review Board to have access to a fast-track approvals lane.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Treasury said the federal government did not comment on budget speculation.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on during a press conference in Geneva on Jan. 21, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AFP via Getty Images)

Blinken Speaks With Chinas Foreign Minister Amid Ukraine Crisis

As Russia moved troops in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed tensions in the region with his Chinese counterpart in a phone call on Feb. 22.

The call came after Beijing and Moscow declared a no limits friendship earlier this month.

Blinken spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Russias aggression against Ukraine during the call, U.S. spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

The Secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the brief statement.

Hours before the call, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces into two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after recognizing them as independent. The move escalated fears of full-scale Russian invasion, drawing strong condemnation from the West. The United States said Tuesday it would place additional sanctions in response to Russias action.

The Chinese regime is following the situation in Ukraine, said Wang, according to a readout from Chinas foreign ministry.

Wang told Blinken that Beijings stance on the Ukraine issue is consistent, adding the legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected.

Wang said the regime called on all sides to exercise restraint, continuing to refrain from taking a clear side between Russia and Ukraine, despite the united front Beijing and Moscow displayed a few weeks ago.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. During the summit, the two leaders proclaimed a no limits friendship and issued an over 5,000-word joint statement in a show of solidarity.

They highlighted their opposition to what they called interference in the internal affairs by other states, and also protested the enlargement of NATO.

Russia has long denied any plan to attack Ukraine, but has threatened unspecified military-technical action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbor will never join NATO.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Beijings ministry said Wang told Blinken during the phone call that the regime opposed the United States inclusion of Taiwan in its Indo-Pacific strategy.

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 Chinese regime, which has never renounced the use of force to seize Taiwan, said the action is sending all the wrong signals to the self-ruled island.

The State Department made no mention of Taiwan in its readout of the call.

According to the official statement from both sides, Blinken and Wang also spoke about North Korea.

Reuters contributed to this report.
California Doctors Warn Against COVID-19 Censorship Bill

Some medical professionals are vowing to fight a possible new California law that attempts to threaten their medical licenses for spreading COVID-19 misinformationcalling the effort unconstitutional and illegal.

California Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2098 on Feb. 15, which would prevent licensed physicians and surgeons from spreading COVID-19 misinformation. If passed, the law would inject disciplinary actions by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to care providers promoting alleged misinformation.

The idea that theyre going to come after physicians that spread misinformation, without defining what misinformation is, [is] frightening, Physician Dr. Jeff Barke told The Epoch Times.

Dr. Jeff Barke in Tustin, Calif., on March 10, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Amid the pandemic, Barke was among the minority of health care professionals unafraid of challenging the science behind masks and vaccinations pushed by the California Department of Public Health and Center for Disease Control and Preventionurging for individual freedom of choice.

Barke, a private practice physician in Newport Beach, has continuously fought against COVID-19 mandates and has urged for California schools to reopensaying children are statistically unlikely to die due to the virus.

While Barke is against the mandatesespecially lingering COVID-19 vaccine mandates for kidshe reassures that he is not anti-vaccine.

As the threat of censorship lingers among some health professionals, Barke said he fears scientific studies are at riskas those who have challenged vaccines and masks will be potentially forced into compliance.

Science is not about consensus. Its not about agreement. Its about sharing and debating ideas, Barke said. That sharing and debating ideas has not been allowed during the COVID crisis.

The COVID-19 Moderna vaccination was prepared at Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Mark McDonald, a private practice psychiatrist in Los Angeles, said he is unfazed by the proposed billstating he will continue to voice his opinion against COVID-19 mandates until he is chased out of the state.

If they want to challenge me, then Ill take them to court, McDonald told The Epoch Times. Were going into year three of this nonsense and I think when you stand up and you dont give an inch, in most cases, the bullies are actually cowards, and they will collapse.

McDonald has repeatedly spoken out against the COVID-19 vaccine, masks, social distancing mandates, and school closures at in-person events or on social media. Most of what he put online was either flagged as misinformation or removed, he said.

Nevertheless, McDonald has persisted.

All doctors really need to stand up and do whats right, rather than cower in fear and censor their words, McDonald said.

While leaving the state to avoid losing his license is an option, McDonald said he plans on staying.

As long as there is something to fight for, you should stay where you are and fight, McDonald said. I think California still has some good left in it. Not much, but it still has some good and as long as something can be salvaged, I think those who are fighters need to stay and fight.

Orange County nurses choosing not to receive coronavirus vaccinations gather in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sept. 2, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Aside from AB 2098, state officials are requesting support from lawmakers to create a new department to push back against COVID-19 misinformation, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Feb. 17.

We will continue to call it out, Newsom said. We ask people [who] continue to promote lies and misinformation.

Cited in the proposed bill, misinformation refers to the spread of information that opposes the safety of vaccines as confirmed through evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration.

The spread of misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines has weakened public confidence and placed lives at serious risks, the legislation reads.

The legislation further elaborates on how major news outlets have reported on dangerous and inaccurate information about the vaccines.
In this photo provided by Ukrainian National Guard Press Office Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, right, greets Ukrainian soldiers during her visit to the National Guard base close to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 18, 2022. (The Canadian Press/AP-Ukrainian National Guard Press Office via AP)

Canada to Sanction Russia for Recognizing Breakaway Regions of Ukraine

Canada says it will impose sanctions on Russia after its President Vladimir Putin recognized the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine on Feb. 21.

Canada, with its partners and allies, will react firmly to this blatant disregard for international law, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly in a statement.

We are preparing to impose economic sanctions for these actions, separate from those prepared to respond to any further military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Putin also ordered the deployment of troops in Donetsk and Luhansk to secure the peace, reported Russian state media Russia Today.

Following Putins declaration, on Feb. 22 Russias lower house of parliament passed a motion supporting independence for the two regions, known collectively as Donbas, and the parliaments upper house also voted to allow Russia to use military force outside the country.

Russia is not planning to send troops to eastern Ukraine for now but will do so in case of a threat, a Russian foreign ministry official told Agence France-Presse on Feb.22.

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, said Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko.

Russia Today reports that the deal between the Kremlin and the newly-recognized republics will allow Russia to station troops and military hardware in the area, but Rudenko said So far, there hasnt been any talk about setting up bases.

In response to the Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border in recent months, which the U.S. says includes up to 190,000 troops, Ottawa increased its support to Ukraine by providing loans, broadening the military training mission, and supplying lethal weapons.

A number of other countries have announced sanctions, with the United States and the United Kingdom also saying the sanctions they are imposing are separate from those planned if Russia actually invades Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (E.O.) on Feb. 21 with targeted sanctions on the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics (DNR and LNR).

Some of the measures prohibit any new investments in the DNR and LNR by American citizens and bans the importation of goods, services, and technologies from the regions.

The E.O. also provides the authority to impose sanctions on anyone operating or serving in an official capacity in Donetsk and Luhansk.

The E.O. states its purpose is to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. These actions are not directed at the people of Ukraine or the Ukrainian government.

On Feb. 22, the United Kingdom announced it was sanctioning three Russian oligarchs with close ties to Putin, and freezing the assets of five Russian banks.

And we are prepared to go much further if Russia does not pull back from the brink, said U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

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.

Putin gave a televised address on Feb. 21 in which he expressed his belief that Ukraine is an integral part of Russias history and described the eastern Ukrainian region as ancient Russian lands.

Donetsk and Luhansk have been in a state of armed conflict with Ukraine since Russian-backed separatists declared independence from Kyiv in 2014, but Russias recognition of these areas as separate republics creates a rationale for justifying Russian military action if the breakaway regions call for assistance.

In August 2008, Russia invaded Georgia to defend the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Not long after, Russia recognized South Ossetia and the other Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent republics after punishing Georgia in a swift five-day war.
Protesters leave in a truck convoy at the U.S. border crossing after demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates for over two weeks, in Coutts, Alberta, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Canadian Lawmaker Claims Single Mom Had Bank Account Frozen After Giving $50 to Freedom Convoy

Canadian politician Mark Strahl on Feb. 20 claimed that a single mom with a minimum wage job had her bank account frozen after she legally donated $50 to the Freedom Convoy.

Strahl, a Conservative, took to Twitter to criticize Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the Emergencies Act, which was invoked for the first time in Canadas history to address the impact of the ongoing protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by truckers and their supporters.

Briane is a single mom from Chilliwack working a minimum wage job, Strahl wrote on Twitter on Feb. 20. 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.

Strahl was soon pressed by other Twitter users to provide further details and verification regarding his claims about the single mother and her allegedly frozen bank account.

However, the Chilliwack-Hope MP refused to do so, stating that he did not want to publish identifying information about the woman online that could be used with malicious intent.

Thank you to those who have read this and offered to help someone youve never met, he wrote in a second post. Shame on those who have read it and attacked someone youve never met. I will keep working with Briane to resolve this matter with her bank and will provide updates as they are made available.

He added, 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.

A police officer smashes a truck window as police deploy to remove protesters in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement on Feb. 21, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said account-freezing powers under the Emergency Economic Measures Order (Emergencies Act), pertained to individuals who were influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area impacted by the protest.

At no time, did we provide a list of donors to financial institutions, RCMP said. We are now working with the banks to build a process to address the accounts that were frozen, RCMP added.

Mike Duheme, RCMP deputy commissioner of federal policing, announced on Feb. 20 that police had frozen 206 financial products, including bank and corporate accounts, of individuals and companies allegedly involved in the ongoing protests in Ottawa.

Duheme said at a news conference that the RCMP had also disclosed the information of 56 entities associated with vehicles, individuals, and companies. Officials also shared 253 bitcoin addresses with virtual currency exchanges, and froze a payment processing account valued at $3.8 million, Duheme said.

The RCMP has not said what will happen to the money that has been frozen by financial institutions or indicated that those who donated money to the Freedom Convoy were included.

We continue to work at collecting relevant information on persons, vehicles, and companies and remain in daily communication with the financial institutions to assist them, Duheme told reporters.

However, at a press briefing on Feb. 21, Trudeau was asked if regular individuals making donations to support the Freedom Convoy were having their bank accounts frozen, to which he responded that the measures we put in place are designed and focused on ensuring the people in the current illegal occupations leave, the Vancouver Sun reported.

That has been the intent and the focus right now. If there are specific cases that Conservative ministers can bring forward to highlight where that is not the case, we would happily look at them and look to resolve them, said Trudeau.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also reiterated that the financial sanctions are aimed at targeting leaders and those who were part of illegal occupations and blockades.

Its important for all of us to be very, very careful to get our facts exactly right in each circumstance, and I would urge all of us to take that care in every situation, she said.

The RCMP has given to the financial institutions names of leaders and organizers of the protests and of people whose trucks were part of occupations and blockades. That is the only information given, according to the RCMP, that the RCMP has given to financial institutions.

The Epoch Times has contacted Mark Strahl for comment.

An RCMP spokesperson told The Epoch Times: The Emergencies Act has allowed law enforcement and monitoring agencies to work more closely with Canadian financial institutions; enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement conducting investigations.

While it remains the responsibility of the financial institutions to make the decision of freezing accounts, the RCMP is diligently working with our law enforcement and federal partners to disclose relevant information of individuals and companies suspected of involvement in illegal acts. The list that was provided to financial institutions included identities of individuals who were influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area impacted by the protest. At no time, did we provide a list of donors to financial institutions.
Capitol Report (Feb. 21): Trump Launches Truth Social App

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an announcement Monday that NATO leaders are calling an attack without weapons. And President Joe Biden has agreed to meet with Putin later this week so long as tanks arent rolling in.

Hundreds of truckers are getting set to drive across the country. This time they wont be delivering any goods, but they do have a strong message. We have an interview with Maureen Steel, the organizer of The Peoples Convoy.

The American trucker convoy is set to bring their message to Washington, D.C. They want life to go back to normal so they can make ends meet. But Biden just told Congress to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency.

George Washingtons birthday shouldnt just be another day off from school or work, but a day to reflect on the man who founded and laid the foundation for the United States of America. Author and historian John Berlau joins us to discuss.

Former President Donald Trumps social media platform is now available for download on the App Store. Its called Truth Social.

Beijing announced sanctions on two American companies, for the third time in as many years. But the rogue regime isnt giving many details.

Follow CapitolReport on social media:

Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CapitolReport/

Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport
Lines of trucks are seen at a container terminal of Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, China, on Aug. 15, 2021. (cnsphoto via Reuters)

China Broke Its Promise to Import an Extra $200 Billion From America

We are too addicted to Chinas cheap stuff to hold Beijing accountable

News Analysis

On Jan.15, 2020, then-President Donald Trump announced a historic trade deal with Beijing that had two deadlines for increased imports, summing to $200 billion, from China.

Both deadlines passed after the election of Joe Biden, yet his administration has done nothing concrete in response. President Bidens trade representative told Congress in a new report that the administration is prepared to do something, but Biden is actually letting Beijing slide.

Thats because Chinas equivalent of crack cocaine for consumers feels so gooduntil it kills us. We love buying cheap stuff on Amazon. Corporations love the profits. Politicians do exactly what their voters and campaign contributors want. Everybody shoots up with the illusion that what feels good today, will be good for tomorrow.

Not so much, when China uses its profits to build a military and political influence machine capable of defeating America, democracy, and the market-based system on a global scale.

Trump tried to wake up our addicted economy with a bucket of cold water called tariffs, on $370 billion of Chinese imports. He wanted to put an end to the addiction, despite screaming protests of our corporations and their economists.

How Trump Used Tariffs to Get the $200 Billion Promise From China

Trump used the tariffs, and a credible threat for more, to extract a $200 billion promise from Beijing in January 2020. In exchange, he decreased some of the tariffs. The rest remain in place, even under Biden.

In addition to the $200 billion, Beijing agreed to structural measures against forced technology transfer, subsidies, and regulatory barriers, as well as protections for intellectual property, the liberalization of Chinas financial services sector, and specific import targets for American agriculture, services, energy, and manufactured goods.

Beijing never would have agreed to this except under Trumps tariff thumb screw.

According to Trump, his trade leverage also got Chinas help on North Koreas nuclear weapons and limits on Chinas production of fentanyl. The latter is a synthetic opioid smuggled into the United States through Canada and Mexico, and that along with prescription opioids, killed almost 92,000 Americans in 2020 by overdose.

The deal wasnt all roses. For China, it may have included perceived concessions on the independence of Hong Kong and sovereignty of Taiwan, according to reporting on an August 2020 review of the deal. If former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton is to be believed, Trump allegedly threw the Uyghurs under the bus as well, during 2019 trade negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Japan.

Trumps flattery of Xi and alleged political sacrifices are par for the course in trade negotiations. He at the same time tried to pressure Xi by threatening to decouple entirely from the Chinese economy, and more specifically and immediately, to ban TikTok and WeChat, both of which are popular apps owned by Chinese companies.

How China Broke Its $200 Billion Promise

The deal gave Trump a public win leading into the elections of 2020, but China immediately started reneging on it, ultimately using the pandemic, the resulting global recession, lower commodity prices, disrupted supply chains, and the U.S. governments continuous sanctions and suppression towards Chinese entities as excuses.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. President Donald Trump sign a trade agreement between the United States and China in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 15, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Just five months into the deal, when Trump was still president, China had only imported 47 percent of what it should have to meet the 2020 year-end target, according to Chad Bown at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

A mid-2020 survey of 100 companies doing business in China found that 13 percent had been asked to transfer technology compared to just 5 percent in 2019. The Trump deal was not going well, according to Bown. But Trump couldnt emphasize it publicly, as he was knee-deep in an election.

By the end of the deals period of effect on Dec. 31, 2021, China had imported almost none of the extra $200 billion it promised, and only 52 percent of the promised services, 59 percent of the manufactures, 37 percent of the energy, and 83 percent of the agriculture targets.

While Beijing promised $227.9 billion of total imports by the end of 2020, it actually imported just $134.4 billion that year, well under the 2017 baseline of $151.2 billion. The promise of $274.5 billion of imports by the end of 2021 resulted in just $154.4 billion, barely above the static baseline, and well below what the imports would have been without the tariffs, according to Bown.

Note that both of the deals deadlines expired after Biden was elected president. It was for his administration, not just Trump or his trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, to project the credibility of consequences, and then impose them, for Beijing not sticking to its promises.

And according to Jamieson Greer, former chief of staff to Ambassador Lighthizer, Bowns claim that the US exported none of the extra $200B is primarily dependent on the numbers for services trade, which is dominated by travel, which obviously stopped during the entire pandemic.

Greer continued: A focus on actual goods trade is much more instructive, and shows that we had record good exports to China in 20/21 despite not fully meeting purchase targets. The point is even though China didnt meet the deal, it still resulted in record exports.

Regardless, China finked on the deal. And almost no progress was made by either the Trump or Biden administrations against Chinas subsidies, which have for decades hollowed out Americas industrial ecosystem.

What lesson should we have learned long before Trump ever came on the scene? Dont trust the Chinese Communist Party. It thrives on making and breaking agreements.

But the lesson the corporations and their economists want us to believe is different: end the tariffs. They want us to return to the feel-good days of crack cocaine and unmitigated free trade with the worlds biggest enemy of democracy.

Dont buy into the temptation. We need to strengthen, enforce, and broaden our China tariffs, including by encouraging similar China tariffs by our allies in Europe and Japan, for example, if we want Beijing to become not only more economically open, but more democratic.

Only if China fully reforms and liberalizes will it cease to be a threat to democracies and markets worldwide. It will not do so, without the leverage of tariffs.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
People arrive to attend the Huawei keynote address at the IFA 2020 Special Edition consumer electronics and appliances trade fair on the fair's opening day in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 3, 2020. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

China Infiltrates US, Other Nations Through Huawei, Expert Says

Chinese technology giant Huawei rose to prominence because it received tens of billions in financial support from the regime in Beijing, thus allowing the firm to undercut competitors and gain market share, book author Jonathan Pelson said.

However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) didnt shell out the money for purely business reasons, he said.

The CCP was not helping Huawei so that [it] can succeed as a company, Pelson said. They were helping Huawei so that the CCP could succeed in its geopolitical efforts, to export its philosophies and its governance principles around the rest of the world.

Pelson made the remarks during an interview with EpochTVs China Insider program on Feb. 21, while speaking about his new book Wireless Wars: Chinas Dangerous Domination of 5G and How Were Fighting Back.

In December 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Huawei was in a stronger position than its competitors because it had access to about $75 billion in state support, in the form of subsidies, loans, grants, tax breaks, and discounted land sales.

Huaweis rise coincided with the demise of Canadas Nortel and Lucent Technologies in the United States, which dominated the global market in telecom equipment in the late 1990s.

The $75 billion could equate to an average of $5 billion over 15 years, according to Pelson.

If you have a government backing you with $5 billion a year, letting you run what would be losses but still show a profit, its kind of hard to beat you out in the global market, he said.

Inside the United States, Huawei has sold telecom gear to small cellular companies and set up wireless towers in rural areas, creating a national security concern, Pelson said. Whats even more worrisome, based on conversations with FBI counterintelligence officers, is the location of the towers, he added.

They are next to all the nuclear missile bases; they are next to the special operations commands, which are located out in rural areas, [and] the nuclear submarine bases, he said.

What you found was Huawei was suddenly deployed around all these sensitive bases and installations in the United States. They [Huawei] were able to basically have their finger on the pulse of the communications that were coming out of those places, if they were able to access their own equipment, which, in general, vendors are able to do.

Currently, Huawei and many of its affiliates are on a U.S. economic blacklist. Additionally, the U.S. government has already banned Huawei from the countrys 5G networks because of security concerns.

In June 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed Huawei and Chinese tech firm ZTE as national security threats, which barred U.S. firms from using an $8.3 billion government fund to buy equipment from the two Chinese companies.

A picture of a screen shows a tracking mode from a Huawei device during the Huawei developer conference at the Huawei Campus in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, on Aug. 10, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images)

The FCC subsequently announced a $1.9 billion program in September 2021. The program would reimburse mostly rural U.S. telecom carriers to rip and replace network equipment manufactured by Huawei, ZTE, and other Chinese companies designed as national security threats. Carriers could file an application from Oct. 29, 2021, until Jan. 28 of this year.

On Feb. 4, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Congress that $1.9 billion wasnt enough. According to a statement from the FCC, she told lawmakers that the agency received 181 reimbursement applications from carriers, requesting a total of $5.6 billion.

Pelson said he recently spoke to people at some of the U.S. carriers looking to replace their Huawei equipment, but he was told that nothing had been replaced yet. He added that some of these people wanted to replace their 4G Huawei equipment with 5G equipment, not 4G gear made by other companies.

Though some countries, including the United States, have banned Huaweis 5G equipment, Huawei has expanded its business globallyparticularly in Africamostly through the communist regimes Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road).

Last year, digital rights group Top10VPN published a report (pdf) detailing Huaweis global expansion by tracking its middleboxes, which are specially configured routers to inspect or filter internet traffic.

The report found that 1,799 such devices were found in 69 countries, including in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. At least 17 of these countriesincluding Cuba, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Colombia, and Bangladeshused the middlebox for censorship.

Huawei officials didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time.

Frank Fang journalist Follow Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based journalist. He covers news in China and Taiwan. He holds a master's degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan.
Military delegates march at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Military Has Made Impressive GainsBut Do They Matter?

Commentary

U.S. military planners are justifiably concerned that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is fielding increasingly advanced military and space platforms and systems in impressive quantities.

But is this the heart of the Chinese threat to the United States?

Or is Beijings non-military conflict capability of greater concern?

And, even then, under what circumstances would Chinaor, rather, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)successfully challenge the U.S. strategically?

The CCP has, for a quarter century, outlined its doctrine of unrestricted warfare, in which it challenges the United States but clearly indicates that its form of total war (unrestricted war) relies on the avoidance of direct military contact between the two powers.

What, then, is the principal use of the PLA?

First, the PLA is a psychopolitical instrument rather than a military warfighting instrument. The PLA must achieve prestige at home and abroad. The power and efficiency of PLA capabilities is designed to equate to national pride at home in such a way that the CCP is seen as the source of that pride and cannot be displaced by internal threats. Moreover, it must create the image that China equates or exceeds on the world stage with the image of the United States, in terms of leadership and dominance of the future.

Chinese military soldiers march to their barracks opposite the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Clearly, to achieve this image, the PLA must be able to actually be a credible warfighting instrument, but there are reasons why a resort to warfighting would be strategically fatal.

Second, the PLA prestige must provide deterrence to any hostile plans to limit the CCP in its domestic or international actions, not just to deter the United States, but India, Japan, Russia, Australia, and others.

Third, the PLA prestige has projected power and authority over countries around the world, to intimidate or woo them into alliance or away from the West.

The CCP has so far been successful in all of these objectives, and this has been the most important achievement of the Xi Jinping era, which began effectively in 2012. Earlier CCP leaders have attempted to reach this level of PLA prestige or capability, but Xi has been able to bring it to fruition, despite the concurrent degradation of the mainland Chinese economy.

So the credible (in some ways) PLA threat of force to attack and absorb the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwans official name) is highly rhetorical for domestic political consumption. Some theoreticians in China are concerned that Xi actually thinks that this is a real strategic objective rather than a psychopolitical one.

Yes, it is critical for the CCP to actually achieve an end to the Chinese Civil War, which saw the CCP take control of mainland China in 1949. But the CCP failed to put an end to the legal and emotional existence of the ROC, which continues to survive and prosper as the actual successor state to Imperial China.

Destroying Taiwan would deliver legitimacy to the CCP as the sole representative of China. As long as Taiwan continues to exist, the CCPs legitimacy is questionable or incomplete in the minds of many Chinese.

Similarly, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was never able to feel secure in its legitimacy as the successor to the Russian Empire, and was in 1990 proven correct in this insecurity when Russian nationalism resurged to the point of overthrowing the CPSU and USSR.

And yes, Taiwan exists as a real strategic impediment constraining the CCP and the PLA from unfettered access to the Central Pacific. But the ability of the ROC, Japan, and the West to use the first island chain to restrict free PLA movement did not inhibit Chinas economic growth in the 21st century. So in many respects, the Taiwan geographical constraint on free naval expansion by China is academic.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (L) waves at an upgraded U.S.-made F-16 V fighter as Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng looks on during a ceremony at the Chiayi Air Force in southern Taiwan on Nov. 18, 2021. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

The unrestricted warfare doctrine stresses the defeat of the CCPs adversaries by psychopolitical means, avoiding direct military confrontation. This form of warfare evolved from the Cold War of 194590 as a means of ensuring strategic warfare without direct military confrontation and the inherent risks of formal warfare.

The CCP learned the lessons of the 20th century, and understood that Japans defeat in World War II was guaranteed when it attacked the U.S. militarily on Dec. 7, 1941. It demonstrated that Japan could not reach into, and defeat, the core strategic depth of the United States, embodied in its agricultural and industrial capabilities.

Today, the CCP could not destroy the U.S. strategic advantage militarily without risking its own defeat, so any destruction of the United States would have to be achieved by indirect meansthe most direct being cyberwarfare, but more by achieving the decline of the U.S. strategic capabilities by inducing domestic collapse or paralysis.

Direct military confrontation of the United States by the PLA could, as with the initial Japanese attacks on America, initially be successful. But it would galvanize a unity of the U.S. polity and undo years of attempts to encourage U.S. disunity.

Moreover, it would result in the United States immediately cutting the sale of agricultural productsmainly foodto the Chinese market. Given the existential dependence of China on imported food (and the overwhelming importance of the United States as the main supplier), any U.S. denial of food exports would fatally undermine the viability of China.

This would spell the end of the CCPs ability to control mainland China.

Does this mean that direct Western responsesto build warfighting equivalence or superiorityto the PLA are unimportant? No, because containment of the CCPs strategic strengthessentially its prestige and deterrence, which gives it control of the populationis critical to stopping Beijing damage Western cohesion and dominance. And the CCPs lure of the West into direct military competition as an equal power or credible threat actually adds to Beijings prestige.

The U.S. and Western posture must firstly deny prestige to the CCP and then curtail Beijings ability to accelerate the decline of the West. In other words, the United States and Westwhile facing their own declinemust ensure that they have the ability to regain command of their own destinies.

So military competition between the United States and China is important, but in different waysin a different strategic terrainthan has been considered to date.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinas Property Bubble Collapse Gets Worse

Commentary

A few months ago, when investors started to discuss the troubles of Evergrande, Chinas largest real estate developer, many economists saw the problem as isolated and insignificant. The consensus message was that the real estate crisis was containable and that the Evergrande default would be a single case.

However, Chinese defaults on local and overseas bonds rose to a record $43 billion in 2021, according to Bloomberg, led by widespread defaults in the real estate sector.

Up until a week ago, the bonds of Zhenro Properties Group were seen as safe, and the company was widely perceived as a rare case of balance sheet strength in a troubled sector. Unfortunately, the reality was significantly different, and the company warned that it may not meet its credit obligations.

The surprise announcement of credit risk from Zhenro Properties highlights the extent of the risks that have accumulated in the Chinese real estate sector, with a bubble of enormous proportions thats bursting slowly and creating ripple effects on the rest of the economy.

In my article Chinas problems are larger than Evergrande, I already mentioned that the distressed property giant wasnt an anecdote, but a symptom of a model based on leveraged growth and seeking to inflate gross domestic product (GDP) at any cost, including ghost cities, unused infrastructure, and wild construction. The indebtedness chain model of Evergrande isnt uncommon in China, and Zhenro shows that even those developers that were perceived as relatively more prudent are, in fact, in a similar dire situation.

This surprise isnt uncommon. When we look at the burst of the real estate bubbles in Sweden, Spain, Japan, Iceland, and other economies, the process always starts with the message that one default is an anecdote and continues with the realization that the allegedly safest companies suffer from similar problems of excessive leverage and weak cash flow generation.

As I mentioned in September, many Chinese companies follow the running to stand still strategy of piling on ever-increasing debt to compensate for poor cash flow generation and weak margins. Many promoters get into massive debt to build a promotion that either isnt sold or is left with many unsold units, then they finance that debt by adding more credit for new projects using unsaleable or already leveraged assets as collateral.

The real estate sector is enormous in China. Its direct and indirect weight, according to JP Morgan, is 25 percent of GDP, more than double the size of previous real estate bubbles in Japan or Spain. Its impossible for the Chinese regime to contain the implosion of a sector that has massive ramifications that affect all the services sector and numerous side industries. The Chinese regime tries to disguise the risk by injecting liquidity into Chinese banks and cutting rates, but even if the vast majority of the property developers debt is in the hands of domestic savers, the collapse in investor confidence is difficult to contain. At best, the Chinese economy will see an inevitable slowdown. In the worst-case scenario, the implosion of the real estate sector may cause a large hole in the national banks assets that may need the largest bailout in modern times. The outcome may lie somewhere in between.

Many sectors in China may continue to thrive regardless of the property slump, but none of them, even all combined, can offset the impact of such a dominant part of the Chinese economy. If other global economies were unable to offset the burst of a property bubble even when the size of their real estate sectors in the total economy was extraordinarily lower than in the case of China, its virtually impossible to believe that the Asian giant will be able to achieve its growth target when the property bubble burst coincides with an unprecedented government intervention in other sectors.

Chinese property developers need to repay or refinance up to $100 billion in debt in 2022, according to Bloomberg. It isnt difficult to predict that at least half will default, surpassing 2021s record figure. Additionally, global and domestic demand for the largest Chinese sectors is weakening due to expectations of more government crackdowns in 2022.

The combination of increasing government interventionism with the rising concern about the financial situation of debt issuers may be unsurmountable for the Chinese economy. Repeating failed Keynesian demand-side policies is not the answer. China needs to open its economy and abandon a debt-fuelled model.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinese Warship Lasered an Australian Surveillance PlaneWhen Will We Hit Back?

Our politicians complain but do nothing in response

News Analysis

Chinas Navy is firing lasers again, this time at an Australian surveillance plane within Australias own exclusive economic zone, and very likely within sight of the Australian mainland.

This is a laser redux of similar aggression by Chinas Navy against U.S. and Australian pilots that has occurred on multiple occasions over the years, without serious response. That failure of credible deterrence is an invitation for more abuse.

Chinas latest laser show cannot in any way be presented as a defensive action by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It is offensive, against a U.S. ally, and up close and personal.

Australias prime minister, the conservative Scott Morrison, rightly described the attack as an act of intimidation. An expert commentator claimed that it could be a laser rangefinder for a much more powerful weapon.

Regardless, it could have blinded the pilots, who flew a P-8A Poseidon aircraft hit on Feb. 17. It should result in consequences.

Back in the 1950s, the PLAN ship would have been shot out of the water. Perhaps a jet fighter that accompanies the plane could have replied with an uncomfortably close shot across the ships bow. That would have sent the message and given the next captain of a PLAN ship pause before lasering a U.S. ally.

Now we have gentler methods of making the point, which should at least be new economic sanctions that cost the regime in Beijing hundreds of millions of dollars every time a PLAN ship even thinks of unpacking its lasers.

The responsibility for imposing these consequences should not rest on the shoulders of Australia alone. All democracies and countries that value their independence should support Australia with coordinated international sanctions that hit Beijing hard and where it countsin the wallet.

The laser was aimed off Australias north coast. Australias Defense Force (ADF) said on Feb. 19 that the PLAN vessel illuminated the Australian plane as the former traveled east in the Arafura Sea, which abuts the Northern Territory. The ADF said the lasering could endanger lives on the Australian plane. Such actions are not in keeping with the standards we expect of professional militaries.

The following day, Morrison said, I can see it no other way than an act of intimidation, one that was unprovoked, unwarranted and Australia will never accept such acts of intimidation.

He rightly stated that the latest act of aggression fully justifies Australias decision to ally more closely with the United States, Japan, Britain, and India in various formations, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) with the United States, Japan, and India, as well as the AUKUS pact, in which the United States and United Kingdom are providing Australia with critical nuclear propulsion technology for its submarines, and making a pretty penny in the process.

France, which has lagged other democracies on the issue of China, and which had offered Australia outdated diesel-electric submarines, lost a penny.

(L-R) Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pose for a group photograph at the State Department in Washington, on Sept. 16, 2021. The U.S. announced a new alliance with Australia and Britain to strengthen military capabilities in the face of a rising China, with Canberra to get a nuclear submarine fleet and U.S. cruise missiles. (Andrew Harnik/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Morrison reasonably demanded that China do a full investigation of the incident and provide a report. So far, Beijing has been entirely mum. If it keeps that up for a couple more days, Australia and its allies should impose joint economic sanctions immediately.

On Feb. 21, the prime minister doubled down. We havent received an explanation as yet, he said on an Australian radio interview.

This is a dangerous and reckless act. And worse, it can be seen, as I said yesterday, as an act of intimidation and bullying. They were in our exclusive economic zone and they were pointing a laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft, Morrison said.

U.S. and Australian pilots have noted incidents of Chinese military lasering of allied planes and helicopters since at least 2017, including from PLAN vessels, Chinas military base in Djibouti, and even disguised fishing boats. The latter are Chinas militarized and heavily subsidized Maritime Militia, which ply the waters far from where any sane unsubsidized Chinese fisherman would go.

To add insult to possible injury, Beijing signed the 1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons, an international agreement that bans the lasering of pilots. But the regime has made a mockery of international law so frequently that any reliance on its promises became foolhardy long ago.

The Chinese Communist Party previously denied reports of its military forces lasering U.S. and Australian pilots. These denials should never have been allowed to go unanswered and without economic sanctions. The failure to respond to these provocationsin a way that impacts Beijing directlyis an invitation for more.

Morrison last week rightly accused the Labor Party in Australia of being weak against China. He said that Beijing prefers Labor to the conservatives as a result. Hes right to say so.

But its time for conservatives to put their money where their mouths are, and take much tougher action against Beijing. Sadly, Morrison is behind in the polls. If he is on the way out anyway, lets hope he at least gives Beijing a parting shot at the end.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Tamara Lich, organizer for the Freedom Convoy, accompanied by supporters calling for an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, delivers a statement during a news conference in Ottawa, on Feb. 3, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Court Denies Bail for Freedom Convoy Organizer Tamara Lich

An Ontario court has denied bail for Tamara Lich, one of the key organizers of the Freedom Convoy protest that took place in Ottawas downtown core opposing federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

An Ottawa court judge issued the decision on Feb. 22, after Lich said during a hearing that she would give up advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta.

Lich, who was arrested in Ottawa on Feb. 17 and charged with counselling to commit mischief, appeared before Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois in a bail hearing on Feb. 19. Bourgeois reserved her bail decision on Lich until today.

I cannot be reassured that if I release you into the community that you will not reoffend, Bourgeois said during the ruling.

Your detention is necessary for the protection and safety of the public.

In addition to holding Lich in custody, Bourgeois ordered Lich to have no contact with other convoy organizers Benjamin Dichter, Christopher Barber, and Daniel Bulford.

Barber was arrested the same day as Lich and released on bail on Feb. 19. Bulford was arrested on Feb. 18 and released 12 hours later with no charges.

Meanwhile, the House of Commons voted on Feb. 21 in favour of the federal governments use of measures under the Emergencies Act to respond to the protests.

The Liberals and NDP voted to approve the measures, while Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois voted against it.

The Senate is scheduled to start its own debate on the measures on Feb. 22.

On Feb. 14, the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act to give authorities sweeping additional powers to clear out the protesters that had parked in Ottawas downtown core for three weeks, including the ability to compel towing companies to remove trucks from the citys downtown core.

Several financial measures were also brought in to reduce funding for the protests, such as the broadening of anti-money laundering regulations to encompass crowdfunding platforms and digital currencies. Under the new measures, banks are also able to freeze the accounts of individuals and corporations involved in the protests without a court order.

A majority of provincial premiers have said it was unnecessary to invoke the Emergencies Act.

In a video posted on social media, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney pointed to Alberta and Ottawas success in resolving the recent protests blockading the Canada-U.S. border crossings, which were in solidarity with the protests in Ottawa, without the need for additional powers.

Ottawa police said in a statement that as of 8 a.m. Feb. 21, officers have made 196 arrests, with 110 facing a variety of charges. The police also said 115 vehicles connected to the protest have been towed.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
A resident is swabbed for a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 in Lianyungang, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province on Feb. 18, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Delta, Omicron Outbreaks Spread in Parts of China

The Chinese regime announced COVID-19 outbreaks in the north, south, east, and west of the country on Feb. 19 that are primarily Delta and Omicron variants.

The infected cities include Heihe in northeastern Chinas Heilongjiang Province, Huludao in northeastern Liaoning, Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu, Shaoxing in eastern Zhejiang, Wenshan, Honghe, and Ruili in southwestern Yunnan, Hohhot and Baotou in northern Inner Mongolia, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Dongguan in southern Guangdong, and Haikou in far southern Hainan.

Officials from the Chinese National Health Commission said at the press conference on Saturday that the regime has started arranging for all residents over 18 to receive a booster shot, although they couldnt evaluate the effects of the regular vaccination nor the booster.

Just like the first two vaccinations, the Chinese regime distributed vaccines from local manufacturers for the booster shots.

Residents queue to be swabbed for COVID-19 testing in Suzhou, China on Feb. 16, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Suzhou

On Feb. 19, residents from Suzhou city, where people are facing the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, described their situation to the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times.

A child that lives at Building 11 was infected with the CCP virus [and diagnosed on Feb. 18]. All the about one hundred residents from several dozens of families in the building were removed to quarantine centers in the night, a resident surnamed Wang at Xingshengke residential compound in Suzhou Industrial Park said in a phone interview.

He explained that he and everyone living in other buildings in the residential compound were locked inside the compound after the childs infection was detected.

A resident surnamed Ji at 150 Yangpu Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, said the regime locked down the whole park, an area of 107 square miles with a population of 1.13 million, and people werent allowed to enter or leave the park without a special permit.

Ji said the outbreak in the park was serious, and some workers were recently diagnosed including someone employed at the Bosch factory.

Five factories [in the park] are sealed, and workers cant leave the factories, Ji said. Theres about 5,000 foreign invested factories in the park.

State-run Shanghai Observer reported on Feb. 19 that the COVID-19 patients in Suzhou are from Wuzhong, Wujiang, Gusu, and Xiangcheng districts, as well as Changshu and Zhangjiagang prefecture-level cities.

The Chinese regime rules all parts of the country with the same policies. Suzhous current status reflects the situation in other Chinese cities that had recent COVID-19 outbreaks.

On Feb. 19, the Chinas National Health Commission said that the current COVID-19 outbreaks in Guangdong Province are mostly caused by the Omicron variant, while the virus spreading in Inner Mongolia is primarily the Delta variant. The commission didnt reveal the variant types in other regions.
Anti-vaccine mandate protesters gather during a Portland Public Schools board meeting to discuss a proposed vaccine mandate for students in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 26, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Drop in Public School Enrollment Adds to Portlands Woes

Nearly two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Portlands reputation for violence, homelessness, drug use, and riots continues to hamper the citys recovery. Now Portland Public Schools (PPS) are experiencing an 8 percent decline in enrollment as well.

Enrollment in PPS, the largest district in Oregon, dropped by nearly 7,000 students, or 8 percent, in the past two years, according to state data. Although enrollment has declined by 1.41 percent statewide, PPS had a larger loss of students at 3.84 percent during the same time frame.

In a statement to staff, PPS deputy superintendents Claire Hertz and Cheryl Proctor attribute the decline to decreasing birth rates, enrollment patterns, school reconfiguration, and choices families have made during the pandemic.

Oregons embrace of homeschooling during the pandemic may be a factor.

Students registered for homeschooling nationwide doubled between spring of 2019 and fall of 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In Oregon, homeschooling enrollment increased by 73 percent in that same time frame.

For Ashley Darcy, a contentious Molalla School Board meeting about COVID-19 protocols last fall was the final straw.

My husband and I walked out of that meeting and we were done, Darcy told The Epoch Times. We wont vaccinate our kids and mask them and let that stunt their development. And we wont give the power to teachers who are bullying students into following mandates.

Darcy was particularly concerned that her youngest child, a first-grader, would be impacted by school mask mandates.

He has a speech issue and hes a lip reader, she explained. He needs to be able to see his teachers mouth so he can watch pronunciation. Masking in school just doesnt work for us.

So the Darcys pulled their three elementary-aged children out of public school.

Teacher Amy Schaffer Wieseler understands the decision.

I dont know how kids learn anything in the current school environment, she told The Epoch Times. We spend so much time lining kids up, washing their hands, keeping them six feet apart in the hallway. The amount of time that public schools spend to keep healthy kids healthy is just insane.

Oregon has announced that it will lift its indoor mask mandate on March 31 but continue to allow individual school districts to keep it in place. Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education have not addressed whether it will keep the other myriad COVID-19 protocols in place.

Meanwhile, with so many students leaving school, its not yet clear how PPS will be impacted financially. Reductions in state school funding could be more apparent in the coming year. But, for now, Portland Public School leaders dont seem concerned.

The district said that federal COVID-19 relief funds and Student Investment Account fundswhich flow from Oregons controversial Corporate Activity Tax on revenuewill prevent a large reduction in staffing.

Fortunately, those [funds] will maintain our commitment to advancing key staffing priorities, said PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerra.

District officials also hope to add art teachers through funds from the Portland Arts Tax.

According to a Portland Business Alliance State of the Economy report, released on Feb. 16, enduring pandemic impacts, a deepening affordability crisis, and reputational challenges continue to hinder the regions growth and overall prosperity.

The alliance report specifically sounds the alarm on the citys downtown, pointing out that foot traffic is down more than 70 percent in the past two years and the number of people working downtown is down by two-thirds. In addition, the local job market is lagging behind the U.S. average, with Portland growing at 2.1 percent compared with the national average of 2.8 percent.

The report identifies Portlands high tax burdens and lower median household incomes as contributing to an affordability crisis for residents as well.

The alliance report follows a dismal study released by Travel Portland last fall.

Our central city occupancy in September lagged behind every competitive city that we track except for Minneapolis and San Francisco, Jeff Miller, president and CEO of Travel Portland, told the Portland City Council at a meeting in October. Recovery is happening elsewhere, just not here.

In a survey commissioned by Travel Portland, two-thirds of respondents said that racial and social justice protests make them less likely to visit Portland in the next two years.

The situation for the city is dire.

We are at an economic crossroads, Alliance President and CEO Andrew Hogan wrote in the report. Policy and elected leaders must pivot away from complacency and urgently collaborate on all levels of government to retain and attract employers and households.
On July 28, 2016, CIA director John Brennan briefed then-President Barack Obama on an intelligence bombshellinformation that the corporate media claimed was drawn from sourcing deep inside the Russian government. According to media reports describing the briefing, Vladimir Putin had approved a campaign to defeat or at least damage Hillary Clinton and help elect her opponent, Donald Trump.

The media used quotes from former intelligence officials, describing Obama as deeply concerned and noting that Obama wanted as much information as fast as possible.

In truth, Brennans briefing was the exact opposite of what the media has reported for the last five years. What Brennan actually briefed Obama on was information indicating that Hillary Clinton had approved a plan to tie Trump to Russian election interference as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server.

Welcome to Truth over News with Jeff Carlson and Hans Mahncke.

Follow EpochTV on Facebook and Twitter
Bill Gates recently came out during a speech and referred to the Omicron variant as a type of vaccine that has been more effective at spreading immunity than the pharmaceuticals that have been available thus far.

Meanwhile, according to new documents that recently came out of the CDC, a $6 million grant programmeaning, a program funded by you and meresulted in only 1,200 people in minority neighborhoods getting a vaccine. And if you do the math, that means it cost the government about $5,000 per person to get these people vaccinated.

Lastly, while I was in California, I took the unique opportunity to sit down and speak with Pastor Che Ahn. He is the man who challenged Californias lockdown order on churches, took his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Courtand ultimately won. And in that process, not only did he secure freedom for his church, but for all churches in the United States.

Resources:

 AMAC:

https://ept.ms/3bzYr8f

 Pfizer criminal penalty:

https://ept.ms/3s7stZ7

 CDC $6M program

https://ept.ms/3M0TAgq

 Pfizer Demanding 54:

https://ept.ms/3v2DDjH

 Bill Gates:

https://ept.ms/3s9wxbq

 Nature Magazine

https://ept.ms/3p7h9Kq

 Cell Magazine

https://ept.ms/34VigpP

 Pastor Che Ahn Interview:

https://ept.ms/3BBCEs0

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Fentanyl Linked to Deaths of 5 Adults in Colorado as Overdoses Reach Epic Proportions: Officials

The deaths of five people in Commerce City, Colorado, on Feb. 20 were likely related to fentanyl, according to Adams County District Attorney Brian Mason.

The bodies of the five people were discovered shortly before 4 p.m in an apartment inside the North Range Crossing apartment complex after an apparent overdose, authorities said.

Commerce City is located in Adams County, about seven miles northeast of Denver.

While officials have not yet determined the cause of death, police said they recovered narcotics that had a presumptive positive test result for the presence of fentanyl, a highly addictive and deadly drug of which just a two-milligram dose can prove fatal.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, it appears the five adults ingested the suspect fentanyl and succumbed to the narcotic, police said.

District Attorney Mason told Colorado Public Radio that the scene inside the apartment was like something out of a nightmare, like a homicide scene.

He said that the five people who died likely thought they were taking cocaine and that police are finding more and more fentanyl mixed in cocaine and other drugs.

The evidence on scene was lines of powder on glass mirrors consistent with cocaine and not fentanyl, Mason said.

They essentially dropped dead where they were. They didnt have time to call for help, Mason said. Were finding fentanyl in cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine and oxycontin and, even in limited circumstances, we found it in marijuana. This is a huge public safety crisis.

Mason said he fears that the same batch of drugs containing the fentanyl could still be in circulation around Commerce City and encouraged parents to talk to their children as ingesting the drugs could cause more deaths.

I want parents to know that they need to talk to their kids, Mason said. Im terrified that other people have these drugs from this particular dealer and they could ingest them and they could die. Fentanyl is dangerous and its lethal and its fast.

The five bodies discovered on Sunday were identified as three women and two men between the ages of 24 and 32, Commerce City Police said.

Another adult female and an infant who was about 4 months old were in the apartment but both survived and are expected to be fine, police said.

Commerce City Police Chief Clint Nichols said that the babys mother was among the deceased, KUSA reported. Its unclear if the babys father was among the deceased.

An investigation into the incident is now underway and the Drug Enforcement Agency is involved.

Commerce City Police said that use of the drug intentionally or unintentionally, and the subsequent overdose deaths associated with its use has reached epic proportions in Colorado.

Meanwhile, Mason told Denver7 News that Fentanyl is ravaging Adams County, describing the drug as extraordinarily dangerous.

Its lethal and its fast, Mason said. Drug cartels love fentanyl. Its good for their business model. Its cheaper for them to make. Its easy for them to distribute. They can lace it in all of their other drugs, like cocaine, like heroin.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said that as of Feb. 21, it had recorded 1,659 drug overdose deaths among Colorado residents in 2021, according to Denver7 News. Of those deaths, 803 involved fentanyl in some form.

The deaths come after an analysis of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data by nonprofit group Families Against Fentanyl showed that overdoses from the drug were the top killer in adults aged 18 to 45 in 2020 in the United States, overtaking suicide, vehicle accidents, and gun violence.

More than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending in April, according to CDC data, with fentanyl involved in almost two-thirds of those deaths.
Fired Health Care Worker Moves Forward, Looks Back on What Was Lost at the Hand of Restrictive COVID-19 Policies

As residents of nursing homes were cut off from their families, Kayla Montoro worked throughout the pandemic to keep at bay what had become its own pandemic of loneliness by coordinating events and volunteers to engage isolated seniors.

Despite that, amid a crisis of staffing shortages in the health care industry that has resulted in a debilitating reduction in care for the elderly, Montoro was terminated from her hospice company in New Jersey in February for not being vaccinated, despite her supervisor previously giving her a positive annual review.

But its not like she didnt see the writing on the wall.

The first time I felt uncomfortable was in January 2021 when the director of compliance asked people individually on a Zoom meeting what their vaccination status was, Montoro told The Epoch Times. She said that every vaccination was experimental when it first came out, and she urged everyone to get vaccinated, even though the injection had been out for a few weeks.

Later, in August, there were vaccine incentives, she said, which gave a $250 bonus for clinical and $100 for non-clinical personnel.

By signing the agreement, an employee agreed to remain fully vaccinated for up to 12 months from the last shot acquired, she said, and those vaccinated would receive priority selection for certain assignments.

If employees didnt maintain their status as fully vaccinated by staying up to date with boosters, they had to repay their bonus incentive.

Excommunication of the Unvaccinated

After experiencing months of coercion and a world of being excommunicated and segregated for being unvaccinated, this was truly something that disappointed me, Montoro said. I felt segregated and discriminated against for not getting an experimental medical procedure at my own job, a place thats supposed to be compassionate and understanding of personal health decisions.

Suddenly, she said, people felt it acceptable to ask each other what their vaccination status was in the presence of coworkers.

The environment began to feel unwelcoming for an unvaccinated person, she said.

In November 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order mandating staff at health care facilities that receive federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funding to take one of the COVID-19 vaccines by Feb. 14, 2022.

The vaccine mandate has withstood court challenges, and it doesnt allow for the option to submit to weekly testing that was permitted in the mandate for businesses employing 100 or more workers, which was later blocked by the Supreme Court.

During her employment with the company, Montoro worked primarily from home.

Vaccinated workers werent required to be tested, although they were still getting sick from the virus, Montoro said.

For that reason, and because Montoro worked from home, she said she didnt think it was fair to submit to testing.

Montoro presented the company with a list of concerns she had about the vaccine and testing methods that went unaddressed, she said.

They didnt have any answers to them other than that they had to do this, which didnt satisfy me, Montoro said. So, I continued to decline until they could come up with a valid reason.

Ignoring her concerns, she got her first written warning on the day before Christmas, followed by another a week later when she was put on administrative leave.

We Deserve a Choice

The company classified her termination as a voluntary resignation, but without the benefits, earned vacation, and unemployment assistance that comes with the designation.

I never heard the phrase voluntary resignation until after I was terminated, she said.

While unemployed, Montoro has networked with others with the same experience and has begun putting together a podcast to provide a platform for those terminated to share their story and also to give people the strength to take a stand.

When talking with coworkers and others, she found that many of them felt as she did, but were scared to speak up.

This is so wrong, she said. We deserve a choice.

The Absence of Human Connection

In addition to the podcast, shes working on a master of science in Clinical Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, a decision inspired, she said, by her witnessing the rock-bottom consequences of allopathic medicines rejection of all other levels of care for one-size-fits-all lockdown, isolation, and vaccination strategies that left the most vulnerable of the population, such as senior citizens, cut off from human connection.

Even with all of the restrictions, many of our patients got COVID anyway, Montoro said. We were restricting family members from entering the building. That is something I would have never taken off the table. It was terrible.

The absence of human connection diminished the patients emotionally, physically, and spiritually, she said.

Thats a key factor to the health of every person in this world, and I think thats something we need to start building back up in people, she said.

She heard repeatedly the statement, Were just doing whats best for the patients; however, in looking back, she said she believes the company was only doing what was best for it regarding compliance, policy, and to maintain funding.

A virus is hard to contain, she said. I think people really need to wake up and see what weve lost over the past two years compared to what weve actually gained.
Florida to Receive 4,000 Doses of New Monoclonal Antibodies Treatment

PUNTA GORDA, FloridaFlorida is scheduled to receive 4,000 doses of a monoclonal antibody treatment that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found to be effective against the omicron variant that is derived from COVID-19.

On Feb. 11, the FDA sent a letter to Eli Lily, the maker of Bebtelovimab, that the company has its approval for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients, age 12 years and up.

The Florida Department of Health met with Health and Human Services (HHS) on Feb. 15, to discuss the number of doses that Florida would receive and, so far, that number is 4,000. Of the total 600,000 doses initially ordered by HHS, no one on the federal or state level will confirm whether these doses have been shipped or received. The same schedule for distribution is expected to be in effect as for other monoclonal treatments.

We are following the same distribution [schedule] that we did with Sotrovimabnursing homes, hospitals, clinics and then EMS, Jeremy Redfern, Press Secretary for the Florida Department of Health, said in an email to The Epoch Times.

Redfern said the number of doses that DOH is receiving doesnt warrant opening the 51 sites that Gov. Ron DeSantis had set up over the summer, when the Delta variant was sweeping the state.

We could definitely use more doses, Redfern said. Wed love to reopen our state sites to make it easier to access treatment.

It can take about a week to receive the shipment of treatments, he said, when asked by The Epoch Times in an email when Florida can expect to receive the monoclonals.

As Florida sees a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospital census numbers, a new variant of omicron has emerged: BA-2.

The Florida Department of Health is aware that the omicron sub-variant BA-2 has been detected in the state, Redfern said, but would not comment further.

According to the CDC, on Feb. 19, Florida reported 5,441 new COVID-19 cases during a seven-day average, bringing that number below 6,000 for the first time since Dec. 17. The number of omicron cases has fallen by more than 91 percent, it said.

The HHS website says, of the 600,000 doses, 300,000 would be received in February, and the other 300,000 in March, and then dispersed throughout the country to individual states.

HHS was contacted about the criteria they used to determine how many doses of the treatment each state would receive, but they had not responded as of press time.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra credits his boss, President Joe Biden, for the success in getting the monoclonals to U.S. citizens after the EUA was pulled from other monoclonal drugs that had proven to be successful, helping thousands of Floridians to recover from COVID-19, and avoid hospitalization or death.

We have more COVID-19 treatments than ever before. We are providing a billion free at-home tests, and we have enough vaccines to get everyone vaccinated and boosted, Becerra said in a written statement. This purchase will add an additional 600,000 courses of treatment to our nations medicine cabinet that could help prevent severe outcomes for Americans who do get sick with COVID-19.

Becerra went on to say that the top priority of HHS is prevention, and urged everyone to continue to get vaccinated and boosted.

One of the reasons this monoclonal treatment was given EUA status is because it has been successful in patients with the omicron variant of COVID-19.

We want to make sure if an American gets sick with COVID-19, they can get a treatment that works, he continued.

Becerra said that approximately 2.5 million treatments and therapies have been given to states at no charge this past year, They include antiviral pills, monoclonal antibodies, and pre-exposure prophylaxis therapies for people with compromised immune systems.

The contract between the maker of the new monoclonal drug Eli Lily and the federal government has a future option for 500,000 additional doses.

Dr. Patricia Cavazzoni, director for the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said in a written statement that new variants of the virus continue to emerge.

This action (EUA) makes available another monoclonal antibody that shows activity against omicron at a time when we are seeking to further increase supply, Cavazzoni said. This authorization is an important step in meeting the need for more tools to treat patients.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference at the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Sept. 16, 2021. (Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo)

Last month, the FDA pulled the EUA for Regeneron monoclonals that had helped tens of thousands with COVID-19, and which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis credited for keeping people out of hospitals and avoiding almost certain death.

DeSantis has said at numerous press conferences that the Biden administration was playing politics with peoples lives by pulling the EUA from treatments that have been proven to work. He said there have been no peer-reviewed studies indicating that the Regeneron monoclonals did not work on the omicron variant.

I think theres politics at play, DeSantis said at a Jan. 25 press briefing. But its really a reckless decision to be able to take this option away from patients.

Dr. Kenneth Sheppke, Deputy Secretary for the Florida Department of Health, said the monoclonals have been at the forefront of COVID-19 treatment and were scientifically proven against the virus.

The value of monoclonals cannot be understated in the ability to treat people with this disease, Sheppke said at a Jan. 26 roundtable discussion on monoclonals in Miami. Floridians and the rest of the nation have come to expect the availability of these treatments, and it is really important for us as physicians to have those tools at our disposal to make the decisions on what treatment is best for patients.

Since the pandemic began, there have been almost 5.8 million known cases of COVID-19 and approximately 69,000 residents have died statewide, according to the CDC website. So far, an average of 39,566 vaccine doses have been given out and nearly 66 percent of Floridians have been fully vaccinated and 38 percent have been boosted, it said.
Some of the unexpected but welcome surprises in the new hit Paramount Network series.

The standout new TV series, Yellowstone, has been very well received. Here are four things that make it such a fantastic, unique experience.

Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone. (Paramount Media Networks)

1. Bucks a Lot of Stereotypes

The Paramount Networks series Yellowstone revolves around the Dutton family, a large and complex family with behavior patterns and tastes that dont fall into the usual stereotypes. And this is also true for many of the supporting, and even peripheral, characters.

For instance, most of the characters dont speak with the country twang that weve had to endure in many Hollywood productions. There also arent many knockdown, drag-out drunken bar fights, nor loads of trailer parks with confederate flags everywhere you look. You dont see names like Billy Joe Jack or Missy Anne. And men dont run around barefoot with their shirts off while swigging whiskey and yelling yeeeee haaaaaaaw.

Having lived out in the country in several states, Ive seen some of the behavior associated with these stereotypes, but theyre nothing like what is overemphasized in Hollywood Western-themed films and TV series.

Here, the writers detour from hackneyed characterizations and instead offer slices of reality.

Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone. (Paramount Media Networks)

2. Fascinating Characters

As mentioned in my previous review of the first season of Yellowstone, many of the characters are multidimensional and develop throughout the series. What you might assume about a particular character when they are initially introduced, could, and often does, turn on its head.

At first, one of the main characters, Beth Dutton (marvelously portrayed by Kelly Reilly) comes off as malicious. Not only does she seem to seethe with hatred and loathe anyone in her immediate vicinity, but she couples those traits with a steel-trap, cold and calculating mind, just like that of her father John Dutton (Kevin Costner).

However, once you learn more about her background, the layers being to peel back and you see why she is the way she is. Its something you wont likely see coming.

Likewise, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the chief of a reservation that is competing for land rights with the Duttons, is a fascinating character. Instead of being raised on the rez, hes originally from Denver and thought he was Mexican until he turned 18 and saw his adoption papers. After discovering his Native American heritage, he enrolled in college, as a way of learning how to fight for his tribe more effectively.

The exquisite scenery of Montana as featured in Yellowstone. (Paramount Media Networks)

3. Gorgeous Environments

Unlike many British, Japanese, and older American films, where the natural environment is appreciated and lovingly portrayed as integral to cinematic tapestries, many modern American films portray environments as backdrops, if at all.

In Yellowstone, the sumptuous, naturally beautiful landscapes of Montana take front and center and are so magnetic that they almost seem like part of the cast. Over the course of the four seasons, the series has relied on a total of seven cinematographers, but what they all have in common is a talent for showcasing the natural grandeur of Big Sky Countryone of the last, relatively unspoiled regions in North America.

(LR) Luck Grimes as Kayce, Wes Bentley as Jamie, Kevin Costner as John, and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton are an American family in Yellowstone. (Paramount Media Networks)

4. Masculinity Appreciated

Yellowstone is a TV series that wears its traditional Western culture proudly across its chest like an American eagle. Although many of its characters have issues (just like folks in real life), men are at the center of the family, and masculinity is appreciated and sometimes even (gasp!) celebrated. In short, male traits are not considered toxic. This return to tradition is refreshing to see.

As a last note: most folks are good-hearted, understanding, and accept people for who they are. But in an age where masculinity is becoming considered abnormal, its nice to see traditional Western institutions and ideals take the fore. I recommend this wildly popular TV series. Its a celebration of Americana.

Yellowstone

Director: Taylor Sheridan

Stars: Kevin Costner, Luck Grimes, Kelly Reilly

Rated: TV-MA

Running Time: 1+ hour episodes (4 seasons so far)

Release Date: June 28, 2018

Ian Kane is a filmmaker and author based out of Los Angeles. To see more, visit DreamFlightEnt.com or contact him at Twitter.com/ImIanKane.
Freedom Convoy Group Ramps Up for Rally in El Monte

A California organizer for Freedom Convoy USA 2022 is staging an overpass rally in Los Angeles County before the caravan heads to Washington, D.C.

Mark Perez, the organizer, told The Epoch Times the overpass rally will be held near the junction of Rosemead Boulevard and CA-60 Freeway in El Monte, California, at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 25.

The Freedom Convoy USA is separate from The Peoples Convoy which is heading east from Barstow on Feb. 23, but both groups share the common goal of ending the state of emergency and COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates.

We were all in with them, Perez said of the other convoy groups, but Freedom Convoy USA 2022 organizers got frustrated with delays and have set their own plan in motion.

(Courtesy of Freedom Convoy USA 2022)

The group has obtained permits in Washington, D.C., and other locations in different states, he said.

The main mission is to restore freedom in the United States, Perez said.

As far as the number of vehicles expected to join the caravan in El Monte, It could be 20. It could be 10,000, he said.

Like any freedom rally or event Perez has organized over the last three years or more, he never knows how many people will show up, he said.

No convoy keeps an RSVP tally because many truckers and supporters dont want their names on a list for fear of potential backlash, he said.

Im just a regular retired dude fighting for our freedom. Right now, there are eight of us in vehicles that are going to go the whole route to D.C. Were funding this whole trip on our own, he said.

Once in Washington, Perez said the group plans to stage a rally across the street from the Washington Monument on March 1, the day President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address.

We dont know whats going to happen in D.C. Were just going to have our event March 1, he said.

Maps posted on Freedom Convoy USA 2022s Instagram page show several routes from different parts of the country to Washington. A map from Los Angeles shows the caravan will head to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Columbus on its way east before reaching Washington.

The groups Instagram followers have jumped from 30,000 to 50,000 recently, Perez said.

Kyle Sefcik, a Freedom Convoy USA spokesman, posted a video on the groups Instagram page on Feb. 21, stating the purpose of the mission in an open message to Biden.

(Courtesy of Freedom Convoy USA 2022)

We are coming peacefully and were going to do this lawfully and constitutionally, he said in the video.

We just want government overreach to end, he said. On behalf of Freedom Convoy USA 2022, we are asking you to end the state of emergencyend the mandates once and for all. Sir, the world is watching us because they know if whats happening in Canada happens here in the Land of the Free, then freedom, as we know it, is gone.

Sefcik said its time for all Democrats and Republicans to listen to the people.

This whole convoy, this whole assembly on the National Mallit doesnt even need to happen if you just end things now and we can get on with our lives, he said.

Mr. President, we have no other motives in this mission. You see, the governmentour elected officials of both partieshave failed us tremendously these last two years. And now, its time for usWe, the Peopleto fix this, to end this. Were ready to get back to our lives, the ones promised and guaranteed in the United States Constitution Bill of Rights, Sefcik said. This is simple: End this!
Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 2' gas pipline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, on Feb. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

Germany Halts Nord Stream 2 Over Russias Actions in Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Germany and Russia has been put on hold, as Western countries roll out punitive measures over the Kremlins actions in Ukraine.

Scholz told reporters in Berlin on Feb. 22 that his governments decision to suspend the pipeline came in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins recognition of the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, a move feared to be a precursor to a large-scale invasion.

Now its up to the international community to react to this one-sided, incomprehensible and unjustified action by the Russian president, Scholz said, adding that it was necessary to send a clear signal to Moscow that such actions wont remain without consequences.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a tweet that members of the Biden administration have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement, adding that the United States would be following up with its own measures to sanction Russia for its destabilizing actions in Ukraine.

Putin on Monday declared the separatist-controlled so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) as independent states, while issuing a decree ordering Russian troops into the two regions, supposedly to maintain peace.

Ukrainian troops patrol at the frontline outside the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

The Russian president warned Ukraine to pull back its forces from around the two districts, saying that otherwise the Ukrainian ruling regime will be wholly and entirely responsible for the possible continuation of the bloodshed.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday that Putins recognition of the so-called republics was a bid to create a pretext for an invasion. She dismissed as nonsense Putins claims that Russian troops entering the regions were peacekeepers.

Western leaders have for some time now warned that Russia is planning a large-scale invasion of Ukraine and would likely use a false flag provocation as an excuse to launch an offensive, claims the Kremlin has denied.

Scholzs announcement of a halt to Nord Stream 2, which was finished in September but has remained idle since then pending certification by Germany and the European Union, suggests Berlin is serious about imposing tough costs on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

This a huge change for German foreign policy with massive implications for energy security and Berlins broader position towards Moscow, Marcel Dirsus, non-resident fellow at Kiel Universitys Institute for Security Policy, told Reuters.

The German government has long resisted halting the controversial pipeline project despite pressure from the United States and other European countries to pull the plug. Germany, which gets half its gas from Russia, has argued that Nord Stream 2 was a commercial initiative to diversify Europes energy supply.

Washington has argued for years that Nord Stream 2 posed security risks by increasing European dependency on Russian gas supplies and giving Moscow the ability to bypass Poland and Ukraine in gas deliveries to Western Europe.

A crane moves Nord Stream 2 pipes at Mukran Port near Sassnitz, Germany, on June 5, 2019. (Axel Schmidt/Getty Images)

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hailed Germanys decision to halt certification in a tweet, calling it a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances.

True leadershp means tough decisions in difficult times. Germanys move proves just that, he added.

President Joe Biden said earlier in February that if Russia invades Ukraine, there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2.

We will bring an end to it, Biden said at the time.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, if approved, would carry around 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to Germany each year.

Germanys Economy Minister Robert Habeck said his countrys gas supplies were secure even without Nord Stream 2 going online, though he told journalists on Tuesday that gas prices would likely rise further in the short term.

Energy prices have surged in Europe as supply has lagged demand, which rebounded strongly from the pandemic-related recession.
Residents line up to get swabbed for coronavirus testing at a temporary testing center in Hong Kong, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

Hong Kong Orders Mandatory COVID-19 Tests for All Residents

HONG KONGHong Kong will test its entire population of 7.5 million people for COVID-19 in March, the citys leader said Tuesday, as it grapples with its worst outbreak caused mainly by the Omicron variant.

The population will be tested three times in March, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said.

She said testing capacity will be boosted to 1 million a day or more.

Since we have a population of some 7 million people, testing will take about seven days, she said.

Hong Kong has reported about 5,000 new daily infections since Feb. 15, with the cases threatening to overwhelm its healthcare system. Since the current surge began at the beginning of the year, the city has recorded nearly 54,000 cases and 145 deaths.

Hong Kong has largely aligned itself with mainland Chinas zero-COVID-19 policy, which aims to totally stamp out outbreaks.

Lockdowns of entire cities have been imposed in a number of areas of the mainland, but Lam said no such measure is currently being considered in Hong Kong because it is not realistic.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters questions during a press conference in Hong Kong, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Vincent Yu/AP Photo)

The zero-COVID-19 strategy means that Hong Kong authorities often take measures, like locking down residential estates for mass testing, when positive cases are detected, imposing strict quarantine requirements on travelers, and ordering the shuttering of businesses.

The rapid surge of infections in the city has threatened to overwhelm its health care system.

Health officials said last week that hospitals were already at 90 percent of capacity and isolation facilities were full. People who test positive for the virus in Hong Kong must be admitted to a hospital or a quarantine facility.

Lam acknowledged on Tuesday that the citys isolation facilities are severely inadequate.

Current social-distancing measures, such as a ban on dining at restaurants after 6 p.m. and the closure of businesses such as gyms and bars, will be extended until April 20.

She said the city hopes to boost its vaccination rate to 90 percent by early March.

Other measures announced Tuesday include ending the school year early and moving the normal July-August summer holidays forward to March-April so that schools can be turned into facilities for testing, isolation, and vaccination.

Flight bans from countries classified as high risk, including Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain, and the United States, will be extended to April 20.
Be the stranger youd want to sit next to on a long flight

Travel, whether for business or pleasure, offers opportunities to grow by experiencing new sights and meeting new people. Without realizing it, you leave an impression on all whose paths you cross, so make it a good one.

Be There

Immerse yourself in the local culture; dont go to France and eat fast food, or to Giza and miss the pyramids. Ask the hotel staff where and what they eat, and the places they go that arent on the tourist maps. The idea isnt to act like youre a local, but rather to experience what makes each place unique. You may never return to this place, so make some memories to take home.

Be Polite

In addition to the fact you are an unofficial ambassador for your hometown and, if, on a business trip, your employer, being pleasant is simply the decent thing to do. Make eye contact and smile at waiters, the hotel desk clerk, and others on the airport shuttle bus. Step 1: Think about all the obnoxious, self-important people you come across in your travels and how happy you were to be far from them. Step 2: Dont be that guy.

Learn the Language

We all have that family member whose solution to not knowing the local language is to speak louder. A better option, assuming youre traveling someplace where you dont know the language, is taking the time to learn a few common phrases, as well as please and thank you. A good phrase to start with in the local language is, Donde esta el bano?

Clean Up After Yourself

This rule applies to hotel rooms, airport waiting areas and airliner seats, rental cars, restaurants, shuttle vans, offices, and tourist destinations. You shouldnt make a mess, but if you do so, hopefully inadvertently, clean it up. Dont leave the hotel room looking like a crime scene, or a restaurant table littered with crumpled napkins and spilled food. And, regardless of whether youre on a city street or in the wilderness, theres never an excuse for littering.

Dress Like Mom Can See You

Anyone who has recently traveled via commercial airlines will either still be traumatized by the outfits some people feel are perfectly suited for travel, or they are those people. Taking a bit of pride in ones appearance is an esteem booster and shows respect for those around you. A T-shirt with questionable artwork might be eminently comfortable, but perhaps not the best choice when you find yourself next to your companys CEO in the hotel elevator.
China, in its global ambition, seeks to control the latest in technology. Huawei has been the forefront fighter of Chinas 5G plan. Together, they want to dominate the global 5G movement, and in turn, make China the strongest in the world. That was the plan until the United States banned its activities and destroyed its influencefor now. If Huaweis sudden rise surprises you, then its time to learn about its careful infiltration into the Western world through low bidding contract offers and massive inner workings alongside the Chinese Communist Party.

I am joined by Jonathan Pelson, the author of Wireless Wars: Chinas Dangerous Domination of 5G and How Were Fighting Back. Lets hear what he has learned about Huaweis development, its network within and around the world, and how the United States fell to the Chinese tech giant but woke up in time.
If We Forget We Elect Legislators, Not Governments, Were in Trouble

Commentary

People had endless fun mocking Ottawa Freedom Convoy protesters limited grasp of how government works. That infamous Memorandum of Understanding did more work than the lonely Confederate flag briefly visible on the first day in substituting scorn for understanding. But its sobering to reflect on how little the critics know either.

Including about the weird class divide here. Two recent thoughtful pieces about Virtuals v Physicals (Ross Douthat, New York Times) or Practicals (N.S. Lyons, Substack) contrast sadly with the obtuse performance of many Canadian journalists so firmly in the Virtual camp they dont know there are other points of view. But if the Virtuals are better at arranging abstract notions into plausible configurations, and the Physicals at arranging concrete objects into effective ones, the former should at least be pretty good at constitutional theory.

Instead, a major Canadian newspaper generally conspicuous for good sense as well as diversity of views, for which I write, editorialized on Feb. 19: claims by some who are opposed to the current government that it is an authoritarian regime are completely false. Canadians were given the opportunity to vote for a new government in September and this is the one they chose. Which is rubbish.

Not the first part. It is both true and strangely urgent given overheated cries of tyranny from various quarters. But the second is bizarre.

Sure, we had a federal election in September and sure, it was fair. A few glitches dont invalidate a vote though we must be vigilant. But Canadians dont elect governments. Or prime ministers, or for that matter judges. What we did in September of 2021 is the only thing we ever do in such cases: we elected legislators, riding by riding.

As Ive observed before, to ignorant catcalls from Virtuals, our government consists of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial, as our Constitution clearly stipulates. And God help us if they all start working in league rather than in dynamic tension, by the way.

No. Not by the way. Crucially. Casual use of terms like the Trudeau government or the Ford government undermine liberty because, as Richard Weaver put it with admirable brevity, ideas have consequences. So if we forget what we elect, and why, were in a heap of trouble.

You cannot be elected dog-catcher in Canada. Or, ironically, anywhere in the United States. There you can be elected judge and even in a few places police chief, one more check on executive power admirable in principle but trivial in practice. Unlike legislative elections.

If you look at the history of self-government in Canada, as Ive advised convoy supporters to do and now advise their critics, for instance by watching my documentaries, you discover that from Magna Carta on, the critical feature of Anglosphere effective self-government is that the one branch we the people choose restrains the ones we dont. Primarily the executive historically, though frankly the judiciary increasingly needs scrutiny too.

Another commentator I regard as sensible, an endorsement he might squirm to avoid, tweeted about the Emergencies Act debate: In almost any other country, the reduction of the legislature to a device for popular veto would be properly regarded as a sign that the veto wont last much longer. Au contraire, I respond. In French, since no English king could speak a sentence in English from 1066 until Edward III (reigned 132777), by which point Magna Carta was firmly entrenched as above statute law and read aloud in all English cathedrals twice a year to make sure everyone knew their rights, and a separate House of Commons was wresting control of spending from monarch and Lords, a process vaguely promised in Clause 12 of the original 1215 charter and formally completed by 1415.

The whole point of the legislature is to give a popular veto over executive actions, primarily via the power of the purse. Its why we elect legislators. They, and they alone, speak for us in government, including deciding who gets to serve as Her Majestys first minister and whether that person can declare a state of emergency and seize our bank accounts on suspicion of unacceptable views.

If you believe me, and you should, our crucial governmental task today is to restore the legislature as a veto on the executive. And the key initial step is vote for MPs who see themselves as a restraint on the ministry, not its enablers, and govern themselves accordingly. No. Wait. Ideas first. So the key initial step is to understand why MPs must perform that role, and increasingly do not.

Many convoy participants were better with power tools than the separation of powers. And the clevers ridiculed them mercilessly for such misplaced priorities, while making a worse mess of constitutional theory than they would shifting gears in a big rig.

Everyone needs to do better.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Intel Corporation logo is seen on a display in a store in Manhattan, New York, on Nov. 24, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Intel Delays Launch of Standalone Desktop Graphics Chips to Q2

Intel Corp. said on Thursday it has pushed back the launch of standalone graphics chips for desktops to the second quarter, while those for laptops will be rolled out in the first quarter as originally planned.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of an ongoing chip shortage and global supply chain issues, with chipmakers struggling to keep up with unprecedented demand.

The companys Arc graphics chips, that help digital content look more realistic, will compete with rivals Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Intel said in August last year the graphics chips for PCs would arrive in the first quarter of 2022.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are introducing notebooks with Intel Arc graphics for sale in the first quarter of 2022, the company said, ahead of its annual investor meeting on Thursday.

Intel will ship add-in cards for desktops in the second quarter and workstations by the third quarter.
Israel Orders Evacuation of Embassy in Kyiv

Israel has ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Kyiv, instructing its staff to relocate to Lviv in Western Ukraine, the Israel Foreign Ministry announced on Monday, amid concerns of further military aggression from Russia.

Lviv is located about 50 miles from Ukraines western border with Poland.

Russia has denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, and has accused western allies of NATO expansion threatening Moscows security as Ukraine seeks to be granted membership.

However, just hours after the evacuation order, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was moving to recognize the independence of two regions in Eastern Ukrainethe Donetsk and Lugansk regions held by pro-Russia separatist groups. He then signed a decree to authorize that Russian military troops can be ordered into the two areas, located in Ukraines Donbas region, for so-called peacekeeping operations. According to Ukraine, pro-Russian forces have already been active in the Donbas since the Crimean crisis in 2014.

The White House has since announced sanctions on parties in Ukraines Donbas in response to Putins decree, with sanctions on Russia to be announced on Tuesday after pleas from Ukraine for action before any Russian bombardment.

In an update on Twitter, Israels foreign ministry said, Following a situation assessment at [the ministry], as well as discussions with various international actors, [Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid] has decided to instruct staff at the Israeli Embassy in [Kyiv] to move to consular offices opened in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine.

The consular office in Lviv has been working to provide travel documents to Israeli citizens since Thursday (17/02/2022) and will assist citizens interested in leaving the country, primarily through land border crossings to neighbouring countries, it adds.

The Foreign Ministry is prepared for any development, including the possibility of a land exit. Within this framework, Israeli diplomats stationed in Lviv as well as those serving in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary have held visits to border crossings with Ukraine, and meetings with the authorities at the crossings, in order to ensure the passage of Israeli citizens who wish to leave Ukraine.

Israel has about 15,000 citizens in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

The move mirrors what the United States did last week when it too shut down its embassy in Kyiv and moved its operations to Lviv.

Earlier on Monday, the U.S. Department of State told Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately via private or commercial air travel because a potential Russian invasion could cause travel disruptions.

The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine immediately using commercial or private means due to the increased threat of Russian military action, the department said in a security alert.

Ukraine and Russia early on Monday argued over the situation in eastern Ukraine, with Russia claiming that Ukrainian soldiers crossed into its territory, after which Russian forces killed five Ukrainian soldiers.

Read More Ukraine Responds to Allegation Russia Killed 5 of Its Soldiers

Russian military officials had claimed, via state-run media, that it killed five suspected saboteurs who crossed into Russias Rostov region from Ukraine, and also destroyed two armored vehicles.

Hours later, Ukraine denied the allegations.

No, Ukraine did NOT: Attack Donetsk or Luhansk; send saboteurs or APCs [armoured personnel carriers] over the Russian border; shell Russian territory; shell Russian border crossing; conduct acts of sabotage, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Shelling reportedly spiked in the area starting Feb. 17 along the tense line of contact that separates Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in Ukraines Donbas region, with reports of both sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations. On Feb. 18, separatist leaders in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions mobilized their military forces and announced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, saying they were being endangered by Ukraine ordering an imminent offensive in the area and could seek safety in Russia.

Ukraine immediately pushed back on the claims, saying there were no orders to use force in these territories. This is an attempt to provoke our armed forces, Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraines secretary of the National Security and Defense Council said at the time.

In 2014, Russian troops seized and annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Shortly after, Russia began supporting separatist fighters in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine that have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since. The ongoing war has since 2014 killed over 14,000 people.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
J&J Unit Proposes Independent Exam If It Remains in Bankruptcy

A Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary proposed on Friday that it would submit to an independent examination of the corporate restructuring the healthcare giant undertook in an attempt to settle in U.S. bankruptcy court thousands of lawsuits alleging that J&J baby powder and other talc products cause cancer.

Greg Gordon, a lawyer for J&J subsidiary LTL Management LLC, raised during a hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan the idea of a court-appointed examiner that could come in and do whatever investigation it wants to determine whether the restructuring short-changed cancer victims.

Bankruptcy judges have wide discretion over the scope and budget for an appointed examiner. Any such examination would be contingent on LTL remaining in bankruptcy, an arrangement that cancer plaintiffs oppose.

Cancer plaintiffs have asked Kaplan to dismiss LTLs bankruptcy case and allow them to resume the lawsuits against J&J. Kaplan, who presided over a week-long hearing on the matter in Trenton, New Jersey, has said he will decide by the end of the month whether to dismiss the case.

J&J is attempting to use LTLs bankruptcy case to resolve about 38,000 lawsuits alleging the companys talc products caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, an illness linked to asbestos exposure. J&J maintains that its talc products are safe and asbestos-free, but attorneys for LTL argued that bankruptcy is the only practical way to resolve the sheer volume of lawsuits.

During closing arguments in the hearing, Gordon floated the option of an independent examiner to clear the air after lawyers for cancer victims argued the bankruptcy was improper.

J&J, which has a stock market value of more than $400 billion, created LTL to take on the responsibility for the cancer lawsuits in October 2021. LTL filed for bankruptcy just days later. Cancer plaintiffs have called the corporate restructuring and bankruptcy rotten to the core.

Legal experts have dubbed this type of maneuver a Texas two-step because it exploited a Texas law that allows a company to split into two via a so-called divisive merger, saddling one company with liabilities while the other takes valuable assets.

Gordon said if a court-ordered investigation finds evidence of improper corporate maneuvering, the talc plaintiffs would be able to sue for fraud related to the restructuring while the bankruptcy case proceeds.

In the bankruptcy of media company Tribune Co, an examiner found evidence of dishonesty in the media companys disastrous 2007 leveraged buyout, ultimately leading to a $200 million settlement of related fraud claims in 2019.

Before Gordon raised the possibility of an examiner, the U.S. Justice Departments bankruptcy watchdog suggested another alternative path, saying on Thursday that the court should consider appointing a Chapter 11 trustee to take over LTLs operations from the J&J-appointment management team.

By Dietrich Knauth, Tom Hals, and Mike Spector
Trader Michael Conlon works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York City, on Dec. 1, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

JPMorgan Downgrades Russian Stocks to Neutral as Ukraine Tensions Ratchet Up

JPMorgan analysts on Feb. 22 downgraded Russian equities from overweight to neutral, citing a sharp spike in uncertainty in the wake of Kremlin moves to recognize the independence of two breakaway statelets in eastern Ukraine, feeding into concern about a large-scale invasion.

With uncertainty as high/valuations as low as we can remember and a declining investor appetite to accept Russian riskeither long or shortwe move to N on Russian within our CEEMEA allocation, JPMorgan analyst Elena Jouronova said in a note, according to Reuters.

Russia has amassed a vast number of troops along its border with Ukraine, and Russian-backed separatist forces have ramped up their attacks along the so-called line of contact in eastern Ukraine, fueling fears it will give Russia a pretext for an invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 21 declared the separatist-controlled so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) as independent states, while issuing a decree ordering Russian troops into the two regions, ostensibly to maintain peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin in Moscow, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Feb. 21 that Putins recognition of LPR and DPR was a bid to create a pretext for an invasion, while dismissing as nonsense his claims that Russian troops entering the regions were peacekeepers.

While parts of the two provinces are controlled by Russia-backed separatists, both belong to Ukraine under international law, with Putins moves drawing broad international condemnation and triggering a series of first-round sanctions that are likely to be expanded if Russia launches a broader invasion of Ukraine.

A key question for markets is how far the United States and its allies will go in sanctioning Russia for recognizing LPR and DPR as independent, with EU leaders working on a package of sanctions and President Joe Biden already signing a decree prohibiting new U.S. investment in the regions, imposing import-export bans, and other measures.

EU leaders met in Brussels on Feb. 22 and unanimously agreed on the principle of sanctioning Russia. Theyre set to meet in Paris later to discuss details, though finalizing a package could take days.

The U.S. and European Union could impose medium-type sanctions like restrictions on OFZ trading on the secondary market and non-commercial banks, Iskander Lutsko, chief investment strategist at ITI Capital in Moscow, told Bloomberg. This is priced in, and investors have a good opportunity to buy nowbut for the short term, as the risk of escalations is high.

While Russia has repeatedly claimed it has no intention to invade Ukraine, Western leaders have dismissed those declarations as not credible, believing Putins forces are preparing to press deeper into Ukraine, possibly on the back of a false flag provocation.

It appears as if Russia is engineering a pretext to invade Ukraine by conducting a false flag attackblaming Kyiv for actions Moscow in fact instigatedand alleging that the government of Ukraine poses a threat to Russian speakers in the countrys east, Michael Kofman, research program director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, wrote in a recent analysis in Foreign Affairs.

Members of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination on ceasefire of the demarcation line, or JCCC, take forensic photos of damage to a house from an artillery shell that landed in Vrubivka, in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

Still, despite evidence of what appears to be Russia-staged provocations, including a series of explosions and an alleged strike against a water treatment facility in the separatist-controlled regions, Kofman believes Putin could still get cold feet and opt against a large-scale invasion.

Russian stocks and its currency took a beating after Putins declaration regarding the two so-called independent republics in eastern Ukraine, although equities later pared some of the losses and the ruble flipped to gains as investors bet on the extent of the Russian sanctions.
A magazine is loaded into a Sig Sauer P320 compact semi-auto pistol at a gun shop in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 13, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Justice Department Sues Missouri Over Its Gun Law

The Justice Department sued Missouri on Feb. 16 to block state officials from enforcing a law that seeks to make invalid several federal firearms laws.

The departments lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Wednesday, seeks to block the state from enforcing the law, known as the Second Amendment Preservation Act.

The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, in June 2021. It allows private citizens to sue agencies for $50,000 if they believe their Second Amendment rights have been violated.

In a statement last year, the governors office said that the measure prohibits state and local cooperation with federal officials that attempt to enforce any laws, rules, orders, or actions that violate the Second Amendment rights of Missourians.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement said he believes the legislation impedes law operations in Missouri.

He added, The United States will work to ensure that our state and local law enforcement partners are not penalized for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe.

The DOJs lawsuit alleges that the restrictions imposed by the law have hindered cooperation and other activities that assist federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts.

Federal law enforcement agencies within the state report that enforcement of federal firearms laws in Missouri has grown more difficult since H.B. 85 became effective, the Justice Department claimed.

The department claimed the law also penalizes current federal employees by barring them from state employment if they enforced the purportedly invalid laws.

The statute further directs the state judiciary to protect against the federal laws declared invalid, the lawsuit added.

Responding to the complaint, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said the Biden administration is seeking to attack Missourians Second Amendment rights through what he described as a partisan lawsuit.

Unfortunately, the Biden DOJ has used this lawsuit as a pretext for them to pull the plug on our successful and innovative federal-state crime-fighting partnership, the Safer Streets Initiative, Schmitt said in a statement.

He said, Since I launched the Safer Streets Initiative in 2019, weve filed over 650 charges against nearly 390 defendants with a conviction rate of roughly 98%. My Office has fought to continue the initiative, but this initiative has been suspended solely because of the Biden Administrations actions.

Make no mistake, the law is on our side in this case, and I intend to beat the Biden Administration in court once again, Schmitt added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lawyers Urge Parliamentarians Not to Pass Emergencies Act Motion, as Senators Debate the Matter

Invoking the act without meeting the high threshold for its use undermines the rule of law and civil liberties, lawyers say

A group of lawyers says the use of the Emergencies Act by the federal government is not warranted, and failing to meet its strict criteria before invoking it undermines the rule of law and civil liberties.

The motion was passed in the House of Commons on the night of Feb. 21. The act must also be passed in the Senate, where it is currently being debated. If senators fail to approve it, the order would be immediately revoked.

In a letter sent to all members of Parliament and senators on the morning of Feb. 21, a group of 35 lawyers urged them to reject the use of the Emergencies Act invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the vote in the House of Commons that night.

Parliamentarians control parliamentnot the government, the letter said.

We encourage you to exercise your authority, consider the issues we have identified, and view your vote on the Emergency Declaration not through a partisan lens, but one which considers how to best safeguard the rule of law and civil libertiesnot only for today, but more importantly, for the future.

Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 in response to the protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by truckers and their supporters in Ottawa and across the country in past weeks.

Trucks are seen parked in central Ottawa on Feb. 14, 2022, in protest of federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

The act, enacted in 1988, replaced the War Measures Act, which Trudeaus father, then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, used in 1970 during the October Crisis when Quebec separatists kidnapped and killed Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte.

The lawyers, from provinces including Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and B.C, said they do not believe that the current circumstances warrant its unprecedented invocation.

The rule of law is a fundamental principle of our constitutional order and requires that the government be bound by the law. It appears that the government has enacted an Emergency Declaration where it has not met the strict criteria permitting it to do so, the lawyers said.

Firstly, the Emergencies Act contains very strict criteria which must be met in order for the federal government to declare a Public Order Emergency.

A Public Order Emergency is defined by the act as an emergency that arises from threats to the security of Canada and that is so serious as to be a national emergency.

Referring to Section 16 of the act, threats to the security of Canada, whose meaning is assigned by Section 2 of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, the lawyers listed the main activities that would constitute a security threat.

(T)hreats to the security of Canada include such activities as espionage; foreign-influenced activities detrimental to Canadas interests that are deceptive or involve threats; terrorist activities; and activities intended to effect the destruction, or violent overthrow, of the government, the letter said.

The lawyers argued that even assuming one of the threats is met, it still does not pass the high threshold required by the act to deem it a national emergency.

The act defines national emergency as an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that (a) seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it, or (b) seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada, and that cannot be effectively dealt with under any other law of Canada.

The lawyers said governments at all levels already have sufficient laws to handle the protests without the invocation of the actsomething other groups have also pointed out.

In fact, prior to the Emergency Declaration, Ontario had already invoked a State of Emergency. Some infrastructure blockades had already been cleared under existing laws, which included enforcement of court injunctions. There are also already a wide variety of charges available to law enforcement officials under federal, provincial, and municipal laws to address activities such as impeding critical infrastructure or property destruction, the lawyers argued.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino looks on as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks about the implementation of the Emergencies Act in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Unprecedented Challenges to Civil Liberties

The letter also noted that the act presents significant and unprecedented challenges to Canadians civil liberties, citing the financial measures announced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Feb. 14 as one example.

Under the act, financial measures were brought in to reduce funding for the protests, such as the broadening of anti-money laundering regulations to encompass crowdfunding platforms and digital currencies. Banks can also freeze accounts of individuals and corporations involved in the protests without a court order.

At least 76 bank accounts, representing $3.2 million, have been frozen due to their association with the protest in Ottawa, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said during a virtual press conference on Feb. 19.

The lawyers stressed that if financial assets can be frozen without judicial authorization and without evidence of civil or criminal liability, the measures will remove an important independent safeguard that protects Canadians financial well-being.

The letter also expressed concerns that the act will give law enforcement the authority to breach the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that gives Canadians the right to peaceful assembly, free speech, and due process before and under the law.

While these are subject to reasonable limits, we have concerns about the discretion that law enforcement officials can and may exercise to infringe upon these rights and freedoms, and that the mere invocation of an emergency may be used to justify breaches of these rights and freedoms, the letter said.

We are also concerned that future federal governments will use the current emergency to justify emergency measures against Canadians peaceful political and ideological activities, and against those who might simply oppose the government of the day.

Failure to comply with the act can lead to, on summary conviction, a fine up to $500 or imprisonment for up to six months, and on indictment, a fine not exceeding $5,000 and imprisonment up to five years.

We note that the Emergencies Act provides for a mandatory public inquiry into its use. We encourage you to ensure that this public inquiry is robust, has representation from across all parties, and includes the participation of independent, non-partisan experts, including lawyers, the lawyers wrote.

On the night of Feb. 21, a majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted along party lines, with the Liberals and the NDP voting to pass the motion for confirmation of the declaration of emergency, while the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois voted against it.

The motion was carried with 185 MPs voting for it and 151 against it.

The Senate must now also vote on the governments request to use measures under the Emergencies Act. If approved, the measures could be in effect until mid-March. The government can extend its use of the act beyond that period as long as it maintains Parliaments approval.

Andrew Chen, Noe Chartier, and Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report
Liberal backbencher Nathaniel Erskine-Smith looks on during a news conference in Toronto on July 22, 2016. (Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press)

Liberal MP Uncertain if Emergencies Act Is Warranted

But will vote for it since it is 'now a confidence vote,' he says

A Liberal MP says he is uncertain if the use of the Emergencies Act is warranted, but says he may have to vote in favour of it due to the fact it is now a confidence vote.

In a speech on Feb. 21, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said he has concerns about the invocation of the Emergencies Act by his government and the extension of its measures for 30 days.

Im skeptical that the strict legal test was met for the Acts invocation, and Im not convinced that the emergency measures should continue to exist beyond today, Erskine-Smith said.

I would vote accordingly, but for the fact it is now a confidence vote. The disagreement Ive expressed here does not amount to non-confidence, and I have no interest in an election at this time.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, using it as a means to quash the protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by truckers and their supporters in Ottawa across the country.

Protesters have now largely been cleared from downtown Ottawa over the weekend. Blockades at several Canada-U.S. border crossings were also cleared and had been reopened since before the Act was invoked.

At a press conference on Feb. 21, Trudeau said any parliamentarians who voted against the Act later that night are doubting the competency of the leadership of the federal government.

I cant imagine that anyone who votes no tonight is doing anything other than indicating that they dont trust the government to make incredibly momentous and important decisions at a very difficult time, he said.

But like I said, I am confident that the majority of parliamentarians will stand up to support our values, to stand up [to] support our democracy, and to stand up to support their fellow Canadians.

The NDP has so far said they will support the Liberals on the vote, which will give the minority government enough votes to pass the Act. Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois have opposed it.

Erskine-Smith said he is frustrated that the federal government has not made it clear on which grounds it is relying to define the convoy protests as a national emergency.

The Emergencies Act defines a national emergency as an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that (a) seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it, or (b) seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada.

When we look at the illegal blockades, and the negative impact they wrought on so many lives, theres a fair argument that they meet the definition of a national emergency, so long as we understand capacity to mean both whether a province could act in theory as well as the reality of their action, Erskine-Smith said.

But again, it is the blockades at issue. When we look at the threats of serious violence, the violence that itself must constitute the national emergency at issue, its unclear how the definition is met at all.

At a press conference at Lord Elgin Hotel on Feb. 19, Freedom Convoy spokesman Tom Marazzo disputed the illegal claim by the authorities, saying that their protest has always been peaceful.

There has never been violence in the three weeks that I have been here.  There was no damage, he said.

Besides Erskine-Smith, two other Liberal MPs have dissented from their partys position lately.

Liberal MP Joel Lightbound broke ranks with his party on Feb. 8, saying that the Liberals politicized the pandemic at the time of the 2021 election.

From a positive and unifying approach, a decision was made to wedge, to divide, and to stigmatize. I fear that this politicization of the pandemic risks undermining the publics trust in our public health institutions, Lightbound said at a press conference.

Liberal MP Yves Robillard also broke ranks with his party the next day, telling The Hill Times on Feb. 9 that Lightbound said exactly what a lot of us think.

Omid Ghoreishi and Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
Maryland Board of Education Lifts Statewide School Mask Mandate

Marylands Board of Education on Feb. 22 voted to lift the statewide mask mandate it imposed in 2021.

Members voted 122 to rescind the mandate.

Authorities noted that COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are declining nationwide as well as in Maryland, that COVID-19 vaccines are available to all Americans 5 and older, and that there has been an increase in COVID-19 treatments.

The conditions are better, theres more testing, theres more vaccines that are readily available, Maryland State Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury told the board before the vote. My stance is its time to give it back to local control so they can make the responsible decision.

Several members said they wanted the board to postpone the vote over concerns metrics could bounce back up in the coming weeks.

I have a responsibility to be prudent, and I just feel like were, like, a couple of weeks too early, and a couple more weeks, and we would know for sure that were going to stay down, Rachel McCusker said during the meeting.

But Vermelle Greene, another member, said that local officials should be able to decide whether to require masks.

I understand that people may be concerned about the health metrics and this kind of thing and that is important as well. However, we have 24 local school districts. And they are led by very intelligence superintendents, very intelligent board members, just as intelligent as we are. And I would like to think and I believe that they would take the same steps to protect their children as we would if we were looking at all the 900,000-plus children of the state. I firmly believe that local control needs to be returned to the districts, she said.

Multiple members of the board werent wearing masks during the indoor meeting, though the majority of the board was.

The mandate will remain in place until the General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive & Legislative Review holds a hearing and then votes on whether to withdraw it.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, had urged the state school board to vote to rescind the policy.

This action aligns with the data and the science, the recommendation of the state superintendent of schools, and the guidance of medical professionals across the country, Hogan said in a statement. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to all the parents who have spoken out in recent weeks. At a time when Maryland has the lowest COVID-19 metrics in the country, this is a major step for normalcy and the well-being of our students. The General Assembly must now act swiftly to ratify the state boards decision.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Covid-19 vaccine maker AstraZeneca has revealed it made four billion dollars in sales from its coronavirus jab last year (PA)

Metal-Organic Frameworks a Solution to Non-Refrigerated Vaccines: CSIRO

A CSIRO study has found MOFs (metal organic frameworks) to be a possible solution to address the challenge of transporting temperature-dependent vaccines.

According to the study, for vaccines to work with the maximum potency, they must be stored in specific conditions to avoid degradation across manufacturing, distribution, storage as well as administration; also known as the cold chain logistics.

The World Health Organisation had estimated that at least 50 percent of vaccines are wasted globally each year due to a lack of facilities and temperature control.

Most vaccines need to be stored at a temperature between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, however many live vaccines can be frozen and kept at temperatures between -15 to -50 degrees.

The requirement of cold-chain logistics were one challenge to Australias COVID-19 immunisation rollout in 2021. For instance, both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require long-term storage at -70 degrees, making distribution of the vaccines difficult and expensive.

CSIRO researchers have found a possible solution to the problem by encapsulating live virus vaccines with a dissolvable crystalline material called MOFs, which acts as a scaffold, protecting vaccine molecules from heat stress and eliminating the necessity for refrigeration.

Prior to administration, a solution will then be added to dissolve the MOF, exposing the vaccine particles.

There are currently two approaches to address temperature stress for non-refrigerated vaccines; either engineer the vaccine to increase its stability or add stabilising agents to the solution.

Whilst engineering vaccines is difficult and complex, there have been several studies exploring the potential of stabilising agents. A Canadian study in 2019 has shown that dried herpes and Influenza A virus vaccines have been successfully stored at 40 degrees for up to two and three months respectively in low-cost sugar films. Additionally, a 2016 study from the UK showed that adenoviral vaccines can be stable for up to 10 days at 37 degrees by adding polyethylene glycol, nanoparticle gold, and table sugar to the solution.

The CSIRO study conducted found MOFs protected the integrity of live viral vaccines for up to 12 weeks with decreasing effectiveness as time increases at an overall temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. Without refrigeration, the vaccine would normally last only a few days.

The research focused on two different types of live viruses; a Newcastle Disease vaccine designed to protect poultry and a strain of the Influenza A vaccine.

The CSIRO advertises itself as having the worlds first technology to manufacture industrial scale quantities of MOFs as a commercial outlet for the organisation on its website.

The papers author, CSIRO researcher Ruhani Singh, said the technique was cost-effective and scalable.

This world-first approach of stabilising a vaccine with MOFs is simple, rapid, and scalable because it takes one step.

CSIRO scientist and immunologist Daniel Layton said the breakthrough science would now focus on proving the approach for other animal and human vaccines, including mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, with the team looking to partner with animal and human health companies to commercialise their work.

Vaccination is undoubtedly one of the most effective medical interventions, saving millions of lives each year, however delivering vaccines, particularly to developing countries, is challenging because they often lack the cold storage supply chains required to keep the vaccine viable, Layton said

This breakthrough has the potential to enable more affordable and equitable access to vaccines across the world.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attends an event in New York City on Feb. 10, 2022. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Michael Bloomberg Says Democrats Need Course Correction or Will Get Wiped Out in 2022 Midterms

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is warning Democrats ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Bloomberg, a former Republican who backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, said Democrats are headed for a wipeout in November, up and down the ballot, unless an immediate course correction is implemented.

Bloomberg pointed to Republicans winning key elections in Virginia and New Jersey in 2020 as well as the recent ouster of three school board members in San Francisco, California as evidence of what could happen across the nation in the months ahead.

Voters in the liberal city overwhelmingly chose to remove Alison Collins, Gabriela Lopez, and Faauuga Moliga from the board because of the boards repeatedly blocking efforts to reopen schools, even after the bulk of evidence signaled schools could safely open amid the COVID-19 pandemic and that virtual learning is inferior to in-person classes.

The school board members failed to show any urgency in reopening schools even when it was clear that doing so was safeand that remote classes were leaving students further and further behind, Bloomberg said.

The members, who took time to vote on renaming schools while students remained unable to learn in person, seemed more concerned with political correctness than educating children, he added, echoing San Francisco residents who backed the recall.

Democrats need to speak out about school closures and ways to improve learning for all children, especially the worst-off, Bloomberg said, positing that Democrat Eric Adams won the New York City mayoral election in part because he addressed concerns about how education was handled by his predecessor.

Swing voters will decide the 2022 midterm elections, and right now, polls show they are swinging away from Democrats. The earthquake that shook San Francisco needs to shake up our party, before voters do it themselves in November, Bloomberg said.

He wrote an op-ed for Bloomberg, the media company he owns.

A number of Democrats and independents who lean left have expressed frustration with school closures and other heavy-handed policies, particularly in recent months.

Republican-led states were more likely to reopen schools after virtually every state closed them in early 2020. Republican governors were also more likely to favor fewer restrictions.

Republicans are optimistic about their chances in November, though some have warned against getting overconfident.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), on the other hand, has said she thinks Democrats will do better than expected even as she acknowledged the trend of the presidents party losing congressional seats in the midterms, including Republicans losing seats in 2018 while former President Donald Trump was in office.

We won 40 seats in 18, 31 in Trump districts. In this year with Trump on the ballot, we lost a third of those Trump seats. However, the people who survived in those Trump seats with Trump on the ballot are in very good shape, Pelosi said on ABCs This Week. We have decided to win and thats what we will do.
Miss Alabama Zoe Bethel Dies Days After Suffering Brain Injury: Family

Miss Alabama Zoe Bethel died about a week after she suffered brain injuries caused by an undisclosed accident, her family confirmed on Monday.

On Friday, February 18, 2022, at approximately 5:30AM Eastern time in Miami, Florida, our beloved Zoe Sozo Bethel passed from this life into the next as a result of succumbing to her injuries, her family wrote.

Bethels family members previously said online that she sustained severe damage to her brain after a Feb. 10 accident before she was placed in a coma. At the time, her family added that doctors were saying the damage cannot be repaired & that she may not have much time left.

Other details about her death or the accident were not provided.

At this time of bereavement, effectual and fervent prayers are solicited for the family members, and the family asks that their privacy wishes be honored and respected. The family members sincerely appreciate all of the kind words and expressions of love for Zoe, said her family in the post on Monday.

Other than being Miss Alabama, Bethel was a political commentator for Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN), which often broadcasts former President Donald Trumps speeches online.

In loving memory of Zoe. Besides the fact that she was always incredibly stunning, Ill always remember how convicted Zoe was in her faith in God, how dedicated she was to her beliefs in protecting life, and how much she cared for others. May she rest in peace, RSBN editor-in-chief Grace Saldana said in a statement on Twitter.

She was also a spokeswoman for Students for Life America and was affiliated with Project Veritas.

Our hearts are breaking over the news of Zoe Bethels unexpected passing. From choosing life during her own unexpected pregnancy to sharing her story & encouraging thousands of pro-life student leaders, she has always been a shining light and fierce advocate for life, the organization wrote on Twitter.

A GoFundMe page was set up for Bethels family, raising more than $40,000 in donations.
A model from Los Angels, California, claims that her extreme muscle pain and weakness was caused by becoming addicted to vaping as a teenager. Now, she has ditched the habit for good, but still feels the lasting effects of dermatomyositis, and wants to warn others with her cautionary tale.

Vanessa von Schwarz, 20, started vaping when she saw her friends were all using vapers in the school toilets. It wasnt long before she was hitting her e-cigarette almost continuously, and would feel nauseous and angry if she left it for too long.

Vanessa von Schwarz. (SWNS)

For some reason when I started vaping, naivety assured me my whole life was changing, Vanessa said. I felt like it gave me something I didnt have before; I was thinner, more confident, and I was sure this new me was all thanks to this little metal device I carried in my pocket.

Vanessa remembers vaping for the very first time in the toilets of her high school in April 2017, when she was just 15. She began noticing that every lunch break, whenever she entered the bathroom, there would always be groups of girls standing in a circle, smoking a weird-looking thin black stick that would light up.

All the cool girls and guys in my school vaped, it was normal, Vanessa said.

In no time, one of Vanessas close friends bought one and insisted that Vanessa tried it too, assuring her that nothing would happen.

However, not long after, Vanessa got into a routine of vaping anytime she was with her friends, until one Friday evening she went home and started to crave a hit.

I couldnt stop thinking about the device and how satisfied I could be if I just had my own, she said. Well its not cigarettes, so I cant smell like anything, my parents wont ever know because its so small and secretive, and Ill just throw it away before I get addicted.

(LR) Angel; Dr. Ernst von Schwarz; Vanessa von Schwarz; and her mother, Juana. (SWNS)

Vanessa went on to buy her own device, and it got to the point where she needed it to be around her at all times or she would feel nauseous and cranky.

I enjoyed the physical head rush vaping would give me. Every time I took a hit of my vape, I felt like I was inhaling a big deep breath, one that actually satisfied my body and relaxed me, she said. I started to truly believe that vaping had changed my life for the better.

Struggling with a lot of anxiety, Vanessa felt comfort in having the device readily available and in it being socially acceptable that she soon found that she was vaping almost continuously. This made it hard for her to let go.

I definitely think the child-friendly flavors made the initial use of the vape so enticing, she said. It tasted like candy and was truly delicious.

However, as time passed by, Vanessa found the fruity flavors to be truly nauseating, and thus mint became the default, and the flavor seemed to suppress hunger the most.

My friends and I would never eat breakfast or lunch, she said. We mostly just vaped away our hunger and cravings.

Not long after, Vanessa started seeing side effects.

One morning, she got out of bed and took a hit. However, after that, she woke up on the floor and didnt remember what happened.

Id clearly fainted, and I was fine, but it was so odd because that had never happened to me in my life, she said.

From then on, whenever she used the device, shed feel weak in the knees, her fingers and toes would go numb, and her heartbeat sped up.

In 2018, Vanessa developed migraines and consistent nausea after just a few hours without a hit. Her weakness got worse, but she managed to just shrug it off until she took up a stylist job and had to be on her feet for up to nine hours a day.

On top of the consistent migraines and nausea, I suddenly was unable to bend my legs fully without being in an immense amount of pain, the filmmaking student at The New York Film Academy said. I would come home from work in absolute agony, crying because of how badly my legs ached.

She could suddenly feel that her upper body, legs, arms, and fingers grew weaker and weaker.

It began to hurt just putting my hair in a ponytail, or even holding a water bottle was too heavy for my hands, Vanessa said. I couldnt lift my neck up when I was laying down, and when Id fall because my legs would give out due to weakness, I couldnt get up from the ground.

On Nov. 5, 2019, while getting ready for work, Vanessas heart started to beat very quickly and she felt lightheaded. After managing to get out the door to go, she realized she forgot something but tripped while running back up the porch steps and hit her head.

She was then rushed to the hospital by mom Juana, 50, and doctors quizzed her about her recent weakness and fall. Medics originally concluded that Vanessa must have come into contact with a toxic substance and that she needed hydrating to remove it from her body, but she had failed to mention her vaping habit.

Vanessa von Schwarz after hitting her head. (SWNS)

It wasnt until they noticed her creatine kinase levels in her blood were increasing, despite being on constant IV hydration, that she admitted shed been continuing to vape in hospital in secret.

I had to have a serious conversation with myself about whether or not I was ready to let this addiction go, and I thought bringing up vaping to the doctors would get rid of any paranoia I had about my vape, she said. Once they knew how excessive the use was, they immediately advised me to stop, stating there was not enough research to know how vaping can affect the body.

In mid-December, she was discharged from hospital, but didnt stop vaping until a year later, convinced by some studies she found online that said it had nothing to do with her condition.

That was enough for me to continue my use, despite the painful symptoms I continued to feel, said Vanessa. In 2020, I was vaping just as heavily as I had been before, but suddenly, the symptoms started to become extremely overbearing to the point where I would have constant panic attacks.

I would be in public hitting my vape, and all of a sudden my heart would start pounding in my chest, I would feel extremely lightheaded, I started trembling as my muscles tightened, and I felt nauseous all at once.

She also recalled that her bones felt shaky and she would feel like she was going to drop on the floor.

By then, Vanessa knew that she had to make a change, and she went to her doctor for help, who prescribed her nicotine patches to ease the cravings.

After about a month away from her device, her symptoms eased up and Vanessa found out that she had more energy, and her muscles were not aching so much.

I dont need to constantly worry about losing my vape or what Ill do if I cant vape for more than an hour, Vanessa said. I dont run to the bathroom every 30 minutes to hit my vape either, I no longer feel as controlled by something that controlled me for so long.

To this day, Vanessa still suffers from dermatomyositis, which causes extreme muscle pain and weakness, and believes that the condition was caused by her early addiction to vaping.

She hopes that by sharing her experience she can warn other young people about the potential dangers of what is often thought to be a safer alternative to smoking.

Anyone who may be struggling with any sort of addiction, please know there is help, Vanessa said. Its a common misconception to believe nicotine is a small, minor addiction, and while that can be true for a lot of people, there are still those remaining that depend on the substance for their happiness, when it is incredibly short-lived.

She implores that people should not let any addiction take over their bodys health, because the effects are irreversible, adding that her case was an example of how detrimental these minor and legal substances can be to ones body.

I hope there could be more awareness and action taken against teens vaping, especially in schools, she said. Despite the intention, the effects on the body can be severe and my case is not the first or the last of this kind.

Vanessas father, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz, 60, is a clinician-researcher and has written a report on his daughters case. He believes her serious side effects are most likely attributed to her vaping.

Vanessa von Schwarz on an IV with her father Dr. Ernst von Schwarz in November 2020. (SWNS)

Initially, [vaping] was introduced as a way to quit smoking, but now the role has changed immensely because it has become somewhat fashionable and does attract a lot of young people, he said. There is very little published on the potential induction of vaping and its toxic effects on the connective tissue.

Dr. Ernst explains Dermatomyositis to basically be an inflammation of the skin and the muscle tissues, commonly seen in elderly people and those with chronic systemic conditions, end-stage cancer patients, or in patients with a family history of it.

However, he also notes that, sometimes, it can be a result of the side effects of certain drugs. In the case of Vanessa, she was not on any medications, and she didnt have any family history that could lead to this kind of connective tissue disease.

It is with a high probability that vaping in her particular case caused systemic dermatomyositis and inflammatory response, he said. It does demonstrate how dangerous, especially for healthy young people, something like vaping can be.

Epoch Times Staff contributed to this report.

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Mayor LaToya Cantrell at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, La., on June 15, 2018. (Emily Kask/AFP via Getty Images)

New Orleans Mayor Pictured Violating Her Citys Mask Mandate at Indoor Party

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was photographed at an indoor party without wearing a mask on Friday, violating her own mask mandate for the city.

The Democratic mayor reinstated the citys indoor mask mandate on Jan. 11, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. The mandate applies to all indoor public settings, including schools, and will remain in effect through Mardi Gras Day on March 1.

But she was seen maskless at the Mayors Mardi Gras Ball at Gallier Hall on Friday, Fox News reported, noting that 100 short videos taken at the event and posted online were deleted shortly after the outlet made inquiries.

Cantrell and two other maskless women were seen in the videos, taken by a 360-degree photo booth, weeks after the citys indoor mask mandate was reinstated.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the mayors office for comment.

Beau Tidwell, a spokesman for the mayor, told Fox News that there was not a perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance at the event.

Tidwell said the citys indoor mask mandate will remain in effect until March 1, as originally planned.

That has not changed and it will not change. Under the current guidelines, masks may be removed indoors while eating and drinking, he said.

While we did not see perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance over the weekend, we were encouraged overall by the level of masking and vigilance we saw on the parade route and at ball events, added Tidwell.

The revelations were met with criticism on social media with some pointing out that the mayors conduct amounts to hypocrisy.

Rules for thee, but not for me, said Glenn Jacobs, Republican mayor of Knox County, Tennessee since 2018.

Canary CEO Dan. K. Eberhart wrote, Add another Democrat to the ever-growing list of hypocrite politicians demanding people follow rules that they themselves dont.

Cantrell in July last year issued an advisory telling people they should wear masks indoors, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state. That came two months after the city lifted its mask mandate.

Everyone was asked to wear a mask indoors when with people who are not members of their immediate family.

Cantrell said at the time that instead of an indoor mask mandate, the indoor mask advisory is putting more responsibility on residents in our community that have yet to be vaccinated.

The mayor has yet to publicly respond to the reports that she violated her own citys mask mandate.

On Monday night, she posted photographs on Twitter from the citys signature Mardi Gras parades.

Its my absolute pleasure to say that after a one-year hiatus, Mardi Gras returned to the streets of NOLA, she wrote.

All Hail each Krewe who have paraded before us this weekend. Also, a huge thank you to all of our public safety members who were able to ensure that we rolled safely!
News on US-China Trade: Some Bad, Some Good

China has failed to meet commitments, but talks continue

Commentary

On the matter of China-U.S. trade, there is one item of bad news and two of good news.

The bad news is that China has failed to meet its commitments under the first phase of the trade agreement signed in January 2020. This is hardly a surprise to anyone who has followed the data, but it is now official. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi recently announced that the failure is clear.

One piece of good news is that the tariffs the Trump White House imposed in 2019 remain in place to pressure China into further efforts at compliance.

The other piece of good news is that the two countries continue to talk about next steps to foster, in Bianchis words, a stable [trade] relationship between the two countries.

The first phase of the U.S.-China trade agreement itemized all the major points of disagreement between the two countries but did not address them all. It stipulated that all the 2019 tariffs would remain in place until, among other things, China increased its purchases of American exports by $200 billion above the 2017 levels. It gave China until this past December to accomplish this.

In addition to the overall figure, the treaty also stipulated specific targets for different sorts of products, agriculture, energy, and manufactured goods. Once the additional buying was accomplished, the 2020 agreement stated, the parties would talk about reducing or eliminating the tariffs and go on with a so-called phase two that would try to resolve more sensitive matters, such as Chinas policy of subsidizing certain industries and requiring technology transfers from any U.S. company operating in China.

China certainly has failed to meet the targets set out for it in the treaty. According to calculations made by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the $200 billion net additional purchases should have put Chinas imports from the United States at $380 billion at the end of last year.

Chinas imports from this country seem to have come in at barely above $220 billion, some 37 percent below target. An alternative way of measuring would put the shortfall at closer to 40 percent. The extent of this failure varies from one product group to another, but all show a shortfall. Actual purchases were, for instance, some 24 percent short for agriculture, 38 percent short for manufactures, and 53 percent for energy.

Confronted with these facts, Chinas negotiators have excused the countrys inability to meet targets by pointing to recent supply chain problems and more generally to constraints imposed by the pandemic, of which no one knew anything when the treaty was signed. They have a point. The lockdowns and quarantines put in place to combat COVID-19 curtailed buying in China, as elsewhere, and so also imports.

Supply chain problems, especially the rolling blackouts China has had to put in place because of energy shortages, have curtailed spending and production and, accordingly, imports. The Chinese negotiators might have added a reference to the difficulties imposed by the drop in U.S. energy production during the past year, but there is no evidence that they made any reference to this fact.

Whether the shortfall is excusable or not, it seems not to have changed things. The tariffs remain in place. Bianchi has made it clear that the American side has no desire to escalate the dispute. She did indicate that Washington would look at all the tools available to hold China accountable but failed to itemize exactly what those tools are.

Otherwise, she seems amenable, despite Chinas failures, to extending the negotiations to those items saved for the second phase of negotiationsstate subsidies, forced technology transfers, and the need for stronger intellectual property protectionsall of which she described as a serious threat to American economic interests.

If China has fallen short of its promises, this is not the first time. Meanwhile, continued talks offer proof of a sort against the uncertainties and business disruptions that accompanied the 2019 trade war between the United States and China.

Though history suggests that progress on these trade issues remains doubtful, the tariffs should keep enough pressure on Chinas economy to create at least a hope that Beijing will negotiate in good faith and perhaps even alter the unfair practices of which the United States has complained, and Deputy Trade Representative Bianchi has highlighted.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson answers questions during a press conference to outline the government's new long-term COVID-19 plan, inside the Downing Street Briefing Room in central London, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Tolga Akmen /AFP via Getty Images)

No Division Between Politicians and Scientists Over Ending COVID-19 Curbs: UKs Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied the government had deviated from scientific advice in deciding to lift all COVID-19 restrictions in England.

Johnson announced his plan for living with COVID on Monday, scrapping the last legal restriction which requires those who test positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus to self-isolate.

But at a Downing Street press conference following the announcement, Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said people should still isolate if they have the virus.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance address the nation during a press conference on plan for Living With COVID at Downing Street Briefing Room, in London, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Tolga Akmen  WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Whitty said the Omicron wave is still high and the public health advice remains that people should still, if they have COVID, try to prevent other people getting it and that means self-isolating.

The governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said COVID-19 will continue to evolve over the next couple of years and there is no guarantee that future variants would be less severe.

Also talking at the news conference, the prime minister said: I dont want you to think that theres some division between the gung-ho politicians and the cautious, anxious scientists, much as it may suit everybody to say so.

He said the government has a very clear view of the situation and acknowledged that the pandemic has not gone away.

He said the government is able to make these changes now because of the vaccines and the high level of immunity, as well as the less virulent nature of the Omicron variant.

Johnson said there could be another variant that will cause us trouble, but said he believes thanks to a lot of the stuff that weve done, particularly investment in vaccines and vaccine technology and therapeutics, well be in a far better position to tackle that new variant when it comes.

Opposition parties have expressed concerns that the decision is not based on scientific advice.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party does not want to see restrictions in place for a moment longer than necessary but said, we have to take the public with us.

He told the House of Commons: All weve got today is yet more chaos and disarray. Not enough to prepare us for the new variants which may yet develop. An approach which seems to think that living with COVID means simply ignoring it.

But the prime minister said there is ample scientific evidence that supports the decision to end COVID-19 restrictions.

The evidence for what we are doing today is amply there in the scientific evidence, in the figures for the rates of infection that I have outlined today and in all the data that is freely available to members of the House, he said.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Official White House Christmas Ornament Unveiled at Nixon Library

YORBA LINDA, Calif.The official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament was unveiled Monday at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda in connection with Presidents Day.

The White House Historical Association and Richard Nixon Foundation revealed the gingerbread-themed ornament (and recipe) inspired by First Lady Pat Nixons own gingerbread house during a special morning event in the librarys replica of the White House East Room.

This was the first time an official White House Christmas Ornament was unveiled on the West Coast and the event begins a yearlong partnership illuminating the Nixons White House legacy through educational programming and onsite events.

The library also marked Presidents Day with actors portraying Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington. The first 500 visitors received a free slice of cherry pie.

(Courtesy of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum)

Although commonly known as Presidents Day, the Monday holiday is still legally Washingtons Birthday.

The holiday was shifted from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February 1971 under the terms of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. Because the holiday falls between Feb. 15 and 21 it can never fall on the actual anniversary of Washingtons birth in 1732.

The term Presidents Day began being popularized in the 1980s, when retailers combined sales formerly held in conjunction with Washington and Lincolns birthdays.

Lincolns Feb. 12 birthday has never been a federal holiday; however, it is a holiday in California and eight other states.
National Guard troops leave Washington after being stationed there for four months following the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, on May 24, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Pentagon Considers Deploying National Guard in Washington to Help With Trucker Convoy Response

National Guard troops may be deployed in the Washington D.C. area to help deal with trucker convoys expected to arrive as soon as Feb. 23, a Pentagon official said Tuesday.

The Department is analyzing a request for assistance from the US Capitol Police and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, John Kirby, the Department of Defenses spokesman, told news outlets 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 and DC government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries. No decisions have been made yet to approve these requests, Kirby added.

The Capitol Police and the Washington law enforcement agency did not respond to requests for comment.

Kirby did not detail how many Guard personnel have been requested.

Multiple convoys are planning treks to the Washington area, with one organizer telling The Epoch Times that his group plans to arrive on Wednesday.

Bob Bolus, the organizer, said the convoy he plans on leading will travel on the Capitol Beltway and not venture into downtown Washington due to concerns over how theyd be treated by law enforcement and the judicial system. Bolus said the convoy would shut it down, referring to the Beltway, which encircles Washington and runs through Maryland and Virginia.

Another convoy was scheduled to depart from California on Wednesday and reach the Washington area in early March.

Capitol Police officials said recently that they and other law enforcement officials in the nations capital were planning extra security ahead of President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on March 1.

Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, D.C., around the time of the State of the Union, the agency said, adding, As with any demonstration, the USCP will facilitate lawful First Amendment activity.

No decision had been made on whether to reerect fencing around the Capitol, according to USCP.

Spokespersons for the Maryland and Virginia state police told The Epoch Times in emails that they were aware of the convoys and were working to prepare for possible disruptions.

The U.S. convoys are inspired by convoys that gathered in Canada in January to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

On Feb. 19, the Canadian government moved to clear out protesters in Ottawa, arresting some. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus administration also imposed the first use in history of the Emergencies Act, using it to freeze the bank accounts of protesters.

Organizers in the United States also oppose vaccine mandates.

This is for everyone that believes in their personal freedoms as a human being, and as an American, their personal freedoms that are protected by the Constitution of the United States, Brian Blase, another organizer, told The Epoch Times.
Widespread exposure

Demeneix and her collaborators used data from more than 2,000 pregnant women from Sweden to identify a mixture of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that was associated with a subsequent delay in the childs language development. They then exposed tadpoles, zebrafish, and brain organoidssmall brain prototypes made of human stem cellsto the same mixture of chemicals that had been measured in those mothers blood. In all three organisms, they saw similar results: a disruption of the regulation of genes responsible for language development in children.

They concluded that 54% of the women had enough exposure to put their child at risk of a developmental delay. While that doesnt mean that 54% of babies born will develop more slowly, it does show that more than half the women in the study had concerning levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in their blood.

Mixtures of chemicals

The research, said Demeneix and Joelle Ruegg, a professor of toxicology at Uppsala University and an author on the study, highlights the importance of studying mixtures of chemicals rather than individually, since thats how exposure happens in everyday life. When we do this mixture approach, its much more concerning than if we looked at single chemicals, said Ruegg.

Because these chemicals are so widespread, and different countries regulate them differently, Demeneix and Ruegg said it would be difficult for a pregnant woman to limit her exposure meaningfully. Rather, they encourage more systemic action, including classification of chemicals. In some countries, endocrine-disrupting chemicals are tested and regulated individually, which makes it difficult for all PFAS, for example, to be banned or regulated.

Regulating endocrine-disrupting chemicals as classes, said Demeneix, would be a step in the right direction.

Its a personal choice to control your food, to control your environment, Demeneix told EHN. Its a regulators problem, a policy-makers problem, to make sure we are all protected.
The tradition of presidential portraits is as old as the office of the American presidency itself. Beginning with Gilbert Stuarts 1796 portrait of George Washington, every president has been the subject of an official portrait. An oil painting on canvas is most frequently commissioned, but the advent of photography has opened up new portrait possibilities as well. Historically, portraits were a key way for presidents to communicate and record their likenesses; most citizens would otherwise have no way to see their president. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to appear on television in 1939, and Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised presidential address, from the White House, in 1947. Portraits serve a greater purpose than revealing a presidents appearance to a curious public. These artworkshistorical documents in their own rightconvey presidents personalities, sensibilities, values, and what kind of legacy they would like to leave.

Stuarts portrait of our nations first president is rich with symbolism. The Lansdowne Portrait draws on visual motifs from the ancient Roman Republic in addition to emerging American motifs. Commemorating leaders through portraiture was one of the many traditions that Americans adapted from European precedents. Stuart carefully depicted Washington as a democratic leader rather than a king or military ruler, which set the standard for portraying the president as a person of the American people.

Washington stands in an oratorical pose, dramatically addressing the 4th U.S. Congress. His elegant yet simple black velvet suit may not seem extraordinary by todays standards, but it is noteworthy that Stuart did not portray Washington with the regalia and accouterments typically seen in 18th-century European portraits. The presidents sword is a dress sword rather than a battle swordreiterating the new democratic form of government. In the background are storm clouds and a rainbow signifying the peace and prosperity following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. The medallion on the top of the chair represents the new American flag, and numerous books allude to the principles that guided the new nation and its first president.

Stuarts iconic painting created the aesthetic philosophy that guided subsequent presidential portraitsportraying the president as an elected official rather than an elusive, magisterial sovereign. It was the portraits of Washingtons successors that established the implicit compositional rules that influenced most presidential portraits up to the present day. John Trumbull painted John Adams while he served as Washingtons vice president; this would become Adams official portrait when he became the second president of the United States. Trumbull painted Adams sitting in three-quarter view, meaning the presidents face is halfway between the front and profile. In this pose, Adams does not meet the viewers gaze, nor is his entire body depicted; the relative austerity of the painting communicates a dignified restraint. An exterior light source illuminates Adams face, which is another technique found in later portraits. Trumbull also painted the famous Declaration of Independence, incorporating numerous individual portraits, including Adams, into a single artwork.

Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, 1800. Oil on canvas. White House. (Public Domain)

Thomas Jefferson, the nations third president, was similarly painted by renowned American artist Rembrandt Peale. Peale was incidentally named after the Dutch Master: Rembrandt van Rijn. The artist situates Jefferson within a neutral composition, and the sitter is accentuated by warm tones. Jefferson meets the viewers gaze as an equal, which suggests the Founding Fathers role in championing rights and freedoms for the American people. Like his predecessors, Jefferson wears a plain black suit, which further emphasized the philosophical and practical distinction between American presidents and monarchs overseas.

John Adams by John Trumbull, 1792. Oil on canvas. White House. (Public Domain)

George Peter Alexander Healy, prolific 19th-century American virtuoso, painted every president from John Quincy Adams to Ulysses Grant for the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. Healy skillfully adhered to the conventions of existing presidential portraits while offering a glimpse of each leaders legacy and personality. Healy painted John Quincy Adams sitting in an elegant chair featuring a Greek-style sphinx on either side. The Greek sphinx became a popular Neoclassical motif in the 19th century. The sphinx is an embodiment of wisdom, and Healy used it to symbolize the sixth presidents reputation as an intelligent and cultivated statesman. Adams also gestures toward a drawing of George Washington on his desk, where he is rendered as a sort of blueprint of the American presidency. Adams admired Washington so much that he named his first son George Washington Adams.

John Tyler by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1864. Oil on canvas. White House. (Public Domain)

Healy also used small details in his portrait of John Tyler to document key events of Tylers presidency. Tyler looks outside, which suggests that he is overseeing the United States westward expansion. One document on his desk reads Texas, as the state was annexed during Tylers time in office. Another document in the painting says China. Tyler was keenly aware of trade opportunities with the Asia-Pacific region, and he sent the nations first diplomatic mission to China. Tylers ambassador secured the same trading concessions in China as the British.

John Quincy Adams by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1858. Oil on canvas. White House. (Public Domain)

Healy followed a similar template in his portraits of James K. Polk, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce. The artist became one of the countrys greatest portraitists. Beyond his presidential commissions, Healy depicted notable figures such as Daniel Webster, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Eleanor Boyle Ewing Sherman, Pope Pius IX, and numerous European aristocrats.

Portrait of the Artist by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1851. Oil on canvas. Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1891. Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Public Domain)

Abraham Lincoln, however, may be Healys most famous subject. Unlike his other presidential portraits, Healy paints Lincoln in a transcendent setting devoid of all the documents and paraphernalia that accompany other sitters. This artistic choice can be explained by the circumstances of the artworks commission: Healy created this piece in 1869, four years after Lincolns assassination. By omitting the newspapers, books, and other materials, Healy suggests that Lincolns work is complete.

Healy immortalized Lincoln, elevating him beyond the minutiae that the office of the presidency entails. Lincoln sits cross-legged in an elegant chair and leans forward, lending an air of dynamism to an otherwise stoic composition. He is characteristically pensive with his chin resting in his hand. While this is a posthumous portrait, Healy took considerable steps to ensure he faithfully captured the 16th presidents likeness. Viewers will recognize Lincolns gaunt face, famous beard, and diamond-shaped bow tie. Healys artistic brilliance lies in his ability to capture the presidents visage as well as his spirit. Lincolns portrait is one of Healys most significant works of art and undoubtedly considered an American masterpiece.

Abraham Lincoln by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1869. Oil on canvas. White House. (Public Domain)

Presidential portraits are an enduring and quintessentially American art form. Generations of artists have captured the spirit and legacy of every president since our nations founding. While these portraits help citizens visually connect with their elected officials, the insights they leave behind for future Americans are equally significant. They present contemporary audiences with a reflection of the times, while preserving key moments in the nations history for posterity. As Americans reflect on the contributions of our leaders on Presidents Day, it is also imperative to acknowledge the invaluable institution of presidential portraiture.

This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch is seen on the arm of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Mission, Texas, on July 1, 2019. (Loren Elliott/Reuters)

Presumed Illegal Immigrant Killed by Border Patrol Agent in Arizona, Sheriffs Office Says

Federal and local officials are probing the fatal shooting of a man in Arizona by a U.S. Border Patrol agent late Saturday, Feb. 19.

The shooting occurred a few miles north of the Mexico border near of the Arizona town of Douglas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) area spokesman John Mennell said on Monday.

Mennell said the CBP had launched an investigation with the Cochise County Sheriffs Office into the fatal shooting in the Skeleton Canyon area of the Peloncillo Mountains.

Mexican Consulate officials were notified of the mans death, the spokesman said.

The Epoch Times contacted the Mexican Consulate in Douglas for comment.

The Cochise County Sheriffs Office said in an initial news release that a man was killed in difficult terrain on East Geronimo Trail, approximately 30 miles northeast of Douglas, Arizona, at about 10 p.m. on Saturday.

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 sheriffs office said in a news release.

A CBP emergency medical technician attended to the wounded male, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene, the sheriffs office added.

The statement noted that several other illegal immigrants in the same location were detained and taken to a Border Patrol station for interview purposes and further processing.

The mans body was retrieved by the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Sunday and transported to the medical examiners office in Pima County.

The DHS Office of Inspector General, the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Cochise County Sheriffs Office were at the scene.

The Mexican Consulate  will be working in close cooperation with the Sheriffs Office during the investigation to positively identify the male subject and notify next of kin related to the death, the sheriffs office said, noting that additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The Epoch Times has contacted the CBP for additional information.

The Mexican Consulate issued a news release on Monday, criticizing the handling of the incident, tucson.com reported.

The government of Mexico rejects any act of unjustified violence against migrants, the consulate release said, according to the news outlet.

The man has not been identified, pending notification of relatives, the Cochise County Sheriffs Office statement said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Media magnate Mark Zuckerberg was among the donors to charities that went on to help fund local elections. Shown here in a photo taken in Paris on May 24, 2018. (Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images)

Private Money Seeks to Fund South Carolina Elections Via Non-Profits: Study

Non-profit organizations gave hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize the conducting of state and local elections across America in 2020, but their efforts were not confined to hotly contested swing states, a new study has found.

According to a report about private funding of public elections in South Carolina, released Feb. 17 by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), non-profit groups led by the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), doled out $6.5 million in grant funding to help pay for elections in the reliably Republican state. South Carolina has voted for the GOP candidate for president in every election since 1964, with the exception of 1976.

In September 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was raging, the Republican-controlled state legislature passed emergency laws, making voting by mail an option for all registered voters in the state for the coming General Election.

To help cover the cost of the expanded absentee voter process, and to advertise it as an option, the State Election Commission accepted a $1.3 million grant from the progressive, Washington-based non-profit called the Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR).

CEIRs revenues in 2017 were at just under $300,000. In the fall of 2020, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, announced they were donating $50 million to CEIR, a figure which later grew to nearly $70 million, according to the website of the Capital Research Center.

Another of Zuckerbergs favored charities, CTCL, in late 2020 granted $5.2 million to 39 county governments in South Carolina to help their election officials cope with added expenses from the pandemic, according to the PILF report.

The PILF study found that 27 of those counties leaned Republican and 12 leaned toward Democrats.

The study also noted that Californian Arnold Schwarzenegger contributed $22,500 to Colleton County and $17,500 to Barnwell County to help with election expenses. Both counties are in South Carolina.

Schwarzenegger announced the availability of his Democracy Grants for Voting Access & Election Administration in late September of 2020.

Ive read news stories about over a thousand polling locations closing around the country, even before the pandemic [for lack of funding]I am making grants available for local and state election officials  These grants are completely non-partisan and will be offered to those who demonstrate the greatest need and ability to close gaps in voting access, said Schwarzenegger in the announcement.

According to the PILF report, most of the money from the various grants was spent on things like personal protective equipment, but seven counties spent a total of $1.5 million of the grant money on storage buildings, pickup trucks, a van, enclosed trailers, iPads, and mobile phones.

The grants come with few restrictions other than that the money be spent on things that aid the administration of elections.

PILF President J. Christian Adams said in a press release that the effort of the non-profits shows a commitment to building state and local governments reliance on corporate interests to run elections going forward.

This is about building a sustaining infrastructure to fit ideological tastes, he said.

The report warned that private money is subsidizing, and thereby, influencing, state and local election processes and procedures, by subtly pressuring officials to adopt and maintain election practices, such as mail-in voting, preferred by the outside groups.

Allowing elections to be funded by private grants could result in a bidding war between opposing donor groups trying to outdo each other competing for influence, the report said.

Time is running out for South Carolinians to erase the risk of similar grants affecting 2022, said Adams in the release.

A bipartisan bill, H 3444, to ban private grants to county election boards and to outlaw the use of ballot drop boxes is currently before the South Carolina legislature.

At least a dozen states with Republican-controlled state legislatures have adopted or are considering similar legislation.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has vetoed a package of election reform bills sponsored by Republicans, causing residents to petition to ban private funding for elections and ballot drop boxes by a vote of the people.
A Chinese construction worker yawns as he takes a break from painting the exterior of a new apartment complex on Aug. 29, 2014 in Beijing, China. Rapid construction and widespread over-investment in Chinese property created a bubble that continues to deflate. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Property Prices Nosedive in Small China City, Compounding Fiscal Woes: Experts

Property prices in a small city in Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang Province nosedived in 2021 to the point they are the lowest in the country, and the local government is Chinas first to undergo fiscal consolidation.

Hegang, a city with a population of less than 900,000, is regarded as a Tier 5 city in China. As early as 2019, an older apartment with a floor area of 40 square meters (about 431 square feet) sold for $4,700.

In Chinas Tier 1 citiesBeijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhenhome prices could be dozens of times higher than those in Hegang. Thus, Hegang housing prices are called cabbage prices.

On Dec. 23, 2021, the citys human resources office issued a notice cancelling a public recruitment plan for government positions due to significant changes in financial situation and the fiscal consolidation of the local government.

City on the Brink of Bankruptcy

The citys budgetary review of 2020 showed that public expenditures were $2.1 billion and revenues were $363 million, indicating serious overspending, according to a report of the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times in January.

It means that the city of Hegang is insolvent and is going bankrupt, Frank Tian Xie, Professor of Marketing and John M. Olin Palmetto Chair Professor in Business at the University of South Carolina Aiken, said in a recent interview with The Epoch Times.

Hegang used to be one of the four major coal hubs in Heilongjiang Province. With the depletion of coal resources, the city has yet to transition to other industries. On top of that, residents have been leaving the city for more prosperous centers.

Data from Chinas seventh national census shows that the population of Hegang was 891,271 as of Nov. 1, 2020, a decline of 15.81 percent from a decade ago.

Wang He, a U.S.-based commentator on current affairs, told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that the actual situation in Hegang may be even worse than it looks because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) habitually falsifies data reports.

An overall economic downturn in China, along with Chinese property developers defaulting on huge debts, and the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic have compounded Hegangs financial situation, according to Wang.

Professor Xie added that another factor affecting the Hegang governments huge deficit is the large number of civil servants it employs, which is common in the Chinese regime.

The CCP expands blindly at all levels of government. Some county governors and mayors have more than a dozen deputies, and more and more people want to work in the government. The huge team of government employees also contributes to the bankruptcy, Xie said.

The diving property prices are spreading to Chinas wealthy eastern Yangtze River Delta area, centered around Shanghai, and the southern Greater Bay Area, centered around Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.

In Huainan, a city north of Shanghai, an apartment with a floor area of 77 square meters (about 829 square feet) was listed for less than $16,000, and in Guangdong Province, homes with a floor area of 50 square meters (about 538 sq. ft.) can be found for a similar price in cities like Zhaoqing and Shaoguan, as reported by Radio Free Asia on Feb. 14.

Luo Ya, Liu Yi and Chang Chun contributed to the report.
A wheat field is pictured outside the village of Maslovsky, some 30 km (18 miles) from city of Voronezh in Russia on July 9, 2020. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/Getty Images)

RussiaUkraine Crisis Threatens Global Food Supply; Wheat, Corn Supply Disruptions Anticipated

The simmering RussiaUkraine crisis is endangering the global food supply, threatening to create food shortages and drive prices even higher, with wheat, corn, and sunflower oil among the items that will be most affected.

Russia and Ukraine combined account for roughly 80 percent of global sunflower oil exports, 29 percent of the worlds wheat exports, and 19 percent of the global supply of corn.

The shortage of wheat and corn would especially be problematic since these are staple foods in many countries. U.S. wheat futures are up by 9.72 percent since hitting a low on Feb. 3, while U.S. corn futures are up 9.34 percent in the same period.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent states and dispatched troops to maintain peace in those regions, drawing criticism from the United States. The UK has already taken action, sanctioning three Russian individuals and five Russian banks. The EU and the United States are expected to soon follow with their own sanctions.

The Middle East, North Africa, and Asia would suffer the most from food supply disruptions due to a RussiaUkraine war. Roughly 70 percent of wheat exports from Russia in 2021 went to Africa and the Middle East. In 2014, wheat prices surged by 20 percent in the two months prior to Russia taking over the Crimean Peninsula.

Fourteen nations depend on Ukraine for more than 10 percent of their wheat consumption. Lebanon imports 50 percent of its wheat from Ukraine, Libya 43 percent, Malaysia 28 percent, Indonesia 28 percent, Libya 22 percent, Bangladesh 21 percent, and Egypt 14 percent.

Ukraine estimates its grain exports to hit 56 million tons this year. Much of the export goes through two ports on the Black Sea, a region that might experience disruptions in case of a military conflict. Some buyers have already begun diverting vessels to other suppliers over concern that an outbreak of war would lead to lengthy delays in loading.

Ships are avoiding entering the Black Sea because of the war risk, a trader from Singapore told Reuters. Supply disruptions are already taking place. Nikolai Gorbachev, head of the Ukrainian Grain Association, believes a blockage of corn and wheat exports from the Black Sea region could result in corn and wheat prices spiking by 20 to 30 percent.

Another major crop that could be affected is soybeans, which tend to compete with corn for the same agricultural land. Higher corn and soybean prices would also affect several packaged products that contain these items, Sal Gilbertie, president and chief investment officer at Teucrium Trading, told MarketWatch.

Soybean supplies are tightening rapidly due to bad weather in South America, which means both corn and soybean prices will have to compete with one another (through price increases) in order to buy more acres this spring across the Northern Hemisphere, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs documents, including a decree recognizing two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsy/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian Parliament Approves Use of Military Abroad as It Evacuates Kyiv Embassy

The upper house of Russias parliament approved a plan to deploy the countrys military abroad following a request on Tuesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Members of Russias Federation Council voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the countryeffectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

The move came as several European leaders said Russian troops rolled into the 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.

When asked by a reporter about whether he sent Russian forces into Ukraine, Putin said, I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He then continued to say that it is impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action  it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground.

Putin also called for recognition of Crimea as a part of Russia, a halt to weapons shipments to Ukraine, and an end to Ukraines bid to join NATO.

On Tuesday, Russias Foreign Ministry simultaneously announced it would evacuate Russias Embassy in Kyiv.

To protect their lives and safety, the Russian leadership has decided to evacuate the personnel of Russian foreign missions in Ukraine, which will be implemented in the very near future, the statement said.

The Federation Councils authorization grants Putin the ability to use Russian military forces outside its borders in accordance with the principles and norms of international law, reported state media, citing the document. It also doesnt impose limits on the number of troops or equipment, as well as the areas of their activity, their goals, and length of stay outside Russia  in accordance with the Constitution.

In a lengthy speech, Putin said he would recognize the separatist Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine at the request of the leaders of the two areas, about eight years after they broke away from Ukraine in a conflict that has cost about 14,000 lives. Russia, which also annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, has long been said to have provided weapons and funding to the two breakaway areas.

Putin said that he believes parts of Ukraine are ancient Russian lands and further said that a U.S.-backed color revolution in 2014 installed a puppet regime in Kyiv.

After Putins declaration, several Western leaders said they would impose sanctions on top-level Russian officials. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters Tuesday that the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream pipeline would be suspended.

As sanctions were being laid down, top White House officials signaled that they would start to refer to Putins actions in eastern Ukraine as an invasion.

We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, a White House deputy national security adviser, told CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway.

However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Tuesday that while Russias latest invasion of Ukraine is threatening peace in the region, Putin can still avoid a full blown, tragic war of choice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022, in a still from video. (Russian Pool via Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Russian Troops Are Now On Ukrainian Soil: Top EU Official

A top European Union official on Tuesday said Russian forces entered breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, coming after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would recognize the regions as independent.

Russian troops have entered in Donbas. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine, the EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, told reporters in reference to the region.

But Borell stopped short of calling it an invasion, but added, 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.

The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Russian troops are in Ukraine via its official channels or through state media. Putin on Monday evening signed an order that authorized Russian forces to enter the Lugansk and Donestk regions, which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.

Video footage uploaded online showed troops of armored vehicles rolling into the separatist-controlled areas. However, it was not immediately clear if they were Russian.

Russias moves were sharply condemned by Western leaders, who then convened a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday night. Both the United States and the United Kingdom announced they would hit Russia with sanctions, namely targeting individuals involved in the Donbas separatist movement.

German Chancellor Olaf Sholz, meanwhile, announced his country would suspend an agreement with Russia to construct the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The 764-mile pipeline, operated by Russian state-backed firm Gazprom, that would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany hasnt yet started operating.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Scholz said his government is taking the action after Russias recent maneuvers. Previously, Germany was hesitant to suspend the pipeline operations, coming months after the Biden administration lifted Trump-era sanctions on it.

That will certainly take time, if I may say so, Scholz said.

White House officials and Ukrainian authorities said they welcomed the development, while Russian officials warned via social media that natural gas prices will increase across Europe.

President Joe Biden made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki in a Twitter post. We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement. We will be following up with our own measures today.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, proclaimed in a tweet: Welcome to the brave new world where Europeans are very soon going to pay 2.000 for 1.000 cubic meters of natural gas!

On Monday evening, Putin delivered a lengthy speech and claimed that parts of Ukraine are ancient Russian lands, while alleging that the United States is the power behind the Kyiv government. Putin, without evidence, also said that Ukraine is planning to acquire nuclear weapons.
Russias Move Into Luhansk and Donetsk Sends Nickel, Aluminum Prices Soaring

The prices of nickel and aluminum have spiked after Russia declared two pro-Russia areas in Ukraine as independent regions and moved troops into the country. Russia is a major producer of these two metals.

Aluminum prices, which were trading around $3,270 per ton on Feb. 21, jumped 3.67 percent to around $3,390 per ton on Feb. 22. Nickel, which was trading at $24,350 per ton level on Monday, surged 3.9 percent to $25,300 on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of the year, aluminum prices have increased 20 percent while nickel is up by 22.7 percent. At the London Metal Exchange (LME), aluminum prices broke through 13-year highs while nickel has hit its highest level since August 2011.

Russia-Ukraine tensions escalated on Feb. 21 after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraines rebel-held pro-Moscow regions, Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent states, after the leaders of the two areas, which make up much of the Donbas, requested that Putin recognize their independence from Ukraine. Putin then ordered troops into the region for a peacekeeping mission.

Washington slammed the decision, calling the Russian move into the region nonsense and accused Moscow of creating a pretext for war. Russia has currently amassed around 150,000 troops near its border with Ukraine. Several Western countries are expected to slap sanctions on Russia, a move that will add upward pressure on metal prices.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Russia produced 3.7 million metric tons of aluminum last year, making up 5.44 percent of the global production of around 68 million metric tons. Roughly 10 percent of global nickel supply comes from Russia.

Metals market will definitely react to a Russian invasion of the Ukraine, John Meyer, an analyst with broker SP Angel, told S&P Global Platts in a report last month. China will buy Russian aluminum and other metals in defiance of EU and US sanctions but there will still be shortages of specific grades in all regions.

The supply situation for these two metals is also a concern. According to the International Aluminum Institute, the global output of aluminum declined 4.5 percent year-on-year in January.

Aluminum stocks at the LME stood at 788,425 tons on Jan. 3144.8 percent less than the 1,428,175 tons at the end of January last year. LME nickel stocks during the period have fallen from 248,856 tons to 89,364 tons, a decline of 64 percent.

The premium for cash aluminum over the three-month metal contract was at $45.30 per ton on Monday while the premium for cash nickel over the three-month contract was at $522 per ton, indicating that supplies are tight.

In the near- to medium-term, aluminum prices are likely to hover in the higher trajectory, but things may calm once [U.S. President Joe] Biden and Putin come out with an agreement on Ukraine, Kunal Sawhney, chief executive at research firm Kalkine, told Reuters. But by then, prices will be decided not by supply worries, but demand forces, he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Sanctions Placed on Russia Must Ensure That the Country Will Feel the Pain: Irish EU Minister

European Union sanctions placed on Russia must ensure that the country will feel the pain, Irish EU affairs minister Thomas Byrne said on Feb. 22.

Weve got to ensure that whatever happens, that Russia certainly feels the pain  and thats going to happen, Byrne told reporters. Today, what has happened is a grotesque breach of international law, its a grotesque breach of the sovereignty of Ukraine.

Byrnes comments come as the EU repeatedly warned it is ready to impose massive consequences on Moscows economy if Russia invades Ukraine, but has so far not launched such sanctions due to potential geopolitical consequences, particularly the EUs close energy and trade ties with Russia.

According to Eurostat, Russia is the fifth-largest trade partner of the EU, with imports of $177.9 billion and exports of $104.1 billion (pdf).

A number of EU countries, such as Germany and the Czech Republic, also have a high reliance on Russian natural gas, and Russia remained the largest supplier of natural gas and petroleum oils to the EU in 2021, according to Eurostat.

However, in a brief statement on Monday, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they condemn in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Russian president to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities.

This step is a blatant violation of international law as well as of the Minsk agreements. The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act.

The statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement that the country will recognize the independent sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

The two areas in Ukraines Donbas region are held by Russian-backed separatist groups. Putin also signed a decree that authorized Russian troops to be sent into the area for so-called peacekeeping operations.

Russia has amassed up to 190,000 troops as well as heavy weapons near Ukraines borders but denies planning to invade Ukraine.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire also told Bloomberg Television on Monday that the EU is ready to impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, adding that hopes remain for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The sanctions that the EU is poised to launch would have a deep impact on Russia and the Russian economy and on the Russian interest, Le Maire said.

One point must be very clearif there is any attack from Russia to Ukraine, we have a set of sanctions that are still available and that would hit the Russian people, the Russian state, and Russian economic interests, he said.

However, other EU members have cautioned against imposing strong sanctions on energy imports.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose country imports 90 percent of its gas requirements, with Russia a key supplier, told a news conference in Rome, 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.

Meanwhile, the United States on Monday announced sanctions on Ukraines contested areas.

The White House issued a statement saying it had anticipated such a move from Putin and announced immediate sanctions against the two regions of Ukraine through an executive order from President Joe Biden, which he is expected to sign on Tuesday.

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, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in the statement.

This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine  We will also soon announce additional measures related to todays blatant violation of Russias international commitments, the statement reads.
WASHINGTON, D.C.Former Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Morse Tan found Shen Yun Performing Arts presents the uncensored Chinese culture not restricted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

He shared his view that communism denies the fundamental reality that there is a Creator, a common belief shared by people worldwide.

I think its very good to acknowledge that there is a Creator. And I think that is something that has been recognized by people all over the world. But I think atheistic communism denies that fundamental reality, he said.

In the last 70 years, Chinas 5,000 years of divinely inspired cultural heritage have been decimated systematically in order to rewrite history.

Now dean of Liberty University School of Law, Mr. Tan praised Shen Yun as a beautiful, elaborate, and intricate performance after seeing it at The Kennedy Center Opera House on the evening of Feb. 19.

The former state ambassador noted Shen Yuns emphasis on virtues such as compassion, forbearance, and courage. In addition, recovering the truth of a Creator of all people is something thats very valuable, he said.

Indeed, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts emphasizes art with an inner difference.

Classical Chinese philosophy and history is an area of interest for Mr. Tan, and he has written a law review article comparing classical Greek and Chinese philosophers. At Shen Yun Chinese myths and legends are told through the medium of classical Chinese dance, an ancient art form with its flips and gentle elegance.

China has a long history of acrobatics and dance, and I think this [Shen Yun] was a sampling of that, he said.

The audience at Shen Yun at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington D.C. on the evening of Feb. 19, 2022. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times)

Mr. Tan said the mini-drama piece, in Shen Yuns program, was the most striking for him as it was about forced organ harvesting in China. He added that he had researched the subject, Sadly, this is happening in present-day China. And this is murder. This [organ harvesting] is a horrible tragedy that need not happen. And so this is something that is a crime that should be denounced and should be spoken up against.

He described Shen Yun as an expression of freedom as well as the celebration of classical Chinese culture.

Reporting by Jenny Jing and Terri Wu.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
South Korean Banks Subject to Hundreds of Cyberattacks Daily

South Korean banks have been subjected to an average of nearly 600 cyberattacks per day since 2017, with China being the chief country where attacks are originating from, says South Koreas Financial Services Commission (FSC).

A recent FSC report disclosed by South Korean National Assembly member Kang Min-Kook showed that from 2017 to 2021, 17 banks in South Korea were subjected to 1,091,606 cyberattacks, averaging 598 attacks per day with at least a third coming from China, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The report said the FSC data only covers financial institutions providing retail banking services. If it was to include savings banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions, the number of recorded cyberattacks would be far higher.

According to the FSC data, 82.2 percent of the cyberattacks came from foreign IP addresses, of which 34.7 percent came from China and 11.2 percent from the United States. The rest came from India, France, and other countries.

The annual number of cyberattacks increased from 63,000 in 2017 to over 273,000 in 2021, growing more than four times over five years.

However, the banks did not suffer a meaningful breach despite the frequent cyberattacks as their internal security systems effectively blocked the malicious codes and separated the computer networks, the FSC report said.

Although there has yet to be a breach, the cyberattacks are showing an increasing trend, Kang said. Just one breach can incur an enormous loss. The risk cannot be overlooked.

Cyberattacks originating from China have long been a global concern with FBI Director Christopher Wray, in late January, accusing Chinese state-backed hackers of stealing more personal and corporate data in the United States than all other countries combined, according to an NPR report.

In July 2021, NATO members, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan condemned the Chinese regime for a hefty cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange email servers earlier that year.
Spokane City Official Defies Mask Mandate, Talks About Freedom Versus Following Rules

SPOKANE, Wash.Spokane city council members attempted to pass a resolution in late January asking the mayor to revoke councilman Jonathan Bingles City Hall access after he chose not to wear a mask indoors.

Bingle told The Epoch Times that the question of masking has moved from being about health to being about politics.

I would show up to City Hall without a mask. I would never put a mask on, and the thing is that the masking requirements at City Hall [are] that basically if youre walking around you had to wear a mask, but if youre at your desk, you didnt have to wear a mask, said Bingle.

He said a handful of other staff also did not wear masks inside City Hall.

I thought that it was pretty inconsistent with the states requirements, and I just decided, you know what, Im not going to half do this. Its either full doing it or not doing it, Bingle said.

As a result, council members Zack Zappone and Karen Stratton cosponsored a resolution asking Mayor Nadine Woodward to revoke Bingles City Hall access.

They argued that Bingle is within his rights to advocate against the states mask mandate but should do it while masked or working from home.

Zappone told The Spokesman-Review, Council Member Bingle is intentionally breaking the law, and even worse, he is using his office to intentionally break the law.

However, Bingle said, The funny thing about that is other people, other legislative aides, had come into the building after having tested positive for COVID and spread COVID in our office, and nothing happened to that individual.

The resolution passed 52, but Mayor Woodward chose not to revoke Bingles access.

She told The Spokesman-Review, Its between the city attorney and the council member.

She said she does not believe she has the authority to suspend Bingles access to City Hall.

According to The Spokesman-Review, City Attorney Michael Ormsby subsequently sent Bingle a letter, though the contents were not made public.

Bingle told The Epoch Times that he still has City Hall access and will continue advocating against the masking mandates.

Those inconsistencies were one of the reasons why I just wanted to stand for people who didnt have a voice in government, he said.

Bingle and City Council Member Michael Cathcart are now coauthoring a resolution against the vaccine mandate for city employees. The resolution is scheduled for a hearing and vote on Feb. 28.

Woodward and Cathcart did not respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Karen Stratton declined to comment.

Freedom Versus Following the Rules

Bingle said he is a strong believer in following the rules, but when a rule is no longer beneficial to society, people should reevaluate the rule.

I think the law is mostly good; the law is mostly beneficial, mostly for the safety of the community. And I genuinely believe that. Certain laws arent beneficial at a certain point, and I think the masking and the mask mandates are a clear example of government going too far, he said.

He said that in March 2020, he was advocating for masks when the virus was still very novel and little was known about it. As people are learning more about the virus and treatments are being developed, he believes the one-size-fits-all mandate is no longer beneficial.

Bingle added that there is a line between following rules and peoples freedom to choose, but the line is drawn on a case-by-case basis.

He is not alone in opposing mask mandates. Earlier this month, students at Washougal High School in the southwest area of Washington State held a protest against the schools mask mandate.

Im hoping that this will make a big impact and for them to realize that [we], as students, are done with this, Maddy Oerding, a student, said in a Twitter video.

According to Twitter posts, students were asked to leave the school buildings and were threatened with suspension.

Similarly, in California, students across the state held similar protests against school mask mandates and were physically removed from the classroom for refusing to wear a mask.

Students at Chino Valley Unified School District, San Juan Unified, Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, and many others held protests earlier this month against their schools masking policies.

Following the protests, El Dorado Union High School District announced on Feb. 16 that it will not change masking requirements, but it will change its enforcement policies. The district said students will be asked to wear a mask, but they will no longer be physically removed from the classroom or receive a discipline consequence.

Bingle said: Weve learned for students in particular, its been incredibly detrimental to their mental health and to their social development. When we see the law is no longer for the good of the community and when its been demonstrated that it hasnt been good for the community, thats when we need to push back and say, Okay, its time to be done with this. Thats been demonstrated in these mandates.
The Chinese-managed terminal of the Colombo port is seen from the Galle Face promenade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 2, 2021. (Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images)

Sri Lanka Lacks Foreign Exchange to Pay Fuel Imports, Says Energy Minister

Sri Lanka lacks foreign exchange to cover the cost of fuel imports, energy minister Udaya Gammanpila said Monday, adding that the country seeks to arrange payment for a shipment of 40,000 tons of diesel.

Gammanpila said that his ministry has discussed with the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to provide $35 million in funds to cover the cost of the fuel shipment that arrived in the Colombo port on Sunday.

Even with this fuel, we will only have diesel for six days, he said, indicating that the country could be heading for a serious fuel shortage.

The state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has started rationing distribution in preparation for a fuel shortage crisis, issuing just about half of what is regularly distributed to pumping stations, the minister added.

Secretary of the Energy Ministry K.D.R. Olga said that CPC amassed liabilities of $3.7 billion last year, primarily through the use of letters of credit with state banks to finance fuel imports.

She also noted that the government has yet to approve the ministrys request to raise the fuel price, which aims to offset some of the losses.

Sri Lankas foreign exchange reserves plummeted to $2.6 billion last month, with total outstanding sovereign bonds amounting to $12.55 billion, including $1 billion of the bonds maturing in July.

However, the CBSL maintained that the country is not on the verge of sovereign default and reaffirmed the governments commitment to honor all forthcoming debt obligations.

The government and the CBSL have already taken necessary measures to secure alternative forex inflows via a number of bilateral and multilateral funding arrangements to meet the upcoming debt obligations, it said in a statement.

India lent $2.4 billion in financial assistance to Sri Lanka last week to help the country overcome its financial constraints, and delivered 40,000 metric tons of fuel.

India [is] a committed partner and a true friend of Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner handed over 40,000 [metric tons] fuel consignment by Indian Oil Company, the Indian high commissioner said in a Twitter post.

Earlier this year, India also offered $400 million in currency swaps and deferred $500 million in settlement to the Asian Clearing Union.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa previously requested assistance from China in restructuring the countrys debt obligations, but it remains unclear whether China will grant the request. China is deemed to be Sri Lankas fourth-biggest lender, behind international financial markets, the Asian Development Bank, and Japan.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Aluminum ingots made at the Rusal Krasnoyarsk aluminum smelter in Krasnoyarsk, Russia on Jan. 28, 2019. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

Stocks of Russian Aluminum Giant Rusal Fall Amid Fears of Over Sanctions

Stocks of Russian aluminum giant Rusal fell on Monday as investors continue to monitor the ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine which could trigger sanctions against Russian entities.

Rusal is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of low-carbon aluminum and accounted for roughly six percent of global aluminum supplies in 2019, estimated to be around 70 million tonnes. It is the worlds largest producer of aluminum outside of China.

But its stocks fell as much as 22 percent in Hong Kong on Monday, their lowest since September, according to Bloomberg.

They are currently trading up at 1.24 percent as of 10.17 a.m (GMT).

Sanctions were placed on Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska and his core empire in 2018 in response to what the U.S. Treasury then called Russias malign activity around the globe.

Deripaska served on the board of his holding company En+ Group plc, a 48 percent owner of Rusal, but later resigned.

At the time, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said the Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs and government elites.

The Russian government engages in a range of malign activity around the globe, including continuing to occupy Crimea and instigate violence in eastern Ukraine, supplying the Assad regime with material and weaponry as they bomb their own civilians, attempting to subvert Western democracies, and malicious cyber activities.

The 2018 sanctions sent the price of aluminum soaring and threatened to disrupt the manufacturing processes of aluminum products across the globe.

Those sanctions on Rusal were lifted by former President Donald Trumps administration in 2019 with officials saying they were concerned about the effect such sanctions would have on the global aluminum industry.

Deripaska remains under sanctions.

The price of Aluminum rose on Tuesday to its highest intra-day level in more than 13 years and is currently at a near-record high. The metal was up 1.2 percent at $3,319 a ton by 11:50 a.m Shanghai time, 5:50 p.m (GMT) Monday.

Meanwhile, the White House announced sanctions on Ukraines Contested Areas on Monday in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement that the country will recognize the independent sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Eastern Ukrainetwo regions in Ukraines Donbas region held by Russian-backed separatist groups.

Putin also signed a decree that authorized Russian troops to be sent into the area for so-called peacekeeping operations.

Washington responded to Putins actions with a statement saying it had anticipated such a move from Russia and announced immediate sanctions against the two regions of Ukraine through an executive order from President Joe Biden.

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, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in the statement.

This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine.  We will also soon announce additional measures related to todays blatant violation of Russias international commitments, the statement reads.
President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Denies Trump Request to Withhold White House Documents From Jan. 6 Select Committee

Democrats claim victory in 'deadly insurrection' investigation

The Supreme Court on Feb. 22 put an end to former President Donald Trumps legal fight to withhold documents from his White House tenure that he claimed were protected by executive privilege from Democrats in Congress investigating the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Executive privilege has been invoked by presidents to block access to internal White House documents on the theory that public disclosure of such documents isnt in the best interests of the nation. If advisers arent free to speak their mind in discussing affairs of state with the president because they know internal deliberations will at some point be made public, the nation will suffer, the reasoning goes.

House Democrats including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) were elated at the ruling.

Today, the Supreme Court made resoundingly clear that no one is above the lawnot even a former president who incited a deadly insurrection, she said in a statement.

By again rejecting the former presidents attempts to hide documents related to January 6th, the courts decision is a victory for the truth, for the rule of law, and for the American people, Pelosi said, accusing Trump of engaging in an unlawful and dangerous campaign to hide the truth from the American people.

Lower courts rejected Trumps claim that executive privilege bars access to the documents. The Biden administration also sided with the committee after President Joe Biden, who was inaugurated two weeks after the incident, found that the records of the previous White House werent covered by executive privilege.

Pelosi and her colleagues hope the documents in question will shed light on Trumps actions surrounding the security breach 13 1/2 months ago that delayed formal certification of the 2020 presidential election results for several hours and led to the subsequent arrest and conviction of Trump supporters for various offenses, such as obstructing an official proceeding. The Jan. 6 committee asked for White House visitor logs, telephone records, and written communications between Trumps advisers.

The events of that day have been characterized by Democrats and some Republicans as an insurrection aimed at overturning the results of the election, in which Joe Biden was ultimately declared the winner of the presidency. While at Trumps rally more than a mile away, near the opposite end of the National Mall, the then-president urged his supporters to peacefully protest, House Democrats claim that Trump nevertheless played a role in fomenting the violence that took place that day. House investigators demanded documents from the Trump White House that they claim may shed further light on what happened behind the scenes that day.

The case at hand is Trump v. Thompson, court file 21-932. The lead respondent, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), is chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied, the court stated on Feb. 22, in an unsigned order. According to its usual practice, the court provided no reasons for its decision. No justices dissented from the order.

The rejection of Trumps claim came after the Supreme Court previously turned down, on a vote of 81, a separate emergency application by Trump to withhold White House documents from Thompsons committee, as The Epoch Times reported on Jan. 19. The lone dissenter in that order (pdf) was Justice Clarence Thomas.

In the current case, Trump filed his petition (pdf) with the Supreme Court on Dec. 23, 2021, describing the committees request to be provided many of Trumps confidential presidential records as sweeping. The former president argued that the committees demand for documents implicates important constitutional and statutory concerns arising from the Presidential Records Act, separation of powers, and executive privilege.

The Epoch Times reached out to Trumps counsel of record in the legal proceeding, Jesse Ryan Binnall, but received no reply as of press time, while Douglas N. Letter, general counsel to the House of Representatives, declined to comment.

As of press time, the U.S. Department of Justice hadnt responded to requests for comment.

Zack Stieber and Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this article.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Supreme Court Rejects Bid for Religious Opt-Out From COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Supreme Court justices on Feb. 22 rejected a bid by health care workers in Maine to block the states COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Justices declined to hear arguments for and against an appeals court decision that left the mandate, which affects all health care workers in Maine, intact.

At least six justices rejected the writ of certiorari, or request to review the lower court decision denying a preliminary injunction. How each justice voted wasnt made public.

Its very disappointing to see the court ignoring this clear injustice, Mathew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, the legal group representing the petitioners, told The Epoch Times. We thought it was a great case for the court to take. Theres a clear conflict and a clear violation of federal law.

The office of Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, a Democrat, told The Epoch Times in an email: The Supreme Court has once again declined to review the lower court rulings upholding Maines COVID-19 vaccination requirement for healthcare workers. Maines vaccination rule is constitutional and remains in place. We will continue to defend the rule, which is critical for the protection of patients, healthcare workers, and Maines healthcare system against COVID-19.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, announced the mandate in August 2021. She said requiring workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine would [protect] health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

Shortly after, the state stopped allowing religious exemptions to mandatory vaccinations, which a group of health care workers said violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

U.S. District Judge Jon Levy, an Obama nominee, turned down a request for a preliminary injunction against the mandate, and the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his ruling. Levy, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alleged vaccines help prevent COVID-19 infection and ruled that the mandate was narrowly tailored to serve the compelling interest of containing the spread of this serious communicable disease. He also concluded the health care workers had not proven the mandate violated the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause, with which the appeals court agreed.

That prompted an application for relief to the nations highest court, which turned down the request in October 2021.

Petitioners then filed a writ of certiorari, asking justices to take time to review the lower court decisions. They asserted the appeals court erred in its ruling, including when it found that the availability of medical exemptions without any consideration of religious exemption requests does not violate the First Amendment.

Mills, in a response through government lawyers, said that the lower courts were correct in finding the mandate likely does not violate the First Amendment, describing the mandate as not designed to infringe or restrict a particular religious practice and necessary to achieve herd immunity.

The petitioners disagreed. Because Maines vaccine mandate permits nonreligious medical exemptions for virtually any reason, but prohibits individuals from obtaining an identical exemption based on sincerely held religious beliefs, it is not neutral or generally applicable. Put simply, Maines vaccine mandate cannot be viewed as neutral because it explicitly discriminates against religious exemptions while permitting the preferred nonreligious, medical exemptions, they said in the last filing before the Supreme Courts decision.

The case will continue at the appeals court on its underlying merits, and could end up back at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court to Hear Case of Artist Hoping Not to Make Websites Celebrating Same-Sex Marriages

The Supreme Court agreed Feb. 22 to hear the case of a Colorado artist who doesnt want to create websites for homosexual people.

Lorie Smith makes custom websites but because of her religious beliefs wishes to work only on sites that celebrate and promote Gods design for marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, according to court filings.

Smith, the owner of a firm called 303 Creative, wants to include messaging on her companys site explaining her religious beliefs, but Colorado law bars her from doing so.

Specifically, state law says it is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for a person, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual or a group, because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation

I have served and continue to serve all people, including those who identify themselves as LGBTQ, but like all artists, there are some messages that I cant pour my heart, my imagination, and my talents into creating because they violate my core convictions, Smith told reporters on a call.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled in 2021 that the law permissibly compels  speech and is not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, upholding a lower court order, though one judge who dissented called it an Orwellian diktat.

Smith soon asked the Supreme Court to review the decision, and about five months later, the nations top court said it will.

The grant of the writ of certiorari means at least four justices voted to accept the case. The Supreme Court did not outline how each justice voted.

The court said its consideration of the case would be limited to one 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 Supreme Court building in Washington in a file image. (Will Dunham/Reuters)

In a statement on Tuesday, a lawyer for Smith said that the government doesnt have the power to silence or compel creative expression under the threat of punishment.

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 lawand others like itare a clear and present danger to every Americans constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation, Kristen Waggoner, general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, added.

Smith told reporters that she was immensely grateful that the case would be heard and she was hopeful justices will rule in favor of free speech for all artists and, ultimately, for everyone.

A lawyer for the defendants didnt respond to a request for comment and does not appear to have commented on the development.

Lawyers for Aubrey Elenis, director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and other officials defending the law had told justices that they shouldnt accept the case, arguing Smith didnt prove she faced a credible threat of enforcement under the law in question.

The record contains no evidence that anyone has asked the Company to create a website for a same-sex wedding; that Colorado has threatened enforcement; or that any future wedding website would convey a message that would be attributed to the Company. The Company lacks standing, and this case is not ripe, they wrote in a recent brief.
A visit to Cat Tail Run In Winchester, Virginia

When my son Douglas was very young, one of our bonding rituals was reading. He learned to read at an early age but always enjoyed curling up next to me or having me read to him by the side of the bed as he gazed toward the ceiling in rapt attention.

When he was about 10, we decided to tackle Herman Melvilles Moby Dick. Admittedly, we were going along fine with Captain Ahab and his quixotic quest for the great whale but got stuck when Melville threw in detailed descriptions of whale biology.

What enhanced our reading sessions was the book itself, an old, thick, volume printed in 1930 by Random House.

The pages are a vintage cream hue and filled with deep ebony-colored illustrations by Rockwell Kent. They look like etchings or block prints. They appear often enough throughout the elegant textMonotype Fournierto add some visual context to the classic story.

Sadly, the spine covering is torn and hangs limply. The silver stamped black cloth over board cover is faded and very tired.

The book belonged to my mother Aurora, Douglass grandmother, and was a gift to her in 1931.

This volume, so wrapped in soft and warm memories, has moved from shelf to shelf over the years.

What it needs is a refresh, a renewal in book body and spirit, a reinvention of its former glorybasically to be held without the fear of literally falling apart in your hands.

Our volume of Moby Dick is not alone. There are family Bibles, old cookbooks, personal journals, and countless other books that scream out for the tender attention that only skilled bookbinders can offer.

Their talents are finely honed and honored. They are traditional and elegant craftsmen to be treasured, their skill set to be revered and preserved.

Spirit of Tradition

Its a setting where you might expect to see Harry Potter come out from the woods. The winding road flanked by tall trees takes you to a few wooden buildings. The main bindery, where the hands-on work is done, has high ceilings, large windows that let the sunlight flood in, and a network of shelves, tables, and tucked-away cubbies that house endless tools, papers, leathers, threads, and thin sheets of gold used for gilding.

Its not Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but magic happens here, no doubt.

Welcome to Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding located in Winchester, Virginia.

Named for a local stream, for more than 30 years, a spirit of tradition and pride has permeated the work within these walls to create custom bindings, clamshell boxes, and other protective book housings.

Professional and tender loving book restoration and conservation is their mantra; theyve served individuals, institutions, and government agencies for decades.

Theyre both bookbinders and book restorers.

The techniques used in their bindery have a deep history. Many of the methods used were developed over centuries, giving their finished product not only structural soundness but great aesthetic appeal.

Restoring books call for delicate work and many specialized tools. (Randy Litzinger)

As stated on their website: Through our restoration work, we make every effort to make your books look and function as they did prior to falling into disrepair. To that end, we try and use as much of the original binding as possible. Any new materials employed are pH-neutral/acid-free and are used to support the longevity of your treasured tomes.

One of the first folks that youll likely meet on your visit to Cat Tail Run is Rowland Kirks, who serves as chief of operations for the bindery and the bookbinding school. Hell greet you warmly, escort you to the welcome counter, and deftly explain what options you have to protect and preserve your particular treasure, whether it be a family Bible or a private journal.

Is it going to be leather- or cloth-bound? Will it need gold leaf?

It all depends on the need, he told me as he pulled down samples and showed photographs of before and after projects. We do it at a very high level, he said, and displayed a beautiful clamshell box that had been custom-designed to hold a valued book.

Restoring books call for delicate work and many specialized tools. (Randy Litzinger)

Gently weaving among the tools of the trade, Kirks smiled as he introduced the various hand presses, each of them bearing a name. Theres number 3, Tavish, and number 4, Finnegan. They may look antique, and perhaps they are, but dont let looks fool you. Theyre functional, and each has its own use and application.

At another location, Kirks pulled open large drawers revealing reams of decorative papers.

Another corner holds a long row of specialized tools for creating intricately designed leather covers.

Its clearly a workshop of wonders and has garnered a worldwide reputation for the quality of its work.

Kirks points out that, in many cases, the street value of the book is not the most important thing to the customer. Their plan is not to resell it, but to keep it in the best condition possible. Perhaps it will be handed down to a future generation.

At Cat Tail Run, the staff are protective of their clients. There are some significant collections under their roof that are being restored and, in some cases, the clients identities are confidential.

Delicate Work

Its a sewing machine for books. It looks like a miniature weaving loom of sorts, but whats being put together are the pages of a book, by hand, and with special threads. The level of precision and patience needed is noteworthy and entrusted to longtime employee Susan McCabe.

McCabe has been at Cat Tail Run for nearly 20 years. Her expertise is the sewing of texts and the creation of custom-crafted endbanding. No large commercial bookbinding machine here. Rather, McCabe sits in a quiet spot within the bindery. She has a keen eye for detail, the patience of Job, and nimble fingers. The outcome is a work of art.

Gregarious and bursting with enthusiasm, senior bookbinder and owner Jill Deiss seems to have the perfect educational background for her profession. She knows chemistry and she knows books.

One of the smallest of several buildings at Cat Run that form a sort of magical little village in the middle of the woods. (Randy Litzinger)

Deiss studied bookbinding and restoration first in Northampton, Massachusetts, then at Cornell Universitys Department of Library Conservation, and in the Smithsonian Institutions conservation laboratories. She holds a bachelor of science in chemistry and received a master of library science degree from Syracuse University, where she specialized in the study of archives and rare book collections.

Deiss acknowledged how very special her working environment is. The small cottage that you passed coming in, I had it moved here from another location, she said. Its from the 1890s.

Her hair curled and flowing, Deiss moves about the bindery with gentle grace and confidence. Shes very proud of the services they offer.

We are serious bookbinders, she said. Were a large bindery in a small bindery world.

Deiss noted that theyre doing work for customers throughout the United States and beyond.

Their client list, to name a few, includes Clemson University, The Wharton School, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural Historys Division of Birds, and The George Washington University.

For Georgetown University, the bindery restored Martha and George Washingtons copy of Mark Catesbys Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands (17311743) and conserved and rebound a Shakespeare First Folio (1623). The Washington National Cathedral selected Cat Tail Run to provide treatment for its pulpit Bible.

We are not book appraisers, said Deiss. If you are concerned about what a repair or restoration will do to the value of your book, then get it appraised first before you make your decision.

She also added that for some customers, their sense of preservation and emotional connection to the bookbringing it back to its former beauty and functionalityoutweigh its appraisal value.

They just want it restored because they plan to keep it, not sell it, Deiss said.

Learning the Craft

Deiss dashes from the bindery itself down a stone path to an adjacent building. Its here that perhaps her passion for her craft is truly on display.

She has joined a group of book enthusiasts who are there to learn what she knows.

A large screen has a slide show running as she talks while demonstrating a particular technique.

This is the joint edge.

Theres a very specific cut 

Im going to lock my hand as I move along 

Opened 20 years ago as the workshop division of Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding, The School for Bookbinding Arts offers future bookbinders a place to hone their craft. Deiss and her staff are committed to providing quality training in the craft of bookbinding.

Whether a book professional, artist, or someone who cherishes and loves books, classes are designed to meet their needs.

No secret potions or spells are cast, but an atmosphere of magic and delight is pervasive as participants work studiously with their hands under Deisss guidance. Creativity is alive and well.

At a recent workshop, among the dozen or so seated at tables, there was a couple from Ohio, volunteers from a library in Loudoun County, Virginia, and a man from northern Virginia who was enjoying the pursuit of a new hobby.

Heather and Robert Rudolph are the owners of Armaria Bookbindery in Columbus, Ohio. They had traveled to Virginia for the workshop.

Theres always more to learn, different ways of doing things, said Robert Rudolph. Were enjoying this tremendously.

This is very fun for us, said Martha Emelity who, along with her colleague Ann Loomis, works as library volunteers for the Loudoun County Public Schools system. We want to learn more about repairing books.

Deiss loves working with the myriad of students who travel from near and far to attend her workshops.

The line-up for 2022 includes dozens of classes from Book Repairs for General Library Collections to Advanced Cloth Binding Restoration to Introduction to Book Restoration.

Susan McCabe, of course, offers workshops on Book Sewing Intensive and Sewn Endbanding Intensive.

You can learn to make slipcases and clamshell boxes or learn the decorative art of marbling.

Classes run for one or two days.

Protecting the Pages

It goes without saying that bookbinders love books. They value their contents and want to preserve whats inside. Bookbinding is an ancient art brought forward through the ages.

At The School for Bookbinding Arts in Winchester, Virginia, Jill Deiss and her staff, along with eager apprentices, are carrying on a tradition requiring meticulous and measured skill fueled by energy and enthusiasm to preserve not only the books in their care but a set of niche skills not to be lost.

And my worn copy of Moby Dick?

My children are grown, but there are four grandbabies who enjoy books and being read to. The 7-year-old likes dogs. The 4-year-old is into unicorns. The 1-year-old is open to all animals. But my 5-year-old grandson is currently fascinated with beluga whales. Not sure if he is ready for Melvilles great white, but someday he will be, and the book needs to be in better condition.

And I know just where to take it.

For More Information

Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding

The School for Bookbinding Arts at Cat Tail Run

2160 Cedar Grove Road

Winchester, VA 22603

(540) 662-2683

info@cattailrun.com

Hours: MondayThursday, 9 to 5 p.m.

CatTailRun.com

SchoolforBookbindingArts.com

Staff are happy to respond to your questions about restoring books or bookbinding projects. Customers are always welcome to visit, but let them know youre coming. If youre in Virginia or dont mind traveling, check out one of their fun and informative workshops (workshops@cattailrun.com).

_____

So You Want to be a Bookbinder

There are a few schools where you can study bookbinding. One notable one is the North Bennett Street School in Boston. Your studies will take three years.

Most bookbinders study with other binders. This kind of study is an apprenticeship, and three years is a typical timeframe. Often bookbinding students will add an additional apprenticeship to this one, but it doesnt take as long.

Qualities that youll find in a good bookbinder are patience, enjoying work with ones hands, being a good oral and written communicator and, of course, a love of books.

A couple of books you may find helpful are The History of Making Books (Scholastic, 1996), Making Books that Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist, and Turn by Gwen Diehn (Lark Books, 1998).

Source: Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding
The Avocado Ban Shows the High Cost of Non-Tariff Protectionism

Commentary

Last Sunday, U.S. regulators suspended avocado imports from Mexico after a U.S. inspector in Michoacan allegedly received a threatening message on his official cellphone.

The U.S. government claims this alleged threat was the catalyst for the ban, since, according to the U.S. embassy, facilitating the export of Mexican avocados to the U.S. and guaranteeing the safety of our agricultural inspection personnel go hand in hand. The United States has further stated the ban will remain in place as long as necessary to ensure the safety of U.S. inspectors.

It might be news to many Americans that the U.S. employs inspectors in Mexico. After all, many Americans still subscribe to an outdated and naive view of trade relations in which trade is managed primarily through tariffs and goods are simply taxed at the point of entry.

The whole affair of this weeks avocado ban helps illustrate just how much is going on behind the scenes when it comes to imports from Mexico. The fact that a U.S. regulatory agency can unilaterally end imports from Mexico, coupled with the fact that the United States maintains a regulatory apparatus there, helps to remind us that there is no such thing as free trade between the United States and Mexico, in spite of what protectionists continue to cluelessly insist.

In reality, agricultural products from Mexico are regulated by numerous mandates covering agricultural production. These bureaucratic regulations are governed by U.S. trade law and by agreements built into U.S.-Mexico trade agreements such as the currently in force NAFTA 2.0, also known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Lets look at some of the ways the U.S. regulatory state has extended itself over Mexican agriculture as well.

For one, the only state in Mexico even approved to export avocados to the United States at all is Michoacan. So, when the United States shuts down trade with Michoacan, the entire nations avocado production is locked out of the United States. Moreover, Mexican growers had long been restricted in when it can import, with a season restricted to from October 15 to April 14. (Since 2004, this restriction has been loosened.)

On top of this, a great many regulations govern the production and import of avocados. For instance, the color and size of Mexican avocados are regulated. Mexican packers and farmers must submit to a host of regulations in order to be certified as importers into the United States. Regulators monitor growers for potential pests, for the freshness of fruit, and for the timeliness of packing and shipping. This can be achieved through a wide variety of activities such as setting traps to identify pest populations, foliage sampling, and visual inspection. All this must be done to obtain a phytosanitary certificate.

These are the sorts of activities being overseen by U.S. inspectors and regulators in Mexico, and all of this contributes to significantly raising the cost of producing for the U.S. market. Some of these regulationssuch as the ban on summer imports (pdf)are clearly designed to do nothing other than to reduce competition for domestic sellers.

A Long History of Regulations and Controls

Nor are these sorts of regulations particular to avocados. Since the 1950s, tariffs in many countries have become relatively less popular as non-tariff barriers have become more common. These barriers to trade include

subsidizing U.S. industries so as to help them outcompete foreign goods

requiring government procurement of domestic products exclusively (known as public procurement policies)

placing quotas on imports

rules of origin preventing transshipment of goods from third parties through countries with free trade access

sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which are controls on the importation of foods affected by substances such as beef hormones and genetically modified organisms

regulatory requirements on the production of foreign goods, including environmental regulations and mandates on foreign wages and labor unions

requirements for packaging, labeling, and product standards

The United States has even shown a particular fondness for these types of trade barriers, and economist Agnieszka Gehringer has noted: The U.S. appears to be the most intensive user of non-tariff barriers in general and in their main categories.  This is true when looking at the total count of measures applied and at the number of product lines  to which such measures apply.

This is part of a long history of regulating avocado imports. Prior to 1914, avocados were imported into the United States, but in 1914 U.S. health officials banned avocados, ostensibly to avoid the importation of certain pests. Avocados were not imported again until 1997, subject to many regulations and only in the winter months.

In other words, this weeks new ban is simply a continuation of what has not been anything approaching free trade in avocados in over a century.

Trade Policy as an Extension of the Bureaucratic State

Yet we continue to hear from protectionists that Mexican trade has an unfair advantage, supposedly because Mexican producers take advantage of the absence of regulation. This, of course, is obviously false, and if anything, free trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are better described as extensions of the American regulatory state than as abolitions of trade barriers.

Moreover, were now being told that Mexican agriculture ought to be regulated even more, specifically in the name of the environment or fighting crime. For example, a Feb. 16 article from the Associated Press reads like an op-ed justifying the U.S. governments intervention, strongly hinting that avocados are fueling environmental devastation in Mexico while enabling organized crime. Other countries can grow avocados too, and their avocado crops areto use one of the Lefts favorite buzzwordsmore sustainable. Or so were told.

The subtext here, however, is one weve become quite accustomed to in recent decades: those foreigners dont do things right. They have sweatshops. They use too much water. They have endangered species. They have organized crime. Thus, the moral thing to do is have government bureaucrats ban their products from American stores. Just imagine if other nations had behaved with equal paternalistic moralism in decades past. The fact that the mafia in the United Statesa gang of brutal thieves, extortionists, and murdererswas long at the center of organized labor and manufacturing plants would have kept U.S. manufactured goods out of foreign markets for many years. Fortunately for countless American working-class families, that didnt happen.

The trade moralists also benefit from the bootleggers-and-Baptists phenomenon, in which moralists join together with profiteers who benefit from trade controls. That is, we can count on domestic avocado growers to support trade controls on foreign avocados for virtually any reason. Just as with sugar tariffs, these trade controls benefit domestic growers mightily at the expense of consumers.

Whatever the reason given for controlling trade, we know what this always means in practice: anyone who attempts to buy or import any unauthorized fruit must be arrested, fined, and punished. After all, every protectionist is fundamentally a supporter of regime violence. Trade controls cannot be enforced without police, fines, courts, and prisons.

But is it really the place of the U.S. regime to regulate every farm in every foreign country as a condition of allowing Americans the freedom to access those products? Certainly many think so, including many who claim to be for greater freedom.

by Ryan McMaken

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Glorious End of DCs Vaccine Mandate

Commentary

Amidst dark timesa New York Times columnist has called this the dark century but he is at a loss to figure out whywe should pause to note genuinely good things that happen. Among them is the sudden collapse of vaccine mandates in Boston and Washington, D.C.

With no real explanation that I can find, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser just flat-out said it: the mandate is gone.

Wonderful. But think about it: how often does a government imposition on this scale get rolled back so dramatically, so quickly? Honestly I cannot think of an instance in my lifetime. Government impositions are sticky: once the bureaucrats seize control, they dont like to give it up. There is a built-in bias such that (as Reagan said) nothing is as permanent as a temporary government program.

We can think of few cases of rollback in the last 100 years. Prohibition was repealed but only after 12 years. Industrial regulations in particular sectors were removed in the late 1970s but only after an economic crisis. Clinton scrapped the 55 mile per hour speed limit that had passed in 1974. It had remained in place for 20 years. There has been progress in legalizing cannabis. U.S. wars abroad have had no clear beginnings or endings but rather gradually leave the headlines.

Rollbacks of major government programs are rare in any case.

I had presumed that any city that imposed these egregious mandates, for a vaccine that stops neither infection nor spread, would last and last until they become an expected part of our lives. Or at least it would take many years to relax them.

Instead, one day, boom, they vanished. In D.C., they lasted only two months.

Here are the factors involved, based on my reading.

Two weeks earlier, there was a massive protest in D.C. against all mandates and restrictions. Tens of thousands showed up. It was 100 percent peaceful, nonpartisan, packed with experts who spoke with clarity and precision.

Because of the mandates, many if not most of the people who came stayed and ate in Virginia and Maryland, causing a huge loss of revenue to DC small businesses and hotels, just at a time when they are trying to get back on their feet following the end of lockdowns. They could have used the business.

The voices of these merchants were finally heard. God bless commerce, especially undercapitalized small businesses that still have something to gain from freedom. Im willing to speculate that their influence weighed heavily in the decision to quickly roll back the mandate.

On the sudden repeal, the Zoom-class reporters at the Washington Post were clearly unhappy. About three-quarters of DC residents support the citys vaccine requirement to enter certain businesses, a policy that Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) ended Tuesday, the news reporter scolded.

In the poll, Majorities across the city support the vaccine requirement, including 86 percent of White residents, 63 percent of Black residents. Very interesting that one-third of blacks do not support the mandate. Also interesting that the Washington Post sees fit to completely disregard their opinions.

The Washington Examiner drilled into the poll data a bit more to reveal a theme that has generally defined the pandemic response:

The more privileged the demographic, the higher the support for masking, according to the polling. Whereas 85% of white college graduates supported the mandate, barely 3 in 5 black noncollege graduates did. Just 2 out of 3 parents with children in public or public charter schools supported the mandate, compared to nearly 4 in 5 of those without them. Nearly 2 in 5 residents of Wards 7 and 8, both the poorest in the district and each with a 90% black population, opposed the mandate, compared to just 1 out of 5 residents of the rest of Washington. The group most supportive of Bowsers coronavirus regulations? White women, overwhelmingly. Just 11% of them thought the mayor had imposed too many rules. In fact, unlike the question specifically of the vaccine mandate, which was divided by race, gender was actually the most significant factor in whether residents believed Bowser to be too stringent in her pandemic response. While 22% and 16% of white and nonwhite men, respectively, thought Bowser imposed too many restrictions, 11% of white women and 12% of nonwhite women did.

There we have it. The poor, the minorities, the underprivileged despise the law that seems only to benefit elites. Just to be clear, this is not just about public opinion. This is about access to basic freedoms. Apparently the liberal elites think only of themselves and not the general good, a truth which has become unbearably obvious throughout the pandemic.

Perhaps too this has something to do with the demographics of vaccination in D.C.

Consider the implications here please. In the town where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous speech, two-thirds of black residents ages 1824 have been barred by law from public accommodations. In general, half the black population has been shut out of public life by law. They could not go to restaurants, museums, libraries, bars, or theaters. This went on for months with absolutely no comment from the D.C. ruling class.

Its utterly bizarre that this could have happened. You could say: this was about health, not racial discrimination. But in the private sector, if a hiring practice has a disparate impact as it relates to community demographics, it raises serious concerns about systemic discrimination. Yet I dont recall reading any word from a high-end D.C. pundit on this subject as it pertained to the vaccine mandates.

The mayor undoubtedly understood this. How in good conscience can such a rule stay in place? Its still in place in New York City of course, which is also closed to half the black residents. Just incredible. And unconscionable.

But so it has been throughout this dark period. The elites make the rules and everyone else is supposed to endure the burden, however intensely it falls so disproportionately on the less privileged populations. Unless they speak out. Unless they make their voices heard. Unless they gather and say what they believe. Unless some leader has pangs of conscience.

The smearing of the D.C. protesters, and brutal suppression of the Truckers Convoy and protests, have been painful to watch but the impact has been clear. The mandates are being repealed in cities and provinces, and the impact is being felt around the world, including in D.C.

Perhaps for now, they wont get their vaccine passport system, their newly segregated society, the erasure of bodily autonomy, and a permanent caste imbalance between the rulers and the ruled that the Enlightenment long ago condemned as despotic.

Its just one victory but it raises a point of light: maybe there is hope after all.

From the Brownstone Institute

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The headquarters of the World Bank in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

The World Bank and the Funding of Genocide

Commentary

The Bretton Woods Agreement came into effect in 1944, laying the foundations for a new international monetary system. With the agreement came the creation of two new organizations.

The first was the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an institution (ostensibly) designed to secure international monetary cooperation. The second institution, the World Bank Group, played a key role in rebuilding countries devastated by World War II.

Fast forward almost 80 years, and both the World Bank and the IMF find themselves mired in controversy and heavily compromised.

In September 2021, Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist serving as chair and managing director of the IMF, was accused of influencing a report in Beijings favor during her time at the World Bank.

According to numerous credible reports, Georgieva applied undue pressure on staff to boost Chinas ranking in the banks Doing Business report, which ranks countries based on issues like regulatory and legal frameworks, financing measures, and quality of infrastructure.

Shortly after Georgieva was accused of essentially helping China deceive the world, her employer promised to replace the report with something more appropriate.

One wonders how Georgieva landed a job at the IMF, especially when the evidence implicating her in highly unethical activities appears to be so strong.

Is it because the IMF is inherently corrupt?

If the president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is to be believed, then the answer is most definitely yes.

As bad as the IMF is, its nowhere near as bad as the World Bank, an institution that has been accused of ushering in a new age of global apartheid, which refers to minority rule in international decision-making.

Twenty years ago, the authors Salih Booker and William Minter gave the ultimate definition of global apartheid. Stated briefly, its an international system of minority rule whose attributes include: differential access to basic human rights; wealth and power structured by race and place; structural racism, embedded in global economic processes, political institutions and cultural assumptions; and the international practice of double standards that assume inferior rights to be appropriate for certain others, defined by location, origin, race or gender.

World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva speaks at the annual session of China Development Forum at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on March 25, 2018. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

Speaking of discrimination, lets talk about China, a place where apartheid with Chinese characteristics is currently taking place. In Xinjiang, very much an apartheid state, innocent people are being persecuted. To be specific, genocide is taking place. Not just cultural genocide, as some authors would have us believe, but actual genocide. Ethnic cleansing. Exterminations on a scale not seen since Mao Zedong reigned supreme.

Hundreds of thousands have been shipped off to reeducation camps, a more polite way of saying death camps. For people who question the existence of Hell, look no further than Xinjiang. It is, by all accounts, one of the most hellish places on the planet.

Enabling the Enemy

According to a joint investigation carried out by the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK and NomoGaia, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of human rights, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group headquartered in Washington, has contributed to the genocide occurring in Xinjiang.

According to the February report, significant evidence suggests that several of IFCs clients are active participants in the implementation of Chinas campaign of repression against the Uyghurs, including through forced labor, forced displacement, cultural erasure, and environmental destruction.

The IFC has repeatedly failed to safeguard communities and the environment affected by its financing in the Uyghur Region. This catastrophic failure makes the institution complicit in the repression of Uyghur, Kazakh, and other minority citizens, note the authors.

The report goes on to outline the many ways in which IFC financing is, to this day, contributing to companies committing gross human rights abuses against Uyghur peoples in the region and making evidence-based recommendations to IFC and other parties.

During a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Peter Schweizer, author of Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win, talked about something called elite capture, a strategy whereby the CCP essentially loops in American business titans with lucrative contracts or deals that get them to look the other way as Beijing rises globally.

This type of capture also extends far beyond the United States. In fact, elite capture appears to be a global phenomenon.

As I have shown before, the CCP also has considerable influence over the United Nations. By all accounts, it also has considerable influence over the World Bank, an institution that was designed to help the world heal after the Second World War.

Today, however, according to the aforementioned joint investigation, the World Bank has strayed far from its original goal. An institution that was designed for good has been corrupted beyond all recognition. Instead of helping the world heal, the World Bank is contributing to hurt, harm, and harassment in Xinjiang.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Dec. 2, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Tory and Bloc MPs Say Emergencies Act Unwarranted, While Liberals and NDP Cite Protesters Views in Supporting Use of the Act

As MPs debated the historical decision by the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act, some trends emerged in the arguments put forward by both camps.

Some Conservative and Bloc Quebecois MPs said the standard hadnt been met to implement the measure, while some Liberal and NDP MPs cited the political views attributed to the protesters as they argued for the justification of the use of the act.

And in doing so, both sides claimed to be defending democracy.

The continuation of the Emergencies Act without clear evidence of a national emergency is a threat to our democracy, Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis said in the House of Commons on Feb. 19.

The federal government invoked the act on Feb. 14 to deal with protests and blockades. All border blockades had already been cleared or were shortly after, leaving only Ottawa with an active protest, which was being removed by police as Lewis spoke.

Lewis said she examined the justification given by the Liberals to invoke the act and found that the reasons cited are insufficient.

She said the border blockades were cleared without resorting to extra powers, and as for the Liberals claim that the measure was needed to prevent adverse effects on the Canadian economy, she noted that lockdowns and mandates also contributed to economic insecurity. In addition, reassuring trading partners shouldnt require such measures as invoking the act, she said.

Lewis also said the government has been creating a false narrative to paint the protesters as terrorists to justify invoking the act.

It is clear that the prime minister is using the Emergencies Act as a political tool to terrorize and punish dissenters by ruining the lives of people who disagree with him, she said.

The Freedom Convoy movement came to prominence in late January when truckers across the country converged on Ottawa to call for the end of mandates and restrictive COVID-19 policies. The movement quickly spread, with protesters blocking border crossings in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.

Conservative MP Brad Vis said on Feb. 19 the government has failed to demonstrate how the situation constitutes an emergency and what concrete steps it took before resorting to the Act.

Vis, who represents the Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding in B.C. that was devastated by natural catastrophes last year, said it would have been more appropriate to use the Emergencies Act in those circumstances.

In my riding, there was danger to life, lives lost, real property damage for thousands, complete social disruption through the destruction of critical infrastructure and a loss of essential goods and services, he said.

I can argue more concretely that the disasters that B.C. faced last year are a much better example of when this act could have been used under part I, Public Welfare Emergency.'

He also brought up the attack on the Coastal GasLink site in Northern B.C. on the night of Feb. 18, when a mob wielding axes attacked security guards, injured a police officer, and destroyed property and equipment, causing an estimated cause an estimated $6 million in damage.

Will this fall under the radar of our and his Emergencies Act? There was real violence there, he said.



Bloc MP Gabriel Ste-Marie, who supports Quebec separation, said the invocation of the act for him had the effect of a punch in the gut.

Ste-Marie recalled how the War Measures of 1970, enacted by Pierre Elliott Trudeau to deal with Quebec terrorists, had traumatized the province.

He said the Emergencies Act that replaced it in 1988 incorporated safeguards to prevent abuses.

In the past, the government could invoke the act at will. Now, there are safeguards. We are one of those safeguards, but safeguards are only helpful if they are used. I urge everyone to make use of these safeguards today, he said while speaking in the House on Feb. 19.

Ste-Marie called the act the nuclear option of legislative tools.

Some have argued that the act was necessary to send a message to the occupiers of Ottawa. There is no need to go nuclear to send a message, he said.

Act Should Only Be Used Against Convoy Protesters: Singh

In the House on Feb. 17, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen criticized the NDP for supporting the Liberals in maintaining the emergency measures for the remaining days of their application until at least mid-March, if they are not revoked before then.

I want to remind especially the New Democrats of this, who are supporting the Liberals in this sledgehammer approach: History will not be kind to the leader of the NDP or his members on this particular question, Bergen said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stated he is concerned the government could misuse its powers, but nonetheless decided to support the government given the views held by the protesters.

What we are dealing with is not a protest. It is not peaceful, he said. They came here to overthrow a democratically elected government. It is a movement funded by foreign influence and it feeds on disinformation.

Singh said that although he supports the Emergencies Act to deal with the convoy protests, it should never be used against people who support other causes.

Indigenous land defenders, climate-change activists, workers fighting for fairness and any Canadian using their voice to peacefully demand justice should never be subject to the Emergencies Act. The New Democrats will never support that.

NDP MP Niki Ashton framed her remarks not on the threshold for invoking the law, but rather on the necessity to use it to counter a movement because of its political views, as well as citing safety risks.

It was an organized attack on democracy, coming from the far right and financed from abroad. Our citizens were intimidated. Parliament was forced to cancel a sitting because its safety was at risk, she said.

The sitting of the House was cancelled on Feb. 18 because police started the operation to remove the protesters. Parliament was open during the previous days of protest.

This occupation has had the aim of abusing and harassing citizens for days; engaging in racist, homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic attacks on residents; making people afraid to leave their homes; shutting down businesses and workplaces; making people lose their jobs; clogging up 911 phone lines so that legitimate calls cannot get through; and endangering residents and residential neighbourhoods, Ashton said.

This cannot be a moment in time when we sit idly by as the far right becomes emboldened. This cannot be a moment when we sit idly by and allow fascism to be normalized and legitimized.

During debate on Feb. 19, Liberal MP Gary Anandasangaree, parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice, said hes been attending protests ever since I can remember.

We have been protesting the rights of Tamils on the island of Sri Lanka from the time I was maybe four or five, he said.

But he said that the protest occurring in Ottawa was not legitimate, claiming that the aim was for the overthrow of a government, along with emphasizing the presence of symbols of hate.

A Nazi flag and at least two Confederate flags were captured on camera on Jan. 29 only, and have been used since by the government to accuse the movement of racism and bigotry.

Accounts by The Epoch Times and other sources show the protest movement in Ottawa was diverse, with different communities participating, from Sikhs to First Nations. Protest organizers dismiss claims that their movement is violent.

There has never been violence in the three weeks that I have been here.  There was no damage, Freedom Convoy spokesman Tom Marazzo said in Ottawa on Feb. 19.

Liberal MP Greg Fergus, parlimentary secretary to the prime minister, justified invoking the act by mentioning the Ottawa Police Service had said the additional tools provided were needed to clear the streets of the city.

Fergus also accused the convoy organizers of being white supremacists who leveraged COVID-19 fatigue and frustration to spread their views.

The people I am talking about are the organizers who exploit that exhaustion to recruit people on social media and spread messages of hate, he said.

Fergus said the financial measures targeting protesters and organizers were needed to stem the flow of foreign funds, and welcomes making some of these measures permanent, as his government has announced.

I hope that legislation will follow so that on a permanent basis we can get this kind of wrong money out of the Canadian political system.
Former President Donald Trump prepares to speak at a rally at the Canyon Moon Ranch festival grounds in Florence, Arizona, on Jan. 15, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Trumps TRUTH Social Tops Download List, Creating Massive Waitlist

President Donald Trumps social media app, TRUTH Social, reached No. 1 on Apples App Store a day after it launched on Monday, iPhone chart data shows.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 1.5 billion people had viewed the app in the App Store. More than 401,000 were receiving notices that they were placed on a waitlist when they tried to sign up.

Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist, the notification said. We love you, and youre not just another number to us.

TRUTH Social is currently only available on Apple platforms. Its not clear when it will be available for Android phones.

As of Tuesday morning, it doesnt appear that Trump has made any posts on TRUTH Social.

TRUTH Social was on top of Apples download charts on Tuesday. (TRUTH Social/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Trump, who had amassed tens of millions of followers on mainstream social media platforms, was suspended in January 2021 by Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube following the U.S. Capitol breach at the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6. Since then, the former president has not joined any other platforms, such as Gab, Parler, MeWe, or Gettr, where his former spokesman, Jason Miller, serves as president.

After Trumps accounts were suspended, critics of the censorship said that it suggested that Big Tech would implement increasingly draconian policies around certain topics, including the 2020 election, COVID-19, and vaccines.

Other than Trump, several prominent conservative accounts such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the Maricopa County audit update account, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, and others have also been suspended. Skeptics of mandated vaccinations, including former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson and mRNA contributor Dr. Robert Malone, also saw their accounts get suspended last year.

Former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) stepped down from his congressional position and took an offer to head the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind TRUTH Social.

This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. Thats going to be awesome, because were going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform, Nunes said in a Sunday interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.

Our goal is, I think were going to hit it, I think  by the end of March were going to be fully operational at least within the United States, he continued.

TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) and stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an Oct. 21 news release.

Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion in committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes

Reuters contributed to this report.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson updates MPs on the latest situation regarding Ukraine, in the House of Commons in London, on Feb. 22, 2022. (PA)

UK Sanctions 5 Russian Banks and 3 Billionaires After Putin Orders Troops Into Eastern Ukraine

Britain has imposed sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins order to move troops into Eastern Ukraine.

Putin announced on Feb. 21 that Russia will regard two areas in Ukraines Donbas region as independent, and signed a decree authorising Russian troops to be sent into the area for so-called peacekeeping operations.

Addressing the House of Commons on Feb. 22, Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Moscows move as a renewed invasion of Ukraine, and warned Putin is establishing the pretext for a full-scale offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

He 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.

Johnson said that immediate sanctions would be deployed against five Russian banksRossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank, and the Black Sea Bankas well as three very high net wealth individuals.

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, he said.

This the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do and we hold further sanctions at readiness to be deployed.

The prime minister said the West must now brace ourselves for the next possible stages of Putins planthe violent subversion of areas of eastern Ukraine by Russian operatives and their hirelings followed by a general offensive by the nearly 200,000 Russian troops gathered on the frontiers at peak readiness to attack.

He said: We cannot tell what will happen in the days ahead, but 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.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the sanctions, but said we must be prepared to go further.

He 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.

Starmer 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 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.

Former prime minister Theresa May said the world was in the gravest of times and called attention to a wider worldwide trend of authoritarian states trying to impose their way of thinking on others.

The battle in which we must now engage is nothing more or less than the defence of democracy itself, she warned.

Johnson said his predecessor was entirely right, adding: That is whats 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.

PA Media contributed to this report.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on during a press conference in Geneva on Jan. 21, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AFP via Getty Images)

US Personnel in Ukraine Evacuated to Poland as Fears of Russian Invasion Grow

The United States on Monday evacuated State Department personnel and embassy operations from Ukraine to Poland, as fears continue to grow of a Moscow-led invasion, and shortly after Russia ordered troops into Ukraines separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk for so-called peacekeeping operations.

Citing security reasons, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that department personnel in Ukraines western city of Lviv would be spending the night in Poland.

Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services, said Blinken. They will continue to support the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government, coordinating on diplomatic efforts.

The U.S. commitment to Ukraine remained unwavering, he said.

The fact that we are taking prudent precautions for the sake of the safety of U.S. government personnel and U.S. citizens, as we do regularly worldwide, in no way undermines our support for, or our commitment to, Ukraine, Blinken added.

The decision to temporarily relocate staff comes just days after U.S. embassy personnel were relocated from Kyiv to Lviv, due to the dramatic acceleration in the number of Russian military troops near its border with Ukraine.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Biden administration for comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced that he would recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic, two Kremlin-backed enclaves that have accused Ukrainian armed forces of shelling and flaring tensionsclaims that Ukraine has unequivocally denied.

The United States and Ukrainian officials have been warning they expect Moscow may fabricate pretexts to justify an invasion of Ukraine.

Putin signed a decree issued by the Kremlin on Monday authorizing Russian military troops into the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, saying they will maintain peace. Russian special operations forces have been reported in the Donbas on numerous occasions since the Crimean crisis in 2014.

It is the Russian position that there are not Russian forces present in this part of Donbas, a senior Biden administration official told reporters, responding to the move on Monday. The reality, as we pointed out on a number of occasions over these past years, has been quite different.

The official added, There have been Russian forces present in these areas throughout and so were 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.

Blinken in his statement on Monday also urged 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, he said.

He 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, Blinken warned, citing the escalating violence and reports of shelling in the Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions in recent days.

U.S. citizens who choose to remain in these areas despite our advice to depart Ukraine immediately should remain vigilant and alert to their surroundings. In the event of an attack, U.S. citizens should seek shelter in a hardened structure and monitor major news outlets for guidance on when it is safe to move, he added.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, at a briefing in New York City on March 1, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

US to Announce Russia Sanctions After Putin Orders Troops Into Eastern Ukraine

The United States is set to issue sanctions directed at Russia following Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement that Russia will regard two areas in Ukraines Donbas region as independent, and his subsequent signing of a decree that authorized Russian troops to be sent into the area for so-called peacekeeping operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a presidential address to the nation criticized Russias recognition of the pro-Russian separatist-held Luhansk and Donetsk regions, saying that Russias actions violate Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

After an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting late Monday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced the impending U.S. actions.

Tomorrow, the United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity, she told reporters, adding, 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.

At the emergency meeting, Thomas-Greenfield dismissed Putins actions as nonsense.

[Putin] has since announced that he will place Russian troops in these regions. He calls them peacekeepers, Thomas-Greenfield said. This is nonsense. We know what they really are.

The White House had earlier announced sanctions in response to Putins actions aimed at the two separatist regions, to prohibit Americans from investing and conducting business in the areas.

The Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly. We will also soon announce additional measures related to todays blatant violation of Russias international commitments, Press secretary Jen Psaki said in the statement.

Putin justified his decision in a pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current situation and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. The Russian president described 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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Western nations have expressed concern that Russia will order an invasion of Ukraine, and estimate that more than 150,000 Russian troops are gathered along Ukraines border. Russia has denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, accusing western allies of expanding NATO in a threat to Moscows security as Ukraine seeks to be granted membership.

The United States has predicted that Russia has already decided to invade, but the White House announced early on Monday that Biden had agree to meet with Putin on the condition that the Kremlin refrains from mounting an attack on Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S. State Department personnel were evacuated from Ukraine overnight to Poland. They will regularly return to Ukraine to continue their diplomatic work and emergency consular services. The State Department again urged any American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately.

In 2014, Russian troops seized and annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Since then, skirmished between Russian and Ukrainian forces have been reported in Ukraines Donbas region. The ongoing war has killed over 14,000 people since 2014. Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists with arms and troops, but Moscow has denied that, saying that the Russians who fought were volunteers.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Maureen Steele, an organizer of the People's Convoy, in an interview with NTD's Capitol Report broadcast on Feb. 22, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

US Trucker Convoy Organizer: Weve Taken Every Precaution to Avoid Being Crushed

After witnessing the Freedom Convoy in Canada being violently crushed by the Trudeau government, an organizer for an American truckers convoy said they have taken every precaution to avoid similar treatment from the Biden administration.

Weve taken every precaution that we could. I dont know what the government is going to do, Maureen Steele, one of the main organizers of The Peoples Convoy, told NTDs Capitol Report in a Feb. 22 interview.

We have been operating with local municipalities and police along our route, engaging with them ahead of time, Steele said. We also have lawyers on board that are helping us to make sure that were within the laws [as] were rolling through, entering small towns  to make sure that were welcome there.

The convoy is set to begin from the Adelanto Stadium in Southern California on Feb. 23 and head east on Interstate 40. It is expected to arrive in the Washington D.C. area on Mar. 5.

Another convoy that is starting from Pennsylvania on Feb. 23 is expected to arrive at the Washington area in the afternoon that day.

Anticipating what happened in Canada, I dont know what our government is going to do here. It appears that its simply as tyrannical as Trudeau up there, Steele said.

Steele added that theyre trying to marshal on private property instead of public property or city-owned property, I think that is one of the issues that they have up in Canada.

On Feb. 10, a White House official said the Biden administration had urged Canadas government to use its federal powers to respond to the protests blocking access points along the countries mutual border.

On Feb. 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to disperse the protests in Ottawa and elsewhere against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a number of measures to freeze the bank accounts of entities involved in the protests.

Armed police officers deploy to remove demonstrators against Covid-19 mandates in Ottawa on February 18, 2022. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images)

On Feb. 15, responding to a question on trucker protests in the United States, especially in the Washington area, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Department of Homeland Security had been assessing security impacts of the convoy.

In a statement released on Feb. 21 (pdf), the truckers convoy said they would end in the Washington area but will NOT be going into D.C. proper.

Bob Bolus, an organizer of the convoy from Pennsylvania, told The Epoch Times that the reason is concerns over the treatment of people who were there at the U.S. Capitol during the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021.

As far as our money goes, we tried to learn a little bit from what happened up there. We have lawyers and accountants, and our moneys being held in a third-party entity. Moneys being swept out of the bank accounts very swiftly and put into private banks so that our money cant be frozen, Steele said.

We have the right to gather. We have the right to protest. We have freedom of speech in this country, even though its being suppressed. And this is one of the reasons were doing it. So well see what happens.

Steele stressed the convoy is for everybody, not only for truckers.

This is the peoples convoy. This isnt the truckers convoy. This has been spearheaded by the American trucker, Steele said.

Protesters leave in a truck convoy at the U.S. border crossing after demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates for over two weeks, in Coutts, Alberta, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

We have moms. We have students. We have fathers. We have immigrants. We have Polish. We have Sikhs. We have Native Americans, blacks  every walk of life is being represented in this convoy because its a slice of Americana. And thats what America is, were a great melting pot.

We want the state of emergency lifted. We want our Constitution to reign supreme, and we want accountability. And we want our economy back, Steele said.

On Feb. 18, President Joe Biden announced that he would extend the state of national emergency beyond March 1.

On the same day, the U.S. Capitol Police said that law enforcement agencies in the nations capital are planning extra security ahead of Bidens first State of the Union Address scheduled for March 1, citing potential plans of truck-convoy protesters to arrive at roughly the same time.

Army Maj. Aaron Thacker, a National Guard Bureau spokesman, told Breitbart News on Feb. 19 that the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia had issued a request for assistance. The request is awaiting approval by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

On Feb. 22, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Pentagon is considering such a move but no decisions have been made yet.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

Harry Lee Follow Harry Lee is a New York-based reporter for The Epoch Times. Contact Harry at harry.lee@epochtimes.com
Jerry Mitchell at his desk at the Jackson Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. on September 16, 2009. (Photo courtesy of MacArthur Foundation, Sept. 2019)

Veteran Journalist Tells Florida Students to Find the Truth to Get Justice

PUNTA GORDA, FloridaFlorida Gulf Coast University journalism students got a glimpse of what it is like to be an investigative reporter on Feb. 16, as they sat listening intently to a 30-year news veteran tell of his experiences while reinforcing the need for investigative journalists.

Journalist Jerry Mitchell spent three decades as an investigative reporter at the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., dedicating his work to report the truth.

Theres no way to get justice without truth, he told The Epoch Times. And so thats why what we do is so important.

Mitchells stories over the years helped put four Ku Klux Klan members and a suspected serial killer in prison, when his investigative reporting skills forced law enforcement to reopen cases and solve crimes, sometimes prompting death threats, he told the students. This experience led him to write his book, Race Against Time.

These [investigative reporting] skills cannot be taught, he said, but a passion for the craft of reporting is something that is desired within ones soul.

He lectures journalism students everywhere, he said, and sees investigative journalism as a need area.

News is sometimes regurgitated from sources that may not be credible or true, he added.

You hate to see it, but anybody can hang up their shingle now and claim to be a journalist, Mitchell said. They write a blog. They dont have a degree. They have not entered or abided by any ethicsthats a real problem.

Another problem Mitchell has noticed is that lines have been drawn in the sand, and that the moderate lane is shrinking as a result of multiple media outlets and the stance they take.

It comes down to whos best at eviscerating the enemy. Everybody has kind of their own channel, he said. Where most news is shared today is on places like Facebook. It reinforces what they already believe.

Authentic journalism has lost its way, he said. People pick a lane and remain in it and tend to choose outlets that reinforce their beliefs. even if the information turns out to be false. And, unfortunately the damage has already been done.

After this false information has been shared by thousands, or even millions, its too late, he said.

Shrinking newsrooms prompted Mitchell to leave the Clarion Ledger after 32 years to form his own non-profit. In 2018, he co-founded the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting where he serves as director. Retirement is not on his radar, he said.

Race Against Time written by Jerry Mitchell (Photo courtesy of Simon and Schuster)

We need more investigative reporting, not less, he said. We literally give away our content for free in all newspapers across Mississippi. We want all takers to be able to have this kind of content available for them, and thats what were doing.

Mitchell said the problem he sees is that students worry that they dont have a future in journalism, and he speaks to students to try to dispel that idea. He tells them they can make a difference where they are, and that success is not defined to national news outlets.

It used to be that you thought you had to go to New York, or someplace like that, to do top notch journalism, he said. You dontyou can do it where you are. Its important, its incredibly important.

Two students who heard Mitchell speak were inspired by what he had to say.

It is so inspirational to see how powerful journalism is and where we, as students, could be one day, Demi Concepcion, a junior at FGCU told reporters.

Katie Fogarty, another junior and classmate, said she was in awe of Mitchells dedication to finding justice for people who had been harmed.

Just the fact that he kept going despite the risks, despite the circumstances. He helped justice to prevail, and I think thats really cool, and something that I am going to take away to wherever I end up after this, Fogarty said as she also addressed reporters.

Mitchell has been speaking around the country since the late 1990s, and has no plans to slow down because finding the truth and exposing injustice is paramount in the journalism field, he said.

You have to have the truth in order to get justice, he said. Theres no way to get justice without truth.
The House of Commons chamber is seen on April 8, 2020 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Canadas House of Commons Passes Govts Emergencies Act Motion; Vote Split Along Party Lines

Voting along party lines, a majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted on Feb. 21 to approve the extraordinary and temporary measures in the Emergencies Act invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The governing Liberals and the NDP voted to pass the motion for confirmation of the declaration of emergency, while the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois voted against it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question during a news conference on Feb 21, 2022 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

The motion passed with 185 MPs voting for it and 151 voting against it.

Trudeau invoked the act on Feb. 14 to deal with the protests in Ottawa and elsewhere against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

Ahead of the vote on Feb. 21, Trudeau insisted that the use of the act is still necessary even though the border-crossing blockades and the protest in Ottawa have been effectively cleared.

Even though the blockades are lifted across border openings right now, even though things seem to be resolving very well in Ottawa, this state of emergency is not over, he said at a press conference on the morning of Feb. 21.

There continues to be real concerns about the coming days. But we will continue to evaluate every single day whether or not it is time and we are able to lift the state of emergency.

Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 14, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Trudeau also hinted that the vote on the motion for the declaration of emergency may be a vote of confidence.

Anyone who votes no tonight is doing anything other than indicating that they dont trust government to make incredibly momentous and important decisions at a very difficult time, Trudeau said.

Conservatives asked for clarification ahead of the vote as to whether it was a confidence vote.

The Liberals government House leader Mark Holland didnt answer the question, saying, Its time to vote.

Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said following the vote that the current situation doesnt warrant the use of the Emergencies Act.

After weeks of dividing, stigmatizing, and wedging Canadians, the Prime Minister invoked the Emergencies Act, Bergen said in a statement. The Emergencies Act was not necessary to clear the blockades. The government already had all the tools they need under current Canadian law.

Bergen added that her party has given notice of a motion to revoke the emergency.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 25, 2021. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the act was needed because all three levels of government failed to act effectively against the convoy protests.

Our support from the beginning has always been reluctant, he said. We were reluctant because it should have never got to this point.

The convoy protests were started by truck drivers opposed to the federal governments requirement that drivers crossing the border into Canada must be vaccinated for COVID-19. As support for the protest grew, it turned into a large-scale movement, with people opposed to various COVID-19 mandates and restrictions joining the cause.

Large convoys of trucks and other vehicles converged in Ottawa on Jan. 29, with many vowing to stay until all COVID-19 mandates were lifted.

Inspired by the trucker convoy protest in Ottawa, other protesters initiated demonstrations against mandates in different parts of the country, including at major border crossings.

Most border crossings, including the one at Ambassador Bridge which connects Windsor to Detroit, were cleared ahead of the government invoking the Emergencies Act.

Following the declaration of the state of emergency, Ottawa police escalated its operations against protesters on Feb. 18, making close to 200 arrests and towing close to 80 vehicles to clear the streets in the downtown core of the capital.

Under the act, the government has sweeping powers to deal with protests, including compelling towing companies to remove vehicles and freezing the bank accounts of those involved in protests declared unlawful.

Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith had said ahead of the vote that he wasnt sure the use of the act was justified, but said he would still vote along the party line because it is now a confidence vote.

Fellow Liberal MP Joel Lightbound, who broke ranks with his party earlier in February, criticizing his partys leadership for politicizing pandemic policies, said ahead of the vote that the act was a slippery slope.

Both MPs voted in favour of the motion on the evening of Feb. 21.

The Senate must now also vote on the governments request to use measures under the Emergencies Act. If approved, the measures can be in effect until mid-March. The government can extend its use of the act beyond that period as long as it maintains the Parliaments approval.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

What Does Putin Seek to Achieve by Threatening Ukraine?

Putins goals in Ukraine are economic

Commentary

With the Genocide Olympics in Beijing no longer a distraction, the worlds attention is increasingly focused on the crisis in Ukraine.

While there are other major events unfolding around the worldincluding the Canadian governments use of force on peaceful truckers in Ottawa and communist Chinas growing threats against Taiwanone of the most critical geopolitical situations in the world involves the staging of some 200,000 Russian military personnel and hardware around the periphery of the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

And therein lies the crux of the matter, for Ukraine was once a part of the greater Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and some observers believe Russian President Vladimir Putin has a long-term objective of consolidating (absorbing) countries that were formerly part of the old USSR into the Russian Federation.

But is this Putins real objective in the saber-rattling that has been ongoing for the past several weeks? What else might Putin be seeking? Speculation toward that end is rife.

The following are some possible Russian objectives.

Fully Absorbing Ukraine Into the Russian Federation via a Kinetic Attack

This is the objective that the U.S. and European political classes appear to believeand possibly desire. Legacy corporate media in the United States, in particular, have been claiming that a Russian attack is imminent, with some such as Reuters even speculating based on anonymous U.S. intelligence sources that Feb. 16 was going to be the day of the attack. The UK Daily Mail on Feb. 20 claimed that Putin has actually issued orders to the Russian military to invade Ukraine.

Annexing a Portion of Eastern Ukraine

A low-grade civil war has been ongoing between Ukrainian government forces and Russian separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Would Ukraine agree to Russian annexation of the Donbas as a condition for defusing the current crisis?

Probably not, as Ukraine still claims governance of the Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 but not formally recognized by the U.S. State Department, as noted in this press statement a year ago by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken: Crimea is Ukraine.

However, NATOand particularly the U.S. and Germanpressure may force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys hand in this scenario, although his agreement would delegitimize his own government in the eyes of most Ukrainians.

The Germans are highly incentivized to resolve the crisis so that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline can begin supplying natural gas uninterrupted to the German people (and others in Western Europe). Germany already receives 35 percent of its gas imports from Russia and is keen to obtain much more to make up for green energy miscalculations and the associated energy policy mistakes made under former Chancellor Angela Merkel in terminating nuclear plants and shutting down non-green coal plants over the years.

The real pressure on German and other European governments is that, according to the official Russia Times News account on Telegram, Europe now has only 4.7% of its gas reserves left for the remainder of the winter season.

A ship works offshore in the Baltic Sea on the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany on Nov. 11, 2018. (Bernd Wuestneck/DPA via AP)

Splitting of NATO

A key Russian objective in the current crisis is believed to be Putins desire to divide the NATO coalition, rendering it less effective as an integrated and cohesive geopolitical and military force in the future. While most nations that comprised the old Soviet Bloc in eastern Europesuch as Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romaniahave joined NATO in recent years, geopolitical differences of opinion persist on a number of issues.

One issue that divides the alliance is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. As the BBC reported, Germany (and of course Russia) fully support the pipeline while the United States, the UK, and Poland strongly oppose it. And although aspirational but not yet a NATO member, Ukraine is against the pipeline, too. Once again, the geopolitics of oil determines the fate of nations.

Also, dont forget the evolving French view on the issue of European security. As reported by the Strategic Culture Foundation, [French President Emmanuel] Macron explicitly said that new security arrangements in Europe are absolutely needed. The subliminal message from Macron is the need for a new non-NATO security agreement for the European Union.

Stopping NATO Expansion

Putin does not want Ukraine to join NATO. In fact, he was adamant about that on Feb. 15 when he demanded that the issue of Kyivs relationship with NATO be resolved in its entirety immediately, according to Al Jazeera.

Any condition to resolve the current crisis would undoubtedly have to include something more than simple verbal assurances by the United States and NATO that expansion of the alliance will stop at the doorstep of Ukraine.

Is he looking for a signed treaty of some kind that would include that guarantee?

Ending Western Sanctions

Russia was sanctioned by the United States and other countries after the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014 that resulted in the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. An example includes the sanctioning of all the main Russian politicians (and Putin cronies) involved in that war and companies that do significant business with Crimea.

Other sanctions were imposed on the finance, oil technology, and defense technology sectors of the Russian economy. The collective effects of those sanctions have led to a significant drop in foreign direct investment in Russia, an exodus of scientific and engineering talent to the West, and reduced Russian economic growth.

Ending Western sanctions would be a logical Russian objective in a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

Ending the Ukrainian Threat of Interrupting Russian Gas Flows to Western Europe

A main economic foil that Ukraine has against Russian diplomatic and other pressures is the threat of stopping the flow of Russian gas through pipelines that pass through Ukraine. A map provided by Jack Posobiec on Telegram shows the network of Ukrainian pipelines that carry Russian gas.

Ending this threat to the flow of Russian gas to Western Europe is a Russian objective to be achieved by kinetic means (war) or via binding diplomacy.

Cementing the Evolving Sino-Russian Partnership

Communist China and Russia are beginning a new strategic partnership, as explained in the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China on the International Relations Entering a New Era and the Global Sustainable Development, an English version of which was posted on the Kremlins official website.

One excerpt is particularly noteworthy: [China and Russia] are seeking to advance their work to link the development plans for the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative with a view to intensifying practical cooperation between the EAEU and China in various areas and promoting greater interconnectedness between the Asia Pacific and Eurasian regions.

Economic cooperationand integration?is a key feature of the new alliance. That involves energy production, too, as Russia and China previously concluded a 30-year gas deal in 2014, as reported by the BBC.

And another large gas deal was recently signed on Feb. 14, as reported by OilPrice.com: Moscows state-owned oil giant, Rosneft, signed a US$80 billion 10-year deal to supply the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) with 100 million metric tonnes of oil.

As a condition for continuing that latest gas deal (and possibly other Chinese promises under that joint statement), could Xi Jinping be exerting some pressure on Putin to conduct geopolitical brinkmanship in Ukraine?

China has much to learn about just how far the United States and NATO will go to ensure Ukrainian sovereignty, as the Chinese Communist Party has its own sights set on absorbing Taiwan into mainland China.

As Claudia Rosett has reported in The New York Sun, Putin has already forced President Joe Biden to shutter the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, which undermines U.S. commitments to Ukraines sovereignty.

What else will Putin achieve before the crisis ends, and what will the United States and NATO do?

Xi and Chinas Peoples Liberation Army will be watching closely!

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange documents during a signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 5, 2019. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AFP via Getty Images)

The Main Objective Achieved

To set the stage, here are a few facts about the Russian economy from Heritage Foundations 2022 Index of Economic Freedom:

Russias gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 was $4.1 trillion, which compares poorly to the United States $23 trillion GDP.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) was $9.1 billion in 2021, which compares poorly to the United States $173 billion FDI in China.

Western economic sanctions have led to a brain drain and capital flight. Its noteworthy that Russia Times reported the net capital outflow from Russia was $28.2 billion in the first half of 2021.

Russias economy depends heavily on exports of oil and gas.

Expanding on that last critical point, Russian oil and gas exports have been trending down in recent years, according to OilPrice.com. The oil and gas sectors share of the Russian economy has dropped from 21.1 percent in 2018 to 19.2 percent in 2019, to just 15 percent in 2020.

While the recent decline might be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, most can be attributed to price pressures from U.S. domestic production stemming from the Trump administrations pro-energy policies. Much of that decline in revenues has been reversed due to the rise in the crude oil prices in 2021, largely as a result of the Biden administrations termination of the Keystone XL pipeline and other anti-production policies aimed at the U.S. oil and gas industry. However, Putin would like to increase oil and gas exports to Western Europe if at all possible in order to increase revenues.

Putin understands the basics of the effect of competition on commodity prices: the more alternatives (and supplies), the greater the pressure to reduce prices. Which brings the discussion to the major economic objective that Putins Russia has already achieved during the current crisis in Ukraine.

Putin was well aware of the looming oil-and-gas competition posed by the planned Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed) pipeline, which would provide gas from reserves off the shore of Israel to Greece and then to the rest of Europe.

According to NS Energy, the EastMed pipeline would have an initial capacity to transport ten billion cubic meters per year (bcm/y) of gas to Greece and Italy and other south-east European countries.

That competition with Russian gas was certainly not welcomed by Putin and his cronies.

However, while the worlds attention was focused on the spiraling Ukraine crisis, the U.S. State Department quietly conveyed the Biden administrations decision to reverse the Trump administrations previous position of support for the pipeline to the governments of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus in late January, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The American side expressed to the Greek side reservations as to the rationale of the EastMed pipeline, [and] raised issues of its economic viability and environmental [issues], a Greek government source told Reuters, the Post reported.

Talk about mealy-mouthed nonsense! The principal country benefiting directly from this cancellation of U.S. support for EastMed is Russia! No wonder this was done without fanfare. First canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and now this actionboth of which benefit Putin. Was this in response to what Putin may have asked or simply Biden cravenly demonstrating his willingness to be flexible in ending the Ukraine crisis? Vodka shooters all around in Moscowand in Beijing, too!

Regardless, Putin has already achieved his main economic objective. His other possible objectives outlined above and anything elsewhether achieved through diplomacy or a kinetic warare gravy.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Nigerias Civilian Guards Run Toward Danger When Terrorists Attack

They are often the only effective defenders of local communities

When shots are fired and villages are burning, theyre Nigerias front line: Young men carrying single-shot firearms made by local blacksmiths are the first to charge into combat against bandit gangs on fleets of motorbikes or jihadist insurgents driving gun trucks.

Increasingly, the vacuum left by conventional military has been filled by armed civilian volunteers called vigilantes or neighborhood watchmen. Yet the vigilantes often form the only effective line of defense for villages and towns under attack by bandit militias, an Epoch Times investigation has learned.

Civilian vigilantes were tested in the early hours of Feb. 21 in an unprecedented attack with improvised explosive devices (IED) in the embattled county of Shiroro on the border of the states of Niger and Kaduna.

The use of IEDs by terrorists is strange and has created panic among inhabitants [of Shiroro], state vigilante leader Sani Abubakar Kokki told The Epoch Times in a text message.

An armed civilian guard in Nigerias Plateau state, Aug. 2, 2021. (Photo by Masara Kim.)

Hundreds of radicalized bandit gangs have been attacking the combined army and vigilante volunteers in Niger state on and off for months. The attacks are both confrontations and reprisals against vigilantes, Kokki told The Epoch Times.

Regular Nigerian army troops are stretched thin to defend Niger state, which has the largest land area in the country.

In recent months, vigilantes have independently raided terrorists camps, according to Pwajok Pwajok, the leader of a local unit.

We carried out some attacks on their hideouts in Shiroro last year, Pwajok told The Epoch Times by telephone.

We arrested many of them, including one notorious bandit who later escaped from the Jos prison, said Pwajok, who is also the North Central commandant in charge of crime at the Hunters Council of Nigeria.

Though largely untrained, volunteer civilian guards working alongside the Nigerian army have played key roles in victories against terrorists in northern states in recent months. Two major offensives by the Nigerian military assisted by vigilantes killed more than 50 bandit terrorists on Feb. 10 and Feb. 12, according to officials.

The volunteers fought side by side with a combined army, police, and air force team in the forests of Niger and Kaduna states against a feared warlord known as Yellow Jan-bros. The teams rescued more than 20 hostages and recovered stolen cattle, according to media reports.

Gunmen believed to be bandit terrorists kidnapped 30 civilians in southern Kaduna in the corridor leading to the Nigerian capital of Abuja between Feb. 15 and 16. In the early hours on Feb. 15, bandits went from house to house in the small town of Idon in Kajuru county, kidnapping 22 residents, according to media reports.

Less than 24 hours later, the residence of another traditional leader Ibrahim Tanko in Jerea farming town along the AbujaKaduna highwaywas invaded by gunmen who kidnapped eight of his family members. That wasnt the first time for such an attack: another traditional leader, Alhassan Adamu, was kidnapped in the same county last July.

Though rarely reported in Western media, the sprawling forests in five of Nigerias western states have devolved into a war zone every bit as deadly as northern Iraq in the early days of the ISIS terror group.

While military spokesmen insist that the army is gaining the upper hand, that claim is belied by the increasing frequency of bandit attacks, including mass kidnappings of sleeping residents in Kaduna.

President Orders Military Raid

In January, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a military crackdown on terrorists in Niger state.

The Nigerian air force mobilized a bomber jet and a helicopter gunship to support outnumbered ground troops to fight the terrorists.

In their first raid in a forested area of Niger states Magama county on Feb. 10, a combined force of army troops and vigilantes directed fighter aircraft in strikes on the hideouts of terrorists and snipers.

At least 37 terrorists were reportedly killed in the operation, while 20 others who had escaped to the north of Kaduna were killed hours later.

Twenty hostages and hundreds of cattle rustled by the terrorists were also recovered, according to deputy superintendent Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger state police spokesman, who confirmed the assistance by vigilantes.

Tactical teams of the command sent for reinforcement to the area and military personnel with the vigilantes engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle along Ibeto cattle route which lasted for about two hours while the hoodlums were trying to escape, he said in a statement.

Direct Threat to Terrorists

Vigilantes are making a difference in the war against bandits, according to David Otto, a London-based defense consultant to the Nigerian army.

When vigilantes have the slightest chance to strike at insurgents, they do not hesitate, he told The Epoch Times.

Its a dog-eat-dog scenario. Most vigilantes are recruited based on their knowledge of the local geography and previous links with insurgents operational dynamics, Otto wrote.

The aim of insurgents is to occupy local territories and win hearts and mindsvigilantes are tasked to prevent such [forceful] occupation.

The vigilantes have been a prominent force against terrorists locally, Niger states commissioner of internal security, Umar Bagna, said.

It is a collective effort, Bagna told The Epoch Times in a phone call. There are conventional and unconventional securities [vigilantes] that are all working towards safeguarding our communities and each one has a specific role.

Right to Bear Arms

Nigers Gov. Sani Bello recently signed into law a measure that allows vigilantes to bear arms to fight terrorists.

While the military is believed to be the most powerful force against terrorists in Niger state, its unable to garrison all the communities raided by bandits since 2011.

A military presence hasnt stopped the expansion of bandit gangs, Dr. Murtala Rufai, an expert on the Nigerian bandits, told The Epoch Times by phone.

The bandits are still occupying their forest refuges where they have been for years, he said.

Shiroro has been the scene of multiple bomb explosions, believed to be IEDs, even as the devices have been used by bandit gangs in Zamfara state for years, according to Rufai.

Of concern to the government is the fact that Shiroro sits just 124 miles from Abuja, the capital. The pervasive use of IEDs during the Iraq War caused tens of thousands of coalition casualties over a 10-year period.

There are close to 100,000 armed bandits in the northwest alone, according to Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who negotiates with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

Villagers Trust the Vigilantes

Reporters speaking to The Epoch Times in Minna, the capital of the state, said local residents trust vigilantes to protect them more than the military.

The people have more trust in the vigilantes because they are members of the same communities and they can risk their lives to defend them, one reporter, Matthew Jwantu, told The Epoch Times by telephone.

During a recent attack on a vigilante base in the town of Galadiman Kogo, in Shiroro county, distress calls to a military unit less than 10 miles away were ignored, a cleric in the town told The Epoch Times on background.

They came when the attackers had left, the cleric said.

A notice was issued to villagers four days before the attack, according to local media, while a small military unit in the village was withdrawn to restrategize, according to Noel-Barje.

Yet Bello blamed locals for not sharing information about threats, according to a statement issued by his press officer on Jan. 31.

The perpetual failure by the military to respond to threats in local communities has shattered the trust of many residents, vigilante leader Kokki said.

For us, we always report threats, but it is a waste of time, Kokki told The Epoch Times by phone.

Left for us at the local level, we should rather keep quiet when we see anything because even when you report, no action will be taken.

Bandit leader Bello Turji relaxing with his group in Shinkafi, Zamfara state, in Nigeria, in 2021. (Photo courtesy Murtala Rufai)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

White House Announces Sanctions on Ukraines Contested Areas After Putin Recognizes Them as Independent

US says more measures to come

The White House has announced sanctions in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins move to recognize the independent sovereignty of two regions in Eastern Ukraine.

In a televised address Monday, Putin challenged Ukrainian statehood, saying the country was created by Bolshevik, communist Russia after the revolution of 1917. He then went on to say he will recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republictwo areas in Ukraines Donbas region held by Russian-backed separatist groups.

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, said Putin. And from those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Shortly after making the speech, Putin signed a decree authorizing troops to move into the two breakaway regions.

Russia continues to have more than 150,000 troops along Ukraines border and in neighboring Belarus. Its not clear the status, size, and scope of any troop mobilization into the contested regions. Ukraine says that Russian troops have been present in the Donbas for many years, although officially, Russia has denied the presence of regular armed forces in the region.

Washington responded to Putins speech with a statement issued by White House press secretary Jen Psaki saying Putins move had been anticipated and announcing immediate sanctions against the two regions of Ukraine through an executive order from President Joe Biden.

The statement says Bidens order will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine.

Psaki added that additional measures are forthcoming to address Putins blatant violation of Russias international commitments.

She also made clear the steps taken Monday by the United States are separate from a proposed sanctions package against Russia should it invade Ukraine.

U.S. officials have coordinated with European allies to make the threat of severe sanctions if Russia moves to invade. Officials have said these include sanctions against major Russian financial systems, individual members of Putins inner circle, and stopping the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany from going forward.

The United States has said its committed to pursuing a path of diplomacy with Russia. The White House announced Sunday Biden had agreed in principle to meet with Putin provided he did not move to invade Ukraine. Its unclear if Russias actions Monday would alter U.S. considerations for diplomacy or plans for a leader-to-leader meeting.

Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the Donbas region has since seen violence between the Ukrainian government and separatist groups that has taken more than 14,000 lives.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Woman Charged With Murder After Allegedly Stabbing Husband 140 Times in Florida Home

A Florida woman has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing her 62-year-old husband to death with a knife and a meat cleaver, police said.

Joan Burke, who is 61, was reported to police on Feb. 11 by Ricardo Green, the victims 41-year-old stepson, the Palm Springs Police Department said in a statement, local news agency WPTV reported.

She appeared before a judge on Feb. 20 in a video conference and was ordered to be held without bond.

Green told authorities in a 911 call that he found his physically disabled stepfather, Melvin Weller, in the kitchen lying in a pool of blood after returning from work.

According to a medical examiners report, the victim suffered about 140 stab wounds spread all over his body. He also had a skull fracture caused by a blow to the head with a meat cleaver.

Officers arrived on the scene and found a couple of knives and a meat cleaver in the sink. The kitchen also had blood splattered throughout the room, according to a police report.

They later found Burke lying in a bedroom with cuts to both hands, which is common in repeated stabbing cases as blood from the victim can make the knife handle slippy, resulting in the stabber losing grip and causing lacerations to the hands.

It is very common for the offender to have lacerations to the palm of one or both hands when he or she stabs another person, police said.

The suspect was taken to a hospital for evaluation before she was taken into custody following an investigation into the deadly stabbing. No motive for the murder was immediately released.

He was always pretty friendly if he passed by, and if me and my dad were outside, he would just wave to us, Isabella Jaramillo told WPTV. Its crazy to think that somebody could do that to somebody else.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yale Law School Announces Tuition-Free Scholarships for Lowest-Income Students to Level the Playing Field

Yale Law School announced on Feb. 21 that it will award annual tuition-free scholarships for its lowest-income students in an effort to level the playing field for students with significant financial need.

Dean Heather K. Gerken announced that the Law School is creating the Soledad 92 and Robert Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program, which will erase tuition for JD students who come from economically disadvantaged families and have the greatest financial need.

Yale Law School is allocating significant funding to launch the program this fall, which will be eligible for students in the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The program will grant nearly 4550 full-tuition scholarships to eligible JD students, the school said.

The plan will grant eligible students more than $70,000 per year to cover the cost of tuition, fees, and health insurance.

To be eligible for the program, students family income must be below the federal poverty guidelines, which currently stands at $13,590 for a one-person household, $18,310 for a two-person household, $23,030 for a three-person household, and $27,750 for a four-person household.

Families of students must also have assets below $150,000 in order for them to be eligible. Students who meet the financial requirements will automatically receive the scholarship.

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, said Gerken. I am thrilled that we are able to make this extraordinary addition to a financial aid system that is already best-in-class. The Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program 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.

The announcement comes after Yale University back in August 2020 was found to have illegally discriminated against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process.

The Department of Justice, following a two-year investigation, found that the Ivy League school violated the Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Acta civil-rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, the university categorically denied the allegation, saying that it is proud of its admissions practices and will not change them on the basis of such a meritless, hasty accusation.

The lawsuit was later dropped in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments, a Justice Department spokesperson confirmed to NPR, although an underlying investigation to ensure Yale complies with Title VI is ongoing.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
Zelensky Issues Statement After Putin Says Russian Troops Can Enter Eastern Ukraine

'We are not afraid'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement to the nation after Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered Russian military troops into eastern Ukraine.

Putin on Monday announced that Russia recognizes the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine, which are being held by Russian-backed separatist groups. Soon after that, Putin signed a decree issued by the Kremlin that says the Russian Defense Ministry is now authorized to send troops into the area to maintain peace.

The United States, in response, announced it will issue sanctions via an executive order from President Joe Biden. Press secretary Jen Psaki issued a White House statement that said Bidens order will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine.

This E.O. will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled a rare emergency meeting for late Monday at the request of Ukraine, the United States, and six other countries. At the meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Putins announcement nonsense.

[Putin] has since announced that he will place Russian troops in these regions. He calls them peacekeepers, Thomas-Greenfield said. This is nonsense. We know what they really are.

Zelensky, in a presidential address to the nation, criticized Russias recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, he said.

All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership. The recognition of independence of the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions might mean the unilateral withdrawal of Russia from Minsk agreements.

Ukrainian troops patrol at the frontline outside the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2014, Russian troops seized and annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Shortly after, Russia began supporting separatist fighters in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine that have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since. The ongoing war has killed over 14,000 people since 2014.

With todays and possibly tomorrows decisions, Russia is legalizing its troops, which have been de-facto present in the occupied areas of Donbas since 2014. A country that has supported war for eight years cannot maintain peace, Zelensky said.

There are now absolutely no reasons for chaotic actions. Well do everything to keep it this way further on. We stick with the peaceful and diplomatic way. Well only walk this way. We are at our land, and we are not afraid of anything and anyone. We dont owe anything to anyone. We wont give away anything to anyone. We are confident in this.

The White House said earlier Monday that Biden had agreed in principle to meet with Putin, but only if the Kremlin refrains from launching an assault on Ukraine. Even before any invasion, however, both Biden and the European Union said they would move ahead with targeted sanctions in response to Putins decrees.

Western nations have expressed concerns that Russia will order an invasion of Ukraine, and estimate that more than 150,000 Russian troops are gathered along Ukraines border.

Russia has denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine and has accused western allies of NATO expansion threatening Moscows security as Ukraine seeks to be granted membership.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NORWALK  Students are coding cornrows, reciting poetry, and illustrating the worlds injustices to celebrate Black History Month this February.

Dejanae Brown, an eighth grader at West Rocks Middle School, didnt want to miss her last opportunity to participate in the schools poetry slam. She went to her school counselor who directed her to Dee Walters, the reading improvement teacher, and Janine Mouland, the gifted and talented teacher, to help organize the event.

I remembered from sixth grade watching it in the cafeteria, Brown said. I wanted to do it again and participate this time. Im doing a little bit of everything  the poem reading, dancing and singing.

Walters said Brown has been very instrumental in getting the word out and very enthusiastic about being a part of this.

The poetry slam event began two years ago as a live performance in the cafeteria with classes invited to come watch. Students and teachers recited poetry along with some African drumming. Last year, due to COVID restrictions, the performances were recorded ahead of time.

Walters, Mouland and Nicole Jean, the band teacher, plan to do a mix this year with some live performances and some prerecorded for Friday. The main goal for the event is for students to discover and learn about different Black artists, as well as find poems that focus on celebrating Black joy.

I chose this poem because the title, Size Doesnt Matter, said Kaysha Dorvelus, a seventh-grade student, who chose to participate in this years event to get outside her comfort zone. No matter what you look like on the outside, or if youre tall or short, it matters about your personality and thats what this poem was mostly about.

Students could choose their poems from an array of books scattered on a desk in Moulands classroom. Authors and poets included Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Amanda Gorman, Nikki Grimes, Kwame Alexander, and Jaqueline Woodson.

Eighth-grade student Alliya Jean chose the poem My People by Langston Hughes because it included affirmations that she could relate to. Jean first participated in the poetry slam two years ago but said she did it mainly because she was told to do it.

This year I wanted to do a little bit of everything just to get the feel of things, Jean said. This year, I could really feel a change. Two years ago, I did it for the fun of it but this year, I could really do it for both.

At Jefferson Elementary School, STEAM teacher Diane Walker combined the practice of coding with the history of the cornrows. A website she learned while attaining her STEAM degree allows the students to code cornrows that signify who they are as a person and what they represent. The website also provides a history on cornrows including their use as maps for slaves looking to escape to freedom.

Walkers students are also putting together Flipgrid videos where they read a poem and explain the personal significance of the poem, write their own I Have A Dream speech talking about how they dream to bring people together in the community, or creating a skit about an important moment in Black history.

Im focused on celebrating Black history month through students being able to be creative and show their voice, Walker said. Students dont have to wait until they graduate to make a difference in their world. They can do it now. They can change their community. They can bring people together through love and respect.

Over 360 students in grades second through fifth built on the lessons of social activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. to express their own messages of social change that they want to see. Each student received a piece of paper and could illustrate their message such as stop littering, no more war or Black Lives Matter.

Third-grade student Sidharth Arunkumar chose to draw King because he is also Black and wanted to show how people are still fighting against injustice across the world. Fourth grader Autumn Joseph also picked King for their shared skin color.

I think we all have rights. I think just because were a different color doesnt mean were different. I think that were all the same, Joseph said.

Fifth-grade students Chad Smart, Sarah Gomez-Rios and Maria Gonzalez-Basantes each chose subjects regarding the environment. Smart wants to see better air quality so people dont have to wear masks for the rest of their lives. Gomez-Rios doesnt want to see the Earth become a big wasteland because people dont take care of it. Gonzalez-Basantes is concerned about the habitats of animals in the ocean.

If animals live in the ocean, pollution keeps them breathing especially the fish and animals who need water to live. The mammals also need water to catch their food, to swim, because if they get stuck in one place, they cant feed themselves, Gonzalez-Basantes said.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
STAMFORD  The suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 43-year-old Norwalk man in Stamford last year was arrested in New York over the weekend as part of a six-month murder investigation.

Donald Copeland, 31, whose last known address was in Bridgeport, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force during an early morning raid on a Poughkeepsie, N.Y., home on Saturday, according to Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.

Copeland was arrested as a fugitive of justice and is expected to be extradited back to Connecticut where he will face a murder charge in connection to the stabbing death of 43-year-old Jimmy Louis in August 2021.

The fatal stabbing was reported to police around 1 a.m. Aug. 8 after Louis was found in a crashed car near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Culloden Road.

Conklin said Louis and Copeland, who were known to one another, are believed to have been involved in a struggle in an area in the 100 block of Culloden Road. Louis suffered several stab wounds in the struggle and then attempted to drive away from the scene, but crashed a short way down the street, Conklin said.

Copelands arrest comes on the heels of a lengthy, complex investigation, Conklin said.

Investigators were able to pinpoint Copeland as a suspect in the case based on a large amount of DNA evidence, including Copelands blood, that was recovered from the scenes of the crime.

Copeland is scheduled for a court hearing in Duchess County, N.Y., on Friday. Police said they believe he will be extradited back to Connecticut shortly thereafter.
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NORWALK  An appendage found on the Norwalk River Valley Trail on Sunday belonged to a domesticated pig, police said.

The animal body part was discovered by a hiker who reported to police that they had stumbled upon what appeared to be a severed human foot, according to Sgt. Sofia Gulino, a spokesperson for the Norwalk Police Department.

Gulino said the appendage was retrieved by police officials, who turned it over to a pathologist to be examined.

A pathologist identified the appendage as belonging to Sus Scrofa Domesticus, a pig, Gulino said.

It is unclear how the pig appendage found its way to the trail. Gulino said investigators currently have no reason to believe the severed extremity is connected to any criminal activity.

Andrea Gartner, the executive director of the Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, which is tasked with managing and constructing the unfinished trail, said she was not aware that a pig appendage had been found.

Gartner, who joined the nonprofit in early January, said she did not believe it is common for hikers to find animal remains on the trail.

The Norwalk River Valley Trail, which will connect the mouth of the Norwalk River in South Norwalk to Danbury once finished, is still a work in progress. About eight miles of the planned 30-mile trail have been constructed, largely in Norwalk.

Sundays incident is not the first time that pig remains have launched a police investigation in Connecticut. In 2018, bones that washed up on the shores of Silver Sands State Park in Milford were later discovered to have come from a pig.
NORWALK  Calls for greater transparency of education funding and how the operating budget should be presented to the Common Council and the public are once again causing a stir between school leaders and the citys chief financial officer.

For the third year in a row, Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz reduced the request of the Norwalk Public Schools operating budget in the citys recommended allocations. This year, Dachowitz slashed the superintendents budget request by $11.1 million after the city flat-funded the schools last year.

Dachowitzs comments this month questioning the return on investment for more school funding drew criticism from the superintendent and the mayor. The CFO apologized for his comments the next day, but it spurred public discourse that led to more than 40 letters submitted to the Common Council, calling for additional funding for Norwalk schools.

In response, the Common Councils finance and claims committee added $1 million to the schools budget last week.

In his presentations this month to the Common Council and committees, Dachowitz pointed out there are expenses, including in-kind services and debt services, that are not budgeted by the school district that are covered by the city.

In order to understand the total cost of operations of NPS/Board of Ed, one must include all their expenses, including those which are paid by others, Dachowitz said in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Examples of in-kind services include processing payroll, accounts payable, legal assistance, and IT assistance. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, the city paid about $11.6 million for in-kind services and $13.9 million in debt services on behalf of the school district, according to Chitsamay Lam, the citys comptroller.

Theres an argument to be made that we should bill the Board of Ed and they should request it as part of their budget every year to make it more transparent and not misleading, Dachowitz said during the Common Council Finance/Claims committee meeting on Feb. 10.

Dachowitz recommended a 3.75 percent increase to the schools operating budget, bringing it up from $208.5 million to $216.3 million. With the addition of in-kind and debt services, the school district would see its budget increase from $237.4 million to $245.7 million next year or 3.5 percent, according to the citys budget forecast.

Lunda Asmani, the chief financial officer for Norwalk Public Schools, has raised concerns over how Dachowitz presented the school budget to the Board of Estimation and Tax and the Common Council. Asmani countered with a presentation to the Board of Education finance committee of the city and school budgets on an equity level.

Asmani compared the departmental operations of the city  like the fire, police and mayors office, for example  to the school departments operations. He separated the costs of debt, employee benefits, pension benefits and contingencies. Based on the operation costs alone, the city would see its budget increase 4.7 percent compared with the 3.75 percent increase for the schools.

Those are the two numbers I would use to compare if were talking about an equitable distribution of resources, said Asmani, referring to the separate costs as overall expenses, but not truly operational.

Dachowitz also said during the finance and claims committee meeting this month that the school district spends close to $299 million when the city considers in-kind and debt services as well as funds received for food services and grant funding.

The school district put its total operating budget request at $280.1 million, including food services and grant funding for 2022-23.

Asmani disagreed with the interpretation during the citys CFO presentations that the grant funds are additional dollars that the district receives over and above the local funding.

Were able to leverage resources from the federal funds and state funds to make our budget, Asmani said. Its not that those additional funds can replace the local funded portion.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
MARYVILLE  Emergency personnel rescued a Maryville couple earlier this month.

On Friday, Feb. 11, Maryville police and fire departments responded to a house fire on the 600 block of Johnny Drive.

According to Maryville Fire Chief George May, it took approximately three hours to extinguish the fire.

The occupants of the structure, an elderly couple, were rescued by Sergeant Steve Howe and Officer Justin Krasz, who rushed into the burning building to bring the couple to safety.

The couple was transported to Anderson Hospital and then transferred to a St. Louis hospital. Both police officers were seen at Anderson Hospital and released.

No life-threatening injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

Along with the Maryville crews, the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District, Collinsville Fire Department, Mitchell Fire Rescue, State Park Volunteer Fire Department, and the Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department assisted in extinguishing the fire.

In addition, members of the American Red Cross of Missouri assisted the victims.
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That release could not be found.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that not less than 10 persons have been killed by some suspected bandits who attacked communities in Niger State yesterday.

The Nigerian Voice gathered that six residents were killed when bandits launched an attack on Galape and Galadima Kogo communities in Shiroro council earlier in the day. According to the state police commissioner, Bala Kuryas, the four operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) died while on their way to the communities invaded by the bandits.

The commissioner disclosed that the officers were killed when their van ran into an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the terrorists which exploded.

While confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of local government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Honorable Emmanuel Umar, said the IED was meant to hinder security access into the communities.

In his words: Four security officers were killed while one was severely injured. We have cordoned off the place; we are responding and monitoring the situation"

The Police Commissioner, however, stated that Police Explosive Ordinance Unit (EOD) has been deployed to sweep the area to defuse the other IEDs that may have been planted in the area

Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Bello of the state, in a press statement, assured that the state will not give in to the terrorists.

To him: As Government, we are determined not to hands up to these daredevil terrorists. Niger State is actively supporting the federal government-led efforts to overcome the menace of these heartless terrorists."
The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ridiculed All Progressive Congress over the postponement of its earlier scheduled national elective convention.

Initially, the All Progressive Congress had scheduled February 26 for its convention. However, on Monday, the party fixed March 26, 2022 as the new date for the convention.

The Peoples Democratic Party described the development in APC as an assembly of strange bedfellows with little or nothing to avail the nation in terms of good governance.

The Peoples Democratic party also claimed the reason behind the postponement was why APC had been a failed party to Nigerians.

According to a statement signed by PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba: The continuing inability by the All Progressives Congress, APC, a party in government, to conduct a routine national convention has further explained why all sectors of our national life have been in the shambolic state under the incompetent, corrupt, rudderless and overtly confused APC administration.

APCs postponement of its national convention yet again validates PDPs stance that the APC is not a political party but a Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, of strange bedfellows, political buccaneers and ferocious power mongers on a mission to wreck our nation.

The PDP states that the APC which cannot conduct its own internal affairs could not be expected to successfully manage the affairs of a nation like Nigeria. The APC is a perfect example of failure both as a party and government unable to conduct a simple national convention in two years. It has become a Russian Roulette with an unending request for extension of time to undertake a routine statutory political activity."

Validating its claim, the PDP further disclosed it's not astonishing that the APC was just a party of backstabbers, again postponed its national convention already scheduled for February 26, 2022. It is rather saddening how a set of confused, greedy, deceitful, hard-heartened and self-centred individuals who cannot run a creditable organization foisted themselves in power and plunged our nation into the economic, security and social mess that we face today.

As a vacuous political contraption without a soul, peopled by political warlords without conscience and operating without rules, the APC is a bunch of inchoate sailors clobbered together for remote personal gain; operating without a Board of Trustees, BoT, and a National Working Committee, NWC; exists in violation of rules while constituting itself to a threat to our national unity and corporate existence as a nation.

APCs postponement of its national convention had always been a fallout of the horrible infighting, backbiting and gang war by political bandits who are desperate for power and access to our national treasury. That explains why their congresses and other activities are always marred by violence, bloodletting and killings.

Moreover, the APC is not capable of holding a national convention having become defunct since December 8, 2020, when it dissolved all its states, zonal and national party structures and set up an illegal contrivance called the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Of course, the activities of the Mai Mala Buni committee remain invalid and unconstitutional by virtue of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which bars a sitting governor from holding any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever while serving as a state governor.

The failure of the APC to hold a national convention is, therefore, a clear warning to those aspiring for various positions in the 2023 election on its platform to note that with the APC, they are on a journey to nowhere. The only way the APC can legitimately participate in the 2023 general is to re-apply to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for fresh registration as a political party.

In any case, Nigerians are hopeful for a better future because the PDP is back and repositioned to rescue and rebuild our nation from the stranglehold of the APC in 2023.

Nigerians are yearning for the return of good governance with the PDP so that they can again be secure, enjoy economic prosperity, infrastructural development, employment, food security and national cohesion which they experienced in the 16 years of the PDP in power."
Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that his decision to be wearing Akwete dresses has shot up the demand for the locally made fabric.

He also added that as a policy to promote local brands, he will serve only locally made beer and palmwine at the Government House, and at government functions.

Soludos media assistant, Mr Joe Anatune, stated this in a piece he sent to THISDAY in Awka on Monday.

Anatune said the media team of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor sent one of its reporters to Akwete in Abia State, where the fabric was made, and it was discovered that the demand for the material is now high since Soludo announced that he will be wearing the locally made material.

Anatune said: Akwete today is being popularised as a metaphor by Anambra State governor-elect, Cee Cee Soludo, for the purchase and consumption of made in Anambra products and services.

Already, the women of Akwete are smiling to the bank due to the association of their products with an iconic figure who many look up to as a role model. Our reporter, Chimeziri Franklin, visited the Akwete community recently and said the women cant thank Soludo enough for igniting a spike in demand for their product.

Anatune quoted the reporter as saying: They have heard of what Cee Cee Soludo is doing for Akwete weavers which no state actor has done for them earlier.

Anatune also said beyond Akwete dresses, Soludo will also market other local brands, including local shoes, Innoson vehicles and only drinks made in Anambra will be served at government functions, including palmwine.

Beyond Akwete, Soludo will model other brands and commodities produced in Anambra in all industries and categories. He has not hidden his decision to use Innoson vehicle as his official car or enforce that the only drinks that will be taken in Government House or at government functions will be beers produced in Anambra or the organic palm wine from Awa/Awgbu axis.

The list is long as he will not wear any shoes that are not made in Anambra. Soludo is aware that most of these products may not be the best in their classes globally but is of the well considered opinion that our patronage will help upscale their quality standards and make them competitive beyond our shores.

Lets face it, product development and diffusion is tough and gritty. All over the world, state actors take deliberate actions in nurturing and supporting global brands which no doubt have become veritable tools for economic diplomacy.

We know a good salesman many poles away. Soludo is one. He sees solutions where others see bottlenecks. His total commitment to made-in-Anambra products will hugely improve the input-output matrix of Anambras agro value chain and ultimately make the state the most attractive place to live happily, learn happily, work happily, invest happily and enjoy happily in Nigeria, Anatune said
Since Nnamdi Kanus abduction in 2021 by General Buharis transnational Gestapo, the consequential rage of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra has been, to a considerable extent, not up to scratch. Instead, there seems to be a diminishing rage, IPOB itself on the brink of becoming another fossilized group in the graveyard of reactionary opposition. My suspicion is: It is either the IPOB has not fully understood the gravity of its historical position in the struggle against feudal fanaticism in Nigeria, or the group is beginning to suffer an entropic decline due to the sudden, perhaps unexpected, abduction, detention and phoney trial of its supreme commander, Nnamdi Kanu. Either way, IPOB must wake up!

IPOB is not just another self-determination group; neither is its existence an ordinary fluke: its existence embodies the compelling contradiction between actuality and potentiality in Nigeria. Its self-determination thrust is both a categorical imperative and a catalytic symbol of revolutionary consciousness for Southerners. The self-determination struggle of IPOB, whether it is aware of this or not, represents the material disillusionment and revolutionary goal of not only the Igbos but the entire Southern Nigeria and the oppressed people in the Middle-belt. Its historical mission, which it must fully embrace if the revolutionary goal must be attained, is anarchistic in scope and exigent in force. The phoney trial of Nnamdi Kanu, as a hitherto misapprehended but almost always a persecuted revolutionary, is neither a trial of IPOB nor the Igbos only, it is a trial of the entire Southern Nigeria. We must, therefore, note that the diminishing rage of IPOB is simply a revolutionary suicide that cannot and must not be allowed by the Igbos and Southerners in general.

For too long, the struggle of IPOB has been defined narrowly by the Nigerian political class, and that narrow definition, in consequence, has been accepted by the gullible populace who listen to them. The struggle of IPOB has been demonized and criminalized as a struggle of impassioned youths who know nothing about Nigeria. But if IPOB activists are ignorant in all things, they are thankfully knowledgeable about the unworkableness of Nigeria. And this is why the diminishing rage among IPOB activists, which is indicative of revolutionary entropy and perhaps doubtfulness, must be quickly overturned in the direction of reinvigorating IPOB and Southern Nigerians revolutionary energy against feudalism and hegemony. If we know nothing about Nnamdi Kanus trial, and by extension, the buffoonish incarceration of Sunday Igboho in the Republic of Benin, we can be sure that it is the manifestation of Buharis parable of the dot. Buharis history as a military dictator should guide enough about his implacable penchant for vengeance and his sadistic relish of overlong illegal and inhuman detention of real and perceived enemies.

One critical question for IPOB and Southerners is: Can Buhari set Nnamdi Kanu or even Sunday Igboho free without active resistance from IPOB and other revolutionary forces? Buhari has neither the incentive nor the intention to release Kanu or Igboho, regardless of how many times Igbo and Yoruba grovellers grovel at his feet to convince him otherwise. His mind is too caked in feudalist rule and expansion to consider it a moot point.

The forthcoming 2023 elections is a clear feudalistic and hegemonic threat to the revolutionary goal which IPOB represents for the people of the South and the Middle-belt. But Southern Nigeria need not capitulate to this threat if, as was done during the previous spell of Kanus trial under the incumbent feudalist regime: the IPOB is swift to regenerate its revolutionary confidence and energy, relying less on Kanus British identity and more on indigenous and endogenous alliances, picketing every nook and cranny of whatever courthouse Kanu is to be tried in the FCT, mobilizing against the occupying force of the Nigerian police and army in the Southeast, and moving from protest to resistance as a matter of necessitybut this time, in collaboration with other Southern forces of revolution and solidary.

Postscript

Adebayo Raphael is a Writer, Scholar and Human Rights Activist. He considers this article a passing but worthy prelude to his book, De-Nigerianization, which will be available in the United Kingdom and on Amazon from March 1, 2022.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading Nigerian bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to actively support the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) efforts to achieve its goal of $200 billion in Foreign Exchange (FX) repatriation from non-oil exports over the next five years.

The Executive Director, Northern Businesses, Fidelity Bank Plc, Hassan Imam made this known on Monday in Kano at a workshop for exporters and investors on the implementation and opportunities in the new CBN RT200 FX Policy.

Imam stated that the financial institution would not relent in its efforts to bridge the knowledge gap in the non-oil sector space by facilitating the necessary processes and documentation for the new policy, with the goal of increasing FX repatriation through exportation.

LR: Gidado Abu Gidado, representative of Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank; Yakubu Gambo, Head, Product and Market Development North-West Region, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) - Kano Regional Office; Mannir Ringim, Regional Bank Head, North West 1, Fidelity Bank Plc; Isaiah Ndukwe, Divisional Head, Export and Agriculture, Fidelity Bank Plc; Dr Bamidele Ayemibo, Managing Director, 3T Impex Trade Academy (Consultant) and Zainab Potiskum, staff of NEXIM Bank at the Fidelity Bank Sensitization Programme on the CBN RT200 FX Programme in Kano on Monday, February 21, 2022.

The CBN had unveiled the RT200 FX Programme on February 10, 2022, as part of measures to reduce the increasing demand for foreign currency by importers, which frequently puts excessive pressure on the exchange rate.

With the implementation of this policy, the CBN has stated that the supply of foreign currency to commercial banks will cease by the end of 2022, while investors will be able to generate forex through the RT200 FX Program template provided to strengthen commodity exports.

The Regional Bank Head, North West 1, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mannir Ringim re-emphasised the banks readiness to support governments economic imperatives to boost revenue in non-oil sector of the economy.

As you know Nigeria is currently an import-dependent economy with so much pressure on our currency and the source of revenue as a nation is petrol dollar. So, the initiative of the CBN is to leverage on our non-oil products especially in agriculture like hibiscus flower, cashew nut sesame and many other products for exports.

Now, Fidelity Bank wants to remain the exporters bank of choice not only by providing finance but by helping exporters in bridging the knowledge gap in exporting their commodities. We are committed to this initiative to improve our economy, reduce pressure on local currency and provide an enabling environment to grow the non-oil sector to also create massive job opportunities", Ringim explained.

Speaking on the need for strategic planning in the non-oil sector, Head of Export and Agric Businesses at Fidelity Bank, Isaiah Ndukwe said the bank is well positioned to advance the CBN policy thrust to reduce our over-dependence on oil revenue in the country.

He stated that the bank is committed to improving the banking system's competitiveness while focusing on developing exporters' capability in the fundamentals of local commodity exportation. Isaiah emphasized that the new policy will not only reshape exporters' mindsets, but will also infuse value addition on their commodities, allowing them to earn more forex.

According to him, the workshop tagged, Harnessing Export Business Opportunities, CBN RT200 FX Programme: current issues, non-oil exports and implications to business; drew inspiration on the policy's guidelines.

The guidelines involve the provision of a single digit credit facility to exporters, provision of rebates on foreign currency, funding of commodity production and value-addition processes, building terminals and the convening of a biannual summit for the review of the implementation of the policy.

Exporters at the sensitization event expressed satisfaction on the capacity-building initiative as it enabled them to get acquainted with the CBN policy and opportunities in export business.

Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 6million customers who are serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels.
In view of tackling the bewildering unemployment rate in Nigeria, the federal government has appealed to the Republic of Korean to assist in fighting the menace.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, made this appeal in his office on Tuesday while receiving Mr Kim Young-Chae, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria.

The Minister noted that the era of white-collar jobs was over, adding that blue-collar jobs were now being created, especially in agriculture and technical field.

The Minister said to the Korean Ambassador: I want you to assist us to create jobs because of the unemployment pressure on us here in this country, especially among the youths and women. We want you to assist us in giving agriculture a boost in order to help our farmers. Agriculture is our low hanging fruit. This will assist our country in developing a foreign exchange base so that we dont have to spend our limited resources on importing food.

We request assistance to enable us to create jobs. Apart from the skill acquisition centre, you established in Kogi State, which is in the North Central geo-political zone we are thinking that you should establish at least one in the other geo-political zones, namely, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and South-South.

Of late, our economy has not been too good. Our economy is based on oil, which is getting old fashioned. Our production is down due to insecurity problems and price fluctuations. We need your assistance in terms of developing other areas like power".

Ngige also applauded the Republic of Korea for offering educational scholarship programmes and manpower training for Nigerians.

In his words:We saw in this ministry, a letter from you saying you are giving scholarship for a training programme to some of our people for one to two years. We are processing the letter. I think we were given permission for ten people but we are asking you to do more for our workers so that they can be able to match the vagaries of office and dictates of the job they do.

Earlier, Ambassador Kim Young-Chae disclosed his intention to increase the Trade and Investment of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria.

However, the Ambassador took the medium the to solicit Nigerias support for the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea who is currently aspiring for the position of the Director-General of International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Envoy vows evacuation help for Thais in Ukraine

BANGKOK: The Ukraine embassy in Bangkok says its government will help evacuate Thais living in the Eastern Europe country if tensions with Russia intensify.

SafetyRussianUkraine

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 09:40AM

A woman stands inside among debris after the reported shelling of a kindergarten in the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine, on Thursday, Feb 17. Photo: AFP

Speaking on the issue during a press briefing yesterday (Feb 21), Pavlo Orel, Charge dAffaires, said Ukraine is ready to help, reports the Bangkok Post.

I know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has got some kind of plan in case of further deterioration of the [Russia-Ukraine situation], he said. [In this regard], the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is ready and has been in contact with the Thai embassy in Warsaw, Poland, which is responsible for Thai people in Ukraine.

Our government is in contact with them in case there are any Thai nationals needing assistance, and we will provide [them] with assistance, Mr Orel said.

The diplomat was answering the Bangkok Posts question on how Kyiv would step in to assist Thais currently residing in Ukraine.

Last week, Thailands Foreign Ministry announced that the Thai embassy in Poland had reportedly laid out a plan to evacuate Thais living in Ukraine in case tensions with Russia intensify.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said earlier the Thai government is concerned about the safety of 230 Thais living in Ukraine.

The embassy has set up a special Line group to quickly communicate, as well as sought cooperation from the governments of Ukraine and Poland to evacuate Thais in case of an emergency situation. A warning informing Thais to refrain from travelling to Ukraine has been issued.

Ukraines western city of Lviv could be used as an evacuation route to Poland, according to Chetthaphan Maksamphan, Thai ambassador to Poland.
Governor welcomes five ambassadors

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew yesterday (Feb 21) welcomed a delegation of five ambassadors, representing Panama, Canada, the Philippines, Colombia and Kazakhstan, visiting Phuket and the Andaman region.

tourismenvironmentimmigration

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 10:14AM

The ambassadors thanked Governor Narong for Phuket officials for taking good care of their citizens, said a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).

The ambassadors explained that the visit to Phuket was aimed at strengthening international relations, and promoting and developing tourism together, said the report.

During their visit to the area, the delegation will also travel to Phang Nga and Krabi.

Millicent Cruz-Paredes, Ambassador for the Philippines thanked the Phuket officials for allowing them to meet.

We aim to travel to three provinces of Andaman, Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket, to drive ties and promote tourism together, she said.

Raushan Yesbulatova, Kazakhstan Ambassador to Thailand, thanked Phuket Immigration for helping and caring for Kazakhstan nationals during the unrest in her country, causing some of her citizens to be unable to return to their home country.

My citizens were taking good care of while they were stranded in Phuket," she said, according to the report.

Itzel Karina Chen Chan, Panama Ambassador to Thailand, said that Panama is hoping to work with Phuket in the area of Eco Tourism management as a model for sustainable tourism development in her country, the report noted.

Canadian Ambassador Sarah Taylor said that she had the opportunity to see the operation of the Phuket Smart City model, which she felt very impressed by, PR Phuket said in its report.

Canada is also taking action on this matter, she added.

There are many Canadians working in Phuket, such as working on a water-treatment system. I would greatly appreciate it if Phuket and the Canadian Embassy could work together to promote tourism and the environment," she said, according to teh report..

Colombian Ambassador Ana Maria Prieto Abad apparently praised the government-community activity of releasing turtles as a good activity to conserve the environment.

She said she had the opportunity to visit the Tsunami Museum and she praised the work of officials in the past, the report said.

After meeting the ambassadors, Governor Narong said that he had spoken with the five ambassadors about the Eco Tourism and Phuket Smart City model.

He said he also asked for their support in voting for Phuket to host a Specialized Expo in 2028.
Phuket readies for annual Heroines Festival

PHUKET: The annual Heroines Festival, celebrating the defeat of Burmese marauders attempting to take Phuket in 1785, will take place this year from March 5-20.

culture

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 11:51AM

Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan and Rawat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor), presided over a press conference to announce the dates at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon (Feb 21).

The Heroines Festival celebrates the two sisters, Chan and Mook, who lead the Phuket contingent in repelling the Burmese invasion in 1785.

According to a report of the meeting published by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket), The objective is to honour the heroes of Thalang Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn and to increase the potential of cultural tourism resources of Phuket.

As part of the annual festival, a mass ordination of monks to honour the two Heroines will be held at Wat Thepwanaram (Wat Manik), in Baan Manik, Thalang, on Mar 5.

A ceremony for giving alms to monks in order to seek blessings from ancestors will be held at Wat Muang Komanraphat on Mar 12.

On Mar 9 to 13, there will be a national flag, where the Thalang Victory Flag and friendship of peace flags will be raised.

On Mar 13, a ceremony will be held at the Heroines Monument to honour the two heroines and to lay wreaths at the statue.

From Mar 13 to 15, as is tradition, a light and sound show and historical play will be performed at Phuket Historical Park, for many years called Thalang Victory Field, in Baan Riang, Thalang.

Local food stalls will be on offer throughout the festival while COVID-19 health and safety measures will be enforced throughout.
Soi Dog celebrates growth of mobile sterilisation programme on World Spay Day

Today, on World Spay Day (Feb 22), Soi Dog Foundation announced an expansion of its large-scale spay and neuter programme, known as CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return).

Community

By Soi Dog Foundation

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 05:32PM

With over 670,000 dogs and cats spayed/neutered and vaccinated since the foundation started in 2003, the programme is already the largest of its kind in the world.

However, its set to grow even further from the 10 provinces already covered by its mobile clinics, to a total of 16 over the next five years.

The foundation has also signed an agreement with Thailands Department of Livestock Development (DLD) which will see them support the programme in all the provinces reached.

DLD Deputy Director Chaiwat Yothakol signed the agreement, in effect from 2022 to 2026, in collaboration with provincial livestock offices in Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Krabi, Trang, Satun, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

CNVR is at the very forefront of Soi Dogs operations and is proven to be the most ethical and effective way of managing the street dog and cat populations.

CNVR has been very effective in areas where Soi Dog set up mobile sterilisation clinics said Soi Dogs CNVR Director for Thailand Dr Tuntikorn Rungpattana.

It minimises the number of stray animals as well as the spread of diseases like rabies, and this helps positively influence peoples attitudes towards animals so that they can live happily within the community.

The effectiveness of CNVR can be seen most in Phuket where Soi Dogs CNVR programme has steadily reduced the number of stray dogs by over 90% since 2003.

With the population on the island under control and a maintenance project in place, Soi Dog has been able to take the programme to other locations. At present, there are 10 mobile clinic teams operating in and around Bangkok as well as a number of southern provinces, with the most recent launched this month in Phatthalung.

While Soi Dogs focus is on stray animals, the foundation stresses the importance of owners spaying/neutering their pets too.

Many owners do not consider sterilising their male dogs because they are unable to fall pregnant. However, sterilisation has benefits aside from birth control, explained Dr Patcharee Phiphatdirekkul, who manages Soi Dogs southern mobile clinic teams.

It can help to reduce undesired behaviours such as aggression and can increase a dogs lifespan by reducing the risk of health problems like testicular cancer and prostatitis.

Dr Patcharee also warned against the use of injectable contraceptives as they can cause endometriosis (inflammation of the uterus) which can be fatal.

A veterinarians surgical sterilisation is currently the safest and most effective method of population control, she added.
Surge prompts Level 4 COVID alert

BANGKOK: The Public Health Ministry has raised its COVID-19 alert to Level 4 following a sharp increase in Omicron variant infections nationwide.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccinetourism

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 09:10AM

A boy gets swabbed for a COVID-19 test at Poonsap community in Bangkoks Sai Mai district yesterday (Feb 21). Out of the 183 people tested, four were infected. Photo: Apichit Jinakul

That said, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) indicated that no lockdowns will be brought back to bring the current outbreak to an end, reports the Bangkok Post.

Ministry spokesman, Rungrueng Kijphati, posted on Facebook yesterday (Feb 21) that a meeting of the ministrys Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) decided that the alert level will be raised nationwide and containment measures stepped up in high-risk areas.

The move came as the number of new infections, severe cases and deaths continue to rise, with authorities noting an increasing risk of infection among family members and close acquaintances as a result of taking part in collective activities such as dining out, playing sports, and attending wedding and funeral ceremonies, Dr Rungrueng said.

Individuals from at-risk groups - including the elderly, those with underlying health conditions and the unvaccinated - continue to account for most COVID-related deaths, he added.

Under the new alert, people are encouraged to work from home, avoid non-essential inter-provincial travel, suspend overseas trips, close at-risk venues and avoid large gatherings.

The ministry had raised the alert to Level 4 in some red-zone provinces early last month, when the situation was less severe than now. With the latest announcement, the alert will now apply to all provinces nationwide.

Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said that the Public Health Ministry wanted to remind the public of the threat posed by the virus.

We had previously announced [the Level-4 alert], but the public may have forgotten the warning, Dr Kiattiphum said, adding that if people fail to comply with precautions and the outbreak does not slow, then strict curbs may have to be brought back.

Jakkarat Pittayawong-anont, director of the Department of Disease Controls epidemiology division, said that throughout the country, infections have been increasing across all groups, particularly among working-age people and children.

He said that the 18 provinces promoted for tourism must be closely monitored. Of them, eight provinces - Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phuket, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Phangnga, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani - have seen case numbers fluctuate, though the trend is still rising.

CCSA spokeswoman, Apisamai Srirangson, yesterday said from tomorrow, the CCSA will focus on the number of deaths and severe cases, rather than the spike in new cases, she said.

Tomorrows meeting will consider whether the public health system still has the capacity to deal with the situation and look at measures to speed up economic recovery.

While the CCSA is unlikely to bring back lockdowns, Thailand still cannot afford to relax virus curbs in the same way as other countries have done. We have to come up with our own approach, Dr Apisamai said.

She was also trying to allay concerns about the rumoured suspension of the Test & Go scheme, saying the public health system is still sufficiently equipped to handle foreign arrivals who test positive.

Dr Apisamai said the CCSA is still concerned about infection clusters detected among healthcare personnel in several hospitals, such as in Ramathibodi Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Chiang Mai, Srinagarind Hospital in Khon Kaen and Betong Hospital in Yala.

When hospital personnel are infected, they will have to be quarantined, which compounds the shortage of personnel looking after patients, she said.

Thailand logged 18,883 new cases and 32 more COVID-19 fatalities over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported yesterday.

Bangkok accounted for most new cases with 2,753, followed by Nakhon Si Thammarat (960), Samut Prakan (926), Chon Buri (884), Nonthaburi (852), Phuket (628), Nakhon Ratchasima (563), Rayong (475), Nakhon Pathom (429) and Buri Ram and Pathum Thani (421).
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms before midnight. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.


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Led Zeppelins John Paul Jones released a video of him recording the infamous hit song, When The Levee Breaks, with 17 musicians from around the world.

Led Zeppelin recorded the classic track and released it in 1971.

The video was produced by Sebastian Robertson (who also plays guitar on the track) and Mark Johnson for the Playing for Changes Song Around the World initiative.

All proceeds generated by the new rendition will reportedly go to charity partners of Peace Through Music, including Conservation International, American Rivers, WWF, Reverb, and the Playing For Change Foundation.
From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state.
The burden of a stable democracy cannot be placed only on the backs of those who sign up for the military. Service to country should involve everyone. Above, Robin Cushman, a volunteer at the Mansfield Field of Honor, unfurls flags in 2017.
The 93rd General Assembly is now entering the second week of the 2022 Fiscal Session. The session began with an address by Governor Asa Hutchinson in which he outlined his budget priorities for the next fiscal year.
Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
GRAFTON  This June, voters in Grafton will consider raising the sales tax rate within the community.

The Grafton city council this month voted to place a question on the June 28 ballot asking voters if they wish to have the non-home rule municipal sales tax to be raised from 0.5% to 1%, the maximum allowed for the tax.

Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said the proposal was the result of a yearlong process of looking at funding for the community. In July 2021, he and Grafton City Attorney Will Miller decided to waive their salaries in support of the Grafton Police Department. Afterword, a committee was formed to figure out how to improve funding of city services in Grafton.

"The easiest way, and the one that made the most sense, was to raise the 0.5% to 1%, be on the same playing field as everybody else, and that solves the problem," Morrow said.

The council approved the ballot proposal with one no vote, from Ward 1 Alderman Peter Allen. "I think we (Grafton) are in a good place financially," Allen said.

Morrow said he plans to release a letter to the public near the June 28 vote explaining in detail why the increase is needed. He added he is confident that Grafton residents will respond positively to the increase.

"I don't think anybody likes taxes," he said. "But if you want a good municipality, a good police department, and if you want to get those people in there, you need to be able to pay them. This is the only way."
Pronouns are the workhorses of the English language and I never found them to be particularly controversial  until recently.



In case youve forgotten your fourth-grade grammar lessons, some examples of pronouns are: he, she, we, they, it.



Recently, a Catholic priest in Arizona found out that sometimes the grammar police wear clerical robes and pointed hats.



For decades, the Rev. Andres Arango said We baptize you in the name of the  instead of I baptize you in the name of 



After diocesan officials found that out, they said last month that people who Arango baptized arent technically Catholic. That means they werent eligible, from a Catholic point of view, for other sacraments.



The theological argument is that the priest is acting as a representative of God, so it should be I rather than we. The parishioners sitting out in the pews are just observers  not participants in the sacrament.



Since baptism is a precursor for other Catholic rites, the thousands of people he baptized over the last several decades are left wondering if their marriages, confessions, and promises of salvation  have ceased to exist.



All that angst and worry comes from either:



A. A priest who made a grammar mistake.

B. Overly legalistic individuals in the religious hierarchy.



My thoughts? Salvation isnt like a computer password dependent on every letter being in place when a priest recites the rite while pouring water over an infants head.



But pronouns can be confusing. I learned that decades ago when I was taking management training at the Quad-City Times. Some management guru said in our class when giving instructions to a subordinate dont say to them, I want you to do this. Instead, one should say, We will be doing this.



The idea is that by saying we the subordinate feels like a member of the team rather than a lackey being ordered about.



So, I left the class and wrote up an assignment for a photographer saying, We will be shooting a photo of



The photo never got shot. Why? The photographer said he couldnt find me when it was time to leave, and since I said we on the assignment form he assumed both of us needed to go.



My boss, who had been sitting through the same stupid management class with me, chewed me out for filling out the photo assignment form wrong.



So, you see, pronoun usage can be consequential.



Jeanne Ives, a conservative former state representative, expressed outrage during a recent interview that a former GOP office holder has placed on the bottom of her emails her preferred pronouns.



Shes no conservative, if shes doing that, she said.



So, apparently pronoun usage is not just a matter of grammar but political identity. I take a libertarian live and let live approach. Folks should be able to identify in the manner they choose.



Still, I dont like the practice of referring to individuals who dont identify as male or female with a plural pronoun.



For example, back in 2019, my alma maters student newspaper wrote a feature on a biologically male campus police officer who identifies as non-binary.



Here is a sentence from the story:



Other than snide comments, Hale said they receive interesting looks on campus when theyre wearing heels, a dress or have their nails done, but they have never been so uncomfortable that they felt something needed to be done about the remarks and looks.



Im left wondering is the sentence about one person or a group?



Language needs to be precise. This grammatical accommodation, which the Associated Press has endorsed, is anything but. Perhaps instead of using a plural pronoun, a new pronoun needs to be created to accommodate those not identifying as male or female.



For example, in the 1970s Ms. was created as a courtesy title for women who didnt want to be identified as married or single. (Although the grammarian in me still wonders why there is a period after the Ms when its not an abbreviation. But thats a language quandary for another day.)



Grammar is consequential. It should be precise but not unkind. Words matter.
If youve ever driven through the Illinois countryside, youve likely seen a herd of cattle dotting the landscape. You might have wondered whether the animals that farmers raise benefit businesses and residents in our state.

They do.

Livestock farms offer important sources of revenue for local businesses, strengthen the food supply, and continue to reduce impacts on the environment.

With livestock on 1 in 3 Illinois farms, animal agriculture is an economic engine for our state.

In 2019, livestock farms and related meat and dairy processors contributed more than $31.8 billion in economic activity, supported more than 91,000 jobs, and accounted for $4.7 billion in household income.

When many meat packing plants shuttered due to worker safety concerns at the height of the pandemic, the backlog of orders and limited processing capacity highlighted the critical role of food processors. Disruptions also demonstrated the need for investments in small and medium-sized meat packers, many of which stepped up to fill the supply chain gap.

Thanks to their efforts, Illinois state licensed meat establishments processed more than 31 million pounds of meat to feed families across the state in 2020.

Illinois Farm Bureau recently partnered with Texas A&M University to offer Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification  a prevention-based approach to the safe production, handling and preparation of foods  to support the continued development of local meat packing companies.

As important as food processing facilities are, its also important to remember that production starts on the farm.

More than 96% of the 71,000 farms in Illinois are family-owned and operated. For these farm families, producing quality meat and dairy products means providing nutritious protein sources for the community.

In 2020, Illinois farm families donated more than 250,000 pounds of food to local food pantries. Donations of pork, beef and dairy products offered resources to those in need, while also benefiting food processors in the community.

In addition to providing a steady supply of food for American families, farmers also continue to produce more with less.

Pig farmers today use 75% less land and 25% less water than they did 60 years ago, cattle farmers are producing 60% more beef with 40% fewer carbon emissions than 50 years ago, and each gallon of milk produced by dairy farmers creates 63% fewer carbon emissions than in 1944.

Innovative barn construction, rotational grazing on cover crops and manure management as fertilizer applications are among the practices farmers use to continuously improve soil and water quality on their farms.

By caring for animals in ways that also benefit the environment, farmers ensure a bright future for agricultural production on family farms and a steady food supply for all.

The next time you find yourself driving past a herd of cattle, or picking out food at the grocery store, I encourage you to think about the many ways livestock farms and related industries add value in our state.
EDWARDSVILLE  Theft-related charges were filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office Friday.

Adrianna G. Peabody, 20, of St. Louis, was charged Feb. 18 with theft over $10,000, a Class 2 felony; and deceptive practices, a Class 4 felony.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on Jan. 7 Peabody allegedly took control of a 2019 Volkswagon Atlas valued in excess of $10,000 from Laura Buick in Collinsville; and passed a $37,346 check to pay for the vehicle.

Bail was set at $10,000.

Other felony charges filed Feb. 18 include:

 Scott M. Perryman, 34, of Granite City, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 17 Perryman allegedly had a reported stolen Kawasaki 4-wheeler. No bail was noted.

 Jarrett A. Bean, 40, of Hazelwood, Missouri, was charged with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 6 Bean allegedly passed a bad check for $2,744.08 at U.S. Bank in Collinsville. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Jason L. Zarantonello, 43, of Alton, was charged with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On April 30 Zarantonello allegedly passed a bad check for 400 to Liberty Bank in Godfrey. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Patricia Y. Gibson, 52, of Collinsville, was charged with two counts of unlawful use of credit cards, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Dec. 21 Gibson allegedly used two different credit cards without the permission of the owner to purchase goods valued in excess of $300 each. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Christopher A. Southerland, 30, of Marine, was charged with theft under $500 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On Jan. 28 Southerland allegedly took an Illinois license plate belonging to another person. He has a 2019 conviction for burglary out of Madison County. Bail was set at $10,000.
London, KY (40741)

Today

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain. High 56F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Dechra Pharma saw its profits bound higher after cashing in on a boom in pet ownership during the Covid pandemic.

The animal medicine maker saw its profits for the six months to December jump 22 per cent year-on-year to 93.9million.

Revenues, meanwhile, were up nearly 16 per cent at 332.4million. Dechra also hiked its interim dividend by 8 per cent to 12p per share.

Pandemic boost: Animal medicine maker Dechra saw its profits for the six months to end December jump 22% year-on-year to 93.9m

The firm noted that its half-year performance had been boosted by increased spending on pets during the pandemic as people stuck in lockdown sought out companionship and stress relief from cats, dogs and other animals.

Recent acquisitions of drugs used on horses had also helped increase sales in North America, Dechras largest market, by over 26 per cent over the period.

The outlook was also upbeat, with the firm noting strong trading from key markets in its second half, with boss Ian Page adding that its prospects remain excellent.

However, the outlook was clouded slightly by pet ownership levels becoming more normalised as the effects of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions began to fade.

This appeared to have weighed on the share price, which despite spiking higher early in the session ended the day down 0.5 per cent, or 18p, at 3766p.

HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing platform and stocks and shares Isa

Dechras pandemic pet profit boost followed a similar trend from retailer Pets At Home, which last month upgraded its profit guidance as a result of continued growth of new pet owners in the UK driving a boom in spending at its stores and vet clinics.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.4 per cent, or 29.29 points, at 7484.33 while the FTSE 250 slipped 1.2 per cent, or 265.41 points, to 21097.19.

Stock Watch - Synairgen Shares in pharma firm Synairgen collapsed 84 per cent after a Covid-19 product failed a late-stage clinical trial. A study of its treatment, designed to reduce the time patients spend in hospital and speed up recovery from the virus, failed to show meaningful changes to either. Boss Richard Marsden said advances in patient care over the course of the pandemic may have compromised the potential of the treatment. Shares fell 84.1 per cent, or 143.82p, at 27.18p.

Fears over the Ukraine crisis continued to grip markets despite news of a possible summit between the US and Russia to help reduce mounting tensions in Eastern Europe.

Russia-focused firms were once again under pressure, with miner Polymetal International, which owns projects across Russia, tumbling 8.5 per cent, or 99p, to 1070.5p.

Steel firm Evraz, part-owned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, also dropped 5.7 per cent, or 16.2p, to 267p amid fears any sanctions on Russia will constrain its business.

Oil prices remained elevated, with Brent Crude climbing back to over $94 a barrel amid concerns any conflict could disrupt global supplies of oil and gas.

Sanction worries weighed on BP, which has large investments in Russia through its joint venture with Rosneft.

Shares in the oil giant dipped 0.8 per cent, or 3p, to 388.4p. Rival Shell, which also has business interests in Russia, lost 0.6 per cent, or 12.8p, to 1944.2p.

It came as Steve Hill, Shells executive vice-president for energy marketing, blamed the high and volatile gas prices over the past year on an influx of hedge funds into European energy markets.

The potential for travel disruption from the conflict also hit several travel stocks, with British Airways-owner IAG dipping 1.7 per cent, or 2.7p, to 158.82p while Easyjet sank 2.4 per cent, or 16.2p, to 658.2p and Wizz Air slipped 0.9 per cent, or 35p, to 4046p.

Rolls-Royce, which makes turbine engines for passenger aircraft, was also down, by 2 per cent, or 2.34p, at 114.72p amid worries of subdued demand.

Gambling group Playtech saw another twist in its takeover saga after revealing that its boss Mor Weizer was looking to join forces with the firms second-largest investor, Hong Kong-based firm TT Bond Partners, to make a possible bid for the firm. The groups shares were down 1.6 per cent, or 11p, at 660p.

UK-based Satellite Vu, part of the portfolio of LSE-listed space investment trust Seraphim, signed a deal with Elon Musks Space X to launch a thermal imaging satellite next year. Seraphims shares fell 0.4 per cent, or 0.4p, at 105p.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has finally begun to release the UK from its EU shackles with a promise to unlock billions of cash to invest in the economy.

John Glen, economic secretary to the Treasury, last night laid out plans to slash the red tape faced by insurance firms so they are free to invest in Britain's growth.

Speaking at the Association of British Insurers' annual dinner, he said the Government would reduce the amount of capital which insurers must hold to cover themselves in the event of a disaster.

Investment drive: John Glen, economic secretary to the Treasury, (pictured) has laid out plans to slash the red tape faced by insurance firms so they are free to invest in Britain's growth

This would free up vast piles of cash  estimated at 95billion by some industry experts  which insurers and pension firms could then use to invest in long-term projects such as green energy plants and transport systems.

The Government also plans to cut the reporting burden on insurance firms, which must complete swathes of calculations for every investment they make.

The reforms will see Britain tear up so-called Solvency II rules, which were introduced by the EU in 2016.

Glen said: 'EU regulation doesn't work for us any more and the Government is determined to fix that by tailoring the prudential regulation of insurers to our unique circumstances.

'We have an opportunity to maintain and grow an innovative and vibrant insurance sector while protecting policyholders and making it easier for insurance firms to use long-term capital to unlock growth.'

The plans were welcomed by the industry. Sir Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General, said: 'This is a great example of improving regulation post-Brexit, through collaboration between regulators, government and industry.

'When implemented it will enable Legal & General to invest billions more in the UK's levelling up, net zero and science super-power agenda.'

Amanda Blanc, chief executive at Aviva, said the reform would allow 'insurers like Aviva to play an even bigger role in supporting the UK economy, investing more in the country's essential infrastructure  the colleges, hospitals, transport and renewable energy which are critical to our future'.

The Treasury plans to publish a full consultation document in April. But not everyone is pleased with the reform.

Mick McAteer, a former board member of the Financial Conduct Authority, is worried consumers could end up with a raw deal.

McAteer, co-director of think-tank the Financial Inclusion Centre, told the Financial Times: 'Reforming Solvency II is attractive to insurers, as it could generate higher fees and provide a windfall for shareholders at the expense of policyholders and pension savers that use insurance-based products.'
Businesses must beware of becoming too woke at the expense of their financial performance, a leading conservative think-tank has warned.

The Policy Exchange has waded into the row over what a companys role should be and defended the pursuit of profit.

Firms such as Unilever have drawn criticism for putting too much emphasis on their social purpose.

Firms like Unilever, which refuses to sell Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the 'Occupied Palestinian Territory', have drawn criticism for putting too much emphasis on their social 'purpose'

So woke has the company become that Unilever refuses to sell one of its brands, Ben & Jerrys, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

In a paper, Sir Geoffrey Owen, a former editor of the Financial Times and head of industrial policy at the Policy Exchange, defended capitalism arguing that competition between profit-making firms is best for everyone.

He wrote: In the last few years the capitalist system has come under attack. The single-minded pursuit of profit, and a higher share price is said to encourage companies to do bad things.

But shareholder-based capitalism remains the most effective means of promoting economic growth, innovation and prosperity.

He noted recent claims by woke activists that the principle of putting investors and profit first had caused problems such as environmental disasters.

But he dismissed this view as too simplistic, and said focusing on shareholder value did not necessarily mean running a company only for investors benefit.
A fresh raid on the London Stock Exchange saw three stalwart British companies worth almost 3billion fall into foreign hands.

The flurry of deals will reignite fears that UK plc will be the target of another takeover frenzy this year after buyouts of public companies hit a record 62billion in 2021.

Analysts and major City figures have warned that London-listed firms are still undervalued and remain easy prey for foreigners with deep pockets while the pound is cheap.

Going cheap: Analysts and major City figures have warned that London-listed firms are still undervalued and remain easy prey for foreigners with deep pockets

Private equity firms in particular have been circling after snapping up Morrisons and Aggreko last year.

Yesterday lorry and warehouse giant Clipper Logistics agreed a 943million deal with US competitor GXO Logistics, while baggage handler John Menzies accepted a 558million bid from Kuwaiti firm Agility after several rounds of haggling.

And pioneering tech group Blue Prism announced UK regulators waved through its 1.2billion takeover by American firm SS&C  paving the way for the tie-up to complete within weeks.

A slew of other buyouts are also in the works, with communications group Next Fifteen in talks to pounce on Engine Group and a bid for podcasting specialist Audioboom by either Amazon or Spotify expected as early as this week.

The string of deals came as Sir Martin Sorrell warned he was considering moving his digital advertising agency S4 Capital from London to Wall Street as it would 'get a better valuation'.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The fight for UK assets by foreign companies continues apace with two targets in the services sector looking as if they will be the next ones gobbled up.

'With the UK market still trading on a cheaper level relative to other places like the US, we're likely to see further takeover action.

'That may be good for investors in that it provides a short-term boost to the value of their assets, but longer term this isn't good for someone's wealth or indeed the reputation of the market if the pool of companies is shrinking.'

Sir Martin Sorrell said he was considering moving his digital advertising agency S4 Capital from London to Wall Street

The bosses of Leeds-based Clipper have unanimously recommended a possible takeover offer by New York-listed GXO for 920p, split between cash and shares.

Executive chairman Steve Parkin founded Clipper in 1992, long before online shopping took off.

The group has 52 warehouses in the UK and several European countries and around 10,000 staff. Asos, John Lewis, Asda and Marks & Spencer are among its customers. GXO, which is worth 6.8billion, has not made a formal offer yet but gaining the backing of management already means it has cleared a major hurdle.

John Menzies bosses also said they were ready to accept the 608p per share bid from Agility, which previously made unsuccessful offers. Edinburgh-based Menzies was founded as a bookshop in 1833 but is now a major airport services firm.

Agility  which is conducting the deal through its subsidiary National Aviation Services  has not made a formal offer yet.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said the deal was a good fit for Menzies and 'made strategic sense'. But she added that it showed how undervalued many UK companies have become.
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a partnership with Clinique, one of the worlds biggest skincare and make-up brands, to sell products both in-store and online.

Around 500 Clinique products will be available for free next-day delivery through the M&S website as well as for click and collect across 700 locations from the summer.

Additionally, 34 M&S stores will have Clinique counters and another 40 will have bespoke product displays. Actress Emilia Clarke is the skincare brands global ambassador.

Tie-up: Beauty brand Clinique, which is promoted by actress Emilia Clarke (pictured), is to sell its products in Marks & Spencer stores and through its website

The deal comes as M&S continues to reinvent itself as a selling platform for third-party brands.

Last year, the company struck deals with popular womenswear brands Joules, Phase Eight, Hobbs and Seasalt to sell their products online and in-store.

It has also agreed tie-ups with Ghost, Fat Face and White Stuff and bought a 25 per cent stake in Nobodys Child and purchased upmarket fashion label Jaeger out of administration.

The deals form part of a strategy by chief executive Steve Rowe to revitalise the business.
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Kingsport, TN (37660)

Today

Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day. High 77F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The staff at Liberty Street Bistro know Paul Ernenwine by name. It seems most people in the City of Newburgh do.

They call him Ernie or Mr. Newburgh. Hes a lawyer, the chairman of Newburgh Illuminated Festival, and an impassioned advocate for the city in which four generations of his family have been born and raised. But some of Ernenwines friends wont meet him for lunch at his favorite spot downtown.

They say its still too dangerous, he says.

The restaurant has teal blue walls, a glittering backbar, and pet-nat on the wine list. On this same block, you can enjoy craft cocktails at Ms. Fairfax, fancy croissants at Newburgh Flour Shop, or buy cute homewares at Field Trip. Liberty Street is arguably among the most up-and-coming in the Hudson Valley, but the citys reputation  and its problems  persist.

Despite being one of the most historically significant and architecturally rich cities in the United States, Newburgh was, in 2011, notoriously reported as the murder capital of New York. In 2019, the most recent FBI crime data available, Newburghs violent crime rate was over two times that of New York Citys and its murder rate was nearly double the citys, both on a per capita basis.

Crime rates in Newburgh, however, are falling, and the city is undergoing a slow, yet undeniable, revitalization.

Tyler Wetherall

This is not a fairyland, Ernenwine says, but you can talk about inspiration and excitement and new beginnings. He nods at the two young serving staff behind the bar. Those two were not here before. We have these incredible 25- to 35-year-olds, who are tolerant of a little grit, who have no issues with racial or ethnic identities, coming into this city and making it spectacular.

Over the past three years, public and private investments in Newburgh exceeded $144.6 million, and $128 million more is expected over the next few years. In Newburghs bid for one of the states $20 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants, the city also noted that 1,840 building permits were issued in 2020, and property values increased 16 percent between 2019 and 2020.

If awarded the funds, Newburgh plans to line Broadway with trees, create public transit and bicycle lanes, and reconstruct the defunct Newburgh Landing to connect it with the rest of the Hudson Valley.

A spate of recent business openings are already transforming the city. Among them are: Spirits Lab, a craft distillery; BEAHIVE, a co-working space with loft apartments above within the Wireworks building; artisan sandwich spot Toasted; and slick seafood-centric Italian eatery Primo Waterfront.

But theres perhaps no greater harbinger of change than the arrival of the citys first hotel, slated for 2023, from Foster Supply Hospitality (FSH).

Newburghs first hotel on the horizon

Tyler Wetherall

Husband-and-wife cofounders Kirsten and Sims Foster have a history of accelerating hospitality in a region, evidenced by their impact on Sullivan County. This is their first project outside their home environs and their most ambitious.

The $25 million plan involves transforming three vacant, county-owned buildings near the base of Broadway into an 80-room urban resort with a rooftop tavern, luxury spa, restaurant, and event space.

Right now, if you Google Newburgh, the first thing that comes up is gang violence, Kirsten Foster says. Without discounting the socioeconomic problems, I think changing the narrative to something positive is going to have an enormous impact, and it already has. Newburgh needs a new narrative, and we want to help write it.

The couple received a $1.25 million economic development grant from the state to develop their hotel project, and county leaders have approved to sell to FSH the three historic buildings for the project: the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion Hall and the YMCA, all next to each other, their grand edifices having stood empty for decades.

The final piece fell into place last week as the FSHs application for a tax break  specifically a request for payment in lieu of taxes (a PILOT)  from the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) was unanimously approved, even as the use of PILOTs has received pushback from some residents and lawmakers.

State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) labeled PILOTs a form of corporate welfare, and has taken a well-documented stance against sweeping incentives to attract new business. This quarrel strikes at some of the thorniest obstacles to Newburghs long and storied revival: the citys onerously high property taxes and diverging opinions about what progress looks like.

On a drive around the city, Ernenwine points out the wealth of historic sites: Washington Square, where George Washington formally ended the American Revolution in 1783; Montgomery Street, home to Thomas Edisons first central electric stations; and Downing Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux of Central Park fame.

Newburgh was once a grand city and the economic center of the Eastern Seaboard. Ernenwine also points out the pot-holed streets where drug dealers set out their tables, largely ignored by law enforcement. Newburgh doesnt have a nice section and a bad section; its a patchwork of dazzling architecture and burned-out buildings, deprivation and community-driven entrepreneurship, contemporary urban culture and age-old socioeconomic problems.

From glory days to lasting scars

Tyler Wetherall

In 1952, Newburgh was named the All-American City by Look magazine; by 1972, it was in ruins. The construction of the Beacon bridge and the interstate highway meant trade bypassed the city, and the departure of regional industry combined with racism and white flight contributed to its swift decline.

In a deluded fit of urban renewal, the historic and economic heart of the city was bulldozed in the early 1970s, reducing 1,300 19th-century houses to rubble and displacing hundreds of families.

The promised new development never arrived, and today, Broadway drops off onto a barren hillside, physically, socially and economically disconnected from the waterfront. A flock of geese peck at the icy knoll where the statue of the first governor of New York once stood.

People were living in those tenements, and they were told they could come back when they rebuilt [Clinton Square], and they still havent, says Bill Fioravanti, CEO of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Its one of the deepest scars in Newburgh. To me, its now an incredible development opportunity to reconnect the waterfront with the eastern end of our city. That is the next horizon.

Fioravanti moved to Newburgh with his wife and children eight years ago because he sensed something happening here, and wanted to contribute. Formerly the Director of Economic Development for Orange County, he was asked to lead the IDA after a corruption scandal led to a string of departures.

He has a background in community development and is trusted to set a new agenda for the agency. As co-chair of the Strategic Economic Development Advisory Committee (SEDAC) along with Genesis Ramos, the first woman of color elected to the Orange County legislature, they work to keep vital development projects on course.

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Newburgh has had a few restarts, which have mostly ended up being false starts, he says. But people say to me, This one feels different. We have a long way to go but were not going back.

Revitalization, but for whom?

Tyler Wetherall

While ground-up development is just starting to happen here, the revitalization to date has been powered by small organizations and passionate individuals. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh and Safe Harbors of the Hudson have done enormous work, building and restoring houses, promoting equitable home ownership, and creating safe community gathering places and social events.

Safe Harbors restored the old Hotel Newburgh into a model for supportive housing with artists studios, a popular coffee shop, and Grit Works, a co-working space. Outside, an empty corner lot was transformed into a thriving park and live music venue.

Individuals have moved the needle, too. Michael Gabor, who arrived in the city in the 1980s, runs the only art supply store between New York City and New Paltz with his partner Gerardo Castro. It grew into a hub for the local arts community, along with the annual art event they founded in 2010, Newburgh Open Studios.

Thomas Wright and Joseph Fratesi of high-end furniture makers, Atlas Industries, moved their studio from Brooklyn to a 55,000-square-foot warehouse in Newburgh in 2012, leasing the surplus space. Its now home to 45 other small creative businesses, including a gallery and pottery studio. Each year, Newburgh Illuminated Festival, created by former mayor Judy Kennedy, shines a light on Newburgh as a culturally rich and diverse city, bringing in thousands of visitors.

While trendy bistros and boutiques point toward gentrification, real change comes from local grassroots organizations like Newburgh Food not Bombs, which addresses food insecurity, and M.A.R.C.S. Friends, which provides a safe space for adults and at-risk youth who have experienced trauma.

Ahmad Free-Cohen, a 23-year-old activist and youth leader, cofounded Melanin Unchained in the wake of the racial justice protests of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

We knew there was a lot more to be done other than protesting and we wanted to start with our city, he says. "We focus on financial literacy, equitable education, environmental justice, civic engagement, and also try to tap into mental health and wellness. The group hosts clothing drives, street clean-ups, open mic nights, after-school programs, and wellness circles.

Tyler Wetherall

For Free-Cohen, the priority is delivering more resources for young people, and better coordinating the resources that are available. Hes ambivalent of some of the new developments.

Its not like the developers know the community, he says. A lot of times the apartments they build are overpriced and the people who live in the community cant afford them. Youre bringing housing, but not housing thats affordable for all.

Those same developments, others argue, provide much-needed revenue for a city which lacks a tax base, thanks to a surfeit of non-taxable state and federal buildings, abandoned lots, and churches.

We need your young, cool Brooklynites buying a $900,000 two-bedroom to pay taxes for our entire community, so the Honduran family on Mill Street have a city with police, and fire, and sidewalks, and light, and a safe beautiful park to play in, Ernenwine says. Im trying to get rich people in this place to pay taxes so the rest of us can live well.

Ultimately, the FSH hotel is projected to create more than 80 jobs, generate $1.3 million in sales and hotel taxes annually, and plans to partner with SUNY Orange to serve as a regional training center, skilling up future generations for work in the expanding hospitality industry.

These are the right people and the right project, Fioravanti says of the Fosters and their plans. Gentrification happens naturally due to market forces  those are real fears. However, we have an obligation to try to counteract that. To me, it starts with an attitude, and this city definitely has that attitude in both its residents and in its leadership.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to a co-working space as Wireworks. It is called BEAHIVE. We regret the error.
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ALBANY  For the first time in city history the majority of the members of the citys Common Council are people of color.

Nine of the councils 15 members are Black or Hispanic. The addition of two more members in the city's most recent elections who come from minority backgrounds gives even more weight to the councils burgeoning Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus, which was formed last year.

As the new council ramps up its legislative agenda, it is also a council that is younger and more progressive than its predecessor.

I think this council will be one of the most progressive Common Councils and what I mean by progressive is well take issues and follow through on issues throughout our city, said Fifth Ward Councilman Jahmel Robinson. Were going to be looking at things through a different lens.

Last year saw five council members step aside, including its two longest-tenured members, Richard Conti and Joseph Igoe. Both men had served more than two decades.

Now the longest-serving members are Councilman Kelly Kimbrough, who represents the Fourth Ward, and Councilman Jack Flynn, who represents the Eighth Ward. The two men were elected to the council in 2013. Another eight members are entering their second term. Common Council President Corey Ellis, also in his second term as council president, also previously served on the council beginning in 2006.

The addition of Sixth Ward Councilwoman Gabriella Romero and Seventh Ward Councilman Sergio Adams brought the number of people of color on the council to nine. The other Black and Hispanic members are Kimbrough, Robinson, Sonia Frederick (Ward 1), Derek Johnson (Ward 2), Joyce Love (Ward 3), Owusu Anane (Ward 10) and Alfredo Balarin (Ward 11).

The city did not have a person of color on the council until Marvin Tanksley was appointed in 1969. The city didn't see a Black resident elected to citywide office until Carolyn McLauglin became Common Council president four decades later. Ellis, who is also Black, was elected to the leadership position in 2017 after serving on the council from 2006-2009.

Today, roughly 29 percent of the citys population is Black and 10 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census data.

It shows our city as a whole is changing, Ellis said. People of color traditionally only won in majority-minority districts, but we have council members who represent districts where the majority of the people in their district arent Black or brown."

Over the next four years, the council is expected to take on issues around affordable housing, police reform, long-standing social inequities, recreational marijuana legalization and stronger oversight of the mayors office.

The first few battles are on the horizon.

Members have already introduced legislation that would increase the percentage of required affordable housing units in new developments, mandate the city increase the percentage of women- and minority-owned contractors with which it does business and overhaul the citys approach to policing and public safety. The council is also likely to discuss follow-ups on the city's police reform plan it approved last year.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Eleventh Ward Councilman Balarin, who has pushed for more affordable housing in the city, said increasing the number of affordable units for new developments would be a way for the council to ensure that as the city grows, everyone is able to take part in that growth while minimizing gentrification.

One dominant theme will be the citys economic recovery and use of its $80.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds. Mayor Kathy Sheehan set aside $25 million for community projects.

The city has another roughly $29 million in ARP funding that hasnt been publicly set aside for a specific purpose. Last year the council passed legislation giving it more say in how that money will be spent. That change came after Sheehans office said that because the funds werent in the budget, the council could be consulted but did not have direct oversight of the money.

Several council members said they will push for the council to be a strong check and balance on Sheehans office. But all of them said they did not view the stance as creating a purposefully adversarial relationship with Sheehan, but rather as carrying out the councils responsibility as the citys legislative branch.

Its not my intention to have a contentious relationship, nor is it the councils but we want to be heard and we want to be part of the process, Kimbrough said.

In a Democrat-dominated city, much of the councils agenda will likely pass in some form. Members new and experienced said that with the majority of members being either Black or Hispanic, a key difference will be the lens through which members approach some of those issues.

I think equity is the guiding lens and I think were all coming from that perspective, Kimbrough said. If we raise everyone up, it will make a difference and I think we need that, its gotta happen.
FORT EDWARD  Traffic jams on back country roads are not typical.

This year, though, on the quiet lanes and byways of Washington County, there have been backups. Convoys of vehicles have spontaneously blocked passage as drivers fix their gaze skyward hoping to view an unusual sight  snowy owls that are roosting and hunting in patches of protected tall grass just south of the county seat.

Keith Swensen, the board president of the Grassland Bird Trust, said the snowys, as they are affectionately referred to, have wintered there for years. Yet the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of state Department of Environmental Conservation protected grasslands have increased the flock of birds  and therefore birders as well.

There has been a big uptick in people getting outside and more people are aware of whats in this area, Swenson said. If you want to see something spectacular, theres nothing more spectacular than a snowy owl.

From three viewing areas in Fort Edward  the Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area on County Road 42, the Washington County Grasslands Wildlife Management Area on Blackhouse Road and the Little Theater on the Farm on Plum Road  the snowys can be seen in the grass, roosting on rooftops and telephone poles or soaring to the ground to capture mice or voles.

While the best time to spot a snowy is just a few hours before sunset, Swensen said, many watchers were already out searching the skies with binoculars and long camera lens around midday on Monday.

Robert Reese of Mechanicville was among them. He was pulled over on the side of the state Route 4, not to see a snowy, but to observe a trio of red-tailed hawks swirling the sky.

Thats unusual, he said as he trained his Nikon camera on the raptors that he said usually circle in pairs. I dont know what they are doing. They do that when mating, but that's two, not three."

He said hes been coming up to Fort Edward for two winter seasons after he learned about the protected area. On his visits, he grabbed some impressive photos of all the birds, including a snowy owl, and was headed to the viewing area in hopes of getting some more.

This enthusiasm, Swensen said, is good because for the past 40 years habitat for grassland birds  those that live and eat off the wide-open spaces  has diminished. Their habitat has been lost to development and cultivation.

The problem, said Samantha Carouso-Peck, the executive director of the Grassland Bird Trust, is that many birds like the snowy owl nest in fields  making it impossible to protect owlets if they are able to hatch.

She said the current fascination with owls, including by those who celebrate what has been called Superb Owl Sunday instead of the Super Bowl, should help. Still, she said, for many birders, the snowy remains elusive.

They are very particular about where they will hang out, how much noise they will tolerate and how many neighbors they will tolerate," she said. "They are the most paranoid, high-strung and twitchy raptors. They have adapted to be very cautious. If you nest out there in the wide-open you have to be.

Thus the challenge of finding them remains.

One Malta birder, who didnt want to be identified, had a good tip.

"If there are a lot of cars off the road, there is something there, he said. Probably a snowy.
Bethany Bump / Times Union

COLONIE  A 33-year-old Albany man initially charged with assaulting his 82-year-old grandfather last week is facing even more serious offenses now that the man has died of his injuries, according to Colonie police.

Nicholas Pantoni is currently being held at the Albany County jail as police and prosecutors from the Albany County District Attorneys Office consider upgrading his first-degree assault charge.
ALBANY  A new bill introduced in the state Senate this month seeks to cut down on the red tape doctors face with insurance companies when attempting to prescribe certain treatments and therapies to their patients.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Neil Breslin, would establish a Gold Card program requiring health insurers to exempt providers from prior authorization requirements  a process that involves obtaining approval from a patients health plan for certain treatments, tests and medical services before they will agree to cover them.

Providers who win coverage approval at least 90 percent of the time over a six-month period for specific health treatments would qualify for a Gold Star exemption, according to the proposed law.

Many studies have detailed the growing hassles faced by health care providers in their efforts to provide care to their patients ... while this management tool can certainly be appropriate in some cases, it is often imposed beyond what is necessary, a justification attached to the bill reads.

The proposed legislation would reward doctors with proven track records, supporters say. It's modeled after a first-in-the-nation law enacted last year in Texas. More than a dozen national health care organizations, including the American Medical Association, issued a joint document in 2018 endorsing the establishment of a Gold Star program and other prior authorization reforms as doctors face an ever-growing number of administrative duties they say takes time from patients.

The AMA urged individual state Legislatures to pass prior authorization reforms, including Gold Star programs, in an attempt to build momentum for nationwide reforms.

The Medical Society of the State of New York issued a statement last week endorsing the New York bill, which does not yet have a companion bill in the Assembly.



MSSNY is grateful to Sen. Breslin for his leadership and support on this important issue, said MSSNY President Dr. Joseph Sellers. The bill is a new and important part of our ongoing advocacy efforts to confront excessive prior authorization requirements that interfere with patient care delivery and access to the most effective treatments.

Health insurance companies have defended prior authorization requirements, arguing they help to control costs while preventing unnecessary medical treatments that dont follow evidence-based practices.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

It goes to mandating how health plans operate and setting in statute a standard that may not be based on evidence and may not follow best practices, said Leslie Moran, senior vice president of the New York Health Plan Association, which represents plans around the state.

New York has laws on the books that require insurers to make a decision on prior authorization requests within three business days, she said, adding that a number of health plans have programs in place already to eliminate this step for patients who routinely get certain care covered, she said.

But health care providers say prior authorizations have gotten out of control.

Earlier this year, the American Medical Association released a new survey which found that 93 percent of physicians reported treatment delays while waiting for insurers to authorize necessary care. Another 82 percent said patients abandoned treatment because of authorization struggles with health insurers, and 51 percent said the process had interfered with a patients job duties.

Just over one-third of physicians said the time-consuming process led to a serious adverse event such as hospitalization, disability or even death for a patient in their care.
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COHOES  The city of Cohoes isnt the only one looking to buy and repurpose the Saratoga Sites housing complex.

The Norlite aggregate and hazardous waste incineration facility next door also wants to purchase the parcel, saying the company would turn it into a research and training center for the waste handling industry.

That prospect, while helping resolve dust complaints by neighbors, has environmentalists worried. Rather than seeing Norlite get an enlarged footprint in the city, they would rather see the plant halt its incineration or close entirely.

Discussion concerning the future of Saratoga Sites, which is adjacent to Norlite, went into high gear earlier this month when Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler wrote to the citys housing authority, which operates the affordable housing complex, saying the city wants to buy and raze the site, turning into an industrial lot.

Keeler said the city would pay the more than $600,000 for acquiring the site and tearing down the buildings, which are home to about 70 families.

It is the intent of the city of Cohoes to purchase the Saratoga Sites property in conjunction with the relocation of residents away from the shadows of the Norlite hazardous waste facility, Keeler said in his letter.

Tradebe, Norlites Spanish-based parent company, now also says it is also looking to buy the site. They said in a letter to Cohoes Housing Authority Executive Director Matthew Ethier that they would pay $45,000 over the propertys appraised value, once the tenants were moved out, and bear the cost of demolition. A May 2021 appraisal pegged the sites value at $33,800 but noted that demolition and backfilling costs would run $626,200.

We hope you will accept this offer, and we are happy to collaborate with the city wrote Victor Creixell De Villalonga, Tradebes global CEO. He noted his response came after the housing authority asked them to make a proposal for the site.

Others, though, worry about a possible expansion of the facility and would like to see it greatly curtailed or closed.

We understand that Norlite is interested in purchasing the Saratoga Sites property. We strongly urge that this property not be sold to Norlite for expansion. The rich irony would be a company causing major pollution problems resulting in neighbors being forced to leave their homes, only to have that very company benefit from driving the people away, Joe Ritchie wrote to Pascale on Monday.



Ritchie, a college student and resident of the complex, belongs to Saratoga Sites Against Norlite Emissions, which has highlighted and opposed what they say are harmful dust and other emissions from the rock piles and smokestacks at the site.

The people of Cohoes are not their guinea pigs. Norlite needs to stop burning hazardous waste, added Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator and current Norlite critic.

Norlite has operated in Cohoes for decades, mining the shale rock on the site and processing it into aggregate, a concrete-like material used in construction and road-building. The aggregate is processed in two kilns which are fueled by hazardous waste the company accepts from across the Northeast. Solvents, spent fuel and other materials are trucked to site and incinerated at high temperatures.

While long a part of Cohoes skyline, the operation drew new attention in 2018 with revelations that the company had been burning potentially hazardous and carcinogenic PFAS compounds that were in tanks of old firefighting foam Norlite picked up and incinerated both from fire departments and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

PFAS, or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were used in the foam due to their durability and resistance to flames. It was legal to incinerate these substances until 2020 when state lawmakers essentially banned the practice.

As well as worries about PFAS, neighbors and environmentalists also pointed to the quartz silicate dust that emanates from the rock or aggregate piles.

Similar to microscopic shards of glass, the dust can be a lung irritant. While Norlite has installed water cannons to control the dust and cover some of the piles, complaints have continued.

On Feb. 7 the state Department of Environmental Conservation issued a notice of violation to Norlite and ordered the company to develop a plan within 60 days to control the fugitive dust coming from the property. The company could face fines up to $22,500 per day if the dust continues.

The agency is also requiring Norlite to install off-site monitoring equipment, increase dust recording and prevention training as well as conduct daily observations for dust at Saratoga Sites.

Norlite spokesman Bill Callen said the companys proposals include erection of dust screens and planting of additional trees on the boundary between Norlite and Saratoga Sites.

We are also taking steps to reduce the height of aggregate piles on our property by as much as 40 percent. While the piles are not a source of dust, they have been a source of concern to community leaders, Callen said in an email.

Despite what happens with dust mitigation, Saratoga Sites tenants wont likely leave before the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development allows the subsidized complex to be vacated. And the Cohoes Housing Authority needs a buyer for that to occur, said Mark Pascale, chairman of the Authority.

We just need to show HUD that we have a buyer, said Pascale.
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CLIFTON PARK  Llenroc has sold again, for not much more than its last purchase price 13 years ago.

The castle-like mansion overlooking the Mohawk River sold for $1.9 million on Jan. 14, with the buyer taking out a $2 million mortgage. The deed and mortgage paperwork were filed in Saratoga County last week.

The mansion, built decades ago by the late insurance magnate Al Lawrence, has been described as having a glass elevator, an indoor pool shaped like a sailboat, 15 fireplaces, a helicopter pad and ceilings gilded in 24-karat gold. There are fountains, an underground garage, and 12 acres of space.

But its not clear if such amenities are still in good shape. During the long court case involving an undocumented servant working at the mansion, an attorney said the pool had no water and that the family was struggling financially after the main breadwinner died in a plane crash.

The person taking out the mortgage for 708 Riverview Road was Frank Baldwin, president of Schloss Sehnsucht Inc. The address listed for the corporation is an H&R Block tax office in Sheridan, Wyo. The address was also listed in Wyoming as the business address for an LLC set up by Cloud Peak Law Group.

It is not the first time the building has been purchased through a corporation.

In 2009, the Kolath family purchased Llenroc for $1.87 million under the name Power Angels LLC. Annie Kolath, as president of Power Angels, signed the sale contract to Schloss Sehnsucht Inc.

Kolath, also known as Annie George, lived at the home with her family and was accused of keeping an undocumented immigrant as a worker. In 2013, she was sentenced to eight months of home detention at Llenroc and five years probation for harboring an illegal alien.

She was also ordered to surrender the mansion to the federal government. However, her attorney said at the time that he would work out a settlement that would allow her to pay a fine and continue to live at the mansion. Also, he noted she technically did not own the mansion: It was owned by the Power Angels corporation, created after Mathai Kolath Georges death. The corporation is made up of members of the George family, and although George is the president, she is a minority shareholder.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Federal prosecutors said George's ex-servant, Valsamma Mathai, 49, worked illegal 17-hour shifts with no time off and no sick leave in three homes for the family, including the Llenroc mansion, where Mathai slept in a closet. Koloth testified in court that she had no control over household decisions and that her husband abused her, sending her to a hospital three times. But the prosecution also played recordings of phone calls in which she acknowledged that she knew it was illegal to employ Mathai.

Georges husband died in 2009 with the couples eldest son, age 11, when their private plane crashed into the Mohawk River shortly after takeoff from the Schenectady County Airport. The couple have five other children.

The mansion was originally built for Lawrence, who modeled it after the campus center at Cornell University, his alma mater.

He led Lawrence Group Inc., a Schenectady-based company of insurers and underwriters. He ended up filing for bankruptcy protection in 1997 and lost the mansion to foreclosure. In 2000, Lawrence was sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement, fraud and tax evasion. He died in prison in 2002.
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SCHENECTADY  A key park in Hamilton Hill is slated to see its most significant upgrades in years.

The planned upgrades to Jerry Burrell Park include a new plaza, resurfaced basketball courts, new bleachers and improved seating areas.

The parks signature mushroom fountain will be ripped out and a splash pad installed in its place.

Conceptual plans also call for more trees and foliage.

City planners and the landscape architects tasked with the redesign said theyve enlisted over 150 neighborhood kids and adults in outreach efforts, conversations that yielded a roadmap for the improvements.

Those sessions also revealed park users disliked the number of chain-link fences dotting the property.

We call it the prison yard special, one user told city officials, as noted in planning documents.

Other respondents called for more lighting to dissuade the drinking and drug use that discourages them from utilizing the space.

The current price tag is roughly $500,000. The city received approximately a $200,000 state grant and Schenectady County has offered the same amount as a match, which the City Council approved last week.

The batch of upgrades is long in the making, said City Council President Marion Porterfield. The YMCA assembled a major proposal in 2017, she said, but the effort fell apart when funding failed to materialize.

The park plays a key role in the community, Porterfield said, and is one of few green spaces in the neighborhood, which is among the citys most resource-challenged.

Its named for Jerry Leon Burrell, a local artist who died in 1978 at the age of 36 from a burst appendix.

Prior to his death, Burrell went to the hospital emergency room several days in a row complaining of stomach pain, according to the Hamilton Hill Arts Center. Each time he was sent home with the assumption that he was a drug addict.

Jerry Burrell means a lot to the community, Porterfield said. Its served a lot of purposes to the community and it means a lot to have the renovations done.

The city started replacing the sidewalks around the perimeter last year.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Discussions for how to fund approximately $100,000 in lighting improvements are ongoing, with lawmakers attempting to determine the best funding source, including whether federal relief funds can be utilized.

City Mayor Gary McCarthy said dipping into American Rescue Plan Act funding is the best bet.

Construction costs have been skyrocketing due to pandemic-related factors, which has waylaid both projects in the private and public sector.

McCarthy, who made bolstering the citys ailing infrastructure a centerpiece of his State of the City address last month, said hes mindful of those dynamics.

I dont want to cut back on the scope of the project, McCarthy said.

Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association President Marva Isaacs backs the improvements. Enhanced lighting is needed for security and to protect the investments, she said. Isaacs also called for a curfew to discourage illicit uses.

City officials hope to start construction by this spring.
The shooting of Jordan Young was a failure of our mental health care system.

On January 24, Young, a 32 year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was shot three times by an Albany police officer while apparently charging at him with a knife. Today he lies in a hospital bed, faced with an uncertain future. His familys lives are changed forever, and we as a community are again faced with the ugly reality of the relationship between police and the Black community.

After watching the body cam video, I have questions about just what happened. Why was Young stopped while walking his dog? Could anything have been done to de-escalate the situation before it was too late?

But I want to step back and look at a longer timeline, one which I believe shows that Young was in a state of crisis in the time period running up to his shooting and was not provided with the help he needed. His shooting at the hands of the police is evidence of a complete failure of our communitys mental health and crisis response services.

On January 14th, Young was arrested after allegedly pointing a pistol-shaped lighter at someone. While in police custody, his family alleges, he was beaten. The police acknowledge that he suffered an injury to his face while in their custody.

Ten days later came the tragic events of January 24th.

When I think about how much suffering and trauma came out of this, I have to believe that we as a society are responsible for failing Jordan Young.

Young was in a crisis that few of us can even imagine, and what was done to help him? Was a psychiatrist in touch with him? Did he have adequate medication? Did he have a social worker? Was in-patient treatment available to him if he needed it? Could he have received necessary services by being diverted through the LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program instead of being arrested on January 14th?

I also wonder whether mental health first responders could have made a difference on the night of the 24th.

Albanys Community Police Review Board is empowered to investigate the details of the Albany Police Departments interactions with Young. If any misconduct is found, it should be dealt with accordingly. This is why Albany residents overwhelmingly voted to give the CPRB oversight power this past November. Knowing that we now have a fair and independent investigation process should bring assurance to the public.

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But when these questions have all been answered, we are still left with the fact that this was a man with severe mental health issues who needed help, and instead of getting help, he ended up shot by the police.

Police reform and mental health services go hand in hand. We live in a profoundly unequal society, where adequate health care is kept out of reach if you dont have enough money to pay for it. This is a failure of public policy, and we have the power to change it.

Implementing programs where mental health professionals respond to emergency calls, investing in mental health services, and making health care reforms to ensure everyone has care  regardless of their ability to pay  will make a significant difference. If we do not take these actions, more people will see the same fate as Jordan Young. The choice is ours.

Sam Fein is an Albany County legislator representing the Sixth District, comprising part of Albanys South End and Arbor Hill neighborhoods.
(The Center Square)  Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff wants the state Supreme Court to toss out newly created state House and Senate districts, and to require the 2022 election to be conducted under 2012 maps.

Benninghoff submitted a petition for review to the Supreme Court that alleges maps adopted by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission violate the state and federal constitutions by prioritizing race and political affiliations over traditional redistricting criteria.

Benninghoff was the lone member of the commission to vote against the final maps on Feb. 4 after members voted down an amendment to the final House map he said would reduce population deviations, remove municipal splits in several cities, and increase minority voting power.

Several House districts in the 2021 Final Plan were drawn predominantly based upon race without a narrowly tailored compelling state interest in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 29 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the petition reads. The 2021 Final Plan thus unnecessarily subjects itself to liability for racial gerrymandering claims.

The 282-page petition claims several aspects of the final plan are designed to give Democrats an advantage, including unnecessary splits, reallocating prisoners to their pre-incarceration residences, and excessive population deviations.

The four-member commission is comprised of House and Senate majority and minority leaders, and Mark Nordenberg, the former chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh who was appointed chairman by the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court. Republicans in the General Assembly have accused Nordenberg of conspiring with Democrats on the committee to gerrymander districts in their favor.

In his petition, Benninghoff points to 50,000 computer simulated plans of House districts drawn using only constitutional criteria with no partisan or racial data that demonstrate the political bias in the map.

The 50,000 simulated plans are consistent with the 2021 Final Plan in terms of population deviation, county and municipal splits, contiguity, and compactness, according to the petition. However, unbiased simulations reflect that the 2021 Final Plan generates more Democratic-leaning districts than 99.998% of the simulated maps.

The most common outcome in the simulations is 97 Democratic seats, yet the 2021 Final Plan is predicted to result in 107 Democratic seats using an index of 2012-2020 elections. This is a statistically significant finding demonstrating that the dramatically large number of Democratic-leaning districts in the plan cannot be explained by adherence to the constitutional redistricting criteria set forth in Article II, Section 16 of the constitution.

Benninghoff is asking the Supreme Court to remand the 2021 Final Plan to the commission with a directive to make several changes to: eliminate unnecessary splits, reduce total population deviation in both the House and Senate maps, redraw legislative districts without race as the predominant factor, and to ensure the plan doesnt subordinate traditional redistricting criteria for partisan gain.

The petition also asks the high court to issue an order that because the commission failed to timely adopt a reapportionment plan that meets the requirements of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the 2022 elections for the Pennsylvania General Assembly must occur under the districts adopted in 2012.

The plan at issue is an extreme partisan gerrymander: It has splits that are not absolutely necessary, it has an excessive population deviation that violates one person, one vote, and is an inappropriate and illegal racial gerrymander, Benninghoff said in a statement. It is clear the only way to remedy these obvious flaws now is for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to send this plan back to the drawing board.

The Supreme Court ordered all petitions, briefs and challenges to the Legislative Reapportionment Commissions final plan to be submitted by March 7, and is giving the commission until March 11 to respond. The order states petitions for review will be decided on submitted briefs rather than oral arguments.
The UK and EU have reiterated their determination to find durable solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol after a meeting on the contentious trading arrangements ended without a breakthrough.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic issued a joint statement after taking stock of progress in negotiations to reduce red tape associated with the disputed Irish Sea trade rules.

Yesterday (Monday February 21), Ms Truss and Mr Sefcovic jointly chaired an EU/UK committee on the implementation of the protocol.

Afterwards, Mr Sefcovic said intensified negotiations over recent months to find an agreed settlement had so far resulted in neither a breakthrough nor a breakdown.

Co-Chaired Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee Meeting with @MarosSefcovic on the relationship. Read our joint statement https://t.co/V2qTLJ0oka pic.twitter.com/DdmZ5DWpcj  Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 21, 2022

Mr Sefcovic, who described his relationship with Ms Truss as positive, said talks would continue with a laser focus on practical solutions.

Negotiations are anticipated to be more low key in the coming weeks and months, with both sides mindful of the imminent Assembly election campaign in Northern Ireland.

Asked about a deadline for progress, Mr Sefcovic told a press conference in Brussels that the EU was not in the business of setting artificial deadlines.

With Liz Truss we are determined to keep our eyes on the ball to find durable solutions for the benefit of Northern Ireland, he said.

Mr Sefcovic added: My objective remains the same  to provide Northern Ireland and all stakeholders on the ground with stability, predictability and opportunities stemming from the protocol.

Ultimately, this is the only way to protect the hard-earned gains of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions, while avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and minimising disruptions caused by Brexit without compromising the integrity of the EUs single market.

The protocol has created new economic barriers on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Agreed by the UK and EU to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, it has instead moved regulatory and customs checks to the Irish Sea, with Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market for goods. The region also applies the EU customs code at its ports.

Unionists and loyalists claim the arrangements have undermined the sovereignty of the UK, but a majority of Assembly members at Stormont support the protocol, claiming it offers Northern Ireland a degree of protection from what they portray as the negative economic consequences of Brexit.

Earlier this month, the main unionist party in the region  the DUP  withdrew its first minister from Stormonts powersharing executive in protest against the protocol  a move that effectively collapsed the administration and removed its power to take significant decisions.

With UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz, we have just concluded our ninth meeting of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee. Our joint statement https://t.co/183uPnvgFJ. pic.twitter.com/Yy44eLgG4W  Maros Sefcovic (@MarosSefcovic) February 21, 2022

The joint statement issued by the EU and UK on Monday stated: Vice president Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Truss underlined that the UK and EU share an overriding commitment to protect the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement of April 10 1998 in all its dimensions.

Vice president Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Truss took stock of the intensified and constructive talks that have taken place between them over the last months.

They underlined the ongoing determination of both parties to ensure that the outstanding issues in the context of the protocol are addressed, and durable solutions found for the benefit of citizens, businesses and stability in Northern Ireland.

The joint statement continued: In addition, vice president Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Truss reiterated the importance of further engagement, including with the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, and wider Northern Ireland civic society and business.

Vice president Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Truss noted that the joint bodies established by the Withdrawal Agreement should meet regularly, and agreed to discuss any point raised by the EU or the UK that is of relevance to the Withdrawal Agreement in general.
The Irish government has 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.

The Ukraine crisis escalated on Monday when Mr Putin announced he would recognise the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

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

In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel said Moscows move was a blatant violation of international law.

They said the EU would react with sanctions as they reiterated support for Ukraine.

The UK and US have also announced that they will impose new sanctions.

In a tweet on Monday night, Micheal Martin said: 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.

Irelands support for Ukraines sovereignty & territorial integrity is unwavering.The decision by Russia to recognise the areas of Donetsk & Luhansk contravenes international law. Ireland supports a clear, united & strong EU response, including sanctions. pic.twitter.com/5QOy9d2kU5  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 21, 2022

Commenting on the latest developments, Simon Coveney said: Irelands support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path is unwavering.

The decision by the Russian Federation to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities contravenes international law, is a blatant violation of Ukraines territorial integrity, and marks a clear and unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements.

Ireland supports a clear and strong EU response, including additional sanctions measures.
The German Chancellor has said that the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas project cannot go ahead, following the latest Russian action in Ukraine.

His comments come after Moscow ordered troops into two breakaway regions in the east of the country, allegedly to carry out peacekeeping duties.

During a press conference today (Tuesday February 22) with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Taoiseach - who called Germany and Ireland "old and close friends" in a Tweet - urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to de-escalate the situation.

He said, "The announcement by President Putin yesterday that Russia was recognising the separatist regions in Ukraine crosses a line  it is a flagrant violation of international law and a breach of Ukraines sovereignty."

It breaches the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, under which all members must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

Great pleasure to be in Berlin to meet @OlafScholz. Ireland and Germany are old and close friends, working together on the collective challenges facing the EU. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine, and the EU response will be robust. pic.twitter.com/8ffSdXPewq  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 22, 2022

During the press conference, Chancellor Scholz confirmed he had asked German officials to halt the review process for the major gas pipeline project, stating, "The situation we find ourselves in today is a completely different one."

He said intervention would mean no certification process would be possible for the controversial energy project.

That sounds technical, but it is the necessary administrative step so there can be no certification of the pipeline and without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot begin operating.

According to Mr Scholz, the EU had been for several weeks preparing its response in the event of Russia escalation.

He said that over the course of the day, the EU would conclude sanctions and that the bloc could be trusted to act quickly.

We have prepared for this moment very carefully, he told reporters in Berlin.

He also praised the Ukrainian leadership for not letting the country be provoked into war.

The Taoiseach said, "As I have said, together with our EU partners, Ireland stands in solidarity with Ukraine. The Chancellor and I discussed the EUs response  which will be robust.

I again call on Russia to de-escalate, and to withdraw its military forces from the Ukrainian border.
In 2020 amid a historic pandemic and racially charged violence erupting throughout the nation, Kansas City suffered more murders than at any other time in our history.

Now . . .

KANSAS CITY NOW SUFFERS HOMICIDES AT A RECORD BREAKING PACE DESPITE DECLINE OF COVID!!!

There's nobody left to blame but ourselves . . .

Prez Trump is out of office.

BILLIONS in stimmy have been awarded.

And Mayor Q is now attempting to walk a tightrope in pushing for higher police salaries whilst trying to loot the KCPD budget.

Yet, all of this context is prologue as we notice the body count quickly adding up despite so much political intrigue.

This is the 3rd homicide in KCMO is less than 48 hours.

As of this writing, this murder pushes us past numbers reported at this date in 2020.



Here's the report . . .



Homicide Investigation - Victim Dropped off at St. Luke's

This afternoon about 12:50pm officers were dispatched to St Luke's (Plaza) Hospital on an injured victim that was brought to the hospital by private vehicle. The victim was initially thought to be shot based on information provided by the driver. However during the course of medical treatment there was not a conclusive diagnosis of the cause of the injuries.



A short time later the victim was declared deceased by medical staff. The location where the driver picked up the victim is still being investigated by detectives with the help of the driver. The location where the victim was injured is still under investigation at this time as well.



The deceased victim is a juvenile teen male. Detectives are working at this time to identify the victim and contact next of kin to get a better idea of the location and what the victim was doing prior to being injured. Detectives will further be working with the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.



There is not a lot known at this time but detectives are working hard to gather information. If anyone has any information they think might be helpful they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

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This quote from a community leader is worthwhile inasmuch as it contains a great deal of data about the current violence spike . . .



"We are currently on the trajectory of 2020," AdHoc Group Against Crime's Chief Operating Officer Branden Mims said. "I've been talking about this. You're talking about 49 plus non-fatal shootings in January and February. We had 42 non-fatal shootings alone in January, and when we say non-fatals, we're talking about those individuals who are here but did not pass away. The only difference between a non-fatal shooting and a homicide is how close you were to the hospital."



"Mims said the city needs more social services, more community investment, and more people lifted out of poverty."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

'We're on the trajectory of 2020,' community leader warns of KC gun violence Kansas City, Mo. - A local community leader is speaking out after two people were killed at Linwood and Agnes early Monday morning. A five-year-old was also shot, but he's expected to survive. His mom is one of the people that was killed. "Absolutely heart wrenching," AdHoc Group Against Crime's Chief Operating Officer Branden Mims said.

KCPD investigating homicide after teen dies from injuries at hospital KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide after a teen was dropped off at a local hospital and ultimately died from his injuries. According to the police, officers went to the hospital at W. 43rd Street and Broadway Boulevard just before 1 p.m.

Teen dies after being dropped off at Saint Luke's Hospital KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A teen died in Kansas City, Missouri, after being dropped off at a Saint Luke's Hospital on Monday afternoon. According to KCPD public information officer Jake Becchina, investigators are still working to determine how the teen died. At around 12:50 p.m.

Kansas City police investigate teen's death Monday afternoon SOURCE: KMBC Kansas City police are investigating the death of a teenage boy Monday afternoon.Police said the teen was taken to Saint Luke's Hospital on the Plaza by private vehicle. The victim died a short time later.The cause of death is under investigation.Authorities said the location where the driver picked up the victim is still being investigated by detectives with the help of the driver.

Developing . . .
The violence in this town is now at a record breaking pace . . . Meanwhile, our elected leaders don't seem to be taking much notice or sharing any concern.

In fact . . .

Amongst our elected leaders in KCMO, there's far more interest in new efforts to raid the police budget this year and campaign for Democratic Party allies at risk of a midterm election sweep.

Here's more insight on the continued tragedy . . .



But two months into 2022, violence is tearing families apart in KCMO at the same pace it has in recent years."Were never going to arrest our way out of this, not flooding the streets with more police officers," Branden Mims, the chief operating officer of Ad Hoc Group Against Crime said. "We need a from the ground up response, we need to tackle poverty, we need some societal changes that have created these environments where violence thrives."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Triple shooting wounds child, brings attention to need for anti-violence solutions KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A five-year-old boy injured in a triple shooting early Monday morning in Kansas City, Missouri, has been released from the hospital, according to family. It comes as homicide detectives are working to find the person who fired the weapon that killed his mother and her boyfriend.

Family, friends seek justice for KC mother killed in apartment with children nearby KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nearly one month ago, a Kansas City mother was killed in her own apartment with her children nearby. Police are searching for answers and her family wants to understand why. Jenna Nava, 35, was extremely loved and her family and friends say she loved them right back.

Developing . . .
Don't worry . . . None of this will ever happen.

In fact, most of the politicos offering their "enthusiastic support" didn't even bother to show up to the kick-off.

To be fair, if/when KC switches to electric buses . . . Which would be a good thing . . . The change will be gradual and take at least a decade to complete.



Here's the presser typed up by some poor intern . . .



The Corridor will focus on sustainability and infrastructure improvements along State Avenue, Independence Avenue and Truman Road, spanning from KCK to Independence.



President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our entire region to create sustainable communities, provide greater opportunity for economic mobility, and ensure our jurisdictions have the energy efficient infrastructure necessary to remain competitive throughout the 21st century  but coordination is critical, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said in a statement.



He touted a comprehensive approach as a catalyst for economic growth and a way to support the regions Climate Action Plan.Cleaver, a Democrat who represents Kansas City, Missouri, was joined by Independence Mayor Eileen Weir, Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. and representatives from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK and the KCMO City Council were on hand for the announcement.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Federal, local tout comprehensive plan for federal infrastructure dollars Spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, government officials from both sides of the state line gathered Monday to announce the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor, which aims to bolster infrastructure along a swath of the Kansas City region from Kansas City, Kansas, to Independence.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver unveils plan for transit line from Independence to Kansas City, Kansas The Kansas City region could see connected transit lines running across the state line east to west from Independence, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas. U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, and other local officials from the Kansas City metro unveiled the plan to invest in a zero-emission transit corridor on Monday at Kansas City University, east of downtown.

Regional infrastructure project announce in KC KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Leaders come to Kansas City to announce what they call a major infrastructure project for the Kansas City region. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver will be joined by mayors and leaders from Independence, Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., and Jackson County.

KC area leaders announce proposal for 'sustainable corridor' from Independence to KCK utilizing electric buses, green infrastructure KANSAS CITY METRO (KCTV) -- Several Kansas City leaders on Monday morning announced a major proposal that would include modern sustainable transportation, including electric buses, stretching across the state line. The Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor would use federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish a stretch going from Independence, through Kansas City, MO, and into Kansas City, KS.

Metro leaders announce ambitious plan to connect Independence, Missouri, to KCK Leaders from both sides of the state line are announcing an ambitious plan to connect Independence, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas.It's part of a transit corridor set to be paid for with federal funds.

Developing . . .
Kansas City Mayor Q keeps a stellar social media profile but he's rarely seen in public with his better half.



It's not like she's a private person . . . If fact, until very recently she was a top ranking bureaucrat in The Dotte and often delivered vital information to the public.

Heck, she even has a few Internets pages dedicated to her career trajectory.



Recently, a local society mag wanted to get a pick of the power couple together for a Valentine's Day pictorial and they were SHUT DOWN by Mayor Q's team and one of his most strident supporters.

Here's the word on the QT & very hush, hush . . .



"We were treated like we asking them for a kidney or like we were spies. Asking for a photo of the mayor with his wife is pretty standard stuff for every Kansas City publication since cameras were invented. I don't understand the hostility," a local editor told TKC.



A bit more insight . . .

"We keep on hearing about how Kansas City is a great place for young, educated professionals to live and it seemed only natural to have the mayor and his family make that case in what was a totally softball piece."

"He has put his new son on Twitter and those photos are adorable. We wanted to provide more professional photography and do an extended interview with the Mayor and his wife . . . But his team gave us the cold shoulder and eventually brushed us off completely. If they don't have anything to hide . . . Why is there such secrecy?"



And that's where things get even more interesting . . .

WORD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE IS THAT THE GOAL OF 'TEAM Q' IS TO KEEP THE MAYOR'S WIFE OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT FOR THE DURATION OF HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN!!!

It's even worse than that . . .

Insiders contend that advisers to the Mayor are working to persuade "friendly" news outlets to run as many photos of him with African-American females as possible . . .

For instance . . . Some locals mistakenly believed the KCMO Mayor was dating the new STL Mayor. Whilst they recently dogged bullets together . . . The are, in fact, not romantically linked.

For the record . . .

We believe if the mayor's wife wants to stay out of public view . . . That's her prerogative. But she, in fact, remains a public figure.

And given that the Mayor recently moved out of the East side . . .

It's not unfair for locals to ask minor questions about his commitments.

Like it or not . . .

Family support is often a talking point for many politicos and Mayor Q's team choosing to treat this topic with hostility sets off alarms for local journalists.

Developing . . .


A promising but recently embattled local politicos is making progress coming back from a GMC Denali crisis and showing that he wants to engage with his constituents.

Here's a peek at the state of affairs in urban Kansas . . .



Mayor Garner said he's looking forward to personally hearing concerns from constituents in Wyandotte County.



"I'm excited about having the upcoming Mayor Tyrone Tuesdays where anybody can have a one-on-one session with me, let me know what their issues are, good, bad or indifferent. We just want to hear from the public," Mayor Garner said.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Brevard, NC (28712)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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Well the full results are in for the Trinity Masters Open Waters Swim Meet and there's a new
Over the past 24 hours, on February 21, Ukraines military reported 84 ceasefire violations on the part of the Russian-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine, including 64 involving weapons proscribed by the Minsk Agreements.

Thats according to the press service of the Joint Forces Operation, Ukrinform reports.

Russian occupation forces fired on:

Talakivka (twice), using 122 mm artillery, 120 mm and 82 mm mortars.

Pischevik  120 mm mortars.

Vodiane (five times)  122 mm artillery, 120 mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers, and large-caliber machine guns.

Krasnohorivka (twice)  122 mm artillery, 120 mm mortars, and anti-tank grenade launchers.

Memryk  152 mm artillery.

Stanytsia Luhanska (three times)  122 mm artillery, 82 mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers, and large-caliber machine guns.

Shchastia (eight times)  120 mm and 82 mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers, and large-caliber machine guns.

Lebedynske (three times)  VOG-17, dropped from a UAV, 120 mm and 82 mm mortars.

Chermalyk  82 mm mortars.

Kamianka (four times)  120 mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank machine guns, large-caliber machine guns.

Novoluhanske (three times  122 mm artillery, 120 mm mortars, and large-caliber machine guns.

Novoselivka Druha  anti-tank guided missile systems.

Twice Novoselivka  82 mm mortars, large-caliber machine guns.

Novomykhailivka (twice)  122 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars.

Lopaskyne (twice)  122 mm artillery, 82 mm mortars.

Hnutove (three times)  120 mm and 82 mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers, and small arms.

Vrubivka (twice)  152 mm artillery.

Pavlopil  easel-mounted anti-tank grenade launchers.

Zaitseve (three times)  120 mm mortars, large-caliber machine guns.

Pisky (four times)  120 mm and 82 mm mortars, anti-tank guided missile systems.

Mykolaivka  120 mm and 82 mm mortars.

Verkhniotoretske (twice)  120 mm 82 mm mortars, man-portable anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms.

Troitske  82 mm mortars.

Luhanske (twice)  120 mm mortars and easel-mounted anti-tank grenade launchers.

Lobacheve  122 mm artillery.

Starohnativka  120 mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers and automatic grenade launchers.

Hranite (twice)  122 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars.

Maryinka  120 mm mortars.

Opytne  120 mm mortars.

Shyrokyne  120 mm mortars.

Prychepylivka  82 mm mortars.

New York  82 mm mortars.

Novotoshkivske (twice)  120 mm mortars.

Svitlodarsk (twice)  120 mm and 82 mm mortars.

Maiorsk  122 mm artillery.

Noise - from 82 mm mortars.

Pivdenne  large-caliber machine guns and small arms.

Slavne  anti-tank guided missile systems.

Novohnativka (four times)  122 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars.

Nevelske  120 mm mortars.

Novotroitske (twice)  120 mm mortars.

Also, an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle, likely an Orlan-10, was spotted flying across the line of contact.

As a result of the shelling, two Ukrainian servicemen sustained shrapnel wounds incompatible with life. Twelve servicemen suffered injuries of varying severity and were evacuated to medical facilities. Six sustained other combat injuries. The Joint Forces Command expresses its sincere and deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed in enemy attacks.

Since day-start on Tuesday, February 22, Russian occupation forces have committed three ceasefire violations, two of which involved weapons banned by the Minsk agreements.

Russian occupation forces fired on:

Shchastia  using easel-mounted automatic grenade launchers.

Mariupol (twice)  122 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars.

Ukraines forces reported no casualties on Tuesday.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Estonian investors to take active part in energy, infrastructure projects and development of Ukraines IT industry.

He announced this at a joint press conference with President of Estonia Alar Karis in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

We agreed that increasing the presence of Estonian business and investments in Ukraine will contribute to strengthening Ukraines resilience, the interest in their growth is bilateral. Thus, I invite Estonian investors to take an active part in energy and infrastructure projects and the development of IT sector in Ukraine, the President said.

According to Zelensky, the parties also discussed the issue of expanding cooperation in the digital sector and cybersecurity.

We have a lot of other important promising areas for in-depth cooperation. Ukraine and Estonia have all the opportunities, and most importantly, a clear vision and desire to bring bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level. The current visit of the President [of Estonia] is a vivid confirmation of this. Thank you again for your visit, which is very important, Zelensky said.

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The Council of Europe has called on Russia to reverse the decision on the recognition of the so-called "people's republics" in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to abstain from further aggravating the situation.

That's according to a statement made by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Ukrinform reports.

"The recognition of the so-called 'people's republics' of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation is in violation of international law and represents a unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements - which remain the only basis for a settlement of the conflict in Donbas. The Council of Europe affirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," the document reads.

"We call on the Russian Federation to reverse this decision and abstain from further aggravating the situation," Pejcinovic Buric said.

"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," the statement said.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR."

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Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya has said that Ukraine is committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis created by Russia, while reminding the Kremlin that "it is not February 2014, it is February 2022. Another country. Another army."

According to Ukrinform's correspondent in New York, he stated this at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.

"Today the entire membership of the UN is under attack. Under attack by the country that occupied the membership of the Security Council in 1991 bypassing the UN Charter, the country that occupied parts of the territory of Georgia in 2008, the country that occupied parts of Ukraine in 2014," Kyslytsya said.

He said the recognition of the occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine may be considered as unilateral withdrawal by Russia from the Minsk Agreements as well as its disregard of the decisions taken in the framework of the Normandy Four. This step undermines peaceful efforts and ruins the existing negotiating frameworks, he added.

Kyslytsya noted that today Moscow's decision "legalizes" the presence of its troops, which have actually been in the occupied areas of Donbas since 2014. "A country that has fueled the war for eight years is not able to maintain peace, as it claims," he said.

He recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has sent a request on the basis of the Budapest Memorandum to the guarantors of security of Ukraine, demanding immediate consultations. Ukraine also insists on the full-fledged operations of the OSCE SMM to prevent provocations and further escalation. He expressed hope that an emergency summit of the Normandy Four would be held.

Kyslytsya stressed that everything must be done to make sure that the problem of Donbas is resolved through the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, as Russia stated itself.

Ukraine demanded that Russia cancel the decision on the recognition of "DPR/LPR" and return to the table of negotiations. It also condemned the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine, demanding the immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops, Kyslytsya said.

He noted that "the Kremlin copy-pasted word by word the decree on Georgia of 2008."

"No creativity whatsoever. The copying machine in the Kremlin works very well. Who is the next among the members of the UN?" Kyslytsya said.

Early on Tuesday, the UN Security Council convened an extraordinary meeting to discuss the latest developments related to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

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Russia's unilateral attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity is a gross violation of international law and justifies a package of severe sanctions by the European Union.

According to Ukrinform, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola spoke out via Twitter on Tuesday, February 22.

"The unilateral attack on the territorial integrity of #Ukraine and the gross violation of international law by Russia justifies new, severe, sanctions. We will not leave the Ukrainian people to their aggressors. The position of the European Parliament is clear: We are with Ukraine," said Roberta Metsola.

As reported earlier, on February 21, the President of Russia signed decrees recognizing the independence of the two self-proclaimed entities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The agreements concluded between these quasi-republics and Russia provide for military assistance to the said entities. Russia has thus openly acknowledged its military presence in the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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Slovenia considers Russia's recognition of two self-proclaimed entities in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to be a blatant violation of international law and believes that the European Union has to offer Ukraine a membership perspective.

Russias recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Republic of Slovenia condemns this illegal move. The EU has to offer Ukraine a full membership perspective, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Jansa posted on Twitter.

Minister of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia Matej Tonin, wrote on Twitter that "Russia's actions move away from peace."

As reported, on February 21, the president of the Russian Federation signed decrees to "recognize" two self-proclaimed entities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

Addressing Ukrainians, President Zelensky said that Ukraine unequivocally qualified the latest actions by the Russian Federation as a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state. All responsibility for the consequences of these decisions rests with Russia.

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Ireland believes that Russia's decision to recognize the independence of "LPR/DPR" is a blatant violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and supports additional sanctions against Russia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Simon Coveney, said this in a statement posted on his Twitter account, Ukrinform reports.

"The decision by the Russian Federation to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities contravenes international law, is a blatant violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and marks a clear and unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements," Coveney said.

He stressed that Ireland's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path is unwavering.

"Ireland supports a clear and strong EU response, including additional sanctions measures," he said.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir signed decrees recognizing two self-proclaimed entities in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Putin also instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to "ensure that the Russian armed forces carry out peacekeeping functions in the DPR and LPR."

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said Putin's decision was an act of aggression and required immediate consideration by the UN Security Council.

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By its decision to recognize the independence of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR," Russia creates a legal basis for further armed aggression against Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a joint press conference with President of Estonia Alar Karis, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"This is a new act of aggression against Ukraine, which requires an immediate decisive response from international partners, the international community. I believe that by its decision, the Russian Federation creates a legal basis for further armed aggression against the state of Ukraine, violating all possible bilateral and multilateral obligations, the UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine of February 17, 2015," Zelensky said.

According to him, the escalation by Russia is an unprecedented challenge not only for Ukraine but also for Europe and the world as a whole.

As Ukrinform reported, on February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of two self-proclaimed entities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Estonia Alar Karis have issued a joint statement following their meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 22, according to the Ukrainian Presidents Office.

In the joint statement, the two leaders called on the Russian Federation to stop destabilizing the security situation, withdraw its armed forces from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and from the Ukrainian border.

The parties call on the Russian Federation to choose the path of diplomacy, to take urgent steps to de-escalate and stop the destabilization of the security situation in and around Ukraine, in particular to withdraw its armed forces from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and from the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border, the document says.

The presidents strongly condemn the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, launched in 2014, as well as the aggressive rhetoric, ultimatums and threats of force by the Russian Federation.

The parties also firmly reject the provocations and attempts of the Russian Federation to aggravate the already tense security situation.

The parties state that Russia's recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics affirms a conscious unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements and is a clear violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the most serious blow to the political-diplomatic settlement, which Ukraine and its partners are actively working to promote, the document says.

It is stressed that the Republic of Estonia reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

As reported, President of Estonia Alar Karis is on an official visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, February 22.

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Russia has now moved from covert attempts to destabilize Ukraine, to overt military action, creating the most dangerous crisis in European security for a generation.

NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said this following an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

We condemn Moscows decision to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic, he said.

Stoltenberg stressed that Moscow had moved from covert attempts to destabilize Ukraine, to overt military action, with many Russian units forward deployed in combat formations and ready to strike.

This is a serious escalation by Russia. And a flagrant violation of international law. It further undermines Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. It damages efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, he said, adding that it has grave consequences for European security.

Stoltenberg noted that this security crisis was created by Russia alone and commended Ukraine for its restraint in not responding to Russias repeated provocations.

We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its government, he said.

Stoltenberg stressed that allies are united in their full support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

We will continue to provide Ukraine with strong political support and Allies are providing equipment to help Ukraine defend itself, as well as sustained financial support, Stoltenberg said.

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Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante and his wife, zoologist Jessica Summerfield, explored Lake Chelan in search of the fabled Lake Chelan Dragon for the Animal Planet TV show Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante, which led them to a search for sturgeon on the Columbia River.
UPDATE: As many as 98 cars and trucks crashed on 1 mile of icy Interstate 84 in the Blue Mountains Monday afternoon. There were 15 to 20 cars and trucks in the largest pileup.
A member of the U.S. Armed Forces administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a police officer at a FEMA community vaccination center on March 2, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images/TNS)
Jennifer Ann Hancock was born Nov. 20, 1956, in Atlanta, to William Roy and Martha Jones Hancock. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Gray. She was preceded in death by her father, William Roy Hancock, and her brother, Timothy Roy Hancock, as well as grandparents


(Photo : Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels)

It's not hard to see why so many people relish the opportunity to leave jobs for which they have no passion. Still, while feeling elation at the prospect of exiting an unsatisfying job is perfectly understandable, this doesn't mean you should regard decorum as an afterthought. Regardless of how much you dislike your current job, departing in an overblown and/or self-satisfied manner is unlikely to serve you well long-term. So, if you'll soon be parting ways with your current employer, make an effort to avoid the following mistakes.

Not Using Up Remaining Vacation Days

If you don't use up remaining vacation time or sick days before departing your job, you'll never have another chance to do so. So, if you have the opportunity to get paid for taking time off, why not take it? Paid vacation time is one of the benefits you're eligible to receive as an employee, and the fact that you'll soon be leaving your job doesn't mean you shouldn't allow yourself to enjoy it.

This would also be an opportune time to get any upcoming doctor visits or dental appointments out of the way. Once you start your new job, you may have to wait a while for your benefits to take effect, so you'd do well to put your current insurance coverage to good use. Additionally, if you've been using your employer-provided insurance to treat a disability, make sure to look into long term disability insurance options in advance of losing your current coverage.

Not Providing Advance Notice of Your Departure

While feeling no personal attachment to a job you dislike is understandable, you should still display courtesy and consideration when making your exit. Among other things, this entails providing your employer with advance notice of your departure. Ideally, you should let them know as far in advance as possible, but at the very least, you should provide them with two weeks' notice, as this will give them a decent window of time in which to recruit and train a suitable replacement.

If time is of the absolute essence, take care to get your boss's blessing before departing ahead of the two-week window. If you put forth the request in a thoughtful, apologetic manner, there's a good chance they'll agree to it.

Not Cleaning Work-Issued Devices

In the leadup to your departure date, you'll need to thoroughly clean any work-issued devices. This means getting any and all personal files or data off of work-issued phones, computers and tablets. If you've been using these devices for years, you may have come to regard them as yours. However, it's important to remember that they belong to your employer and should not be viewed as your personal property.

In addition to being incredibly unprofessional, leaving personal data on work-issued devices stands to result in your private information being compromised. So, for the sake of your professional reputation and online security, make sure every work-issued device currently in your possession is bereft of your personal data by the time it's returned.

Not Having Another Job Lined Up

Leaving a job without having another one lined up can be an extremely risky venture. Even if you have a decent amount in savings, you may be surprised by how quickly your finances can be depleted when no new money is coming in. If you're truly interested in expanding your earning power, consider earning an advanced degree before quitting your current job. With so many schools offering convenient online degree programs, continuing your education doesn't even have to entail leaving your home. Mile-High City residents looking to earn an MBA in Denver can find a wide range of attractive options.

Exiting a job you don't like is unquestionably a personal victory. While working is generally a tedious experience, remaining in a job that brings you zero satisfaction can be truly disheartening. At the same time, being discourteous, indifferent or outright mean while making your exit isn't going to do you any favors. The small sense of superiority you feel in the short term isn't worth the long-term consequences such behavior is likely to bring about. So, in the interest of preserving your professional reputation and saving yourself a great deal of stress, take care to avoid the blunders discussed above.


(Photo : Tal Dilian)

How education helped Tal Dilian become a philanthropist and serial entrepreneur in Cyber Tech

Growing up in Jerusalem as a son of teachers, Tal Dilian was fortunate to be sent to a prestigious High School. He could not have imagined himself missing out on the opportunities provided by a high school education at the time.

Opportunities that impacted and built his successful career and philanthropy.

In this Jerusalem Gymnasium, students of all backgrounds received an equal education. The school helped students reach their academic potential regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Providing all students with access to quality education is essential to fostering growth and progress in society. Tal's understanding of this concept left him with a lasting impression.

After high school, he enrolled in the military, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). He started as a combat fighter in an elite Special Operations Unit of the Intelligence Corps in the IDF. Later he served as Chief of Command of the Technological Unit.

While serving in the army, he was awarded the Israeli Defense Prize, the highest honor awarded to a person for extraordinary contributions to Israel's security. The knowledge he gained from a formal education made all of his military careers possible.

It was Tal Dilian's great understanding of the power of learning that helped expose him to new ideas and concepts. It was time for him to pursue advanced education. He enrolled at the Tel Aviv University and participated in the Interdisciplinary Program for Outstanding Students. During that time, he earned an undergraduate degree, a law degree, and an MBA.

Tal Dilian advanced from the Intelligence Community to the Startup Scene

After serving the Israel Defense Forces for 25 years, he retired from the military with honors. Tal Dilian was ready to embark on a business adventure that has led him to deal with everything from entrepreneurship to cyber intelligence.

Dilian has always been up for new challenges and founded SolarEdge Technologies in 2006. The company, which has its headquarters in Herzliya, Israel, produces power optimizers, solar inverters, and monitoring systems for photovoltaic arrays, also known as solar power systems.

The Israeli entrepreneur also tried his luck with the firm Vidyo in 2005, which provided consumers with video conferencing solutions.

Between 2009 and 2010 he served as Chief Security Architect at the American AGT and as a special advisor to the Chairman of Punj Lloyd Ltd.

In 2010, Tal Dilian became a board member of the 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys and later attained the title of Executive Vice President of Global Products and Technology.

His responsibilities include managing the overall product lifecycle, including global R&D and product marketing.

In recent years, Tal Dilian has had success with his newest entrepreneurial adventure, Intellexa.

In conjunction with Intelligence agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies, the company developed a technology that assists them in protecting their communities. Intellexa provides Law Enforcement Agencies with intelligence reports that assist them in catching criminals by gathering and analyzing information. This report leads to faster and more efficient results thus improving their operations.

Since then, Dilian invested and co-founded ventures in the medical and bio-med industries, such as Medovie.

Tal Dilian uses his business experience to promote quality education and philanthropy

Access to quality education is essential to fostering growth and progress in society.

In 2000, Tal Dilian co-founded and became the CEO of Atidim - a nonprofit organization facilitating education to disadvantaged youths.

Atidim is a national program operating in Israel, which seeks to narrow the socio-economic gap and create a more diverse and tolerant society. It does so by providing youths in underprivileged areas of Israel with education.

Tal Dilian believed that equal educational opportunities were essential to any country's future and, therefore, cofounded Atidim, which means "futures" in English.

Students will develop their knowledge of science, math, and English while improving their matriculation scores and performing better on highly competitive university entrance exams.

Atidim students get 40,000 NIS (12,425 USD) per year to cover tuition fees. In addition, they receive a computer, housing and living expenses, enabling youths from low-income families to get a degree.

Students gain exposure to knowledge and awareness of the learning and career opportunities available at both higher education institutions and high-tech industries.

In the beginning, 90 young talents participated in Atidim's programs, but that number has risen to 50,000 today.

Previous beneficiaries are now working in the high-tech, financial and defense sectors, advancing the country's economy and giving back to their communities.

Tal Dilian served as the CEO of Atidim for five years. The model of diversity used in the running of Atidim had successfully led to economic transformation and healthy communities.

Extending Atidim's reach by founding Daroma Tzafona

At around the same time as Tal Dilian stepped down as the CEO of Atidim, he founded the nonprofit organization Daroma with Haim Blumenblatt, Nir Gilad and Eitan Wertheimer.

The model of diversity used in the running of Atidim had created and implemented visions of economic transformation and healthy communities. All knowledge and experience Dilian had gained up to this point led him to be the Senior Director in Strategic Regional Development in the organization. One that focuses particularly on developing southern Israel and in particular the Negev region.

In 2005, the Israeli government approved a 17 billion NIS (5 billion USD) ten-year plan to develop the Negev region, which was mostly a desert area.

The Negev region covers 60% of Israel's territory, but only 8% of the population lived there when Daroma was established.

A key goal for Tal Dilian and his three cofounders was not only to encourage people to move to the area but also to attract companies and government institutions to it.

Today, Daroma is called DaromaTzafona, as it now also focuses on developing Israel's northern Galilee area.

The organization has an annual growth rate of 6% and has employed 4,000 additional people in the regions.

When looking for ways to get any community thriving again, one must consider how access to quality education can make all the difference.

Tal Dilian's education story is a tale of dedication and gratitude

Tal Dilian never lost sight of where he came from or the value of education.

He attributes his success to having a well-rounded childhood and youth, which provided the skills to enter the world of entrepreneurship and business.

He persevered through outstanding service in the military, higher education, and then in the biomedical and cyber intelligence industries.

He also gave back to society by establishing non-profit organizations that provided higher education and high-tech industries. Atidim and Daroma Tzafona focused on the socio-economic mobility of underprivileged youth from the South and North of Israel.

It can't be overemphasized how important education is. The learning experience of one person has the potential to impact the lives of many - personally, throughout a community, and across an entire state, as Tal Dilian demonstrated.
Like all great things, the 2021-22 editorial boards term has come to an end. Read more
To those who know Carrie Palmesano, who has taught at Omaha South High Magnet School for the past 25 years, it comes as no surprise that the Nebraska English Language Arts Council and Nebraska Council on Teacher Education have named her as Nebraskas English Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022. An Omaha native who attended Duchesne Academy, Creighton, and then UNO (for a Masters degree in English), Palmesano is one of the most innovative, caring, and dedicated teachers one is ever likely to meet.

In the classroom, Palmesano makes literature come alive for her students  and also makes sure they come out of her classes as much better thinkers and writers than they were when they entered. She is inspired by the creative aspect of teaching, and says that what she most loves about teaching is connecting with students and making an impact. To achieve those goals, Palmesano goes above and beyond what is required of her. Holding Saturday study help sessions for her Advanced Placement Literature and Composition students in the spring, before the AP exam (and bringing snacks, fruit, and pizza, to boot!), is just one example. Another is the way she helps her students overcome their hesitancy about reading and interpreting poetry by conducting a March Madness Poetry Throwdown, during which each student chooses a poem from a list, conducts research on the poem and its author, and makes a presentation to their classmates; the class then votes on which of the two poems presented each day will advance in the competition. Eventually, this all leads to the Final Four poems, with each student getting to choose which poem they want to write a well-constructed essay about.

What Palmesano wants to do as a teacher is best revealed by her involvement with the Freedom Writers Foundation. Based on Erin Gruwells award-winning book, The Freedom Writers: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them (1997), about her experiences as a teacher of disadvantage students in Long Beach, California, this organization explicitly strives to Create opportunities for students to reach their full academic potential and aspire to higher education, Publicly and systematically promote an educational philosophy that values, upholds, and honors diversity, and Inspire students to realize their roles as vital members of their communities." Inspired by Gruwells work, Palmesano went through the Freedom Writers Institute training program and subsequently not only transferred what she learned there into her teaching at South but also created a nonprofit organization in Omaha that over the years has brought in many guest speakers and conducted training sessions for teachers who want to help students in the same way Gruwell did.

But possibly what makes Palmesano stand out most, and earn her recognition such as Nebraska English Teacher of the Year and the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy High School Teacher Award, is the way that she engages students outside the classroom as well as inside it. The most prominent example of this is what she did in the spring of 2020, when educators across the country were in panic mode, dealing with the pandemic and online teaching. Hearing from some of her students, learning online for the first time, that they were struggling to keep their younger siblings occupied and happy while they themselves were in class and their parents were at work, Palmesano launched an ambitious project to help not only her students but also the greater Omaha community.

It started with some books that her own children had outgrown, and which had been simply stored in boxes in their closets; she thought she could distribute those to some of her students, who could then pass them on to their younger siblings. But then the whole project got bigger, because she realized that there were many more South students with the same problem. In response, Palmesano reached out to the Senior Class President at South, someone with lots of experience coordinating service projects, and she sought out donors for an Amazon wish list of science kits, arts supplies, books, and games that she had identified as appropriate for various ages. Eventually, they were able to purchase, put together, and distribute 1,500 bags of books, games, science kits, and art supplies to families that came through the mobile food pantry which had been set up in the Omaha South parking lot to help families adversely affected by the pandemic.

As one can see, Carries awards are richly deserved. We at UNO offer her our heartiest Congratulations! Needless to say, we are so proud to have her as one of our UNO Dual Enrollment English teachers, providing high-quality instruction to her students, empowering them, and inspiring them to pursue their dreams of higher education.
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2022 ) :Captain Haider Abbass has embraced martyrdom amid heavy gunfight with the terrorists during an intelligence based operation (IBO) conducted by the armed forces in Kohlu district of Balochistan.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on intelligence information about the presence of terrorists in a hideout in Kohlu district, the security forces on Sunday (February 20) conducted a clearance operation in the area.

As soon as the troops started cordoning the area, terrorists, while fleeing the hideout, opened indiscriminate fire. A deliberate follow-up operation, however, continued in the area to deal with the perpetrators who had suffered casualties but were able to escape into nearby mountains, the ISPR said.

The security forces operations to eliminate the terrorists would continue and they would not be allowed to sabotage the hard earned peace in Balochistan, the armed forces media wing said.

The Namaz-e-Janaza of Shaheed Captain Haider Abbas was offered at Karachi. Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed attended the funeral. Serving officers, soldiers, relatives of the Shaheed and large number of people attended the funeral prayer. The Shaheed was buried with complete military honour.
(@FahadShabbir)

Commander of Sri Lankan Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne Tuesday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here at GHQ and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and vowed to continue military cooperation between the two Forces in defence, training and counter terrorism domains

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2022 ) :Commander of Sri Lankan Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne Tuesday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here at GHQ and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and vowed to continue military cooperation between the two Forces in defence, training and counter terrorism domains.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and current Afghanistan situation were discussed, said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release.

On the occasion, the COAS said, "Pakistan wishes to enhance long term multi-domain relations with Sri Lanka based on common interests."He reiterated that all regional countries need to work collectively for enduring peace and stability.

He also appreciated Pakistan's role in Afghan situation, special efforts for border management and role in regional stability.
Russian lawmakers lined up Tuesday to lavish President Vladimir Putin with praise for recognising east Ukraine's rebel territories, in a show of loyalty as they unanimously voted to ratify the Kremlin's deals with the separatists

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2022 ) :Russian lawmakers lined up Tuesday to lavish President Vladimir Putin with praise for recognising east Ukraine's rebel territories, in a show of loyalty as they unanimously voted to ratify the Kremlin's deals with the separatists.

Lawmakers took to the tribunes to defend Putin's move in ultra-patriotic speeches and broke into applause as they approved the agreements, which give legal cover for Russian troops to be sent in to Ukraine.

Not a single lawmaker in the lower or upper houses of parliament -- the Duma and the Federation Council -- voted against the deals with the Donetsk and Lugansk separatists.

In scenes reminiscent of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, the lawmakers presented Putin's move as a major victory and backed dubious historical theories made in his national address the night before.

"Let's thank the president for his bravery, for his responsible position," Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said as he opened the voting session.

A day earlier, Putin announced he was recognising the rebel republics.

The longtime leader did so at the end of an hour-long speech heavy in murky historical references.

He claimed Ukraine was "entirely created by Russia" and questioned Kyiv's right to statehood throughout his address.

Several hours later, he ordered the Russian army to send troops to eastern Ukraine to "maintain peace".

- 'Not scared of sanctions' - As Western countries announced new sanctions against Moscow throughout the day, lawmakers said Moscow was being unfairly punished for correcting a historical injustice.

"Moscow is not scared of any sanctions," Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told lawmakers as he presented the deals in parliament.

Even as Russian stock markets were hit and the ruble tanked to almost 80 to a Dollar, Duma speaker Volodin called on Russians to "believe in our national Currency.

" At one point, it seemed that one lawmaker had not voted in favour of ratifying a deal with the Lugansk People's Republic, with the Duma's voting results screen showing 399 out of 400 for it.

But soon afterwards, Communist MP Oleg Smolin owned up that he had not pressed the button in time and that he was indeed in favour.

The sessions included some of Russia's most vehemently anti-Western public speakers that have sat in parliament for years -- even decades -- within the so-called "systemic opposition" that challenges Putin domestically but supports his foreign policy.

"NATO holds us by the throat," 77-year-old Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov said in an angry speech defending Putin.

- 'What has Russia done wrong?' - Among those who took the floor was Andrei Lugovoi -- a nationalist MP who British police believe is a suspect in the 2006 poisoning of former agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.

Lugovoi, who the UK has tried and failed to extradite to London, said that Russia "spits on the opinion of the West".

When the vote went from the Duma to the Federation Council, the upper chamber's speaker Valentina Matvienko seemed to have tears in her eyes as the deals were ratified.

"I assure you that we are ready for (Western) sanctions," she said after the vote.

A day earlier, she had been the only woman to participate in a highly unusual Kremlin security council meeting, in which officials made impassioned speeches to Putin to recognise the rebels.

When it was her turn, 72-year-old Matvienko, who was born in Ukraine, asked: "What has Russia done wrong to Ukraine in 30 years?"
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd February, 2022) Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and is inconsistent with the principles of the UN Charter, according to a comment by the UN Secretary General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The Secretary-General is greatly concerned by the decision by the Russian Federation related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. He 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)," Dujarric said.

"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.

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," he said.

According to the statement, the UN Secretary-General 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 prioritizing diplomacy.
What's up Vol Nation?! Check out @Sami_whamiii on this weeks episode of the Weekly Wrap-Up for news involving @tpusautk and their guest speaker @tomilahren, the largest increase to the HOPE Scholarship since its founding, @josiah.j.james declaring for the draft. As always, a wrap up of our 
The Bishops' Conference of Burkina-Faso and Niger met in the ecclesiastical province of Bobo-Dioulasso, in Dedougou, for the Second Ordinary Plenary Assembly that began on 14 and ended on 20 February.

Christian Kombe, SJ - Vatican City

For a week, the Bishops were in Dedougou, Burkina Faso.

The Assembly began with a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, 15 February, preached by the Rector of the major seminary of Koumi, Father Honore Ouedraogo. The reflection was based on the Instruction of the Congregation for the Clergy "The pastoral conversion of the parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church."

The work of this Plenary Assembly was devoted in particular to pastoral issues within the local churches of the two countries.

Security and socio-economic concerns

In a press release issued at the end of the meeting, the Bishops of Burkina-Niger expressed their "concern about the security situation and the rise in food prices" in both countries. The Bishops further called on "diocesan and parish communities to continue their compassion and solidarity with all displaced people without distinction."

The prelates then urged the faithful of both countries to pray fervently for their countries currently undergoing numerous challenges.

Bishops engaged in dialogue for peace

During their Plenary Assembly, the Bishops met with leaders of the Muslim community, regional military and paramilitary authorities in a joint search for lasting peace.

The working session of the Bishops of Burkina-Niger took place under a complex security situation and massive displacement of persons. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), "In Burkina Faso alone, the total number of internally displaced persons had risen to more than 1.5 million by the end of 2021. This is mainly due to the ongoing jihadist insurgency that is causing death and a large number of displaced persons.

Six out of ten displaced persons in the Sahel are now Burkinabe.
On 24 February Pope Francis is scheduled to connect virtually with students from across the Americas. The event is promoted by Loyola University, in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

By Vatican News staff writer

University students from the Americas will link up with Pope Francis for about an hour and a quarter, to discuss education, migration, environmental sustainability, economic justice and integral human development in a synodal manner.

Scheduled for Thursday, 24 February at 7 pm (CET) the event foresees an open conversation between the students, the Pope and to talk about building a world made of bridges and collaboration in the spirit of Fratelli tutti.

A number of migrants will also be linked up to give their fundamental perspective.

The event has been conceived and organized by the Department of Theology of Loyola University in Chicago in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Institute of Pastoral Studies and the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage.

Building Bridges

Organized in four blocks pertaining to different geographical regions, the students will present their projects and works to the Pope and ask questions about the present and future of their country, their generation, and their lives.

The Pope will answer each question and help them define a constructive path that foresees the Building of Bridges.

In concrete, this means facilitating authentic and constructive dialogues between those who have crossed geographic, cultural and social borders, working on projects and supporting the skills of each individual in order to build lasting relationships that lead to understanding, compassion and wisdom.

'Pope excited to dialogue with young people'

Initial presentations of the event are entrusted to Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and to Argentine theologian Emilce Cuda, who was recently appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

It is thanks to Professor Cuda that Pope Francis has been involved in this event, which was born as a youth initiative to give concrete form to the Pontiff's invitation to be a synodal Church in dialogue.

Speaking to Vatican News she said: "My colleagues at Loyola invited me to give a conference for young people on synodality, a word of great significance that will be built up over these three years of the synodal journey. Then they said 'why don't you invite the Holy Father?' It seemed crazy to me, but I thought about it and invited Pope Francis. He was very pleased and is enthusiastic to be able to speak to them about the present and the future."

The experience of migrants

Among the young people who will dialogue with the Pope, there are also some who have been forced to leave their homes.

They will bring the perspective not only of those who cross borders in the quest for a life of hope and dignity but also of those who are displaced within their own nations and who do not have any kind of protection.

A particular group of migrants is that of people who are on the move within Latin America or from the Caribbean countries, and that includes many children and students.

Sharing projects

"The Pope will dialogue with these university students, sharing concrete educational projects that seek to transform environmental and economic realities with justice," Emilce Cuda explains. "For example, Latin America suffers from the exploitation of natural resources, but given the ecological changes, in order to continue living off its resources, technology is needed. And that is possible by getting onto the right path for transition. The problem is that local universities often don't have the scientific-technological resources they need; but if they collaborate with universities in the North, this can represent a hope for Latin America, as well as for academics from other continents who can take on more responsibility and expand their projects."
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Myanmars military government has criticized calls for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations special envoy to the conflict-torn country to meet bodies that oppose last years coup, which the junta has declared as terrorist groups.

With little sign of the junta implementing a five-point peace plan agreed upon with ASEAN last year, which included an immediate end to hostilities and letting a special envoy facilitate dialog, growing divisions have emerged in the 10-member bloc over how to restore stability.

After last Thursdays ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Indonesia said it was crucial for the envoy to meet all parties in the conflict, with Malaysia calling for talks with the National Unity Government (NUG), a group made up of members of the ousted administration and other junta opponents.

The ministry notes that while some deliberations were constructive on the implementation of the five-point consensus, two members have suggested special envoy to engage with unlawful associations and terrorist groups, Myanmars ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

In its first public response to last weeks ASEAN meeting, the ministry said suggesting the envoy engage with such groups was not only contrary to the principles of the ASEAN charter but also undermine ASEANs counter-terrorism efforts.

Representatives from the military-controlled government havent been invited to ASEAN meetings since late last year.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military overthrew an elected government a year ago, with more than 1,500 civilians killed in a crackdown against junta opponents, according to figures cited by a Thai-based activists group.

The military, which has disputed the death tally, is also fighting on multiple fronts with armed pro-democracy groups in the countryside and ethnic minority forces.

Zin Mar Aung, the NUGs foreign minister, welcomed the call by Malaysias Foreign Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, for the special envoy Prak Sokhonn to meet with NUG.

In a message on Twitter, Zin Mar Aung thanked Saifuddin for his strong support to find a solution on Myanmar and his clear message to the special envoy.

Prak Sokhonn, Cambodias foreign minister, has said engaging with the NUG was complicated because of the juntas objections, though said the envoy could act as a bridge.

He said his predecessor as ASEAN envoy was unable to visit Myanmar because of preconditions by some ASEAN members that the ruling generals found unacceptable.

Those included access to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the elected government ousted in last years coup. Suu Kyi is on trial accused of multiple crimes.
Ukraines Foreign Minister is in Washington meeting with officials after Russia announced it would recognize two regions in Ukraine as independent states. How is the world reacting and whats the reaction on both sides of the border?
A coalition of Nigerian activists demonstrated Tuesday in the capital city Abuja, demanding President Mohammadu Buhari sign a bill that aims to improve transparency, inclusion, and planning for national elections.

More than 200 participants from various civil society groups chanted as they converged at unity fountain Tuesday in Abuja.

The activists are demanding President Mohammadu Buhari sign into a law a bill that would promote the early release of funds for elections, the inclusion of marginalized groups in voting, and would authorize the electronic transmission of election results.

"In 2019, one truth that we're not telling Nigerians is that resources were released six weeks to the elections," said Paul James, one of the organizers of the protest. "So, if these things are coming close to the elections, it affects everybody that is working on the process."

Activists at the protest say the new bill will make elections more organized, inclusive and credible if signed into law.

There are more than 30 million Nigerians living with disabilities.

"Election after election, people with disabilities have to surmount whatever challenge it is to vote," said Grace Jerry, executive director Inclusive Friends Association, a group representing disabled citizens at the protest. "President Buhari, in case you do not know, people with disabilities had to crawl on the ground because of inaccessible polling units. To vote for you, people who are blind had to rely on somebody to vote and could not experience the secret ballot process.

The presidents office released a statement late Monday denying claims of foot-dragging in Buhari signing the bill.

The president spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the president had only received the bill from the senate on January 31 and had until March 1 to sign it.

He also said interest groups were taking advantage of "what they consider a delay in the signing of the electoral bill by the president to foment civil disorder."

During an interview Tuesday with Lagos-based Channels television, Adesina said Buhari would sign the bill soon.

But protester James Paul has doubts the president will follow through.

"The government has not been very truthful with Nigerians, they have been dilly-dallying with what we thought would help to improve on the transparency and integrity of our elections," said Paul. "Since 1999, the more money you pump into the election, the less participation you see in the election.

Allegations of rigging and corruption are common during Nigerian elections.

Activists say the president already has declined to sign the bill five times and are hoping he will sign it this time round.
Ghana is normally seen as a beacon of press freedom in West Africa, where some governments keep a tight control on the media. But press freedom advocates note an alarming surge recently in arrests and assaults on journalists.



Activists are raising questions as to whether Ghana is returning to the days where criminal libel laws were used to suppress free speech.

Two journalists were arrested last month after alleging the first lady acquired state land to build a personal home. Another was arrested after accusing the president of influencing the decisions of judges in electoral petitions.



All three were accused of publishing fake news, and they could face time in prison if convicted.

Sulemana Braimah, the executive director of Media Foundation for West Africa, tells VOA the state is hiding behind the police to criminalize free speech.



I dont think that if the president is fundamentally opposed to something it will happen, unless of course he is constrained or restrained by law. I believe that criminalizing speech in the manner that were seeing it is fundamentally detrimental to our democracy, Braimah noted.



He also says the government should give greater powers to the National Media Commission, the agency tasked to regulate and monitor the media, if it wants to assert more control of the airwaves.



I think as a country we need to revisit that conversation about empowering the National Media Commission. The other thing is about the broadcasting law, two decades on weve been talking. I think that if the government is indeed interested in sanitizing the airwaves what we must be seeing is a very committed strong effort at getting the broadcasting law passed. So that at least people will know that we have to operate within certain confines.



Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a government spokesperson on security and governance, tells VOA News the state sees the media as a partner in development and will never criminalize free speech.



But, he adds, officials are concerned about the abuse of freedom of expression in the media. He says the journalists who accused the president and his wife of wrongdoing had no evidence.



Its clearly the rule of law that is working. Its quite unfortunate that people are abusing the freedom of speech, which as a government, were concerned about, and as a government, as well, were not trampling upon the freedom of people.



He said the media should operate without fear or favor  but he said reporters must be responsible in their reporting.



The president is very confident with freedom of speech, supports freedom of speech and encourages Ghanaians to have constructive criticism of government. I think that if youre against government, there is a civil way to go about it.



Police did not respond to requests to comment on the recent arrests of media personalities.
KYIV  Russian tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine overnight Tuesday ostensibly on a peace-keeping mission and to protect two breakaway republics that Moscow fashioned eight years ago and is now formally recognizing as independent states.

But following a 56-minute bellicose speech, in which the Russian leader denied the very existence of a country called Ukraine, few in Kyiv harbor any doubts that the armored columns will sooner or later punch beyond Ukraines Donbas region with Putins decision to recognize the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk being seen as a prelude for likely more widespread military action.

In the friendship treaties Putin signed with Moscows breakaway republics, he committed to defending their borders.

Kremlin officials Tuesday declined to be pinned down on where the borders of the breakaway republics start and finish  whether their territory includes all of the oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk or just the territory currently militarily occupied by the self-declared republics, which is about just under half of the Donbas region.

Asked by reporters in Moscow, Dmitry Pskov, the Kremlin spokesman, avoided clarification, and when asked whether the port city of Mariupol, currently held by Ukrainian forces, is considered as part of the new republics, he said: "I have nothing to add."

Western diplomats and residents in Donetsk confirmed the appearance of Russian tanks overnight Tuesday.

As the months-long geopolitical standoff over Ukraine shifts into a new even more ominous gear, Western countries joined in a chorus of condemnation, and more foreign governments ordered diplomats to leave Kyiv and to relocate to Lviv in western Ukraine, a short drive from the Polish border, a reflection of their growing worries that it wont be long before Russian forces deployed on Ukrainian borders may soon be ordered to target the Ukrainian capital.

Australia became the latest country to relocate its mission, joining the United States, Britain and others to shift their ambassadors and their staff closer to the safety of neighboring Poland.

War unfolding?

Western intelligence officials also fear the recognition of the breakaway republics is just part of a bigger war plan thats now unfolding according to a playbook written weeks ago. They say that around two-thirds of the Russian forces amassed near Ukraine are now within 50 kilometers of the borders, are in battle formation and poised to commence military operations, although it is not clear if approval has yet been given by the Kremlin to launch a full-scale offensive.

Speaking in a televised, nationwide address after 2am local time, several hours after it was scheduled, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy strove to reassure Ukrainians saying the country is well-protected, and he added Ukraine reserves the right to defend itself from further Russian aggression.

"We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything," Zelenskiyy declared.

A somber but defiant Zelenskiyy urged international monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, who have been observing an oft-broken ceasefire in eastern Ukraine struck in 2015 and brokered by France and Germany, to continue their work to help prevent provocations and further escalation.



The Ukrainian President also said he had called for an urgent meeting of the Normandy Format countries  Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia  for talks on this latest move by Moscow in the Donbas, and he appealed to Western countries to stand by Ukraine. It is very important now to see who is our real friend and partner, and who will continue scaring the Russian Federation just with words, Zelenskiyy said.

On Saturday in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader chided Western powers for not doing much more to deter Russia from aggression.

In London, Britains Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, called a meeting Tuesday of his top security and intelligence officials to consider Britains response. The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Britain would soon be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

British officials said on in a phone call with Ukraine's president, Johnson had told Zelenskiyy he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government.



The leaders of other Western allies were also scrambling Tuesday to fashion a response to Russia and to try to coordinate their actions. They still hope diplomacy will prevail and that Putin can be restrained by being coaxed and cajoled with threats of putative sanctions, but hopes are dimming fast that diplomatic action will work, say EU officials.

The European Union said it will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act, while NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of fueling conflict eastern Ukraine and "trying to stage a pretext" for a further invasion.

The fear among Europes leaders that the Russian President will order even bigger military action in Ukraine is partly rooted in the sheer bellicosity of Putins nearly hour-long speech that started with a long passage on the Russian leaders views about the history of Ukraine and how the West robbed Russia of its lands on the fall of the Soviet Union.

Justifying his decision to recognize the breakaway republic, Putin said Ukraine is an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian territory. His historical narrative, laced with grievances he has aired many times before, is drawing criticism from authoritative historians for its eccentricity.

Putins speech, broadcast by all of Russias main television channels, came after a national security council meeting in Moscow which was also aired in full.

During the meeting, Kremlin hardliners urged him to recognize the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Some analysts noted that judging by the time displayed on the watch of one aide the Kremlin meeting was not in fact broadcast live but had taken place many hours earlier and was choreographed to persuade a Russian audience that Putin has the full backing of the countrys top leadership and his close advisers, while also showing his masterful control of the fast-moving geopolitical standoff with the West.

Senior officials lined up to echo the Kremlins days-long and unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine has been preparing to mount an offensive to recapture the breakaway republics. Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, told Putin Ukrainian forces were being built to mount an attack.

Kyiv has repeatedly denied the claims.

During his speech Putin accused the United States and NATO of unashamedly turning Ukraine into a theater of war and he raised the unsubstantiated claim that Ukraine has been plotting to manufacture nuclear weapons, which it could then use to attack Russia.

The overall tenor of the speech has left many Western diplomats and independent analysts reeling with German and French officials admitting privately they were shocked. Both Germany and France had been leading last-minute diplomatic attempts to find a diplomatic solution to the stand-off over Ukraine and had hoped to get a lasting deal on a ceasefire and political settlement in eastern Ukraine, but Putin appears now to have pulled the rug from underneath the Franco-German effort, their diplomats fear.

Kremlin officials say they have no plans to launch a full invasion of Ukraine and they are still open to discussions. We remain open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution, however, allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do, said the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, Tuesday.

Ukrainian troops along the frontlines in the east of the country are under strict orders not to respond to shelling and artillery bombardments, which have dramatically intensified since last week, according to independent observers. Ukrainian officials fear skirmishes will be used as a justification for bigger military action by Russia.
U.S. President Joe Biden cut off the Russian government from international financing on Tuesday and imposed sanctions on two large banks, declaring that its actions in Ukraine were a flagrant violation of international law.

In a brief White House speech, Biden said Putins order late Monday to send troops across the eastern Ukraine border into the Luhansk and Donetsk regions was the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hours earlier, Putin declared the regions as independent, no longer part of Ukraine.

Biden pointedly asked, 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?

The condemnation came from many other U.S. allies and multilateral institutions, including from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said Tuesday, Let me be clear: The decision of the Russian Federation to recognize the so-called independence of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Biden also ordered the movement of infantry troops and air support from elsewhere in Europe closer to Russias borders, as the region girds for possible confrontation.

Biden said additional U.S. forces were deploying to the Baltics to send an unmistakable message that the United States, together with our allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory.

The latest deployments include a battalion of more than 800 troops deploying from Italy to the Baltic region, eight F-35 fighter jets and 20 Apache attack helicopters from Germany to the Baltics, and 12 Apaches from Greece to Poland.

But Biden stressed, These are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia. He added, None of us should be fooled; none of us will be fooled by Putins intentions in deploying what he characterized as peacekeeping forces into the one-time Soviet republic.

For now, the administration says its strongest weapon is sanctions aimed at Russias power players. The U.S. leader said his sanctions would cut off the Russian government from raising money from the West, and vowed that Russia will pay an even steeper price (with more sanctions) if its forces advance further west into Ukraine.

The sanctions announced Tuesday target three men in Putins inner circle: Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service; Sergei Kiriyenko, a top official in Putins office, and Peter Fradkov, chairman of Promsvyazbank.

A senior administration official told reporters that the sanctions target two banks especially close to Russias leadership, including one  Vnesheconombank  that holds more than $50 billion in assets. Daleep Singh, deputy national security adviser for international economics, described it as a glorified piggy bank for the Kremlin.

Make no mistake  this is only the sharp edge of the pain we can inflict, he said.

Some analysts say the administration could have done more.

The sanctions announced (Monday) will have almost no impact, either in economic or political terms, Chris Miller, a Russia analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA. The sanctions announced today  notably the sovereign debt sanctions  will have a minor, negative macroeconomic impact on Russia.

On Tuesday, Biden also met at the White House with Ukraines foreign minister and reiterated the readiness of the United States, in close cooperation with our Allies and partners, to respond swiftly and decisively to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the White House said.

In a speech at the Kremlin on Monday, Putin declared that Ukraine was never an independent state and was part of a greater Russian sphere of influence, not a puppet of the West.

He directly attacked Ukraines right to exist, Biden said of Putin, adding that there is still time to avert the worst-case scenario of a full-on invasion through diplomatic settlement of the crisis.

But, Biden concluded, Were going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words.

Biden warned Americans, Defending freedom will have costs, with higher gasoline prices as world oil prices surge with the threat of further violence in Ukraine and an expanded Russian invasion.

Bidens implementation of long-promised sanctions came as other Western allies quickly moved Tuesday to punish Russia with sanctions of their own.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted authorization for Nord Stream 2, the completed but not yet operational natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, at least temporarily curbing potential fuel deliveries to Germany but also depriving Moscow of revenue from the pipeline.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament he had sanctioned five Russian banks and three high net worth executives, freezing their assets in Britain and cutting off financial transactions with them.

This is the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do, Johnson said.

Russian lawmakers on Tuesday gave Putin permission to use military force outside the country, possibly presaging a broader attack on Ukraine

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil in Donetsk and Luhansk but that it was not a fully fledged invasion.

For weeks, the U.S. and European allies have warned of swift and severe consequences for Russia if it launched an invasion of Ukraine, a possibility viewed with growing concern as Russia deployed 150,000 troops and military equipment along its border with Ukraine and in Belarus, a Russian ally to the north of Ukraine.

Russian tanks entered eastern Ukraines Donbas region overnight, Western diplomats and residents in Donetsk confirmed to VOA. It was unclear if their presence constituted significant movement of Russian forces or instead movement of Russian-backed militias already in eastern Ukraine.

Biden issued an initial set of sanctions Monday in response to Putins recognition of the breakaway regions and his order to deploy what he called Russian peacekeeping forces.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the first round of sanctions was specifically tied to those actions and did not represent the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.

Bidens Monday order prohibited new investment, trade and financing by Americans in Luhansk and Donetsk after Putin declared them independent from Ukraine.

From a desk at the Kremlin, Putin delivered a nearly hourlong televised address to the Russian people on Monday, outlining his version of the history of national boundaries in Europe and the 1990s breakup of the Soviet Union.

Putin also said there was no prospect for peace to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, but Moscow has contended it has no plans to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This wasnt a speech just about Russias security, a senior U.S. administration official said. It was an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine. He (Putin) made clear that he views Ukraine historically as part of Russia. And he made a number of false claims about Ukraine that seemed designed to excuse possible military action. This was a speech to the Russian people to justify war.

Carla Babb and Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
Russias decision to send troops into two separatist enclaves in eastern Ukraine is forcing a difficult choice for China, which has aligned itself closer with Moscow but could face blowback if it is seen as supporting the unilateral redrawing of international borders, analysts say.

The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday formally recognized the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics and ordered what it called peacekeepers into the contested regions. The moves followed a fiery speech in which Putin questioned Ukraines very statehood, further raising concern he is planning a large-scale invasion.

The situation is tricky for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who earlier this month declared a no limits partnership with Russia following a meeting with Putin. The meeting was the latest evidence Russia and China have drawn closer as both attempt to counter U.S. global influence.

But the Ukraine issue is already testing how far that enhanced partnership can go. Analysts say China is likely concerned about foreign turmoil that could impact its economy, especially during a sensitive year of domestic political maneuvering meant to shape what is expected to be Xis indefinite rule.

China, which has long insisted it opposes interference in other countries internal affairs, may also be worried about its international reputation taking a hit.

On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Munich Security Conference that the sovereignty of all nations should be respected. Ukraine is no exception, he added.

In recent weeks, China has called for restraint on all sides in Ukraine, as well as a return to the Minsk Agreements, which were meant to restore peace following a flare-up of violence along the Russia-Ukraine border in 2014.

But by recognizing the two disputed Ukrainian territories, Putin obliterated the Minsk Agreements, in the process essentially destroying a key Chinese talking point, says Derek Grossman, a senior analyst who focuses on Asia at the RAND Corporation, a California-based global policy research organization. All of that is completely out the window if Russia does invade, Grossman told VOA.

Speaking late Monday at an emergency meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council, Chinas U.N. envoy Zhang Jun issued only brief remarks, calling for all sides to exercise restraint. He did not mention the Minsk Agreements.



The speech reads like a placeholder, said Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. China hasnt decided what its policy response should be yet, she concluded.

In some ways, the situation mirrors that of 2014, when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine. At the time, China also responded by insisting that Ukraines territorial sovereignty should be respected but that the West should consider Russias legitimate security concerns.

Since then, however, geopolitics has shifted. Not only have U.S.-China ties worsened, China has gotten stronger economically and militarily and is now bolder about challenging U.S. power.

But Ryan Hass, a China scholar at the U.S.-based Brookings Institution, cautioned against assuming China has already chosen to support Russia on the Ukraine issue.

If there is war in Ukraine, and if China actively attempts to shield Russia from global condemnation, then China may spur a self-harming solidification of blocs in which China is aligned with the weakest other major power, he tweeted.

China may also be reluctant to damage its diplomatic and economic relationship with Europe, which is strongly opposed to a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing needs to be helped toward realizing that going all-in on the China-Russia relationship carries more risks than benefits, Hass said.

Other analysts are more pessimistic. Russia and China may be determined to form a relationship that can overturn large swaths of U.S. dominance, argued Robert Kagan, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, in an editorial in The Washington Post.

It is really their shared desire to disrupt the international order that creates a common interest, he said.
China has appointed senior diplomat Xue Bing as its new special envoy for the Horn of Africa, a region that is currently troubled by conflict including in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

Xue has previously worked as Chinas Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and has experience working in Africa, America and Oceania, Chinas Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

His task will be to work to promote Chinas 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.

Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi announced in January during a trip to East Africa that such an appointment had been planned.

Chinas interests in the Horn include its naval base in Djibouti, overlooking a key global shipping route. Beijing has granted large loans to landlocked Ethiopia, which relies on Djiboutis 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 neighboring Kenya.
Germany on Tuesday halted the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline project designed to double the flow of Russian gas to Germany, a day after Moscow formally recognized the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

What is Nord Stream 2?

The more than $11 billion project that has bothered Germanys allies was completed in September but has been idle pending certification by Germany and the European Union.

Nord Stream 2 was halted as it was set to ease pressure on European consumers facing soaring energy prices and governments that have spent billions of dollars to limit the impact on their citizens.

The 1,200-kilometer underwater Nord Stream 2 follows the same path as Nord Stream 1, which was finished more than a decade ago.

Like Nord Stream 1, the idle pipeline is capable of transporting 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to elsewhere in Europe, potentially boosting the continents access to relatively low-priced gas when domestic production is declining.

Why did Germany support Nord Stream 2?

Germany, which gets half its gas from Russia, maintained the pipeline was mainly a commercial project to diversify energy supplies for Europe.

Germany aggressively pursued the pipeline for years, working through the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, several spying scandals and multiple cyberattacks.

Even as some 150,000 Russian troops steadily assembled on Ukraines borders, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not mention the name of the pipeline when asked about possible sanctions against Russia.

Why is Germany taking action now?

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to recognize the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. Hours later, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had requested a halt to the pipeline approval process, despite record high gas prices in Europe.

Scholtz said Russias decision to recognize the independence of the rebel-held areas was 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.

Scholz, who succeeded Angela Merkel in December, also said he withdrew a report that Germany was required to submit on how the pipeline would affect energy security.

Why does Russia want the pipeline?

The Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom, which owns half of Nord Stream 2, said the pipeline would meet Europes needs for relatively affordable gas and supplement existing pipelines in Ukraine and Belarus.

Gazprom said Nord Stream 2 would offer an alternative to Ukraines aging pipeline that it says needs refurbishment. The gas giant also said the new pipeline would lower costs by saving transit fees paid to Ukraine and avoid gas cutoffs like those that occurred briefly in 2006 and 2009 due to Russia-Ukraine disputes over prices and payments.

Europe is in growing need of gas because it is replacing decommissioned coal and nuclear plants before the energy they produce can be replaced by renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Why do the United States and most other Western allies oppose Nord Stream 2?

The European Union and the United States argued that Nord Stream 2 would increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia and deny transit fees to Ukraine, host to a separate Russian gas pipeline, and make Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian invasion amid Europes worst crisis since the Cold War.

They also contend the pipeline would give Russia the possibility of using gas as a geopolitical weapon, as Europe imports most of its gas, 40% of which comes from Russia.

Ukraine, which has been in conflict with Russia since Moscows annexation of Crimea in 2014, has long opposed Nord Stream 2. The pipeline bypasses Ukraines infrastructure, depriving it of more than $1 billion annually in gas transit fees, while making Russia less dependent on cooperation with Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden waived sanctions against the pipelines operator last year in exchange for an agreement from Germany to act against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine.

How will suspending Nord Stream 2 affect Europeans this winter?

European regulators said before Scholzs move the approval process could not be completed in the first half of this year, meaning the pipeline was not going to help European households meet heating and electricity needs this winter.

Could Russia cut off gas to Europe in retaliation?

Many expert observers believe Russia would not cut off supplies to Europe because Gazprom also needs the European market. Russian officials have also emphasized they have no plans to do so.

Half of Nord Stream 2 is owned by the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom and the rest is divided between the Anglo-Dutch company Shell, Austria's OMV, France's Engie, and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press and Reuters.
The three white men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery acted out of "racial anger" when they chased down the young Black man as they saw him jogging through their Georgia community, a federal prosecutor told jurors at the defendants' hate-crimes trial Monday.

Defense lawyers argued that their clients, despite a lengthy record of bigoted social discourse shown in court, pursued Arbery because they were suspicious of his conduct, not because of his race.

Judge Lisa Wood sent the predominantly white jury out to deliberate Monday afternoon after they listened to hours of closing arguments in a case probing whether vigilantism directed against a Black person in this case crossed the boundary of racially motivated violence as defined by U.S. law.

The defendants - Travis McMichael, 36; his father, Gregory McMichael, 66; and neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, 52 - have already been convicted of murder in state court and sentenced to life in prison in an earlier trial that largely skirted racial issues and focused on proving a homicide case.

Arbery, 25, was out for an afternoon jog on Feb. 23, 2020, when the McMichaels spotted him running by their home, grabbed their guns and jumped in their pickup truck to follow him. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck before Aubrey was cornered and confronted face to face by the younger McMichael, who fired three shotgun blasts at Aubrey at close range, killing him.

Arbery's name became entwined with a host of others invoked in protests that swept the country after an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis, George Floyd, was killed by a white police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck until he could no longer breathe in May 2020.

The federal prosecution of Arbery's killers marks the first instance in which those convicted of such a high-profile murder are facing a jury in a hate-crimes trial.

Christopher Perras, a special litigator for the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights division, said in his summation Monday that Arbery was singled out by the defendants because of the color of his skin.

"They were motivated by racial assumption, racial resentment and racial anger," Perras said, referring to the defendants. "They saw a Black man in their neighborhood and they thought the worst of him."

Perras cited trial testimony showing the defendants had a long history of making overtly, sometimes violently racist comments about Black people in text messages, social media and conversations with others.

The proceedings were attending on Monday by several members of Arbery's family, including his parents, Marcus Arbery Sr., and Wanda Coooper-Jones.

Defense attorneys countered that their clients believed they recognized Arbery from previous videos taken by a neighbor showing a person lurking on four occasions around a vacant house under construction amid a series of property thefts in the community.

"If you ask, 'Would these defendants have grabbed guns and done this to a white guy?' and the answer is yes," said defense lawyer Amy Lee Copeland, representing Travis McMichael, the man who fired the three shotgun blasts that killed Arbery.

She and fellow defense lawyers said the record of past derogatory statements made by her clients about Black people failed to prove their actions on the day of Arbery's killing were racially motivated.

Copeland said prosecutors presented no evidence that her client "ever spoke to anyone about Mr. Arbery in racial terms" or used a racial slur on the day of the killing. And she added that the government never connected McMichael to any white supremacist or hate groups.

A.J. Balbo, the attorney Gregory McMichael, argued that the defendants were motivated by a desire to protect their neighborhood.

Pete Theodocion, Bryan's attorney, argued the evidence of racism was merely "circumstantial."

"Yes, the N-word six times is six times too many, but it is not evidence (of a hate crime)," he told jurors.

All three men are charged with depriving Arbery of his civil rights by attacking him because of his race, as well as with attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels are additionally charged with a federal firearms offense.

The hate-crimes felony, the most serious of the charges, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Both McMichaels had agreed last month to plead guilty to the federal hate-crimes offense, and the son acknowledged in court that he singled out Arbery because of his "race and color."

But Judge Wood rejected the plea bargain because it bound her to a 30-year sentence that prosecutors had agreed would be served in a federal lockup before the men were returned to the Georgia prison system, widely perceived as a tougher environment for inmates compared with federal penitentiaries.

The plea deals were then withdrawn, and all three defendants proceeded to trial.
An independent United Nations human rights expert says Russia and China have been supplying Myanmars military junta with weapons that have been used against civilians.

Tom Andrews, the U.N.s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, issued a detailed report Tuesday on the types of weapons the two nations have been selling to the junta since 2018, including fighter jets, armored vehicles, ballistic missile systems and mobile defense systems. The report said this was done with the full knowledge they would likely be used in attacks against civilians.

The report also singled out Serbia for authorizing the transfer of rockets and artillery to Myanmars military.

There has been no immediate comment from China, Myanmar, Russia or Serbia.

China and Russia are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

Andrews report also identifies several nations, including Belarus, Ukraine, Pakistan, South Korea and Israel, saying they have supplied Myanmars military with weapons since 2018, even after it launched a crackdown on ethnic Muslim Rohingya minority members in western Rakhine state. The crackdown drove more than 700,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh.

Myanmars military seized power on February 1, 2021, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto head of the civilian government, and other high-ranking officials, claiming widespread fraud in the general election the previous November. Suu Kyis National League for Democracy won the vote in a landslide over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.

China has in the past described the coup as a Cabinet reshuffle, with Russia calling it a purely domestic affair. Both used their influence on the Security Council to water.

In a written statement, Andrews, a former U.S. congressman, appeared to criticize the U.N. Security Council for failing to vote on a resolution passed last June by the U.N. General Assembly calling on member states to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar.

Andrews said the transfers of weapons to Myanmar to kill civilians truly shock the conscience, and called on the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to debate and vote on a resolution to ban the transfers.

The more the world delays, the more innocent people, including children, will die in Myanmar, he said.

In November, the Security Council put out a statement calling for a cessation of violence in Myanmar.

An independent Thailand-based activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, says at least 1,560 people have been killed in violent protests against the military regime since last Februarys coup.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
India on Tuesday sent the first consignment of 50,000 tons of wheat that it has pledged to give Afghanistan, where more than half the country is grappling with hunger.

The grain is being transported via Pakistan in a rare instance of the archrivals setting aside their deep differences to allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to reach conflict-ridden Afghanistan.

A convoy of 50 Afghan trucks loaded with about 2,500 tons of wheat and bearing banners that read, A gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan, was waved off by Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the Attari-Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan.

The wheat will be handed over in Jalalabad to the United Nations World Food Program, with which India has signed a pact to distribute the aid in Afghanistan.

The Attari-Wagah border crossing has been virtually closed to all exports from India since August 2019, when Islamabad suspended trade ties with New Delhi, but Islamabad allowed the shipment through its territory after a request from New Delhi.

It, however, took them nearly three months to sort out the logistics of the transportation.

Afghan trucks are carrying the wheat because Islamabad did not want Indian trucks to travel through its territory, according to reports. Pakistan has said it is opening the land route as an exception for the humanitarian aid.

Shringla said that India will fulfill its commitment to supply 50,000 tons of wheat in two to three months.

In a tweet, Afghanistans Karzai administration-appointed ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay, who was present at the ceremony when the trucks rolled out, said, I thank the Indian government for the generosity displayed at a time when more than 20 million Afghans are facing crisis or the worse levels of food insecurity in more than three decades. He said the wheat committed by India is one of the largest food contributions done by any country in this difficult hour.

The director of the World Food Program in India, Bishow Parajuli, who was also present at the ceremony, said, All the help Afghanistan receives will be of extreme value and therefore this help coming from India is really timely and very important.

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year, India, which had helped build key development projects in the country, was largely sidelined and suspended its diplomatic presence in Kabul.

New Delhi, however, has reiterated it will continue humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, with the Indian Foreign Ministry saying in a statement on Tuesday that it remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan.

New Delhi has sent five consignments consisting of half a million doses of coronavirus vaccines, along with 13 tons of essential medicine and winter clothing -- the latest being dispatched on Saturday.

In its annual budget presented earlier this month, India also allocated about $26.5 million for aid for Afghanistan  but the figure is at a lower level compared to last year, when it committed $40 million.

Political analysts say the humanitarian aid is a diplomatic route for India to build some links with the Taliban, which has welcomed Indias offer of help.

In January, the United Nations asked the international community for $4.4 billion for Afghanistan for 2022 -- its largest ever appeal for humanitarian assistance for a single country.

U.N. aid agencies have described Afghanistans plight as one of the worlds most rapidly growing humanitarian crises.

About 23 million people there face acute food insecurity, and 9 million are on the brink of starvation, according to the World Food Program.
The U.N. Security Council met in an emergency late night session Monday after Russias president signed a declaration recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent states.

The internationally-recognized borders of Ukraine have been and will remain unchangeable, regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation, Ukraines U.N. ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the council of President Vladimir Putins recognition of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

We demand from Russia to cancel the decision on recognition and return to the table of negotiations, he said. We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine. We demand immediate and complete, verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops.

The United States, the European Union and Britain have all announced they are imposing a first round of sanctions on Moscow for the move, which violates international norms and law and Ukraines sovereignty. In the Security Council, they reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraines sovereignty.

In this moment, no one can stand on the sidelines, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. We must make it clear that an attack on Ukraine is an attack on the sovereignty of every U.N. member state and the U.N. Charter  and that it will be met with swift and severe consequences.

She said Washington continues to believe that diplomacy is the only way to resolve the crisis and preserve peace.

Western leaders and analysts say the move is a pretext for Russia to invade its southern neighbor, something Moscow has denied until now as western hysteria.

President Putin followed recognition with an order for what he called peacekeeping troops to deploy to the two Russian-occupied regions to protect civilians there. Since 2014, Moscow has given citizenship to several hundred thousand people who are of Russian ethnicity in Donetsk and Luhansk.

He calls them peacekeepers, this is nonsense, the U.S. envoy said. We know what they really are.

Western officials say Moscow has amassed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraines borders.

The next hours and days will be critical, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo warned. The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs.

Russias envoy said from listening to other council members, one might get the impression that Moscows decision was sudden and rash.

Of course, thats not the case. It should be remembered that the DPR and LPR declared their independence from Ukraine back in 2014, Vassily Nebenzia said, using an abbreviation for Donetsk and Luhansk. But we only recognized them now, despite the high level of support in both in the republics and in Russian society from the very beginning.

He said 60,000 people have fled the area into Russia in recent days, blaming intensified Ukrainian shelling. Kyiv says it is not attacking the population.

The Organization for Security Cooperation in Europes (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission recorded more than 3,000 cease-fire violations in the region from February 18-20, including 926 explosions in Luhansk region, and 1,100 blasts in Donetsk. It did not attribute cause or source.

We remain open to diplomacy, for a diplomatic solution, Nebenzia said. However, allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is not something we intend to do, he said referring to the collective name of the region.

Council members overwhelmingly expressed their support for Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, while calling for a diplomatic solution.

Russia has brought us to the brink, British envoy Barbara Woodward said. We urge Russia to step back.

Kenyas envoy said his country is gravely concerned by Moscows recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk. He said that while nearly every African country had been born out of the end of an empire, with artificial borders drawn by colonial powers, they kept them because they followed the U.N. Charter and they wanted peace.

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? he asked.

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 domination and oppression, Ambassador Kimani said.

Ukraine is a former republic of the Soviet Union, but gained its independence in a referendum in 1991.
Authorities in New Zealand say police have been the target of two separate attacks by protesters staging a sit-in protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the capital Wellington.

A protester was caught on video speeding in his car towards a group of officers Tuesday morning before coming to a quick stop moments before colliding with them. The driver was pulled out of the car and arrested for driving in a dangerous manner.

Meanwhile, three police officers were taken to a hospital for treatment after they were sprayed with what was described as a stinging substance that police believe was acid. Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers told reporters Tuesday the three police officers are recovering well after the attack.

The two incidents occurred hours after hundreds of police were deployed to move roadblocks into a tighter cordon around a large group of demonstrators who have blocked roads around Parliament for two weeks and have set up an elaborate camp on Parliament grounds.

The encampment, complete with tents, portable toilets, food distribution points and childcare facilities, emulates the anti-vaccine protests that were staged in the Canadian capital of Ottawa until police pushed out the demonstrators Sunday. The protests have evolved from its strict focus against the governments vaccine mandates into a broader anti-government demonstration.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denounced the attacks on police as disgraceful Tuesday and called on the demonstrators to leave Wellington. Police said Monday some of the protesters had thrown human excrement at them.

New Zealand has reported just 36,164 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Some say the low numbers of casualties is due to strict border controls and lockdowns imposed by Arderns government that drew praise from the international community. However, the Pacific nation of 5 million people has struggled recently with a major outbreak of new cases driven by the omicron variant, with daily case numbers rising above a seven-day average of more than 1,600 cases, according to Reuters.

Ardern told protesters Monday that she will begin easing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions once the current surge subsides.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Nigerian officials have welcomed the World Health Organization's announcement that the country would be among the first on the continent to receive technology to produce COVID-19 vaccines.

WHO on Friday said Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia were also chosen as part of a push for Africa to make its own vaccines to fight COVID and other diseases.

Less than 6% of Nigeria's population, Africa's largest, are vaccinated against COVID and officials say local production would have a major impact.

The WHO's announcement in Brussels Friday was the latest effort by the global health body to boost vaccine production in Africa.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanum Ghebreyesus said production of the mRNA vaccines in Africa will address vaccines inequality issues.

"Globally vaccine production is concentrated in a few mostly high-income countries," Tedros said. "One of the most obvious lessons of the pandemic is therefore the urgent need to increase local production of vaccines especially in low- and middle-income countries."

Africa is home to more than 1.2 billion people but the WHO says more than 80% of the population has yet to receive a single dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Ghebreyesus said the WHO will provide technical trainings and support on vaccines production to the six African countries. As of yet, there are no details on when production might begin.

Officials in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, where just about six percent of the population have been vaccinated, welcomed the WHO vaccine production initiative.

Bashir Ahmad, the president's new media aide, said in a tweet "the president welcomed the designation of Nigeria as one of the countries in Africa designated as one of the manufacturing bases for the covid-19 vaccine.

Ahmad said the president also called for more collaborations to address the effects of the pandemic.

Kunle Adebayo, a pharmaceutical research expert at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, said producing the vaccines in Nigeria should lead to higher use and acceptance of COVID-19 shots.

It will help ensure availability on demand, which will also reduce the waste we have seen in terms of expiry dates and destruction of vaccines because they were sent late to us," Adebayo said. "The fact that the vaccines will be produced within the continent will definitely increase the confidence of the people in using them and that would address one major plank of vaccine hesitancy.

But Adebayo said there might be initial challenges.

"The technology that will be applied is still relatively new and it's work in progress in a sense," Adebayo said. "There could be challenges implementing and then also the corporation from the various owners of technologies and those with the expertise to assist us. There could also be the normal infrastructural challenges that we face in most of the continent."

The Global mRNA technology hub was established last year to support vaccine manufacturers in low- and medium-income countries.

The WHO said the hub also has the potential to expand manufacturing capacity for other medicines and diagnostics.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to travel to Russia on Wednesday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, as the West condemns the Russian leader over the deepening Ukraine crisis.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Putin and Khan "will review the entire array" of relations between the two countries, including energy cooperation.

"They will also have wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues, including Islamophobia and situation in Afghanistan," the statement added.

Russia's official news agency TASS quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters Tuesday that Putin's meeting with Khan "is scheduled for Thursday."

Officials in Islamabad are maintaining that Khan's two-day trip, the first such visit to Moscow by a Pakistani prime minister in 23 years, was taking place at the invitation of President Putin and was planned before the Ukraine standoff happened. Khan will be the first foreign leader to visit Moscow since Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway republics of Donestsk and Luhansk.

Speaking to Russian state-controlled RT channel Tuesday, Khan dismissed suggestions his visit had anything to do with global politics in the wake of Russia's escalating tensions with Europe and the United States over Ukraine.

"This [Ukraine crisis] does not concern us. We have a bilateral relationship with Russia, and we really want to strengthen it," Khan said.

"Now, what we want to do is not become part of any bloc. We want to have trading relations with all countries," the Pakistani leader said.

Khan went on to says he hopes the Ukraine crisis is resolved peacefully.

"I do not believe that military conflicts solve problems.  The countries that rely on a military conflict have not studied history properly," Khan argued. "The developing world really wishes that there is not another Cold War."

The Pakistani leader said international oil prices already have risen sharply because of the prospect of a Russia-Ukraine conflict and that it would have "huge repercussions" on the developing world. Khan also noted that both Ukraine and Russia are among major suppliers of wheat to the world.

Meanwhile, Russian tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine early Tuesday, ostensibly on what the Kremlin calls a "peacekeeping mission" to protect the two breakaway republics that Moscow fashioned eight years ago and now is formally recognizing as independent states.

Pakistan and Russia were once bitter adversaries, as Islamabad closely aligned itself with the United States during the Cold War.

The Pakistani intelligence agency worked closely with the American CIA in arming and training Afghan fighters to successfully end a decade-long Russian occupation of neighboring Afghanistan in 1989.

Islamabad and Moscow, however, have restored ties in recent years, with both routinely holding joint military exercises and attempting to develop energy cooperation to help Pakistan overcome shortages.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's ties with Washington have deteriorated over allegations the South Asian major Non-NATO ally covertly helped the Islamist Taliban in waging a deadly insurgency against U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan. The Taliban regained power last August.

Islamabad denies the accusations and blames what it says was a flawed U.S. military policy in dealing with the Afghan conflict that ultimately led to a chaotic withdrawal of international troops from the neighboring country in August after 20 years.

Russian and Pakistani officials acknowledge their efforts to deepen bilateral economic cooperation face multiple challenges. Several major Russian companies are under U.S. sanctions and unable to invest in Pakistan.

Critics say a meaningful bilateral defense cooperation also faces roadblocks, such as Russia's longstanding ties with Pakistan's bitter rival India, a major importer of Russian military hardware. They say Moscow does not want to upset New Delhi by offering any major defense-related, or for that matter, economic deals to Islamabad.

Combating regional terrorism and the flow of narcotics from Afghanistan seems to be what is primarily driving Russia's diplomatic engagement with Pakistan, according to analysts.

Pakistan also has developed close economic and military ties with Ukraine in recent years and is a major importer of Ukrainian wheat.

Emine Dzheppar, the first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, tweeted on Monday after meeting the Pakistani ambassador to Kyiv and said the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"Grateful to Pakistan for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Dzheppar wrote.
Police in the Central African Republic have detained four French soldiers who are with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSCA). The arrests sparked false rumors that France had attempted to assassinate the C.A.R.s president.

The French military personnel were arrested Monday at the airport in Bangui.

The four men were in the security escort of French general Stephane Marchenior, the U.N. peacekeeping mission chief of staff.

Marchenior was at the airport for a time Monday before C.A.R. President Faustin Archange Touadera was due to return from a trip to Belgium.

After Marchenior departed, the four soldiers were arrested. President Touaderas plane landed a half-hour following the arrests.

The soldiers remained in custody Tuesday, and police have not given a reason for their arrest.

However, pictures of the French soldiers, their U.N. identifications and their military equipment have flooded social media accounts across Africa, along with a message accusing France of attempting to assassinate Touadera.

A Central African website known for its ties with Russian interests in Bangui was among the sites posting the allegations.

The French Embassy in Bangui and the U.N. mission in the C.A.R. condemned what they called a misinformation campaign.

The U.N. statement said: MINUSCA regrets this incident and condemns it's instrumentalization on social media in an attempt to manipulate public opinion. It firmly rejects the accusations of attack against state security."

C.A.R. authorities have refused to comment on the incident.
In a square that a few years ago was a grim stage for the Islamic State groups brutal rule in the Syrian city of Raqqa, Mahmoud Dander sat deep in thought.

He wants to leave Syria, but has a problem: The 75-year-old has no money. He recalled the old days before protests and wars led to his countrys collapse and national currency crash: Syria wasn't thriving back then, but he had work, his children had university degrees and decent futures, and food was always on the table.

Thats all gone now. "We have fallen, just like our currency," he said.

Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the self-proclaimed IS caliphate and home to about 300,000 people, is now free, but many of its residents try to leave. Those with property are trying to sell it to save up for the journey to Turkey. Those without money struggle to get by.

At least 3,000 people left Raqqa for Turkey in 2021, according to the citys civil council co-chair Mohammed Nour.

Their reasons span the spectrum of post-war life in Syria, one of the worlds most complex conflict zones. They include economic collapse and widespread unemployment following one of the worst years of drought, as well as fears of an IS comeback and a proliferation of criminal gangs. And there is the looming specter of conflict between rival powers that control various parts of northern Syria, including Turkey, Russia and Syrian government forces.

On the surface, the citys slow recovery from IS rule is evident. Cafes and restaurant are full of patrons. Kurdish-led forces stand guard at every major intersection.

But poverty is rampant in the majority Arab city administered by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces. People line up for basics such as bread. Unemployed young men sit around. Water and electricity are limited. Many live among bombed-out ruins. Local officials say at least 30% of the city remains destroyed.

Poverty and unemployment drive young men into the arms of IS. Kurdish investigators say new IS recruits captured last month had been lured by money. At the same time, the Kurdish-led city administration received applications from 27,000 job seekers last year, but had no jobs.

Milhem Daher, a 35-year-old engineer, is in the process of selling his home, businesses and properties to pay a smuggler to take him and his family of eight to Turkey, a key route for Syrian migrants trying to win asylum in Europe.

He plans to leave as soon as he has enough money.

Daher had survived Raqqas recent violent history, including the outbreak of Syrias civil war in 2011, and the 2014 takeover by IS militants who turned the city into the capital of their caliphate spanning parts of Syria and Iraq. A U.S.-led coalition dropped thousands of bombs on the once vibrant city to drive out IS, liberating it in 2017. IS lost its last territorial foothold in Syria in 2019.

Daher emerged from the dark chapter ready to invest, but said he faced many obstacles, including a lack of resources and export markets. "If you sell to locals, it wont generate profit," he said.

For his first project, Daher bought seeds to cultivate vegetables. When it was time to harvest, traders werent interested in paying the asking price.

He purchased trucks to lift rubble amid reconstruction efforts. But the quality of the vehicles quickly degraded as a result of poor fuel in the market and lack of materials for upkeep. A potato chip factory and internet service company also floundered.

Finally, Daher bought livestock, but a devastating drought led to shortages in animal feed. His cattle died.

Now he is selling off what remains of these failed businesses to start a new life. He needs $10,000.

In Raqqa, having money can also be a problem as kidnappings-for-ransom are on the rise.

Real estate developer Imam al-Hasan, 37, was taken from his home and held for days by attackers in military fatigues. To secure his release, he paid $400,000, money belonging to him and traders who trusted him with their life savings. He complained to the local authorities, but he said nothing was done. A month after the ordeal, bruises are still visible on his face and legs.

Al-Hasan, too, is selling his home and belongings. "There is nothing left for me here," he said.

Two of Al-Hasan's relatives who left in September and recently arrived in Europe said that apart from economic uncertainty it was the threat of more violence that pushed them to leave.

"At any moment the situation could explode, how can I stay there?" said Ibrahim, 27. He and Mohammed, 41, spoke under the condition that only their first names be used, citing security concerns for their wives and children still living in the city.

Like many others, their journey from northeastern Syria to Europe began via tunnels along the town of Ras al-Ain, which straddles the border with Turkey.

The smuggler had charged $2,000 per person. From there, the path to Europe was riddled with risk.

Ibrahim arrived in Germany last week after an arduous journey that began in Belarus. Mohammed walked for treacherous miles before setting off for Greece by boat. He ended up in The Netherlands in October.

Mohammed is waiting for a chance to bring his family from Raqqa to Europe, he said in a phone interview. For now, he is without work.

Back in Raqqa, Reem al-Ani, 70, prepares tea for two. Her son is the only one of four children who has remained in Syria. The others are spread across the world.

The stairs leading to their apartment are riddled with bullet holes, remnants of battles to dislodge IS. The ceilings are charred from smoke.

She has grown accustomed to a silent house. "I miss them," she said of her children.

Nearby, in Naim Square, the elderly Dander says he barely makes ends meet, surviving on his rapidly diminishing pension from his previous government job.

His three children have university degrees in engineering and literature, and one was a teacher, he said. But none have been able to find work. He wishes he had the money to help them leave.

"I spend every day thinking about how to get out," he said.
Slovakia marked on Monday the anniversary of the 2018 slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee by unveiling a monument to honor them at a central square in the capital of Bratislava.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger and the parents of the two were among those attending the unveiling ceremony.

Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were shot dead at their home in the town of Velka Maca, east of Bratislava, on Feb. 21, 2018.

Kuciak had been investigating possible government corruption when he was killed. The killings prompted major street protests unseen since the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia and a political crisis that led to the government's collapse.

"I thank all those who work to prevent people from forgetting what happened and why it happened," Kusnirova's mother Zlatica said.

Three defendants have been sentenced in the case. Among them, a former soldier who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting the two received 25 years in prison.

In June, Slovakia's Supreme Court dismissed a lower court's acquittal of a businessman accused of masterminding the slayings. A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court said the lower court did not properly assess available evidence when it cleared businessman Marian Kocner and one co-defendant of murder.

It ordered a retrial that is scheduled to begin next week.

Prosecutors alleged Kocner ordered the killing. He denies that.

Kocner had allegedly threatened Kuciak following the publication of a story about his business dealings.

In the meantime, Kocner was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a separate forgery case.
South Africa is sending fresh troops and armored vehicles to Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province as part of efforts to fight Islamic State-connected insurgents.

The deployment is part of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) military intervention, which started in July last year.

More than 3,000 SADC and Rwandan troops have been sent to Mozambique to fight against Islamic State-connected insurgents. The conflict has claimed more than three thousand lives and displaced 800,000 people.

The South African National Defense Forces spokesperson Brigadier-General Andries Mahapa says the fresh troops will be deployed soon.

We are just confirming the mode of transport. It could be air, land or sea. Remember in terms of security we cannot come out straight to say we are coming through by land or so forth. So that will compromise us. But we are combat ready to deploy, said Mahapa.

The joint force is known as the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique or SAMIM.

Willem Els, security analyst and counter terrorism trainer from the Institute of Security Studies, says to this point South Africa has mainly sent special forces to Mozambique.

He says that will change with the latest deployment.

They now are sending in some mechanized infantry, they sending in some para-bats. They sending in some of your path finder troops as well as well as some of the special forces so it is a more balanced sort of contingent that is moving in to go and stabilize the situation even further, he said.

Other SADC members with forces in Mozambique include Botswana, Lesotho, Angola, and Zambia.

Rwanda deployed a separate force on the invitation of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. Its believed Rwanda is being backed by the French government as French energy company TotalEnergies SE has a huge gas concession in Cabo Delgado.

Els says the multiplicity of forces can make things complicated.

You have the SAMIM forces deployed, then you have the Mozambican forces deployed along with them, then you have the Rwandan forces you know your chances of friendly fire are quite high if you have an area operation that overflows, etc. So fortunately, that has not happened as yet and we also notice that some real effort has been put in, in terms of SAMIM and the Rwandan forces to better coordinate and cooperate in terms of their operations, said Els.

Asked whether the force has been successful, military spokesman Mahapa had this to say.

The force under the current situation they are doing fairly well. Remember that it is not only South Africans. So we are as SAMIM forces there are successes that we are achieving. The insurgents are withdrawing. We are gaining ground, he said.

Els says besides the military intervention efforts must also be made to make the people of northern Mozambique feel like they are being taken care of by their government. Otherwise, he says, theyre ripe for recruitment by the insurgents.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday took up a major new legal fight pitting religious beliefs against LGBT rights, agreeing to hear an evangelical Christian web designer's free speech claim that she cannot be forced under a Colorado anti-discrimination law to produce websites for same-sex marriages.

The justices agreed to hear Denver-area business owner Lorie Smith's appeal of a lower court's ruling rejecting her bid for an exemption from a Colorado law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and certain other factors. The case follows the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in favor of a Christian Denver-area baker who refused on religious grounds to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Smith's case gives the justices an opportunity to answer a question that has been raised in other disputes including the baker case but never definitively resolved: can people refuse service to customers in violation of public accommodation laws based on the idea that fulfilling a creative act such as designing a website or baking a cake is a form of free speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that anti-discrimination laws, like Colorado's, apply to all businesses selling goods and services. Companies cannot turn away LGBT customers just because of who they are," said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat.

Colorado's anti-discrimination law bars anyone from refusing "goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations" based among other things on sexual orientation, age, race, gender and religion. Colorado is among 21 U.S. states that have measures explicitly barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations.

These laws pose "a clear and present danger to every American's constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation," said Kristen Waggoner, general counsel of the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents Smith.

"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," Waggoner added.

The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has become increasingly supportive of religious rights and related free speech claims in recent years even as it has backed LGBT rights in other cases.

The justices declined to take up a separate question concerning whether Smith has a religious rights claim, also under the First Amendment. Smith had asked the court to overturn its important 1990 ruling that limited the ability of people to cite their religious beliefs in seeking exemptions from laws that apply to everyone.

Smith runs a web design business called 303 Creative that she wants to operate in accordance with her Christian faith. She believes that marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples, a view shared by many conservative Christians.

Before adding wedding websites to the services she offered customers, Smith sued Colorado's civil rights commission and other officials in 2016 because of her concern she would be punished under the anti-discrimination law.

Smith's lawyers have said that any state action punishing her for refusing to design websites for gay weddings violates her right to religious expression and her free speech rights.

Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel at LGBT rights group Lambda Legal, said the Supreme Court should "reaffirm and apply longstanding constitutional precedent that our freedoms of religion and speech are not a license to discriminate when operating a business."

Colorado officials have said they never investigated Smith's company and saw no evidence that anyone ever actually asked her to design a website for a same-sex wedding. Lower courts backed Colorado, including the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a July 2021 ruling.

The justices are set to hear oral arguments and decide the case in the Supreme Court's next term, which begins in October and ends in June 2023.

The Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide in 2015 and in 2020 expanded protections for LGBT workers under federal law. The Supreme Court has struggled to resolve cases in which conservative religious opposition to LGBT rights has clashed with situations in which LGBT people are seeking to exercise their own rights.

Smith's appeal arises from a dispute similar to the one that prompted the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling on narrow legal grounds siding with a Colorado baker named Jack Phillips. The court said in that case that Colorado's civil rights commission, which imposed sanctions on Phillips for discrimination, was motivated by anti-religious bias.

Similar legal fights involving other small business including a wedding photographer and a calligrapher owners have been waged in other states.


The United Nations' independent expert on human rights in the Central African Republic says the government and its Russian allies should stop obstructing investigations.

The U.N.'s Yao Agbetse says the C.A.R. military and Russian mercenaries prevent access for U.N. investigators and are believed responsible for nearly half the country's rights violations.

Clashes are still going on in the Central African Republic countryside, where the national army and Russian mercenaries are chasing the rebels who attacked the capital of Bangui last year.

During the past four months, at least 229 civilians have died, according to a recent U.N. report. But that figure could be underestimated, because U.N. investigators are prevented from accessing sites of various alleged crimes.

The U.N. recently sent Agbetse to Bangui with a message for the Central African government: Draw a red line that allies cannot cross, he said. If U.N. investigators are impeded from accessing places where violations could have been committed, he added, the assumption is that the government doesn't want the truth to be known.

The U.N. said it documented at least 4 cases of mass executions since October, mostly around mining sites.

When asked why the C.A.R. government is blocking access to the sites, presidential spokesperson Albert Yaloke Mokpeme questioned why the U.N. has been in the country for eight years, but failed to protect them from attack.

He also said that for years the rebels illegally occupied ore deposits and exploited them to buy weapons, so his government acted accordingly.

When asked again why the government is impeding access to the sites, Mokpeme said, "We are not preventing anyone from doing their job, but don't tell us what to do."

Experts say Russian mercenaries from the private company Wagner Group gain mining contracts in the C.A.R. in exchange for their military support.

Wagner Group is widely believed to have links to the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian government has denied any such link.


Western allies quickly moved Tuesday to punish Russia with economic sanctions after President Vladimir Putin recognized the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states and sent what he described as "peacekeeping forces" over the Ukrainian border.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted authorization for Nord Stream 2, the completed but not yet operational natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, at least temporarily cutting potential fuel deliveries to Germany but also depriving Moscow of revenue from the pipeline.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament he had sanctioned five Russian banks and three "high net worth" executives, freezing their assets in Britain and cutting off financial transactions with them.

"This is the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do," Johnson said.

Russian lawmakers on Tuesday gave Putin permission to use military force outside the country, possibly presaging a broader attack on Ukraine

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that "Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil" in Donetsk and Luhansk but that it was not a "fully fledged invasion."

In Washington, however, the White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an "invasion" after initially hesitating to use the term. President Joe Biden has said that Russian troops crossing into Ukraine would constitute an invasion and 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. "An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway."

In a phone briefing with reporters late Monday, a senior U.S. official said further U.S. sanctions beyond those imposed quickly on Luhansk and Donetsk after Putin declared their independence would "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."

The official declined to give specifics of what the U.S. is planning to impose. France and other Western allies in Europe are also expected to impose their own sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called Tuesday for immediate sanctions, including halting of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, without waiting for further Russian aggression.

For weeks, the U.S. and European allies have warned of swift and severe consequences for Russia if it launched an invasion of Ukraine, a possibility viewed with growing concern as Russia deployed 150,000 troops and military equipment along its border with Ukraine and in Belarus, a Russian ally to the north of Ukraine.

Russian tanks entered eastern Ukraines Donbas region overnight, Western diplomats and residents in Donetsk confirmed to VOA. It was unclear if their presence constituted significant movement of Russian forces or instead movement of Russian-backed militias already in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an initial set of sanctions Monday in response to Putins recognition of the breakaway regions and his order to deploy what he called Russian peacekeeping forces.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the first round of sanctions was specifically tied to those actions and did not represent the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.

Bidens order prohibits new investment, trade and financing by Americans in those areas. This wasnt a speech just about Russias security, a senior administration official said. It was an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine. He (Putin) made clear that he views Ukraine historically as part of Russia. And he made a number of false claims about Ukraine contention that seemed designed to excuse possible military action. This was a speech to the Russian people to justify war.

The official would not say whether plans were still on for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, later this week. That meeting was intended to set the scene for a possible summit between Putin and Biden, with the United States saying both were predicated on Russia not invading Ukraine.

Well continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll, the official said. We are under no illusions about what is likely to come next. And were prepared to respond decisively when it does.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tuesday the Russian side was still ready for negotiations.

Blinken is scheduled to host Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for a meeting in Washington on Tuesday after speaking with him by phone Monday to reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement.

Analyst and author Angela Stent of the Brookings Institution said Monday that a summit between Biden and Putin is an especially fraught proposition now.

At this point, I think, to have another in-person meeting between President Biden and President Putin without some conditions being laid for the Russians, without them showing some goodwill or sincere interest in discussions by reversing some of the things that theyre doing, I think it makes no sense to do that, she said to reporters and analysts. Because, you know, otherwise were just playing into the Kremlins hands, and it looks as if theyre going to go ahead and do whatever they want to do irrespective of these negotiations.

Author and analyst Steven Pifer agreed.

I dont want to downplay diplomacy, he said. But at this point in time, I would think that there would have to be some indication to the White House that a meeting with Putin would actually have a chance of yielding something. And right now, again, based on the experience that (French President Emmanuel) Macron had, that Scholz had, it doesnt seem like these meetings  I think they are ego boosters for the Russian president, but they dont seem to be doing anything to turn him from a course which has been one of continual escalation of the crisis.

Biden spoke to both the German and French leaders Monday, and, separately, with Zelenskyy. In both calls, the White House said, The leaders strongly condemned President Putins decision to recognize the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine as independent.

Washington was immediately joined by the European Union in announcing sanctions, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel calling Putins recognition of these separatist areas a blatant violation of international law.

The Kremlin said Putin informed the leaders of France and Germany Monday of his decision and then signed documents declaring the regions as no longer part of Ukraine.

Putin, from a desk at the Kremlin, delivered a lengthy televised address to the Russian people, outlining his version of the history of national boundaries in Europe and the 1990s breakup of the Soviet Union.

He contended that Ukraine was never a true nation but rather historically a part of Russia.

About 14,000 people have been killed in the flashpoint Donbas territory since 2014 in fighting between pro-Moscow separatists and Kyivs forces, trench warfare battles that started after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have contended that Russia is staging false-flag operations in Donetsk and Luhansk to make it appear Ukrainian forces are an increasing threat. Kyiv says it does not intend to launch a full-scale attack on the region in eastern Ukraine, and the West says Russia is attempting to justify grounds for an invasion to protect Russian sympathizers.

The separatists want Russia to sign friendship treaties and give them military aid to protect them from what they contend is an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive.

The Russian parliament last week called on Putin to formally recognize the DNR and LNR, both of which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOAs Chris Hannas contributed to the report.
U.S. lawmakers stepped up calls Tuesday for sanctions against Russia, urging the Biden administration to act swiftly to penalize Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Despite significant bipartisan unity for deterring Russian aggression in Ukraine, Democrats and Republicans have struggled to agree on how to sequence sanctions to discourage and penalize Putin for incursions into the independent eastern European nation.

But Putins televised national speech Monday characterizing Ukraine as historically part of Russia and never a true nation drew swift condemnation from top U.S. lawmakers.

Vladimir Putins illegal recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics is an act of unprovoked aggression and a brazen violation of international law, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said in a statement.

This illegal recognition is an attack on Ukraines sovereignty. To be clear, if any additional Russian troops or proxy forces cross into Donbas, the Biden administration and our European allies must not hesitate in imposing crushing sanctions, Menendez continued.

An estimated 150,000 Russian troops have massed at the border with Ukraine in recent weeks. Putins claim that the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are no longer a part of Ukraine opens the door for so-called Russian peacekeeping troops to go into those areas. The U.S. and its allies say this mission is a false flag operation to allow further incursion into Ukraine.

Many Republicans have criticized the White Houses approach to the crisis, calling the Russian leaders move an invasion and accusing the Biden administration of waiting until it is too late to deter Putin.

Setting the trigger for meaningful sanctions to Russian tanks rolling across Ukraines border was a dangerous mistake, Rep. Mike McCaul and Mike Rogers, the ranking Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs and House Armed Services Committees, said in a statement Monday. Secretary Blinken committed to a swift and firm response by the United States and its allies if Putin recognized Russian-backed separatist Republics in Donbas. Now that the Kremlin has done so, we must immediately impose real costs for this blatant act of aggression.

The United States has already announced an executive order prohibiting new American investment and trade in those regions. The White House said additional swift and severe actions would follow Tuesday.

But some Republicans said these actions had come too late to be effective.

Biden-Harris officials are to an enormous extent directly responsible for this crisis. He and his administration instead settled for an endlessly deferred and wholly uncredible strategy of responding to Putin's aggression after an invasion. They have pursued bizarre tactics like declassifying American intelligence and trying to shame Putin. That approach has failed, Republican Senator Ted Cruz said Monday.

Congressional Democrats praised Biden for preparing for this moment and said it marked a turning point in triggering sanctions on the Kremlin.

"The time for taking action to impose significant costs on President Putin and the Kremlin starts now, Senator Chris Coons, a top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement Monday.

President Biden has ably led months of preparation for this moment with our allies in NATO and Europe, and Im encouraged by clear condemnations of Putins actions as well as statements of unity from our partners and allies. We must swiftly join our NATO allies and partners in the European Union to impose forceful new sanctions on Russia, Coons continued.

Both Menendez and Risch have introduced sanctions legislation in the U.S. Senate that would end Russian access to international banking transactions, provide hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine as well as cutting off funding for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are in recess this week and not set to be back in session until the end of the month.
The United Nations opened an emergency Security Council meeting on the deepening Ukraine crisis on Monday, after Russia recognized two breakaway regions there and ordered troops to be deployed as peacekeepers.

"We are confronted with a very, very dramatic situation," French ambassador to the United Nations Nicolas de Riviere told reporters before entering the council chamber. France was among a handful of nations that called the emergency session at the instigation of Ukraine.

Addressing the session, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield heaped scorn on Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that the troops he earlier ordered deployed to the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine would act in a peacekeeping role.

WATCH: United Nations Security Council meeting

"He calls them peacekeepers. This is nonsense. We know what they really are," Thomas-Greenfield said.

Putin's order has been widely seen as paving the way for an operation to deploy part of the potential invasion force he has massed on Ukraine's borders.

In a lengthy televised national address announcing his recognition of the rebel-held areas, Putin railed against Ukraine as a failed state and "puppet" of the West, repeatedly suggesting it was essentially part of Russia.

Thomas-Greenfield said the speech amounted to a "series of outrageous, false claims" that were aimed at "creating a pretext for war."

Russia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council, had wanted the Security Council session to be closed but the United States insisted it be public.

Putin's recognition of the separatist republics effectively buries a fragile 2015 peace plan for the conflict, and opens the door for direct Russian military involvement.

Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment of the "peacekeeping" forces, only saying that it "comes into force from the day it was signed."
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states, signing documents declaring them no longer part of Ukraine. Hours earlier, the separatist leaders of the regions made a video appeal for the independence declaration.

Location

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions  collectively known as the Donbas  are in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia. The region comprises both Kyiv-controlled parts as well as separatist-controlled areas. Its main industries are coal mining and steel production.

Population

Most of the 3.6 million people living in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions speak Russian, a result of a migration of Russian workers to the regions after World War II, during the Soviet era. Moscow has in recent years issued more than 720,000 Russian passports to roughly one-fifth of the region's population, according to The Associated Press.

Rebel control

Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions took over government buildings in 2014 and proclaimed the regions as independent "people's republics." The move followed Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Fighting

Since 2014, more than 14,000 people have been killed in fighting in the Donbas region between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of backing the separatists both militarily and financially, a charge Moscow denies.

Amid the fighting, a Malaysian airliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board. International investigators concluded the missile was supplied by Russia and fired from an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Russia has denied involvement.

Independence

After separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions took power in 2014, they held a vote to declare independence. Until now, no country recognized their bid. On Monday, Putin announced the independence of the regions after meeting with the Russian Security Council. His announcement followed a video appeal by the regions' separatist leaders for the recognition of independence.

Regional leaders

Each of the regions has its own self-proclaimed president. In a vote disputed by Kyiv, Denis Pushilin was elected in 2018 to lead the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, while Leonid Pasechnik is the leader of the Luhansk separatist region.

Minsk peace process

Russia's recognition of the regions effectively ends the Minsk peace agreements, which were never fully implemented. The agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015, had called for a large amount of autonomy for the two regions inside Ukraine.

Other breakaway regions

Russia has previously recognized the independence of two Georgian breakaway regions  Abkhazia and South Ossetia  after a brief war with Georgia in 2008. Russia has since stationed troops in those regions and offered Russian citizenship to their populations.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Governments around the world have responded to Russias recognition of breakaway areas in eastern Ukraine as independent states, with many condemning the move and urging a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

We must make it clear that an attack on Ukraine is an attack on the sovereignty of every U.N. member state and the U.N. charter  and that it will be met with swift and severe consequences, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said late Monday. We continue to believe that the diplomatic table is the only place where responsible nations resolve their differences.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. leader considered Russias decision inconsistent with the principles of the U.N. Charter and a violation of Ukraines sovereignty.

Turkeys Foreign Ministry issued a statement early Tuesday calling Russias action a clear violation of Ukraines political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In Paris, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned Russias move and said it would be met with sanctions.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU would not deploy its full range of sanctions at this time but would impose measures in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins announcements on Monday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to impose a very robust package of sanctions if Russian invades Ukraine and called Putins actions a flagrant violation of Ukraines sovereignty.

Zhang Jun, Chinas ambassador to the United Nations, called on all parties to exercise restraint and to seek reasonable solutions.

Irans Foreign Ministry also urged restraint, while blaming the interventions and provocative actions of NATO and mainly the U.S. for complicating the situation in the region.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine," adding, "We continue to call on Russia to step back. ... It's never too late not to attack."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called Russias actions unacceptable and said Japan is watching the development with grave concern.

State television in Syria, an ally that has relied on Russian military support during its own conflict, quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying that Syria backs Russias decision and will cooperate with them.

Greeces Foreign Ministry said Russias action is a clear violation of fundamental principles of international law, Ukraines territorial integrity, and the Minsk agreements.

The Minsk deals, in 2014 and 2015, intended to restore peace after violence flared along the Russia-Ukraine border.

Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russia is breaking all its promises to the world community.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern about the escalation of tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border and its support for the sovereignty and territorial preservation of Ukraine.

International Rescue Committees Lani Fortier warned the Humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine must be avoided at all costs. If war breaks out, the consequences for the Ukrainian people, and for Europe, cannot be overstated.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOA's William Gallo contributed to this story.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states, a pronouncement that adds to Western fears that Putin is imminently set to invade Ukraine.

The Kremlin said Putin informed the leaders of France and Germany Monday of his decision and then signed documents declaring them as no longer part of Ukraine.

Putin, from a desk at the Kremlin, delivered a lengthy televised address to the Russian people, outlining his version of the history of national boundaries in Europe and the 1990s break-up of the Soviet Union.

He contended that Ukraine was never a true nation but rather historically a part of Russia.

Video footage has shown some residents of the region streaming in heavy traffic out of the territory in recent days, with Moscow saying the people are fleeing to safety in Russia.

Putin announced the independence for Luhansk and Donetsk, a position taken by no other country, after meeting with the Russian Security Council. Hours earlier, the two regions separatist leaders made a video appeal for the independence declaration.

The separatists want Russia to sign friendship treaties and give them military aid to protect them from what they contend is an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive.

The Russian parliament last week called on Putin to formally recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics, both of which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.

Putin said there was no prospect for peace to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, but Moscow has contended it has no plans to invade Ukraine, even as some 150,000 Russian troops are massed at Ukraines border.

U.S. President Joe Biden agreed in principle late Sunday to meet with Putin to discuss the crisis face to face, as long as Russia does not first invade Ukraine.

But Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, told ABCs Good Morning America show on Monday, All signs look like President Putin and the Russians are proceeding with a plan to execute a major military invasion of Ukraine.

We have seen just in the last 24 hours further moves of Russian units to the border with no other good explanation other than theyre getting into position to attack, Sullivan said. We cant predict the exact time or day, but it certainly looks like the Russians are proceeding.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2022.

As Putin spoke, the White House said President Joe Biden met with his national security team and was being regularly briefed on developments in Ukraine and the region. Putin has amassed 150,000 troops in Belarus to Ukraines north and along Ukraines eastern and southern borders.

About 14,000 people have been killed in the flashpoint Donbas territory since 2014 in fighting between pro-Moscow separatists and Kyivs forces, trench warfare battles that started after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have contended that Russia is staging false-flag operations in Donetsk and Luhansk to make it appear Ukrainian forces are an increasing threat. The West says Russia is attempting to justify grounds for an invasion to protect Russian sympathizers.

Shelling in the Donbas region has ramped up in recent days, with the U.S. and its allies saying they believe Russia is launching false-flag operations it is blaming on Kyiv. Kyiv says it does not intend to launch a full-scale attack on the region in eastern Ukraine.

RIA, the Russian state news agency, said Russian military and border guards prevented a violation of the border by a sabotage and reconnaissance group from Ukraine and killed five fighters, while not sustaining any losses.

Whether a new Biden-Putin summit occurs is uncertain. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would first hold talks this week in Europe.

The U.S. and its Western allies say they will impose swift and punishing economic sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine.

NATO countries, including the U.S, say they are willing to negotiate placement of missiles in Eastern Europe and military exercise in countries closest to Russia, but have refused to accept Putins key demand to rule out NATO membership for Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

We are always ready for diplomacy, Psaki said. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday there were not yet any concrete plans for a Biden-Putin meeting, but that such a meeting is possible if the leaders consider it feasible."

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The South African government has seized a multi-million-dollar upmarket house and two Range Rovers said to be owned by Mary Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Zimbabwes Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga.

According to an online publication, Times Live, the South Africa authorities seized the property following a court ruling by Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba, who gave the government authority to seize the house and vehicles until the finalization of a high profile corruption case being laid against Mubaiwa in Zimbabwe. Times Live reports that the house is worth R14 million.

Indications are that the property will be sold and proceeds forfeited to the Zimbabwean government as per the court ruling made last week.

Mubaiwa is facing charges of attempted murder, fraud, money laundering and externalization of foreign currency.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission told the online publication that South African authorities were granted a preservation order by Ledwaba to seize, pending forfeiture, an upmarket house and two Range Rovers belonging to Mubaiwa.

Times Live quoted ZACC as saying, The order was granted after an application for mutual legal assistance made by ZACC through the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to South African authorities. ZACC is committed to ensuring that any proceeds of corruption stashed anywhere in the world are recovered as part of its unrelenting fight against corruption.

Mubaiwa was unreachable for comment last night as she was not responding to calls on her mobile phone. Mubaiwa has appeared in Zimbabwean courts several times where she fainted due to ill-health.

She is demanding custody of her three children from the retired army general, who masterminded a defacto military coup in 2017 resulting in the toppling of then president Robert Mugabe.
KYIV  Russian tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine overnight Tuesday ostensibly on a peace-keeping mission and to protect two breakaway republics that Moscow fashioned eight years ago and is now formally recognizing as independent states.

But following a 56-minute bellicose speech, in which the Russian leader denied the very existence of a country called Ukraine, few in Kyiv harbor any doubts that the armored columns will sooner or later punch beyond Ukraines Donbas region with Putins decision to recognize the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk being seen as a prelude for likely more widespread military action. In the friendship treaties Putin signed with Moscows breakaway republics, he committed to defending their borders.

Western diplomats and residents in Donetsk confirmed the appearance of Russian tanks overnight Tuesday.

As the months-long geopolitical standoff over Ukraine shifts into a new even more ominous gear, Western countries joined in a chorus of condemnation, and more foreign governments ordered diplomats to leave Kyiv and to relocate to Lviv in western Ukraine, a short drive from the Polish border, a reflection of their growing worries that it wont be long before Russian forces deployed on Ukrainian borders may soon be ordered to target the Ukrainian capital.

Australia became the latest country to relocate its mission, joining the United States, Britain and others to shift their ambassadors and their staff closer to the safety of neighboring Poland.

War unfolding?

Western intelligence officials also fear the recognition of the breakaway republics is just part of a bigger war plan thats now unfolding according to a playbook written weeks ago. They say that around two-thirds of the Russian forces amassed near Ukraine are now within 50 kilometers of the borders, are in battle formation and poised to commence military operations, although it is not clear if approval has yet been given by the Kremlin to launch a full-scale offensive.



Speaking in a televised, nationwide address after 2am local time, several hours after it was scheduled, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy strove to reassure Ukrainians saying the country is well-protected, and he added Ukraine reserves the right to defend itself from further Russian aggression.



We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything, Zelenskiyy declared.



A somber bur defiant Zelenskiyy urged international monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, who have been observing an oft-broken ceasefire in eastern Ukraine struck in 2015 and brokered by France and Germany, to continue their work to help prevent provocations and further escalation.

The Ukrainian President also said he had called for an urgent meeting of the Normandy Format countries  Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia  for talks on this latest move by Moscow in the Donbas, and he appealed to Western countries to stand by Ukraine. It is very important now to see who is our real friend and partner, and who will continue scaring the Russian Federation just with words, Zelenskiyy said.



On Saturday in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader chided Western powers for not doing much more to deter Russia from aggression.



In London, Britains Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, called a meeting Tuesday of his top security and intelligence officials to consider Britains response. The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Britain would soon be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.



British officials said on in a phone call with Ukraine's president, Johnson had told Zelenskiyy he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government.



The leaders of other Western allies were also scrambling Tuesday to fashion a response to Russia and to try to coordinate their actions. They still hope diplomacy will prevail and that Putin can be restrained by being coaxed and cajoled with threats of putative sanctions, but hopes are dimming fast that diplomatic action will work, say EU officials.



The European Union said it will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act, while NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of fueling conflict eastern Ukraine and "trying to stage a pretext" for a further invasion.



The fear among Europes leaders that the Russian President will order even bigger military action in Ukraine is partly rooted in the sheer bellicosity of Putins nearly hour-long speech that started with a long passage on the Russian leaders views about the history of Ukraine and how the West robbed Russia of its lands on the fall of the Soviet Union.



Justifying his decision to recognize the breakaway republic, Putin said Ukraine is an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian territory. His historical narrative, laced with grievances he has aired many times before, is drawing criticism from authoritative historians for its eccentricity.



Putins speech, broadcast by all of Russias main television channels, came after a national security council meeting in Moscow which was also aired in full.



During the meeting Kremlin hardliners urged him to recognize the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Some analysts noted that judging by the time displayed on the watch of one aide the Kremlin meeting was not in fact broadcast live but had taken place many hours earlier and was choreographed to persuade a Russian audience that Putin has the full backing of the countrys top leadership and his close advisers, while also showing his masterful control of the fast-moving geopolitical standoff with the West.



During the meeting, senior officials lined up to echo the Kremlins days-long and unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine has been preparing to mount an offensive to recapture the breakaway republics. Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, told Putin Ukrainian forces were being built to mount an attack.



Kyiv has repeatedly denied the claims.



During his speech Putin accused the United States and NATO of unashamedly turning Ukraine into a theater of war and he raised the unsubstantiated claim that Ukraine has been plotting to manufacture nuclear weapons, which it could then use to attack Russia.

The overall tenor of the speech has left many Western diplomats and independent analysts reeling with German and French officials admitting privately they were shocked. Both Germany and France had been leading last-minute diplomatic attempts to find a diplomatic solution to the stand-off over Ukraine and had hoped to get a lasting deal on a ceasefire and political settlement in eastern Ukraine, but Putin appears now to have pulled the rug from underneath the Franco-German effort, their diplomats fear.



Kremlin officials say they have no plans to launch a full invasion of Ukraine and they are still open to discussions. We remain open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution, however, allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do, said the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, Tuesday.



Ukrainian troops along the frontlines in the east of the country are under strict orders not to respond to shelling and artillery bombardments, which have dramatically intensified since last week, according to independent observers. Ukrainian officials fear skirmishes will be used as a justification for bigger military action by Russia.
Western allies quickly moved Tuesday to punish Russia with economic sanctions after President Vladimir Putin recognized the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states and sent what he described as "peacekeeping forces" over the Ukrainian border.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted authorization for Nord Stream 2, the completed but not yet operational natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, at least temporarily cutting potential fuel deliveries to Germany but also depriving Moscow of revenue from the pipeline.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament he had sanctioned five Russian banks and three "high net worth" executives, freezing their assets in Britain and cutting off financial transactions with them.

"This is the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do," Johnson said.

Russian lawmakers on Tuesday gave Putin permission to use military force outside the country, possibly presaging a broader attack on Ukraine

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that "Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil" in Donetsk and Luhansk but that it was not a "fully fledged invasion."

In Washington, however, the White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an "invasion" after initially hesitating to use the term. President Joe Biden has said that Russian troops crossing into Ukraine would constitute an invasion and 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. "An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway."

In a phone briefing with reporters late Monday, a senior U.S. official said further U.S. sanctions beyond those imposed quickly on Luhansk and Donetsk after Putin declared their independence would "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."

The official declined to give specifics of what the U.S. is planning to impose. France and other Western allies in Europe are also expected to impose their own sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called Tuesday for immediate sanctions, including halting of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, without waiting for further Russian aggression.

For weeks, the U.S. and European allies have warned of swift and severe consequences for Russia if it launched an invasion of Ukraine, a possibility viewed with growing concern as Russia deployed 150,000 troops and military equipment along its border with Ukraine and in Belarus, a Russian ally to the north of Ukraine.

Russian tanks entered eastern Ukraines Donbas region overnight, Western diplomats and residents in Donetsk confirmed to VOA. It was unclear if their presence constituted significant movement of Russian forces or instead movement of Russian-backed militias already in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an initial set of sanctions Monday in response to Putins recognition of the breakaway regions and his order to deploy what he called Russian peacekeeping forces.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the first round of sanctions was specifically tied to those actions and did not represent the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.

Bidens order prohibits new investment, trade and financing by Americans in those areas. This wasnt a speech just about Russias security, a senior administration official said. It was an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine. He (Putin) made clear that he views Ukraine historically as part of Russia. And he made a number of false claims about Ukraine contention that seemed designed to excuse possible military action. This was a speech to the Russian people to justify war.

The official would not say whether plans were still on for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, later this week. That meeting was intended to set the scene for a possible summit between Putin and Biden, with the United States saying both were predicated on Russia not invading Ukraine.

Well continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll, the official said. We are under no illusions about what is likely to come next. And were prepared to respond decisively when it does.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tuesday the Russian side was still ready for negotiations.

Blinken is scheduled to host Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for a meeting in Washington on Tuesday after speaking with him by phone Monday to reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement.

Analyst and author Angela Stent of the Brookings Institution said Monday that a summit between Biden and Putin is an especially fraught proposition now.

At this point, I think, to have another in-person meeting between President Biden and President Putin without some conditions being laid for the Russians, without them showing some goodwill or sincere interest in discussions by reversing some of the things that theyre doing, I think it makes no sense to do that, she said to reporters and analysts. Because, you know, otherwise were just playing into the Kremlins hands, and it looks as if theyre going to go ahead and do whatever they want to do irrespective of these negotiations.

Author and analyst Steven Pifer agreed.

I dont want to downplay diplomacy, he said. But at this point in time, I would think that there would have to be some indication to the White House that a meeting with Putin would actually have a chance of yielding something. And right now, again, based on the experience that (French President Emmanuel) Macron had, that Scholz had, it doesnt seem like these meetings  I think they are ego boosters for the Russian president, but they dont seem to be doing anything to turn him from a course which has been one of continual escalation of the crisis.

Biden spoke to both the German and French leaders Monday, and, separately, with Zelenskyy. In both calls, the White House said, The leaders strongly condemned President Putins decision to recognize the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine as independent.

Washington was immediately joined by the European Union in announcing sanctions, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel calling Putins recognition of these separatist areas a blatant violation of international law.

The Kremlin said Putin informed the leaders of France and Germany Monday of his decision and then signed documents declaring the regions as no longer part of Ukraine.

Putin, from a desk at the Kremlin, delivered a lengthy televised address to the Russian people, outlining his version of the history of national boundaries in Europe and the 1990s breakup of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2022.

He contended that Ukraine was never a true nation but rather historically a part of Russia.

About 14,000 people have been killed in the flashpoint Donbas territory since 2014 in fighting between pro-Moscow separatists and Kyivs forces, trench warfare battles that started after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have contended that Russia is staging false-flag operations in Donetsk and Luhansk to make it appear Ukrainian forces are an increasing threat. Kyiv says it does not intend to launch a full-scale attack on the region in eastern Ukraine, and the West says Russia is attempting to justify grounds for an invasion to protect Russian sympathizers.

The separatists want Russia to sign friendship treaties and give them military aid to protect them from what they contend is an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive.

The Russian parliament last week called on Putin to formally recognize the DNR and LNR, both of which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOAs Chris Hannas contributed to the report.
The Zimbabwean government has commended the European Union (EU) for removing restrictive measures against the country, vice president, army commander and former first lady

Reacting to the removal of the targeted sanctions imposed by the EU on Constantino Chiwenga, army chief Valarie Sibanda and Grace Mugabe, the countrys Deputy Information Minister, Kindness Paradza, described the move as progressive, noting that America and Britain should also lift the restrictive measures.

The EU said it will maintain the sanctions on the Zimbabwe Defense Industries as the army has been linked to human rights abuses.

Critics said the EU should not lift the sanctions as the human rights situation has not improved in Zimbabwe.

In a statement on Monday, the European Union (EU) reiterated its ambition for a more constructive relationship with Zimbabwe at all levels.

The EU has reviewed its restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe and in this context recalls the Council Conclusions of 17 February 2020 as well as the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU of 19 February 2021. Since then, the situation in terms of respect for human rights has not improved in Zimbabwe. Intimidation of the political opposition and other government critics has continued to restrict the democratic and civic space, which is under threat of shrinking further, through the Data Protection Act and ongoing legislative processes such as the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill and the envisaged so-called Patriotic Act.

The EU is concerned about these developments. Perpetrators of human rights violations should be swiftly brought to justice to end impunity. The recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry have not been followed substantially and need to be implemented as a matter of priority and urgency. It is important that international human rights obligations are adhered to and the constitutional rights of the people of Zimbabwe respected.

The EU decided to renew its restrictive measures, while lifting the already suspended restrictive measures against Chiwenga, Grace Mugabe and Sibanda.

The arms embargo and the targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, remain in place taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, as well as the continuing need to investigate the role of security forces in human rights abuses. The EU will continue to closely follow developments, with a particular attention to the human rights situation, and recalls its readiness to review and adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly.

The measures in place are targeted and very limited, therefore they do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its economy, foreign direct investments, or trade. Zimbabwe continues to benefit from duty free and quota free access of its exports to the EU, while negotiations are ongoing to deepen the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement. There is significant potential in terms of investments and jobs opportunities, if structural bottlenecks were to be addressed, and political and economic reforms, including enhancing trust in the rule of law, tackling corruption and respect for human rights, are implemented.

The EU reiterated its readiness to support credible and sustainable economic and political reforms, based on tangible commitments made by the Zimbabwean government.

The EU will continue to support the people of Zimbabwe focusing on three priority areas as aligned with the Zimbabwes National Development Strategy: (i) good governance and citizens rights; (ii) green economic growth and; (iii) social recovery and human development. The EU commits itself to enhancing common efforts on addressing climate change on the basis of the Zimbabwean and EU commitments at COP26. The EU will continue to support the Zimbabwean people with humanitarian assistance, in case of need.

The EU said it is following closely the electoral agenda in Zimbabwe and stands ready to continue its support to electoral reforms  an important pillar to strengthen democracy  based on the recommendations of the 2018 EU Election Observation Mission.

The EU is preparing for a follow up mission. Moreover, the EU welcomes the reassurances given by the authorities of Zimbabwe that they will be inviting international electoral observers for the 2023 elections including an EU Election Observation Mission.

As an integral element of its engagement with Zimbabwe, the EU looks forward to have a political dialogue in Harare as a matter of priority and notes the readiness of both sides to organize this dialogue in the near future. The political dialogue will provide an opportunity for regular and open discussions, on many subjects, including on economy and human rights. The political dialogue is key in fostering mutual understanding and constructive cooperation, paving the way for progress in the relations.
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Minnesota lawmakers on Thursday continued efforts to clean up the mess caused by a botched rollout of the states new motor vehicle license and registration system in 2017, giving the OK to more funds for fixes and aid to the businesses most impacted by the failure.

The House passedHF861, a bill that would appropriate $15.7 million in deficiency funding for further fixes to the Minnesota License and Registration System, known as MNLARS, this fiscal year.

Sponsored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), the legislation would also provide $10 million in aid for deputy registrars, the roughly 170 local DMV offices across the state that took a financial hit dealing with the malfunctioning system.

OKd on an 89-33 vote, the bill now goes to the Senate. There, Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) is the sponsor.

A recent report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor cast blame for the fiasco far and wide among the leaders of the states public safety and information technology agencies.

Republican lawmakers have complained, though, that assistance for registrars hasnt come quickly enough. Former Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed $9 million in aid earmarked for the local DMV offices last May, saying he supported reimbursing deputy registrars but not without a commitment to continue funding fixes to MNLARS.

The proposed $15.7 million appropriation this year would fund continued development work on MNLARS, as well as additional customer service in the Department of Public Safety.

The funds would be split accordingly:

$6.77 million for ongoing MNLARS motor vehicle software;

$5.5 million for development work on the drivers license computer system; and,

$3.47 million for additional DVS customer service staffing.

Under the legislation, reimbursement to deputy registrars would be calculated using the following formula:

10 percent of available funds allocated equally among all deputy registrars;

45 percent of funds allocated proportionally based on the number of transactions completed between Aug. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2018 where the deputy registrar retains a filing fee compared to the total number of transactions where a filing fee is retained by all deputy registrars during that period; and

45 percent of funds allocated proportionally based on the number of transactions completed between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2017 where the deputy registrar retains a filing fee compared to the total number of transactions where a filing fee is retained by all deputy registrars during that period.

Deputy registrars would have to submit documentation to Minnesota Management and Budget showing evidence of increased costs and lost revenue due to MNLARS. Businesses that receive a grant under the bill would also be required to remain operating as a deputy registrar for at least one year following the receipt of the aid, or be forced to pay back an amount equal to the grant.
In the forefront, the United States, which still refuses to respect international law and especially the United Nations Charter, has given dilatory answers to the Russian proposal for a treaty guaranteeing peace and is escalating tensions in Ukraine. They have raised the tension by accusing Russia of preparing for war. Behind the scenes, Washington is preparing new theaters of confrontation in Transnistria and the Middle East.

Russia has denied the US statements. As a response, it tested its military superiority.

Transnistria

The United States is pursuing the Rand Corporations plan and trying to organize a conflict in Transnistria. The blockade of this small, independent but unrecognized republic is not working. Despite the Ukrainian border guards put in place by the European Unions High Representative, Josep Borell, the Moldovan border remains open. President Maia Sandu, who is campaigning for her countrys entry into the European Union, does not want a war in Transnistria. She intends to replace the Russian contingent in Tiraspol with an OSCE civilian force and is not giving up on recovering Transnistria.

On Saturday, February 12, the Transnistrian authorities asked the U.S. charge daffaires to ensure that the shipment of U.S. weapons by third states to Moldova is stopped. They stressed that such transfers threaten peace and contradict the spirit of international agreements.

On Wednesday, February 16, a Transnistrian delegation went to Moscow to seek help. It argued that the opening of the Moldovan border would not hold for much longer: the Moldovan army, supervised by Pentagon and European Union officers, is deploying in the neutral zone, in violation of international commitments.

On Friday, February 18. a Moldovan-Transnistrian meeting ("1+1") was held in Tiraspol in the offices of the OSCE. The negotiations were only about details. It is no longer possible to drive a vehicle out of Transnistria: its license plate bears symbols of secession. Each driver must therefore change his plate at the border. Similarly, it is no longer possible to enter Transnistria with medicines, even emergency medicines, without any explanation. All medicines are seized by Moldovan customs in the presence of EU officials.

Syria and Lebanon

It is especially in Syria and Lebanon that tensions are rising. Since late October, the United States and Turkey have been recruiting jihadists again from among those who have settled in their custody in Idleb. Some have been sent to Ukraine, but most have been hired for renewed service against Syria and against Lebanese Hezbollah. However, most of them are known to be bad fighters except for those who remain affiliated with al-Qaeda or Daesh.

To structure these soldiers, the CIA organized an attack on a prison in Hassake in which Kurdish mercenaries were holding 3,500 Daesh members. The Kurds lent themselves to the staging, using the opportunity to declare that they needed more weapons and US support to hold their prisoners. Most of the jihadists ran away and joined the CIA. Then, the US army, this time, transferred the few Daesh leaders that the Kurds had recovered to another prison, in an unknown location, where... the CIA was waiting for them. So appearances are safe, but the reality is that the US is reorganizing Daesh.

The reorganization of al-Qaeda has become more visible. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of al-Qaeda in Syria and later emir of Tahrir al-Sham, has given himself a makeover. The British have taught him to wear a Western suit and to speak without threatening to cut off the heads of those who resist him. But he is still the leader of al-Qaeda in Syria.

It is in this context that the Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, visited Damascus on February 15 and that his counterpart of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, is expected there on Monday February 21.

Already Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, confirmed to Al-Alam TV that his network of resistance has acquired anti-aircraft means to protect Lebanon from the Israeli air force that violates its airspace every day. In addition, Hezbollah revealed that it had sent a drone for a long time over Israel without being shot down by its army. Shortly before, the Syrian and Russian air forces had begun patrols over the Syrian Golan Heights illegally occupied by Israel, without Tel Aviv reacting.

Ukraine

To fully understand what is happening in Ukraine, we need to go back a few days. On February 11, President Joe Biden summoned his key allies to a video meeting. He told them of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bloomberg reported that the intelligence community was predicting it on the night of the 15th to the 16th. Then President Biden addressed his fellow citizens on television. He told them that if Russia attacked, it would cost them, and that the United States and its allies were ready.

Even before he spoke, Russia had announced that it was withdrawing its troops from Belarus and the Ukrainian border, and that its military exercises were over, but Washington had not had time to check. Moscow claimed that NATO elements were preparing a provocation, which the Pentagon had accused Russia of a few weeks earlier. In any case, it became difficult for the Allies to accuse Moscow of invading Ukraine.

On February 15, the Federal Duma adopted a resolution introduced by the Communist Party (i.e., the nationalists) asking President Putin to recognize the independence of the two Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. In other words, if Ukraine were to take advantage of the Russian military withdrawal to attack Donbass, Russia would recognize its independence and be forced to intervene because its constitution states that its president is responsible for the lives of his fellow citizens. However, the majority of the inhabitants of Donbass have a triple nationality: Ukrainian, independence and Russian.

The same day, President Putin received the German Chancellor, Olaf Schlotz. As with French President Emmanuel Macron, the meeting was particularly long. It seems that the Russian detailed to his visitor the arrival of the Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland in the Kremlin. Interloqued by what he learned, the chancellor, like the French president, refrained from making any anti-Russian statements on his return to Berlin. The same scenario was repeated on February 19 with the Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro.

On the night of 15-16, the Russian army did not invade any state. The US press asked National Security Advisor Jake Sulivan to explain why he had put forward such a date, but he backed down and said he had never given a date.

Unexpectedly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to the UN Security Council on February 17. He accused Russia of "persistent violations" of the Minsk agreements, even though it is Kiev that rejects them. He said he was intervening to defend "the international order based on rules that preserve stability in the world", i.e. not international law, but the law of the West. He then revealed the Kremlins hidden plan: "Russia is planning to fabricate a pretext for its attack. It could be a violent event that Russia will blame on Ukraine, or an aberrant accusation that Russia will make against the Ukrainian government. We dont know exactly what form that will take. It could be a so-called "terrorist" bombing inside Russia, the alleged discovery of a mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians, or a fake - or even real - chemical weapons attack. It is possible that Russia will call this event ethnic cleansing or genocide, and disregard a concept that we do not take lightly in this forum, and that I do not take lightly because of my familys past."

By this incidence, Antony Blinken was referring to his stepfather, Samuel Pisar, who raised him in Paris. The latter was a survivor of the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question. But he did conceive hatred from this, only an acute awareness of evil. He became an advisor to President Kennedy, then an international lawyer for the largest corporations. He was revolted by the words of Professor Leo Strauss, who said that it was essential for the Jewish people to establish a world dictatorship in order to avoid a "new Shoah". Surely Samuel Pisar would be appalled at the evolution of his son-in-law and the group he has formed with his deputy Victoria Nuland and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan.

The OSCE confirms that fighting has resumed in Donbass. Elements of the Ukrainian army under US supervision, probably the Azov battalion and another group, are shelling the separatists. The presidents of the two independent republics of Donetsk and Lugansk have called on their citizens to mobilize, if they are men between 18 and 55 years old, or to seek refuge abroad, for women, children and the elderly living near the military contact line. Russia has declared its willingness to accept all of them. Each region of the Federation has announced that it will create structures to receive them one after the other. The federal government is offering them a small sum of money for their temporary settlement.

For the State Department, which has ordered its nationals to leave Ukraine, this population displacement is proof that Moscow is going on the offensive... Both parties interpret each piece of information in a contradictory manner.

Refusing to take sides in this conflict, Israel has given up installing an "Iron Dome" (anti-rocket defense) on behalf of Kiev against the Donbass.

On February 18, President Biden spoke to U.S. congressmen and his vice-president who were representing their country at the Munich Security Conference. He then called his main transatlantic allies together again via videoconference. He congratulated himself on delaying the Russian attack and accused Moscow of persisting in its plans. He said that all the Allies were ready and that Russia, if it took action, would see what it would see.

President Putin responded by ordering a demonstration of the Federations nuclear forces. Several missiles of different ranges were fired from the ground, a submarine, surface ships and aircraft. They were conventionally loaded and all hit their targets in the presence of foreign observers, including a US officer.

The United States is escalating the tension with words, Russia with deeds. In this regard, let us repeat once again that the US armies are not capable of waging a high-intensity war. If they manage to destroy Third World countries without any problem after having placed them under embargo for at least a decade, they are not at all prepared to confront a modern army. Its main allies (the United Kingdom, France and Turkey) are in the same state. As an example, on February 16, a report was presented in Paris to the Commission de la defense nationale et des forces armees on the decay of the French army. The deputies noted that given the state of its equipment, the French Air Force could not withstand the Russian forces for more than five days. It is therefore clear to all the protagonists that Nato is in no position to wage war against Russia and China.

To everyones surprise, the United States did not manage to impose a martial atmosphere in Munich. The Europeans were rather irritated by the very strong pressure from the White House. When he spoke, Chancellor Scholtz spoke in a monotone voice, taking care not to say anything compromising. Everyone in the room knew that an investigation into a sordid affair in which he had been involved during his tenure as mayor of Hamburg had been strangely revived. Many imagined that he was being blackmailed. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whom the White House had tried to dissuade from coming, was the object of all attention. He kept calling for help, not so much from Moscow as from Washington.

Tentative conclusion

A confrontation is always possible in Ukraine, or tomorrow in Transnistria or the Middle East. But it does not answer the initial question, posed by the Kremlin on December 17, 2021: how can the United States comply with international law and respect its word?

For the first time, two major German media, Der Spiegel [1] and Die Welt [2], have shown that Russia is right about the ban on Natos expansion beyond East Germany. Quoting a well-known expert on the issue, Assistant Professor Joshua Shifrinson of Boston University, the media revealed the existence of a document dated March 6, 1991, which had just come out of the secret archives of the UK. In it, the German representative states, "We cannot propose to Poland and other countries to join NATO," and the U.S. representative stresses that the Alliance should not expand eastward, either "formally or informally. As if that were not enough, the former German Secretary of State for Defense and former vice-president of the OSCE, Willy Wimmer, gave an interview to Russia Today, which was immediately translated into English and broadcast in the USA before being broadcast in Germany [3]. In the interview, he testified that he had participated in the negotiations on German reunification and that he himself had drafted the Additional Protocol prohibiting Nato forces from being stationed on the territory of the former East Germany after reunification had taken place.

The question arises: why is the Bien administration, which is not supported by its allies, continuing and amplifying its accusations against Russia at the risk of provoking an explosion? Perhaps the ongoing investigation in the United States by Special Prosecutor John Durnham into the White House wiretapping affair is precipitating matters. According to Fox News [4], the prosecutor suspects that Hillary Clinton spied on President Donald Trump at the White House and at his home by intercepting all of his Internet browsing data. This operation would have been organized by her foreign policy advisor, "Jake" Sullivan, current National Security Advisor. It is on the basis of these illegally intercepted and manipulated data that Congress opened an impeachment procedure, RussiaGate.
The 5+1 negotiations on the new nuclear agreement with Iran resulted in an initial 20-page document [1].

The process will begin with Iran restricting its enrichment of uranium to about 5% and releasing Western prisoners, while $7 billion of its assets in South Korean banks can be unfrozen.

The second phase will include the lifting of US sanctions. Ultimately, Iran will no longer enrich uranium to more than 3.67%.

In practice, Washington will not repeal the sanctions, but will take derogation measures to be confirmed every three months.

It remains to be seen whether it will be possible for the United States to sign this new text and then withdraw its signature as easily as President Donald Trump had done, and whether Iran would then be entitled to pull out of agreement as well. In general, Washington always brings up the possibility of democratic changes in its administration as a pretext to avoid having its hands tied in the medium term.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who considers the deal to be imminent, said on 20 February 2022 that his country demanded guarantees that Iran would never possess the atomic bomb. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi traveled to Qatar on 21 February to take part in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) (photo). On the sidelines, he is expected to meet with representatives of Israel (and not Israelis).

Obviously, it is possible that the United States will negotiate bilaterally with Iran over its gas. The agreement that had been concluded with Barack Obama and revoked by Donald Trump, had been seized as an opportunity to negotiate with President Hassan Rouhani the export of Iranian gas to Europe to compete with Russian gas. This project had to be abandoned, but tensions between Moscow and Washington have put it back in the limelight.
Citizens of Russia, friends,

My address concerns the events in Ukraine and why this is so important for us, for Russia. Of course, my message is also addressed to our compatriots in Ukraine.

The matter is very serious and needs to be discussed in depth.

The situation in Donbass has reached a critical, acute stage. I am speaking to you directly today not only to explain what is happening but also to inform you of the decisions being made as well as potential further steps.

I would like to emphasise again that Ukraine is not just a neighbouring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space. These are our comrades, those dearest to us  not only colleagues, friends and people who once served together, but also relatives, people bound by blood, by family ties.

Since time immemorial, the people living in the south-west of what has historically been Russian land have called themselves Russians and Orthodox Christians. This was the case before the 17th century, when a portion of this territory rejoined the Russian state, and after.

It seems to us that, generally speaking, we all know these facts, that this is common knowledge. Still, it is necessary to say at least a few words about the history of this issue in order to understand what is happening today, to explain the motives behind Russias actions and what we aim to achieve.

So, I will start with the fact that modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia or, to be more precise, by Bolshevik, Communist Russia. This process started practically right after the 1917 revolution, and Lenin and his associates did it in a way that was extremely harsh on Russia  by separating, severing what is historically Russian land. Nobody asked the millions of people living there what they thought.

Then, both before and after the Great Patriotic War, Stalin incorporated in the USSR and transferred to Ukraine some lands that previously belonged to Poland, Romania and Hungary. In the process, he gave Poland part of what was traditionally German land as compensation, and in 1954, Khrushchev took Crimea away from Russia for some reason and also gave it to Ukraine. In effect, this is how the territory of modern Ukraine was formed.

But now I would like to focus attention on the initial period of the USSRs formation. I believe this is extremely important for us. I will have to approach it from a distance, so to speak.

I will remind you that after the 1917 October Revolution and the subsequent Civil War, the Bolsheviks set about creating a new statehood. They had rather serious disagreements among themselves on this point. In 1922, Stalin occupied the positions of both the General Secretary of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) and the Peoples Commissar for Ethnic Affairs. He suggested building the country on the principles of autonomisation that is, giving the republics  the future administrative and territorial entities  broad powers upon joining a unified state.

Lenin criticised this plan and suggested making concessions to the nationalists, whom he called independents at that time. Lenins ideas of what amounted in essence to a confederative state arrangement and a slogan about the right of nations to self-determination, up to secession, were laid in the foundation of Soviet statehood. Initially they were confirmed in the Declaration on the Formation of the USSR in 1922, and later on, after Lenins death, were enshrined in the 1924 Soviet Constitution.

This immediately raises many questions. The first is really the main one: why was it necessary to appease the nationalists, to satisfy the ceaselessly growing nationalist ambitions on the outskirts of the former empire? What was the point of transferring to the newly, often arbitrarily formed administrative units  the union republics  vast territories that had nothing to do with them? Let me repeat that these territories were transferred along with the population of what was historically Russia.

Moreover, these administrative units were de facto given the status and form of national state entities. That raises another question: why was it necessary to make such generous gifts, beyond the wildest dreams of the most zealous nationalists and, on top of all that, give the republics the right to secede from the unified state without any conditions?

At first glance, this looks absolutely incomprehensible, even crazy. But only at first glance. There is an explanation. After the revolution, the Bolsheviks main goal was to stay in power at all costs, absolutely at all costs. They did everything for this purpose: accepted the humiliating Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, although the military and economic situation in Kaiser Germany and its allies was dramatic and the outcome of the First World War was a foregone conclusion, and satisfied any demands and wishes of the nationalists within the country.

When it comes to the historical destiny of Russia and its peoples, Lenins principles of state development were not just a mistake; they were worse than a mistake, as the saying goes. This became patently clear after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Of course, we cannot change past events, but we must at least admit them openly and honestly, without any reservations or politicking. Personally, I can add that no political factors, however impressive or profitable they may seem at any given moment, can or may be used as the fundamental principles of statehood.

I am not trying to put the blame on anyone. The situation in the country at that time, both before and after the Civil War, was extremely complicated; it was critical. The only thing I would like to say today is that this is exactly how it was. It is a historical fact. Actually, as I have already said, Soviet Ukraine is the result of the Bolsheviks policy and can be rightfully called Vladimir Lenins Ukraine. He was its creator and architect. This is fully and comprehensively corroborated by archival documents, including Lenins harsh instructions regarding Donbass, which was actually shoved into Ukraine. And today the grateful progeny has overturned monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. They call it decommunization.

You want decommunization? Very well, this suits us just fine. But why stop halfway? We are ready to show what real decommunizations would mean for Ukraine.

Going back to history, I would like to repeat that the Soviet Union was established in the place of the former Russian Empire in 1922. But practice showed immediately that it was impossible to preserve or govern such a vast and complex territory on the amorphous principles that amounted to confederation. They were far removed from reality and the historical tradition.

It is logical that the Red Terror and a rapid slide into Stalins dictatorship, the domination of the communist ideology and the Communist Partys monopoly on power, nationalisation and the planned economy  all this transformed the formally declared but ineffective principles of government into a mere declaration. In reality, the union republics did not have any sovereign rights, none at all. The practical result was the creation of a tightly centralised and absolutely unitary state.

In fact, what Stalin fully implemented was not Lenins but his own principles of government. But he did not make the relevant amendments to the cornerstone documents, to the Constitution, and he did not formally revise Lenins principles underlying the Soviet Union. From the look of it, there seemed to be no need for that, because everything seemed to be working well in conditions of the totalitarian regime, and outwardly it looked wonderful, attractive and even super-democratic.

And yet, it is a great pity that the fundamental and formally legal foundations of our state were not promptly cleansed of the odious and utopian fantasies inspired by the revolution, which are absolutely destructive for any normal state. As it often happened in our country before, nobody gave any thought to the future.

It seems that the Communist Party leaders were convinced that they had created a solid system of government and that their policies had settled the ethnic issue for good. But falsification, misconception, and tampering with public opinion have a high cost. The virus of nationalist ambitions is still with us, and the mine laid at the initial stage to destroy state immunity to the disease of nationalism was ticking. As I have already said, the mine was the right of secession from the Soviet Union.

In the mid-1980s, the increasing socioeconomic problems and the apparent crisis of the planned economy aggravated the ethnic issue, which essentially was not based on any expectations or unfulfilled dreams of the Soviet peoples but primarily the growing appetites of the local elites.

However, instead of analysing the situation, taking appropriate measures, first of all in the economy, and gradually transforming the political system and government in a well-considered and balanced manner, the Communist Party leadership only engaged in open doubletalk about the revival of the Leninist principle of national self-determination.

Moreover, in the course of power struggle within the Communist Party itself, each of the opposing sides, in a bid to expand its support base, started to thoughtlessly incite and encourage nationalist sentiments, manipulating them and promising their potential supporters whatever they wished. Against the backdrop of the superficial and populist rhetoric about democracy and a bright future based either on a market or a planned economy, but amid a true impoverishment of people and widespread shortages, no one among the powers that be was thinking about the inevitable tragic consequences for the country.

Next, they entirely embarked on the track beaten at the inception of the USSR and pandering to the ambitions of the nationalist elites nurtured within their own party ranks. But in so doing, they forgot that the CPSU no longer had  thank God  the tools for retaining power and the country itself, tools such as state terror and a Stalinist-type dictatorship, and that the notorious guiding role of the party was disappearing without a trace, like a morning mist, right before their eyes.

And then, the September 1989 plenary session of the CPSU Central Committee approved a truly fatal document, the so-called ethnic policy of the party in modern conditions, the CPSU platform. It included the following provisions, I quote: The republics of the USSR shall possess all the rights appropriate to their status as sovereign socialist states.

The next point: The supreme representative bodies of power of the USSR republics can challenge and suspend the operation of the USSR Governments resolutions and directives in their territory.

And finally: Each republic of the USSR shall have citizenship of its own, which shall apply to all of its residents.

Wasnt it clear what these formulas and decisions would lead to?

Now is not the time or place to go into matters pertaining to state or constitutional law, or define the concept of citizenship. But one may wonder: why was it necessary to rock the country even more in that already complicated situation? The facts remain.

Even two years before the collapse of the USSR, its fate was actually predetermined. It is now that radicals and nationalists, including and primarily those in Ukraine, are taking credit for having gained independence. As we can see, this is absolutely wrong. The disintegration of our united country was brought about by the historic, strategic mistakes on the part of the Bolshevik leaders and the CPSU leadership, mistakes committed at different times in state-building and in economic and ethnic policies. The collapse of the historical Russia known as the USSR is on their conscience.

Despite all these injustices, lies and outright pillage of Russia, it was our people who accepted the new geopolitical reality that took shape after the dissolution of the USSR, and recognised the new independent states. Not only did Russia recognise these countries, but helped its CIS partners, even though it faced a very dire situation itself. This included our Ukrainian colleagues, who turned to us for financial support many times from the very moment they declared independence. Our country provided this assistance while respecting Ukraines dignity and sovereignty.

According to expert assessments, confirmed by a simple calculation of our energy prices, the subsidised loans Russia provided to Ukraine along with economic and trade preferences, the overall benefit for the Ukrainian budget in the period from 1991 to 2013 amounted to $250 billion.

However, there was more to it than that. By the end of 1991, the USSR owed some $100 billion to other countries and international funds. Initially, there was this idea that all former Soviet republics will pay back these loans together, in the spirit of solidarity and proportionally to their economic potential. However, Russia undertook to pay back all Soviet debts and delivered on this promise by completing this process in 2017.

In exchange for that, the newly independent states had to hand over to Russia part of the Soviet foreign assets. An agreement to this effect was reached with Ukraine in December 1994. However, Kiev failed to ratify these agreements and later simply refused to honour them by making demands for a share of the Diamond Treasury, gold reserves, as well as former USSR property and other assets abroad.

Nevertheless, despite all these challenges, Russia always worked with Ukraine in an open and honest manner and, as I have already said, with respect for its interests. We developed our ties in multiple fields. Thus, in 2011, bilateral trade exceeded $50 billion. Let me note that in 2019, that is before the pandemic, Ukraines trade with all EU countries combined was below this indicator.

At the same time, it was striking how the Ukrainian authorities always preferred dealing with Russia in a way that ensured that they enjoy all the rights and privileges while remaining free from any obligations.

The officials in Kiev replaced partnership with a parasitic attitude acting at times in an extremely brash manner. Suffice it to recall the continuous blackmail on energy transits and the fact that they literally stole gas.

I can add that Kiev tried to use dialogue with Russia as a bargaining chip in its relations with the West, using the threat of closer ties with Russia for blackmailing the West to secure preferences by claiming that otherwise Russia would have a bigger influence in Ukraine.

At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities  I would like to emphasise this  began by building their statehood on the negation of everything that united us, trying to distort the mentality and historical memory of millions of people, of entire generations living in Ukraine. It is not surprising that Ukrainian society was faced with the rise of far-right nationalism, which rapidly developed into aggressive Russophobia and neo-Nazism. This resulted in the participation of Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis in the terrorist groups in the North Caucasus and the increasingly loud territorial claims to Russia.

A role in this was played by external forces, which used a ramified network of NGOs and special services to nurture their clients in Ukraine and to bring their representatives to the seats of authority.

It should be noted that Ukraine actually never had stable traditions of real statehood. And, therefore, in 1991 it opted for mindlessly emulating foreign models, which have no relation to history or Ukrainian realities. Political government institutions were readjusted many times to the rapidly growing clans and their self-serving interests, which had nothing to do with the interests of the Ukrainian people.

Essentially, the so-called pro-Western civilisational choice made by the oligarchic Ukrainian authorities was not and is not aimed at creating better conditions in the interests of peoples well-being but at keeping the billions of dollars that the oligarchs have stolen from the Ukrainians and are holding in their accounts in Western banks, while reverently accommodating the geopolitical rivals of Russia.

Some industrial and financial groups and the parties and politicians on their payroll relied on the nationalists and radicals from the very beginning. Others claimed to be in favour of good relations with Russia and cultural and language diversity, coming to power with the help of their citizens who sincerely supported their declared aspirations, including the millions of people in the south-eastern regions. But after getting the positions they coveted, these people immediately betrayed their voters, going back on their election promises and instead steering a policy prompted by the radicals and sometimes even persecuting their former allies  the public organisations that supported bilingualism and cooperation with Russia. These people took advantage of the fact that their voters were mostly law-abiding citizens with moderate views who trusted the authorities, and that, unlike the radicals, they would not act aggressively or make use of illegal instruments.

Meanwhile, the radicals became increasingly brazen in their actions and made more demands every year. They found it easy to force their will on the weak authorities, which were infected with the virus of nationalism and corruption as well and which artfully replaced the real cultural, economic and social interests of the people and Ukraines true sovereignty with various ethnic speculations and formal ethnic attributes.

A stable statehood has never developed in Ukraine; its electoral and other political procedures just serve as a cover, a screen for the redistribution of power and property between various oligarchic clans.

Corruption, which is certainly a challenge and a problem for many countries, including Russia, has gone beyond the usual scope in Ukraine. It has literally permeated and corroded Ukrainian statehood, the entire system, and all branches of power.

Radical nationalists took advantage of the justified public discontent and saddled the Maidan protest, escalating it to a coup detat in 2014. They also had direct assistance from foreign states. According to reports, the US Embassy provided $1 million a day to support the so-called protest camp on Independence Square in Kiev. In addition, large amounts were impudently transferred directly to the opposition leaders bank accounts, tens of millions of dollars. But the people who actually suffered, the families of those who died in the clashes provoked in the streets and squares of Kiev and other cities, how much did they get in the end? Better not ask.

The nationalists who have seized power have unleashed a persecution, a real terror campaign against those who opposed their anti-constitutional actions. Politicians, journalists, and public activists were harassed and publicly humiliated. A wave of violence swept Ukrainian cities, including a series of high-profile and unpunished murders. One shudders at the memories of the terrible tragedy in Odessa, where peaceful protesters were brutally murdered, burned alive in the House of Trade Unions. The criminals who committed that atrocity have never been punished, and no one is even looking for them. But we know their names and we will do everything to punish them, find them and bring them to justice.

Maidan did not bring Ukraine any closer to democracy and progress. Having accomplished a coup detat, the nationalists and those political forces that supported them eventually led Ukraine into an impasse, pushed the country into the abyss of civil war. Eight years later, the country is split. Ukraine is struggling with an acute socioeconomic crisis.

According to international organisations, in 2019, almost 6 million Ukrainians  I emphasise  about 15 percent, not of the wokrforce, but of the entire population of that country, had to go abroad to find work. Most of them do odd jobs. The following fact is also revealing: since 2020, over 60,000 doctors and other health workers have left the country amid the pandemic.

Since 2014, water bills increased by almost a third, and energy bills grew several times, while the price of gas for households surged several dozen times. Many people simply do not have the money to pay for utilities. They literally struggle to survive.

What happened? Why is this all happening? The answer is obvious. They spent and embezzled the legacy inherited not only from the Soviet era, but also from the Russian Empire. They lost tens, hundreds of thousands of jobs which enabled people to earn a reliable income and generate tax revenue, among other things thanks to close cooperation with Russia. Sectors including machine building, instrument engineering, electronics, ship and aircraft building have been undermined or destroyed altogether. There was a time, however, when not only Ukraine, but the entire Soviet Union took pride in these companies.

In 2021, the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolayev went out of business. Its first docks date back to Catherine the Great. Antonov, the famous manufacturer, has not made a single commercial aircraft since 2016, while Yuzhmash, a factory specialising in missile and space equipment, is nearly bankrupt. The Kremenchug Steel Plant is in a similar situation. This sad list goes on and on.

As for the gas transportation system, it was built in its entirety by the Soviet Union, and it has now deteriorated to an extent that using it creates major risks and comes at a high cost for the environment.

This situation begs the question: poverty, lack of opportunity, and lost industrial and technological potential  is this the pro-Western civilisational choice they have been using for many years to fool millions of people with promises of heavenly pastures?

It all came down to a Ukrainian economy in tatters and an outright pillage of the countrys citizens, while Ukraine itself was placed under external control, directed not only from the Western capitals, but also on the ground, as the saying goes, through an entire network of foreign advisors, NGOs and other institutions present in Ukraine. They have a direct bearing on all the key appointments and dismissals and on all branches of power at all levels, from the central government down to municipalities, as well as on state-owned companies and corporations, including Naftogaz, Ukrenergo, Ukrainian Railways, Ukroboronprom, Ukrposhta, and the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.

There is no independent judiciary in Ukraine. The Kiev authorities, at the Wests demand, delegated the priority right to select members of the supreme judicial bodies, the Council of Justice and the High Qualifications Commission of Judges, to international organisations.

In addition, the United States directly controls the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office and the High Anti-Corruption Court. All this is done under the noble pretext of invigorating efforts against corruption. All right, but where are the results? Corruption is flourishing like never before.

Are the Ukrainian people aware that this is how their country is managed? Do they realise that their country has turned not even into a political or economic protectorate but has been reduced to a colony with a puppet regime? The state was privatised. As a result, the government, which designates itself as the power of patriots no longer acts in a national capacity and consistently pushes Ukraine towards losing its sovereignty.

The policy to root out the Russian language and culture and promote assimilation carries on. The Verkhovna Rada has generated a steady flow of discriminatory bills, and the law on the so-called indigenous people has already come into force. People who identify as Russians and want to preserve their identity, language and culture are getting the signal that they are not wanted in Ukraine.

Under the laws on education and the Ukrainian language as a state language, the Russian language has no place in schools or public spaces, even in ordinary shops. The law on the so-called vetting of officials and purging their ranks created a pathway for dealing with unwanted civil servants.

There are more and more acts enabling the Ukrainian military and law enforcement agencies to crack down on the freedom of speech, dissent, and going after the opposition. The world knows the deplorable practice of imposing unilateral illegitimate sanctions against other countries, foreign individuals and legal entities. Ukraine has outperformed its Western masters by inventing sanctions against its own citizens, companies, television channels, other media outlets and even members of parliament.

Kiev continues to prepare the destruction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. This is not an emotional judgement; proof of this can be found in concrete decisions and documents. The Ukrainian authorities have cynically turned the tragedy of the schism into an instrument of state policy. The current authorities do not react to the Ukrainian peoples appeals to abolish the laws that are infringing on believers rights. Moreover, new draft laws directed against the clergy and millions of parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate have been registered in the Verkhovna Rada.

A few words about Crimea. The people of the peninsula freely made their choice to be with Russia. The Kiev authorities cannot challenge the clearly stated choice of the people, which is why they have opted for aggressive action, for activating extremist cells, including radical Islamist organisations, for sending subversives to stage terrorist attacks at critical infrastructure facilities, and for kidnapping Russian citizens. We have factual proof that such aggressive actions are being taken with support from Western security services.

In March 2021, a new Military Strategy was adopted in Ukraine. This document is almost entirely dedicated to confrontation with Russia and sets the goal of involving foreign states in a conflict with our country. The strategy stipulates the organisation of what can be described as a terrorist underground movement in Russias Crimea and in Donbass. It also sets out the contours of a potential war, which should end, according to the Kiev strategists, with the assistance of the international community on favourable terms for Ukraine, as well as  listen carefully, please  with foreign military support in the geopolitical confrontation with the Russian Federation. In fact, this is nothing other than preparation for hostilities against our country, Russia.

As we know, it has already been stated today that Ukraine intends to create its own nuclear weapons, and this is not just bragging. Ukraine has the nuclear technologies created back in the Soviet times and delivery vehicles for such weapons, including aircraft, as well as the Soviet-designed Tochka-U precision tactical missiles with a range of over 100 kilometres. But they can do more; it is only a matter of time. They have had the groundwork for this since the Soviet era.

In other words, acquiring tactical nuclear weapons will be much easier for Ukraine than for some other states I am not going to mention here, which are conducting such research, especially if Kiev receives foreign technological support. We cannot rule this out either.

If Ukraine acquires weapons of mass destruction, the situation in the world and in Europe will drastically change, especially for us, for Russia. We cannot but react to this real danger, all the more so since, let me repeat, Ukraines Western patrons may help it acquire these weapons to create yet another threat to our country. We are seeing how persistently the Kiev regime is being pumped with arms. Since 2014, the United States alone has spent billions of dollars for this purpose, including supplies of arms and equipment and training of specialists. In the last few months, there has been a constant flow of Western weapons to Ukraine, ostentatiously, with the entire world watching. Foreign advisors supervise the activities of Ukraines armed forces and special services and we are well aware of this.

Over the past few years, military contingents of NATO countries have been almost constantly present on Ukrainian territory under the pretext of exercises. The Ukrainian troop control system has already been integrated into NATO. This means that NATO headquarters can issue direct commands to the Ukrainian armed forces, even to their separate units and squads.

The United States and NATO have started an impudent development of Ukrainian territory as a theatre of potential military operations. Their regular joint exercises are obviously anti-Russian. Last year alone, over 23,000 troops and more than a thousand units of hardware were involved.

A law has already been adopted that allows foreign troops to come to Ukraine in 2022 to take part in multinational drills. Understandably, these are primarily NATO troops. This year, at least ten of these joint drills are planned.

Obviously, such undertakings are designed to be a cover-up for a rapid buildup of the NATO military group on Ukrainian territory. This is all the more so since the network of airfields upgraded with US help in Borispol, Ivano-Frankovsk, Chuguyev and Odessa, to name a few, is capable of transferring army units in a very short time. Ukraines airspace is open to flights by US strategic and reconnaissance aircraft and drones that conduct surveillance over Russian territory.

I will add that the US-built Maritime Operations Centre in Ochakov makes it possible to support activity by NATO warships, including the use of precision weapons, against the Russian Black Sea Fleet and our infrastructure on the entire Black Sea Coast.

At one time, the United States intended to build similar facilities in Crimea as well but the Crimeans and residents of Sevastopol wrecked these plans. We will always remember this.

I would like to repeat that today such a centre has already been deployed in Ochakov. In the 18th century, soldiers of Alexander Suvorov fought for this city. Owing to their courage, it became part of Russia. Also in the 18th century, the lands of the Black Sea littoral, incorporated in Russia as a result of wars with the Ottoman Empire, were given the name of Novorossiya (New Russia). Now attempts are being made to condemn these landmarks of history to oblivion, along with the names of state and military figures of the Russian Empire without whose efforts modern Ukraine would not have many big cities or even access to the Black Sea.

A monument to Alexander Suvorov was recently demolished in Poltava. What is there to say? Are you renouncing your own past? The so-called colonial heritage of the Russian Empire? Well, in this case, be consistent.

Next, notably, Article 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that deploying foreign military bases on its territory is illegal. However, as it turns out, this is just a conventionality that can be easily circumvented.

Ukraine is home to NATO training missions which are, in fact, foreign military bases. They just called a base a mission and were done with it.

Kiev has long proclaimed a strategic course on joining NATO. Indeed, each country is entitled to pick its own security system and enter into military alliances. There would be no problem with that, if it were not for one but. International documents expressly stipulate the principle of equal and indivisible security, which includes obligations not to strengthen ones own security at the expense of the security of other states. This is stated in the 1999 OSCE Charter for European Security adopted in Istanbul and the 2010 OSCE Astana Declaration.

In other words, the choice of pathways towards ensuring security should not pose a threat to other states, whereas Ukraine joining NATO is a direct threat to Russias security.

Let me remind you that at the Bucharest NATO summit held in April 2008, the United States pushed through a decision to the effect that Ukraine and, by the way, Georgia would become NATO members. Many European allies of the United States were well aware of the risks associated with this prospect already then, but were forced to put up with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a clearly anti-Russian policy.

A number of NATO member states are still very sceptical about Ukraine joining NATO. We are getting signals from some European capitals telling us not to worry since it will not happen literally overnight. In fact, our US partners are saying the same thing as well. All right, then we respond, if it does not happen tomorrow, then it will happen the day after tomorrow. What does it change from the historical perspective? Nothing at all.

Furthermore, we are aware of the US leaderships position and words that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not rule out the possibility of that country joining NATO if it meets NATO criteria and overcomes corruption.

All the while, they are trying to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance that poses no threat to Russia. Again, they want us to take their word for it. But we are well aware of the real value of these words. In 1990, when German unification was discussed, the United States promised the Soviet leadership that NATO jurisdiction or military presence will not expand one inch to the east and that the unification of Germany will not lead to the spread of NATOs military organisation to the east. This is a quote.

They issued lots of verbal assurances, all of which turned out to be empty phrases. Later, they began to assure us that the accession to NATO by Central and Eastern European countries would only improve relations with Moscow, relieve these countries of the fears steeped in their bitter historical legacy, and even create a belt of countries that are friendly towards Russia.

However, the exact opposite happened. The governments of certain Eastern European countries, speculating on Russophobia, brought their complexes and stereotypes about the Russian threat to the Alliance and insisted on building up the collective defence potentials and deploying them primarily against Russia. Worse still, that happened in the 1990s and the early 2000s when, thanks to our openness and goodwill, relations between Russia and the West had reached a high level.

Russia has fulfilled all of its obligations, including the pullout from Germany, from Central and Eastern Europe, making an immense contribution to overcoming the legacy of the Cold War. We have consistently proposed various cooperation options, including in the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE formats.

Moreover, I will say something I have never said publicly, I will say it now for the first time. When then outgoing US President Bill Clinton visited Moscow in 2000, I asked him how America would feel about admitting Russia to NATO.

I will not reveal all the details of that conversation, but the reaction to my question was, let us say, quite restrained, and the Americans true attitude to that possibility can actually be seen from their subsequent steps with regard to our country. I am referring to the overt support for terrorists in the North Caucasus, the disregard for our security demands and concerns, NATOs continued expansion, withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, and so on. It raises the question: why? What is all this about, what is the purpose? All right, you do not want to see us as friends or allies, but why make us an enemy?

There can be only one answer  this is not about our political regime or anything like that. They just do not need a big and independent country like Russia around. This is the answer to all questions. This is the source of Americas traditional policy towards Russia. Hence the attitude to all our security proposals

Today, one glance at the map is enough to see to what extent Western countries have kept their promise to refrain from NATOs eastward expansion. They just cheated. We have seen five waves of NATO expansion, one after another  Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary were admitted in 1999; Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004; Albania and Croatia in 2009; Montenegro in 2017; and North Macedonia in 2020.

As a result, the Alliance, its military infrastructure has reached Russias borders. This is one of the key causes of the European security crisis; it has had the most negative impact on the entire system of international relations and led to the loss of mutual trust.

The situation continues to deteriorate, including in the strategic area. Thus, positioning areas for interceptor missiles are being established in Romania and Poland as part of the US project to create a global missile defence system. It is common knowledge that the launchers deployed there can be used for Tomahawk cruise missiles  offensive strike systems.

In addition, the United States is developing its all-purpose Standard Missile-6, which can provide air and missile defence, as well as strike ground and surface targets. In other words, the allegedly defensive US missile defence system is developing and expanding its new offensive capabilities.

The information we have gives us good reason to believe that Ukraines accession to NATO and the subsequent deployment of NATO facilities has already been decided and is only a matter of time. We clearly understand that given this scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will increase dramatically, several times over. And I would like to emphasise at this point that the risk of a sudden strike at our country will multiply.

I will explain that American strategic planning documents confirm the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike at enemy missile systems. We also know the main adversary of the United States and NATO. It is Russia. NATO documents officially declare our country to be the main threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Ukraine will serve as an advanced bridgehead for such a strike. If our ancestors heard about this, they would probably simply not believe this. We do not want to believe this today either, but it is what it is. I would like people in Russia and Ukraine to understand this.

Many Ukrainian airfields are located not far from our borders. NATOs tactical aviation deployed there, including precision weapon carriers, will be capable of striking at our territory to the depth of the Volgograd-Kazan-Samara-Astrakhan line. The deployment of reconnaissance radars on Ukrainian territory will allow NATO to tightly control Russias airspace up to the Urals.

Finally, after the US destroyed the INF Treaty, the Pentagon has been openly developing many land-based attack weapons, including ballistic missiles that are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5,500 km. If deployed in Ukraine, such systems will be able to hit targets in Russias entire European part. The flying time of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Moscow will be less than 35 minutes; ballistic missiles from Kharkov will take seven to eight minutes; and hypersonic assault weapons, four to five minutes. It is like a knife to the throat. I have no doubt that they hope to carry out these plans, as they did many times in the past, expanding NATO eastward, moving their military infrastructure to Russian borders and fully ignoring our concerns, protests and warnings. Excuse me, but they simply did not care at all about such things and did whatever they deemed necessary.

Of course, they are going to behave in the same way in the future, following a well-known proverb: The dogs bark but the caravan goes on. Let me say right away  we do not accept this behaviour and will never accept it. That said, Russia has always advocated the resolution of the most complicated problems by political and diplomatic means, at the negotiating table.

We are well aware of our enormous responsibility when it comes to regional and global stability. Back in 2008, Russia put forth an initiative to conclude a European Security Treaty under which not a single Euro-Atlantic state or international organisation could strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others. However, our proposal was rejected right off the bat on the pretext that Russia should not be allowed to put limits on NATO activities.

Furthermore, it was made explicitly clear to us that only NATO members can have legally binding security guarantees.

Last December, we handed over to our Western partners a draft treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on security guarantees, as well as a draft agreement on measures to ensure the security of the Russian Federation and NATO member states.

The United States and NATO responded with general statements. There were kernels of rationality in them as well, but they concerned matters of secondary importance and it all looked like an attempt to drag the issue out and to lead the discussion astray.

We responded to this accordingly and pointed out that we were ready to follow the path of negotiations, provided, however, that all issues are considered as a package that includes Russias core proposals which contain three key points. First, to prevent further NATO expansion. Second, to have the Alliance refrain from deploying assault weapon systems on Russian borders. And finally, rolling back the blocs military capability and infrastructure in Europe to where they were in 1997, when the NATO-Russia Founding Act was signed.

These principled proposals of ours have been ignored. To reiterate, our Western partners have once again vocalised the all-too-familiar formulas that each state is entitled to freely choose ways to ensure its security or to join any military union or alliance. That is, nothing has changed in their stance, and we keep hearing the same old references to NATOs notorious open door policy. Moreover, they are again trying to blackmail us and are threatening us with sanctions, which, by the way, they will introduce no matter what as Russia continues to strengthen its sovereignty and its Armed Forces. To be sure, they will never think twice before coming up with or just fabricating a pretext for yet another sanction attack regardless of the developments in Ukraine. Their one and only goal is to hold back the development of Russia. And they will keep doing so, just as they did before, even without any formal pretext just because we exist and will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests or values.

I would like to be clear and straightforward: in the current circumstances, 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 has increased significantly, Russia has every right to respond in order to ensure its security. That is exactly what we will do.

With regard to the state of affairs in Donbass, we see that the ruling Kiev elites never stop publicly making clear their unwillingness to comply with the Minsk Package of Measures to settle the conflict and are not interested in a peaceful settlement. On the contrary, they are trying to orchestrate a blitzkrieg in Donbass as was the case in 2014 and 2015. We all know how these reckless schemes ended.

Not a single day goes by without Donbass communities coming under shelling attacks. The recently formed large military force makes use of attack drones, heavy equipment, missiles, artillery and multiple rocket launchers. The killing of civilians, the blockade, the abuse of people, including children, women and the elderly, continues unabated. As we say, there is no end in sight to this.

Meanwhile, the so-called civilised world, which our Western colleagues proclaimed themselves the only representatives of, prefers not to see this, as if this horror and genocide, which almost 4 million people are facing, do not exist. But they do exist and only because these people did not agree with the West-supported coup in Ukraine in 2014 and opposed the transition towards the Neanderthal and aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism which have been elevated in Ukraine to the rank of national policy. They are fighting for their elementary right to live on their own land, to speak their own language, and to preserve their culture and traditions.

How long can this tragedy continue? How much longer can one put up with this? Russia has done everything to preserve Ukraines territorial integrity. All these years, it has persistently and patiently pushed for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2202 of February 17, 2015, which consolidated the Minsk Package of Measures of February 12, 2015, to settle the situation in Donbass.

Everything was in vain. Presidents and Rada deputies come and go, but deep down the aggressive and nationalistic regime that seized power in Kiev remains unchanged. It is entirely a product of the 2014 coup, and those who then embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed and lawlessness did not recognise then and do not recognise now any solution to the Donbass issue other than a military one.

In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision and to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic.

I would like to ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision and then ratify the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance with both republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed shortly.

We want those who seized and continue to hold power in Kiev to immediately stop hostilities. Otherwise, the responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will lie entirely on the conscience of Ukraines ruling regime.

As I announce the decisions taken today, I remain confident in the support of Russias citizens and the countrys patriotic forces.

Thank you.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We are meeting today to discuss the current developments in Donbass.

I will briefly remind you how it all started and how the situation has developed even though you know this very well. But we need general background to help us make appropriate decisions.

So, after the 2014 coup in Ukraine, part of the population did not accept the outcome. Let me remind you that this was an anti-constitutional, blood-shedding coup that killed many innocent people. It was truly an armed coup. Nobody can argue that.

Some of the countrys citizens did not accept the coup. They were residents of Crimea and the people who currently live in Donbass.

Those people declared that they were establishing two independent republics, the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic. This was the point when the confrontation started between the Kiev officials and the people living on that territory.

In this context, I would like to point out that Russia initially did everything it could to make sure these disagreements could be resolved by peaceful means. However, the Kiev officials have conducted two punitive operations on those territories and, apparently, we are witnessing a third escalation.

All these years  I want to stress this  all these years, the people living on those territories have been literally tortured by constant shelling and blockades. As you know, the people living on those territories, close to the front line, so to speak, were in fact forced to seek shelter in their basements  where they now live with their children.

A peace plan was drafted during the negotiating process called the Minsk Package of Measures because, as you recall, we met in the city of Minsk. But subsequent developments show that the Kiev authorities are not planning to implement it, and they have publicly said so many times at the top state level and at the level of Foreign Minister and Security Council Secretary. Overall, everyone understands that they are not planning to do anything with regard to this Minsk Package of Measures.

Nevertheless, Russia has exerted efforts and still continues to make efforts to resolve all the complicated aspects and tragic developments by peaceful means, but we have what we have.

Our goal, the goal of todays meeting is to listen to our colleagues and to outline future steps in this direction, considering the appeals by the leaders of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic on recognising their sovereignty, as well as a resolution by the State Duma of the Russian Federation on the same subject. The latter document urges the President to recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic.

At the same time, I would like to note that these different matters are, nevertheless, closely linked with matters of maintaining international security, on the European continent in particular, because the use of Ukraine as a tool for confronting this country, Russia, of course, presents a major and serious threat to us.

This is why we have intensified our work with our main partners in Washington and NATO over the past few months and in late 2021, so as to reach an eventual agreement on these security measures and to ensure the countrys calm and successful development under peaceful conditions. We see this as our number one objective and a top priority; instead of confrontation, we need to maintain security and ensure conditions for our development.

But we must, of course, understand the reality we live in. And, as I have said many times before, if Russia faces the threat of Ukraine being accepted into the North Atlantic Alliance, NATO, the threat against our country will increase because of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty that clearly states that all countries in the alliance must fight on the side of their co-member in the event of an aggression against it. But since nobody recognises the will expressed by the people of Crimea and Sevastopol, and Ukraine continues to insist that it is Ukrainian territory, there is a real threat that they will try to take back the territory they believe is theirs using military force. And they do say this in their documents, obviously. Then the entire North Atlantic Alliance will have to get involved.

As you know, we have been told that some NATO countries are against Ukraine becoming a member. However, despite their objections, in 2008, they signed a memorandum in Bucharest that opened the doors for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO. I have not received an answer to my question as to why they did that. But if they took one step under pressure from the United States, who can guarantee that they will not take another step under pressure? There is no guarantee.

There are no guarantees whatsoever because the United States is known to easily discard any agreements and documents it signs. Still, at least something must be put on paper and formulated as an international legal act. At this point, we cannot even agree on this one thing.

Therefore, I would like to suggest that we proceed as follows: first, I will give the floor to Mr Lavrov who is directly involved in the attempts to reach an agreement with Washington and Brussels, and with NATO, on security guarantees. Then I would like Mr Kozak to report on his findings concerning the talks on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Then each of you will be able to speak. But at the end of the day, we must decide what we will do next and how we should proceed in view of the current situation and our assessment of these developments.

Mr Lavrov, please.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: Mr President, colleagues,

As I reported to the President a week ago, we prepared our assessment of the proposals on the security guarantees that Russia submitted for consideration by the United States and NATO last December.

We received their response in late January. The assessment of this response shows that our Western colleagues are not prepared to take up our major proposals, primarily those on NATOs eastward non-expansion. This demand was rejected with reference to the blocs so-called open-door policy and the freedom of each state to choose its own way of ensuring security. Neither the United States, not the North Atlantic Alliance proposed an alternative to this key provision.

The United States is doing everything it can to avoid the principle of indivisibility of security that we consider of fundamental importance and to which we have made many references. Deriving from it the only element that suits them  the freedom to choose alliances  they completely ignore everything else, including the key condition that reads that nobody  either in choosing alliances or regardless of them  is allowed to enhance their security at the expense of the security of others.

In this context, I sent our Western European colleagues that are part of NATO, EU members, plus Switzerland, detailed letters with our legal analysis of the commitments that the OSCE assumed at the top level in 1999 and 2010, as well as within the framework of Russia-NATO relations, including the 1997 Founding Act and the Rome Declaration, that the participants in the Russia-NATO meeting in Pratica di Mare approved at the top level in 2002.

Our second priority concerns the time we established relations with NATO, in 1997. Considering that the 1997 documents declared that Russia and NATO were no longer opponents and were supposed, in part, to develop a strategic partnership, we suggested returning to the 1997 configuration of NATO forces on the eastern flank. This argument was rejected, like the first one. Indicatively, in their response, some NATO countries immediately urged us to stop the occupation of Crimea and withdraw our troops from the territories of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

In general, these documents expressed support for the Minsk Package of Measures, but this support was absolutely sterile. It did not evince any readiness to compel Kiev to implement the provisions of this most important document.

In response to our other demands, including the need to rule out the deployment of arms systems that threaten us near our borders, the Americans expressed the desire to start discussing land-based medium- and short-range missiles. This issue emerged after the United States unilaterally walked out of the relevant treaty with the Russian Federation and ignored, Mr President, your initiatives of two years ago. At that time, you suggested replacing the treaty with at least a declaration on a mutual moratorium on deploying these systems with the relevant verification measures.

In the proposals we have received, the United States and NATO are also suggesting efforts in certain aspects of reducing military risks and on increasing transparency and predictability. These ideas are very close to the proposals we have repeatedly presented to both the Americans and to NATO. However, these issues were removed, separated from the context of the package agreement on security guarantees.

As for bilateral steps, the United States suggests regulating flights of strategic bombers, completing the work on measures to prevent incidents at sea and in the airspace over the sea. It is paying special attention to the transparency of surprise inspections, the resumption of contacts between the militaries, the creation of a civilian hotline, and a discussion of mechanisms to prevent dangerous military incidents.

Overall, our general impression is that our colleagues are trying to separate, as it were, Russias proposals, to single out from them some secondary, albeit important for us, points that can help maintain the dialogue and risk reduction but that will not affect the vital interests of the US and its allies in their unlimited expansion of NATO, and that will not limit their freedom to define the configuration of forces in the NATO space and around it.

That said, and this is particularly important in the context of the issue that the President outlined today, the beginning of a dialogue on any issue is contingent on our preliminary steps to deescalate tensions around Ukraine.

In evaluating these responses, we can say that we see some progress. These openings are small but they do exist. The consistency and principled approach that we have been displaying in promoting our initiatives since last December have, of course, shaken the United States and its allies and have compelled them to start working on many Russian proposals on the reduction of military tensions and arms control, which they ignored before.

As I reported to you, Mr President, in this context we believe it is necessary to continue this work. We responded in detail, in the spirit I described, to the documents from Washington and Brussels, but we have sent our response only to the United States for now, partly, primarily because we see NATOs role as ancillary since they would determine their steps mainly, maybe even exclusively based on Washingtons policies.

By the way, at the recent Munich Security Conference, every Western representative declared their absolute commitment to a unified approach. That unified approach was developed by the United States, so Munich has simply confirmed that we need to negotiate with Washington. This is what we are doing now, sending the response that you approved to the American document.

We believe we have clearly emphasised the most important part  that our proposals are not an a la carte menu to choose from, but they are not an ultimatum either. They actually stem from the absolutely obvious point that the global situation can only be resolved through a comprehensive approach at this stage. You, Mr President, have stressed that the Ukrainian crisis also largely depends on how relations develop between the Russian Federation and the West, led by the United States, so in our response, we underscored the integrity of the original Russian initiative.

We are also ready to discuss the matters that the Americans have recalled, including taking into account our previous proposals. But again, we will do this solely as part of addressing our main concerns: stopping NATOs eastward expansion and considering the configuration of NATOs presence on the European continent, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, in line with the previous RussiaNATO agreements.

Naturally, our call is not a call but rather a demand, by and large, to explain why the assurances signed at the highest level that no one is to strengthen their security at the expense of others are now being ignored, and more than that, our colleagues from the respective countries are even refusing to explain what they had in mind when their leaders signed the relevant documents, and why now, regardless of what they had in mind, they are not going to fulfill their obligations.

Following your instruction, Mr President, we have sent these documents to Washington. A couple of days later, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called me to say he had read our document and was ready to meet to discuss it, convey the American reaction and possibly ask some additional questions. With your consent, the meeting has been scheduled for later this week, February 24, in Geneva. We will be guided by the approach that you have approved, the one you defend during the meetings with your colleagues, and which we will certainly promote at the Foreign Ministry level.

Vladimir Putin: I am talking to my colleagues about this in fact, and my American colleague has assured me that they are not going to admit Ukraine tomorrow; moreover, even a moratorium is possible. But they also believe that Ukraine is not ready yet, so my answer was simple: We do not see this as a concession to us; it is just the implementation of your plans. You believe you need to wait and prepare Ukraine for joining NATO. A moratorium, but not a moratorium for us; you are announcing this moratorium for yourself. So where is the step towards us, to meet us halfway? So far, we have not seen this.

I spoke twice to the President of France yesterday; actually, we spoke until 2 am this morning, so you could say we talked today. He insists that the US position has undergone some changes. But regrettably, he was unable to answer the question of what those changes are.

I think first we need to see what these changes are, if they exist at all, because your colleagues, to the contrary, publicly claimed as late as yesterday that there were no changes in the principal issues of expansion, of accepting new countries into NATO, including Ukraine. Do I understand it correctly?

Sergey Lavrov: Yes, Mr President, despite the multiplying publications of classified documents  and in the Western media at that  that were discussed by our Western colleagues in the early 90s both among themselves and with us; and even though they clearly indicated that even the West has no intention of expanding NATO to the east, confirming that in talks in a narrow circle; regardless of that, Mr Stoltenberg, the current Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, is still rejecting obvious facts that have been declassified by a British archive and published by Spiegel magazine.

Despite all that, they are adamant in not weakening their open door policy, even though you have explained several times that such a policy does not actually exist. There is the possibility under the Washington Treaty of proposing, with unanimous consent from the NATO countries, that a given country join the alliance under two conditions: if it meets the membership qualifications, and secondly, and most importantly, if that country can add a security dimension to the North Atlantic Alliance. We know, of course, that the second critical criteria has long been ignored by NATO.

As to what new ideas the Americans and their allies can offer, we presume that, as you said to President Macron, we first have to understand what the Americans mean. Because our French colleagues tell us that they have an understanding of what Washington can speak to us about. As you agreed with President Macron yesterday, I will have a telephone conversation with the French Foreign Minister today. When we were scheduling the call, I asked the French Foreign Ministry to make sure that he clarifies, even if just a little, what the Americans are ready to discuss with us as they hinted to the French.

Vladimir Putin: I see, thank you.

Take your seat, please, Thank you.

Now, Mr Kozak will report  as I requested  on any developments on the Minsk settlement track, let us call it that. And after that, I would ask the other Security Council members to speak out starting with the real situation, which is now unfolding in the Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Please, Mr Kozak.

To be continued.
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, remain gravely concerned about Russias threatening military build-up around Ukraine, in illegally annexed Crimea and in Belarus. Russias unprovoked and unjustified massing of military forces, the largest deployment on the European continent since the end of the Cold War is a challenge to global security and the international order.

We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraines borders and to fully abide by international commitments including on risk reduction and transparency of military activities. As a first step, we expect Russia to implement the announced reduction of its military activities along Ukraines borders. We have seen no evidence of this reduction. We will judge Russia by its deeds.

We took note of Russias latest announcements that it is willing to engage diplomatically. We underline our commitment vis-a-vis Russia to pursue dialogue on issues of mutual concern, such as European security, risk reduction, transparency, confidence building and arms control. We also reiterate our commitment to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the current crisis, and we urge Russia to take up the offer of dialogue through the US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue, the NATO-Russia Council, and the OSCE. We commend the Renewed OSCE European Security Dialogue launched by the Polish OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office and express our strong hope that Russia will engage in a constructive way.

Any threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states goes against the fundamental principles that underpin the rules-based international order as well as the European peace and security order enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter and other subsequent OSCE declarations. While we are ready to explore diplomatic solutions to address legitimate security concerns, Russia should be in no doubt that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences, including financial and economic sanctions on a wide array of sectoral and individual targets that would impose severe and unprecedented costs on the Russian economy. We will take coordinated restrictive measures in case of such an event.

We reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our support to Ukraines efforts to strengthen its democracy and institutions, encouraging further progress on reform. We consider it of utmost importance to help preserve the economic and financial stability of Ukraine and the well-being of its people. Building on our assistance since 2014, we are committed to contribute, in close coordination with Ukraines authorities to support the strengthening of Ukraines resilience.

We reiterate our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters. We reaffirm the right of any sovereign state to determine its own future and security arrangements. We commend Ukraines posture of restraint in the face of continued provocations and efforts at destabilization.

We underline our strong appreciation and continued support for Germanys and Frances efforts through the Normandy Process to secure the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which is the only way forward for a lasting political solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. We acknowledge public statements by President Zelensky underlining Ukraines firm commitment to the Minsk Agreements and his readiness to contribute constructively to the process. Ukrainian overtures merit serious consideration by Russian negotiators and by the Government of the Russian Federation. We call on Russia to seize the opportunity which Ukraines proposals represent for the diplomatic path.

Russia must de-escalate and fulfil its commitments in implementing the Minsk Agreements. The increase in ceasefire violations along the line of contact in recent days is highly concerning. We condemn the use of heavy weaponry and indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, which constitute a clear violation of the Minsk Agreements. We also condemn that the Russian Federation continues to hand out Russian passports to the inhabitants of the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine. This clearly runs counter to the spirit of the Minsk agreements.

We are particularly worried by measures taken by the self-proclaimed Peoples Republics which must be seen as laying the ground for military escalation. We are concerned that staged incidents could be used as a pretext for possible military escalation. Russia must use its influence over the self-proclaimed republics to exercise restraint and de-escalate.

In this context, we firmly express our support for the OSCEs Special Monitoring Mission, whose observers play a key role in de-escalation efforts. This mission must be allowed to carry out its full mandate without restrictions to its activities and freedom of movement to the benefit and security of the people in eastern Ukraine.
Good morning. Good morning. Thank you, Ambassador Ischinger. And to all of the very extraordinary leaders who are here today, I thank you for the kind introduction and your years of dedicated leadership. And thank you also to Chancellor Scholz for your kind words.

So, it is an honor to join all of these distinguished leaders from around the world this morning.

I am certain we all recognize this years gathering is unlike those of the recent past. Not since the end of the Cold War has this forum convened under such dire circumstances.

Today, as we are all well aware, the foundation of European security is under direct threat in Ukraine.

Let us remember: From the wreckage of two world wars, a consensus emerged in Europe and the United States. A consensus in favor of order, not chaos; security, not conflict.

So by forging relationships and bonds, forging organizations and institutions, laws and treaties, we, together, established a set of rules, norms that have governed ever since.

And Europe has enjoyed unprecedented peace, security, and prosperity through a commitment to a set of defining principles. The United States is equally committed to these principles: that people have a right to choose their own form of government; that nations have a right to choose their own alliances; that there are inalienable rights which governments must protect; that the rule of law should be cherished; that sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected; and that national borders should not be changed by force. (Applause.)

We are here in Munich, together, to reaffirm our commitment to these principles. These principles have brought us peace and security. The backbone of this, of course, is NATO  the greatest military alliance the world has ever seen.

As a defensive alliance, we have deterred acts of aggression against NATO territory for the past 75 years. And today, let me be clear: Americas commitment to Article 5 is ironclad. This commitment is sacrosanct to me, to President Biden, and to our entire nation.

In fact, I am joined here in Munich by a bipartisan delegation from the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. They are Democrats and Republicans. They have a wide range of political views. But they stand together in recognition of the value and the importance of our NATO Alliance.

Now, even in the most difficult times for our transatlantic community and even when our system has been tried and tested, we, the United States and Europe, have come together and demonstrated our strength and our unity, just as we do today  as we stand in this decisive moment, with all eyes on Ukraine.

As we have said all along, there is a playbook of Russian aggression. And this playbook is too familiar to us all.

Russia will plead ignorance and innocence, it will create false pretext for invasion, and it will amass troops and firepower in plain sight.

We now receive reports of what appears to be provocations. And we see Russia spreading disinformation, lies, and propaganda.

Nonetheless, in a deliberate and coordinated effort, we, together, are: one, exposing the truth and, two, speaking with a unified voice.

As President Joe Biden has made clear: The United States, our NATO Allies, and our partners have been and remain open to serious diplomacy. We have put concrete proposals on the table. We have encouraged and engaged Russia through NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations, and bilateral dialogues. We have engaged in good faith.

Russia continues to claim it is ready for talks while, at the same time, it narrows the avenues for diplomacy. Their actions simply do not match their words.

And let me be clear. I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our Allies and partners, will impose significant and unprecedented economic costs. (Applause.)

We have worked intensively with many of you in this room to ensure we are prepared to move forward with consequences.

We have prepared, together, economic measures that will be swift, severe, and united. We will impose far-reaching financial sanctions and export controls. We will target Russias financial institutions and key industries. And we will target those who are complicit and those who aid and abet this unprovoked invasion.

Make no mistake: The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures. We will further reinforce our NATO Allies on the eastern flank.

In fact, together we have already taken steps to strengthen our deterrence and collective defense. We have deployed an additional 6,000 American service members to Romania, Poland, and Germany. We have put another 8,500 service members in the United States on a heightened sense of readiness.

As President Biden has said, our forces will not be deployed to fight inside Ukraine, but they will defend every inch of NATO territory.

Since Russia launched its proxy war against Ukraine nearly eight years ago, the people of Ukraine have suffered immensely: nearly 14,000 people killed, more than a million displaced, and nearly 3 million in need of aid.

The United States has provided significant support to Ukraine: security assistance, humanitarian assistance, and economic assistance. And we will continue to support the people of Ukraine.

I believe it is important for us  all of us  as leaders to never forget the cost of this type of aggression on human lives and livelihoods.

So, the United States, our Allies, and our partners, together, we have achieved remarkable unity. It is evident in our shared acknowledgment of the threats, our united response, and our determination to uphold international rules and norms.

In the face of Russian aggression, I have been reassured and heartened by the widespread agreement across the transatlantic community that these rules and norms will be defended.

And we should not lose sight of how rare it is in history to have a prolonged period of relative peace and stability. So, let the past few months be a reminder to us all: Defending the rules and norms, upholding our principles  this is the vital work of each generation.

In recent years, some have questioned whether the West is up to the task. Some have wondered whether this system can endure. Some have even done so on this very stage.

Indeed, the theme of this conference two years ago questioned the staying power of the West; whether or not the transatlantic community was losing its cohesion, its influence, its appeal.

So I will answer the skeptics and those seeking to test us: Today, the United States, our Allies, and our partners are closer together. Today, we are clear in our purpose. And today, we are even more confident in our vision.

Our strength must not be underestimated, because, after all, it lies in our unity. And as we have always shown, it takes a lot more strength to build something up than it takes to tear something down.

Thank you all. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Madam Vice President, thank you so much for this great speech, which I think will be commented about and read about quite a bit in coming hours and days and weeks.

Before we start our conversation, let me repeat what I said before you came into the hall. It was in 2009, President Biden who established  having just been elected Vice President at that time  a young tradition, namely that the United States would be represented in Munich by the Vice President.

And he came several times. And I was delighted to see that even the Trump administration followed that example. And were now so happy to have you to continue this tradition. And I would be delighted if you can convey to the President that even if he is now no longer the Vice President, he has always a standing invitation here. (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, Ambassador, I will. And I will tell you, it is the Presidents enthusiasm about the importance of this conference that led to my enthusiasm to be with you this afternoon. So thank you very much.

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Now, on a slightly more serious note: A year ago, when the President appeared on our screen  actually, in this room  I was standing right here in this room when he appeared on screen and he said, and I quote, America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back.

Now, that was a message that was extremely well received here, even if we  not all of us knew that we would be threatened in the way that we feel threatened right now, as you just explained.

But as we look forward, there are lots of people here in Germany, in Europe, who asking themselves, Okay, America is back. Thats great. But is it for good? Is this for good? Many in Europe are fearful of a time where maybe some kind of a second Trump could be looming in the future.

So heres my question: What can or should we Europeans do to keep the United States engaged in Europe long term, not just today as we sit here, and even beyond the current administration?

I think that is such an important question, because we have learned over these last weeks and months that without the United States considering herself a European power, were actually quite powerless.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I think the evidence of the point that I will make is present in this room. You will see there is probably one of the largest delegations from the United States Congress present today  Republicans and Democrats who, as I said earlier, you know, often dont agree on much, but agree on this.

I would  I think that the heart of your question really does demand the importance of  of the perseverance and enduring nature of institutions and alliances. And I would say that, on that point, we are strong.

There is an unwavering commitment to NATO and to the Alliance, as evidenced, again, by the conversations and the unity that has resulted over the last several months where nations have come together, where the United States, we would like to believe, has been among leaders in playing a leadership role to bring together the Allies around common principles and norms, doing it in a way that has been, at its essence, about the value and the strength of diplomacy, which is about direct engagement.

We have counted  and the Secretary of State is here, Tony Blinken. Weve counted an excess of at least 200 conversations just in the last couple of months, be it between the President and others, the Secretary of State, myself, and so on.

So I would say to you that the relationship is strong and that the importance of the relationship is something that we take very seriously, which is why in this historic moment, in this defining moment, potentially, the strength of the institution and the Alliance reveals itself, even if theres been a question about that before.

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Thank you so much.

Now, another key team  key theme of our special edition with President Biden a year ago was this question, and Id be interested in your response today. The question was: Can democracies prove that they can still deliver better solutions to the worlds major challenges than autocracies?

There are skeptics who would probably not have a hard time finding evidence to the contrary over the past period. What do we need, what do democracies need in order to do better and to convince our people  peoples that we can do it?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Ambassador, I think this is one of the most challenging issues of our time, which is the relative strength  the question about the relative strength, efficiency, and effectiveness of democracies versus autocracies.

Im going to always bet on democracies. I think all of us here share that in common. And it is a reflection of, again, the principles that we have that include the importance of being a government that reflects the needs and desires of the people through a process that has integrity, that rejects corruption, and embraces the concepts of equality and freedom.

When we look at the challenge that we face now, in the United States  and youre right, President Joe Biden talks a lot about this  and we take pride in the fact that the strength of a democra-  democracy, one measure of that strength will be: Does it deliver on the needs of the people?

So, for example, in the United States  again, with thanks and with great attribution to the congressional delegates that are here  we passed a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was one of the first in generations that will deliver on the needs of the people.

So, I would say that the strength of democracies and the way that democracies will prevail, one  one measure of that will be: Does it actually deliver for the people?

But that being said, there is a duality that is always present, I believe, which is that democracy is both  it both has the characters of  characteristics of strength and fragility, meaning that it is incumbent on each of us to understand the strength of democracy to deliver for the people, but also the fragility of democracies, which is that if we are not vigilant, if we dont fight for the principles, then they can fade.

And so, that, again, brings us to the reason that we are here today: to continuously reaffirm and rededicate ourselves as a community to the strength of democracies and the need for us to not only individually but collectively uphold its principles, its values, and its purpose.

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Thank you very much. Now, I think I have no choice but to return to our overriding theme this weekend, which has been when Secretary Stoltenberg spoke earlier and Chancellor Scholz spoke just before you. Of course, the central theme was  and you talked about it just a few minutes ago  was Ukraine.

So, the Biden administration, the President himself, you  youve all stated that you expect that there will be some kind of military action by Russia going forward. Now, I  personally, Ive no question about your determination to do what you announced to do.

But I think this audience would be interested in how you and the Biden administration judges our readiness. Do you think we, Europeans, are sufficiently prepared for such a kind of worst-case scenario, which would  in my view at least, which would tend to sort of, you know, terminate the search for a durable and peaceful European security architecture? And weve been working on that for more than a generation  for two generations.

So, the question is: If you could reflect a bit about how you think about this and what, conceivably, Americans and Europeans  working together  what we could do in the future even better in terms of speaking with Russia, not only about Russia.

You know, one of the things I really regret is that the Russian government decided not to come here. I would have appreciated an opportunity to challenge them on this stage, as has been the case for many years here Munich.

So  but I think you understand my question.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, as I said in my speech, I am reassured and heartened by the work that we have collectively done over the last several months. And it is work. Not everyone started out in the same place in terms of a variety of issues that are on the table. How do we define aggression? What should be the consequences? Which consequences are appropriate? Which are we willing to pursue? Which arent we willing to pursue? So we didnt all start out in the same place.

But through diplomacy  and again, this speaks to the strength of diplomacy  we came together and are now speaking with a unified voice. And that voice was a function of not only dialogue, but debate, some concessions, but also a practical realization of the moment that were in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.

And perhaps this is a moment, as life does present us with those moments, that challenge us to ask what is our reason for being. And I think we all know the history of NATO and its reason for being. The spirit behind this term we use, the transatlantic community. The word community, meaning a collection, not  a collection of individuals who see themselves as a collection than as one. And thats where we are now.

I dont disagree with you that it would be nice if we were presented with other circumstances, be it at this conference or in the world, but thats not where we are.

We remain open to diplomacy. We have said it continuously, and our deeds, our words, and our actions have reflected that priority.

We believe that when you define the strength of any nation  certainly Ill speak for the United States  we believe it is an expression of our strength to seek, as a first priority, a diplomatic resolution to any conflict. And I believe weve been clear about that. But yet, we are presented with this moment today.

And so the question is: If that diplomacy leads to a dead end  we hope it does not; I said that again in my speech today, the President said it last night  we are still open to a diplomatic resolution. But if it does not, we are also clear-eyed that there must be consequences.

And so we have clearly articulated the consequences we have in store, and they will be severe and swift. And they were derived through a process, again, of diplomatic discussions and engagement wherein there has been some consensus around what would be appropriate, given perhaps some predictable scenarios.

I think this moment speaks to, yes, a moment we would like to avoid, if it was avoidable, but it also speaks to our resolve to speak with one voice and a unified voice.

History has challenged us over the years in that regard. But I think history will show that, at this moment, we are standing strong. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Madam Vice President, I can only thank you on behalf of our participants of this audience and of those who are listening from the outside for traveling over  for coming over here in these difficult circumstances with pandemic conditions. You know, under more normal circumstances, there would be like 600 people in this hall. It would be totally overcrowded. So thank you for doing this.

Thank you for doing this for us. For us here in Europe, its  its an enormously reassuring message.

And I want to invite all of you to offer to the Vice President of the United States a warm round of applause, if you could, please. (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
"NATOs enlargement in the last decades has been a great success and has also paved the way for a further enlargement of the EU": this was reiterated last Saturday at the Munich Security Conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. In order to fully understand his words, it is necessary to reconstruct this "great success" story in its essential terms.

It begins in the same year - 1999 - in which NATO demolishes Yugoslavia with war and, at the Washington summit, announces that it wants to "conduct crisis response operations, not provided for in Article 5, outside Alliance territory". Forgetting that it had committed itself to Russia "not to expand even one inch to the East", NATO began its expansion to the East. It includes the first three countries of the former Warsaw Pact: Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Then, in 2004, it extends to seven more: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (formerly part of the USSR); Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia (formerly part of the Warsaw Pact); Slovenia (formerly part of the Yugoslav Federation). In 2009, NATO incorporates Albania (formerly a member of the Warsaw Pact) and Croatia (formerly part of the Yugoslav Federation); in 2017, Montenegro (formerly part of Yugoslavia); in 2020, North Macedonia (formerly part of Yugoslavia) In twenty years, NATO expands from 16 to 30 countries.

In this way, Washington achieves a triple result. It extends the military alliance close to Russia, even inside the territory of the former USSR, and maintains the levers of command: the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe is, "by tradition", always a US general appointed by the US president and the other key commands also belong to the US. At the same time, Washington ties the Eastern countries not so much to the Alliance, but directly to the US. Romania and Bulgaria, as soon as they entered, immediately made available to the United States the important military bases of Constanta and Burgas on the Black Sea. The third result obtained by Washington with the enlargement of NATO to the East is the strengthening of its influence in Europe. Out of the ten Central-Eastern European countries that joined NATO between 1999 and 2004, seven joined the European Union between 2004 and 2007: the United States superimposed NATO on the EU, which expanded to the East, over Europe.

Today 21 of the 27 countries of the European Union belong to NATO under US command. The North Atlantic Council, the Alliances political body, according to NATO rules decides not by majority but always "unanimously and by common accord", i.e. in agreement with what is decided in Washington. The participation of the major European powers in these decisions (excluding Italy, which obeys by keeping silent) generally takes place through secret negotiations with Washington on give and take. This involves a further weakening of European parliaments, in particular the Italian one, already deprived of real decision-making powers on foreign and military policy.

In this framework, Europe finds itself today in an even more dangerous situation than during the Cold War. Three other countries - Bosnia Herzegovina (formerly part of Yugoslavia), Georgia and Ukraine (formerly part of the USSR) - are candidates to join NATO. Stoltenberg, spokesman for the US before NATO, declares that "we keep the door open and if the Kremlins goal is to have less NATO on Russias borders, it will only get more NATO."

In the US-NATO escalation, clearly directed to explode a large-scale war in the heart of Europe, nuclear weapons come into play. In three months, the U.S. begins mass production of the new B61-12 nuclear bombs, which will be deployed under U.S. command in Italy and other European countries, probably also in the East even closer to Russia. In addition to these, the U.S. has in Europe two land bases in Romania and Poland and four warships equipped with the Aegis missile system, capable of launching not only anti-missile missiles but also cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. They are also preparing intermediate-range nuclear missiles to be deployed in Europe against Russia, the invented enemy that can, however, respond destructively if attacked.

To all this is added the economic and social impact of growing military spending. At the meeting of defense ministers, Stoltenberg triumphantly announced that "this is the seventh consecutive year of increased defense spending by European Allies, increased by $270 billion since 2014." More public money diverted from social spending and productive investment, while European countries have yet to recover from the 2020-21 economic lockdown. Italian military spending has exceeded 70 million euros per day, but its not enough. Prime Minister Draghi has already announced "We must provide ourselves with a more significant defense: it is very clear that we will have to spend much more than we have done so far". Very clear: lets tighten our belts so that NATO can expand.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi is arguably our greatest living dramatist, a keen observer of human behavior and the ways our responsibilities to our friends, family, faith, and fellow human beings open us up to joy and pain. His films are puzzles that snap into hyperspecific portraits of everyday life both inside and outside of Iran, with frustrations between married couples or lovers, between parents and children, and between neighbors or colleagues fueling works like About Elly, The Past, and Everybody Knows.

Farhadis latest, A Hero, is another twisty-turny story about morality and miscommunication. The script weaves together empathetic characters and critiques of both Irans criminal-justice system (a topic also considered in Farhadis 2004 film Beautiful City) and the instantaneous moral judgments often made on social media. And like the directors most recent films set in his home country, Best International Feature Film Oscar winners A Separation and The Salesman, A Hero is a study of how an individual pushes back against the rigidity of systems, laws, and cultural practices larger than themselves.

In A Hero, Amir Jadidis Rahim is released from debtors prison for a brief visit with his family. During his two days of freedom, he comes to possess a purse filled with gold coins. Instead of using the bounty to pay down some of his debt to the embittered lender Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), Rahim returns the gold to the woman who lost it. That act of altruism grabs the attention of prison administrators, who want to use Rahims story to ward off bad press  an act of manipulation that threatens to topple Rahim from esteemed hero into cause celebre.

A Hero (which is available for streaming on Prime Video) aligns with Farhadis prior work in its examination of how seemingly minute choices have reverberating, sprawling effects on an interconnected society. I recently spoke to Farhadi in a mixture of English and Farsi, with the help of translator and fellow filmmaker Rayan Farzad, about the nuances of Jadidis performance, whether heroes really exist, Farhadis statement rebuking the Iranian government, and how he prefers his tahdig.

I rewatched The Salesman before watching A Hero, and that movie opens with the destruction of an apartment in Tehran, a result of the citys overdevelopment and rush toward progress. A Hero opens in Shiraz, near the tomb of Xerxes, with workers preserving a space that is more than 2,000 years old. Between those two films, there seems to be a tension between old Iran and new Iran. Was that a purposeful connection?

This is something that came to me in my films in a very subconscious way, not something that I had an idea for before starting. But if anyone wants to do a realism kind of film, this is something that happens in Iranian society. Were talking about a society that has a very strong relationship to its past, but at the same time, has a huge will to update itself to what is happening in the 21st century.

Why Shiraz? What is the importance of that city for you?

The thing is that Shiraz  has different angles that help my film. In Shiraz, compared to, for example, the capital Tehran, the relationships between people are closer. The families are closer together. And the other part is the historical background. Because of the connections Iranians have with their history, there are lots of signs of Irans history in Shiraz and that area. Theres a link between that and the concept of A Hero.

Do you remember the first time that you went to Shiraz? What was your first experience there?

The first time that I went to Shiraz, I was just a kid. We went with my family, my grandfather, and with families we were close to. I was very small, I cant remember it very well. But now that I see the photos, its very interesting. We have photos from Takht-e-Jamshid, Persepolis, and Hafezieh. Later on, we went to Shiraz a lot, and I really liked that city.

In a 2014 interview, you described information in your scripts as being covered in dust  its up to the characters to keep wiping the dust away, like archeologists who continue to discover new things. What did that approach do for this film?

How you get the information across to the audience and when you give it can have different effects. In The Salesman, the information was given in a way to make a mystery, a riddle. But in A Hero, the information is spread throughout the film in a way that creates ambiguity. This ambiguity is not something that I forced, but the story on its own, in its nature, has it. And this is something that I get in my personal life as well. It seems like nothing in life is clear. Everything is ambiguous.

The closest thing to us is us, ourselves. But even we dont have a clear idea about who we are. I tried to bring this ambiguity into the film by thinking about how to spread the information throughout. At the very beginning, we feel like we know Rahim. All the decisions that he makes, or other people make for him, are clear. But then as the story unfolds, we find out that all his decisions were actually ambiguous.

Sometimes I think that this is a very Iranian thing. Theres a public version of you and a private version of you, and trying to find the real you feels impossible. Theres a moment in A Hero when Rahims sister, Mali, played by Maryam Shahdaei, talks about the gap between what people say and what they do. We know a lot about how other people view Rahim. How do you think Rahim views himself?

Its a very important question. I think the image he has of himself at the beginning is the image that others gave to him. We can see from the things that are happening around him that he believes nobody has respected him. Even his sister, when she sees the bag with the money, she says something disrespectful. And everything that he tries in the film is somehow an attempt to compromise all the humiliation that hes felt in his life. The image that Rahim has of himself is not one he created.

I feel like its only in the last image of the film that he makes an actual decision. Thats the moment he is himself. The first line of the film, the first dialogue of the film, is Rahim Soltani, and the last line of the film is Rahim Soltani as well. Its a voyage between Rahim Soltani to Rahim Soltani. This person is not the same person at the end.

Rahim is a cipher for most of the film, but I thought he was truthful when he was angry  when he starts the fight with his creditor, Bahram, and when he slams the door in prison and the prison administrators force him to apologize. Those felt like moments when he broke out of the performance of who others expect him to be.

Yes, I think those are the moments when he has an honest image of himself. Those are the moments when he shows his anger, and he shows who he is. But in the other parts of the film, it seems that he covers his anger with a smile. Whenever he gets angry, with the exception at the end of the film, he always censors it. This is something that comes from our culture, probably. He is a character for whom the collective ideas of who he is are more important than his own individual idea. And this word that we call aberu, or reputation, its very important in the everyday lives of Iranians. There is a saying in Iran, its in our culture and maybe it doesnt exist in another culture, and it says that a person makes his face rosy by slapping himself. There is a lot of meaning behind this. It means that you have to azar  annoy yourself, hurt yourself  in order to make other people feel like youre doing well.

I thought that he was taarof-ing all the time.

Yes.

He is so constrained in his interactions, in part because there is such a strict code in Iranian culture about etiquette and how to behave publicly. He waits to be spoken to, he lingers outside rooms until hes invited, he has this hangdog look. I read that for weeks you worked with Amir Jadidi on his physicality. What did you want him to get right about his smile?

The most important thing was that he shouldnt look like an actor. He should look like a very normal, common man in a complicated situation. He should be a person who makes very small mistakes, tells very small lies, but at the same time, has lots of likable qualities. I tried to make a fragile physique for him. Hes not stable. Hes always imbalanced. It seems like he cant hear well, and he has to lean forward. His mouth droops a little bit down. His fingers are not straight and strong and steady, but they are curled and broken. This would help us have more empathy with him, and at the same time, it would let the other characters give themselves permission to give him advice all the time.

Yes, Rahims stance is always crooked. He carries the literal debt of what he owes and an emotional debt for what he owes his family. Was he always imbalanced?

I think that this incident made him become like this. If you had seen him as a teenager, we would see a very strong, beautiful teenager who is ready to make a beautiful life, but this incident made him the way that he is right now.

He is constantly in contrast to Mohsen Tanabandehs Bahram, whose arms are often crossed and is very closed off during the whole film.

Exactly. Thats a very correct point. Every physical characteristic of Rahim, we made the opposite of Bahram. Hes very strong, he always stays stable, his body is very sturdy, he always makes decisions himself.

During the productions COVID delay, you rewrote Bahram to make him more empathetic. What was added?

We have two characters that are confronting each other, and one of them is the protagonist and one of them is the antagonist. In the version that I had before, from a rational point of view, we gave the benefit of the doubt to both, but emotionally, we were closer to Rahim. I added Bahrams daughter on the other side to make a balance between Rahim and Bahram and so they are not black-and-white.

And Bahrams daughter, Nazanin, is played by your daughter, Sarina. You worked together on A Separation, in which she played the daughter Termeh. How do you balance being Sarinas director and her father?

[Smiles.] Its a complicated and hard relationship, especially now that shes older than she was in A Separation. Its very hard for us to forget our relationship. But because she wanted to make sure that I wasnt being easy on her, she was trying much harder. I was telling her, Sarina, this is a character who when people see her, they are going to hate her, because she does something to Rahim that we dont like. And acting as a character that the audience has those feelings toward is very hard.

Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) seems very honest in her love for Rahim. But then I remember she wanted to sell somebody elses gold for her and Rahims benefit. Even things that seem good on their surface, you think about it for another second, and you realize, Oh, thats actually sort of terrible.

I think for all the characters in the film, we understand why theyre doing what theyre doing. But the quality Farkhondeh has is that she wants everything for her eshq, for her love. When she sees that Rahim is a little upset or suffers from something, she suffers even more. This is something like what mothers feel, like my mother. When they see that their child is in pain, they cant go to sleep. They stay awake day and night. From a certain point of view, this is the most romantic or loving relationship in all my films.

My father passed away last year, and when I was growing up, he would always say that there wasnt really an English translation for eshq. He always thought it was more than love. He would try to explain it to me as it being about your entire soul.

Thats an important point. In English, we say love. In Farsi, we say eshq. The word comes from the word ashagheh, which is a plant that goes around a tree and covers that tree up. Its a very poetic word and has a very poetic angle, and we dont have that in English. What we have with Farkhondeh in this film is the same thing. Its like she doesnt see herself at all.

No one in this film really seems like a hero, which is the irony of the title. Is it even possible to be a hero in this day and age?

I think the idea of a hero that makes all the correct decisions for a long period of time, this is like a fantasy. It doesnt happen in real life. Maybe in different periods of our lives, we need a hero. But we also need to understand that this is a made-up idea, this is not the real thing. Maybe in a family, I can understand that one member becomes a hero of that family. But for a whole society, I dont really understand how one person can become a hero for everyone. Maybe for a small period of time. But for ten years? Twenty years? Its not going to happen, unless that person dies.

I also want to ask about the statement you released in November on Instagram. You rejected the idea that you are in debt to the Iranian government just because A Hero was chosen as the countrys Oscars submission. Rahim does something similar when he rejects the release of a video shot by a prison employee (Farrokh Nourbakht) that features his son Siavash (Saleh Karimaei). Did working on A Hero make you think harder about how your films represent Iran?

When I was making the film, I wasnt really thinking about what was going to happen in the future. That statement of mine, the people of Iran understand it more. Because the Iran situation is so complex, its hard for a foreigner to understand it. They have to know whats going on, the complexity of Irans situation, to understand it. But if I want to summarize it, its talking about the independence of the artist.

What do you think of your future as a filmmaker in Iran?

I hope and wish to make most of my movies in Iran. But nobody knows whats going to happen tomorrow.

The taxi driver, played by Ali Hasannejad Ranjbar, has a perspective that is anti-establishment, anti-prison. He feels like he could be a version of Rahims future. He tells Nadeali (Ehsan Goodarzi), who is in charge of verifying Rahims story about returning the gold, Im nobody, young man. You who are somebody. Why are you accusing this poor innocent guy? Could you talk about writing that character and that scene and what you wanted to convey?

The taxi driver is one of the most-liked characters in the film by people around the world. He helps Rahim without deriving any benefit from it, the same way that Farkhondeh does. There is a quality of isar in him. [Farhadi breaks off, looks at Farzad.] Im not sure how isar would be translated.

Farzad: Sacrifice. I dont know the exact word. Its the name of Tarkovskys movie too.

Farhadi: He sort of sacrifices himself for something else.

Its very selfless.

His character is very different from Rahim. Rahim has covered himself, hidden his intentions and motivations behind a veil. But the taxi driver, hes more honest. His hand is shown.

In A Hero, Mali makes tahdig, Persian crispy-bottomed rice, for Rahim. When you make tahdig, is it just rice, or do you add potato slices on the bottom of the pot, too?

[Farhadi and Farzad laugh.]

Farhadi: Potatoes. What about you?

Potatoes, of course! Rice is delicious, but its not the same.

Farzad: Theyre different, but theyre both good.

Farhadi: A mix of rice and potatoes is the best one.

Farzad: Too much carbs.

No!

Farhadi: I love it.

Farzad: Even the macaroni version.

Farhadi: Oh, yes.

Basically all of it.

All of it.

Now I want to talk about the final scene. In the past, youve talked about how you dont really believe in endings. But this film has a very finite end point: Rahim goes back to prison. Can you talk about designing that scene? In the background, a man is released, and in the foreground, we see the prison guard going about his job. How did you decide to end the film this way, and how did you compose that final shot?

I always thought about the last scene in the film: Because Rahim is a painter  what would he paint if he wants to paint a picture on the wall of the prison? I thought that he was going to paint a door that is open to the outside, and there is a couple that is walking outside. And this came from the idea that he is actually seeing the picture, the painting, that he wanted to paint. Hes seeing it outside. In the last scene, there are two things happening at the same time. The story of Rahim, that he goes back inside the prison, which is a dark story, and the story of this old man who is walking out of prison and the bus that Rahim didnt get at the very beginning of the film  he gets on that and leaves. The difference between this ending and my other films endings is that although its sad, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is some kind of hope in it.

For that man, his life has started again.

Yes.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Putin's move is a "serious obstacle in the path towards a diplomatic solution of the Ukrainian crisis" said Italy's foreign minister Di Maio.

Italy has joined its European and Western partners in condemning Russia's recognition of the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, amid fears it could provide a pretext for a Russian invasion.

During a televised speech to the nation on Monday night, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognising the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) and the "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR) as independent.

In a defiant, hour-long address, Putin said modern Ukraine had been "created" by Soviet Russia, referring to the country as "ancient Russian lands" and claiming that Russia had been "robbed" during the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the BBC reports.

Hours after his televised announcement, Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops, described by Moscow as peacekeepers, to the breakaway Ukrainian territories.

The self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, part of the Donbass region, are home to Russia-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

Reaction from Italy

"The decision of the Russian authorities to recognise the so-called separatist republics of Lughansk and Donetsk is to be condemned as in violation to the Minsk agreements" - said Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio in a statement - "The decision represents a serious obstacle in the path towards a diplomatic solution of the Ukrainian crisis."

Appealing to "all parties to return to the negotiating table", Di Maio said: "Italy continues to uphold the integrity and full sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders."

In a statement on Tuesday, Italian premier Mario Draghi described Russia's recognition of the separatist regions as "an unacceptable violation of the democratic sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

#Ucraina, Draghi: Voglio esprimere la mia piu ferma condanna per la decisione del governo russo di riconoscere i due territori separatisti del #Donbass. Si tratta di uninaccettabile violazione della sovranita democratica e dellintegrita territoriale dellUcraina  Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) February 22, 2022

Italy's undersecretary for European affairs, Enzo Amendola, said in a tweet on Monday night: "Putin wants to rewrite history and impose his ambitions on the rule of law", and therefore the "condemnation must be firm", because "we cannot accept spheres of influence under the threat of weapons."

Since the start of the crisis, Rome has worked to find a diplomatic solution, defending the sovereignty of Kyiv while insisting that dialogue with Moscow should always remain open.

In recent days Italy had announced plans for the possibility of premier Mario Draghi flying to Moscow for talks with Putin.

On 12 February Di Maio issued a statement urging all Italians in Ukraine to return home, a call he repeated on Monday, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

"Our embassy in Kyiv is urging all Italians in Ukraine to leave the country", said Di Maio, who stressed that the embassy "remains open and fully operational", adding: "We believe in diplomacy and we want to give a sign of closeness to the Ukrainian people."
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When it comes to the Ukraine crisis and energy, we are less in a war of attrition than one of asymptotes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized two breakaway statelets in eastern Ukraine. Not to downplay the importance or drama of this move, but like so many before it, it is another calibrated step toward the edge. In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suspended approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia  but held back from killing it outright. Broader Western sanctions came Tuesday, though not the most severe ones, because Putins latest move doesnt yet meet the vague definition of a full invasion.

If you want a simple reason for this incrementalism on the part of Washington and various EU capitals, its that Russia has energy that the West needs. This extends beyond Europes dependence on natural gas flows to the U.S. itself.

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Even though the U.S. has become a small net exporter of oil, it still relies on foreign flows.(1) The U.S. imported almost 8.3 million barrels a day of crude oil and refined products in the week ending Feb. 11. While others obsess over energy independence, oil refiners choose the most economic barrels to use, not just ones with stars and stripes on them. And roughly one in 12 of those imported barrels comes from Russia.

The big uptick in those imports has resulted from another international spat  with Venezuela. Oil imports from Venezuela, dwindling for years as that countrys oil sector collapsed, were zeroed out altogether in 2019 when the U.S. imposed sanctions meant to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to step down. Venezuela produces heavy oil thats suited to the sophisticated refineries dotting the U.S. Gulf Coast. While the bulk of Russian oil imported to the U.S. is refined already, were not talking high-quality gasoline here. Rather, its a gooey, intermediate product that can be refined further, taking the place of those Venezuelan barrels.

In theory, if the U.S. were to impose sanctions on Russian oil imports  or if Moscow were to unilaterally stop them  those barrels would end up somewhere else, freeing up some other source. Indeed, thats what the big U.S. refiner Valero Energy Corp. pointed out on its last earnings call when asked about about its exposure to the Ukraine crisis. Chief Commercial Officer Gary Simmons said that whichever refineries take Russias barrels, theyll kick out feedstocks and make it available for us to run.

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In practice, though, the sudden disruption of roughly 700,000 barrels a day would come with some friction. And with oil closing in on $100 a barrel, more friction is hardly needed. Ordinarily, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates might be expected to supply similarly heavy barrels. But with relations between Riyadh and Washington cool and Russia a key member of OPEC+, that cant be taken for granted.

The upshot is that President Joe Biden, like his European allies, has reason to tread carefully in targeting the one industry that Russia actually cares about: energy. As of December, 3.8% of Americans disposable personal income was going to fuel and utility bills. Thats not nearly as much as during the 2008 or late 1970s energy crises. But its back up to where it was during the 2018 midterm elections, and heading in the wrong direction. Theres a reason Biden warned in a recent speech that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost, and that reason happens on Nov. 8.

It may be no coincidence that efforts to reach some sort of deal with Iran have picked up speed, since this would entail lifting U.S. sanctions and putting perhaps a million barrels a day from that country back onto the market this year. Also notable is the recent call by Venezuelas National Assembly head Juan Guaido for the U.S. to ease sanctions on his country to help bring Maduro to the negotiating table. The pump price isnt necessarily the only or even most important factor in such maneuverings. U.S. presidents are apt to be blamed for expensive fuel even if their options for addressing it are few. Foreign policy is one of them.

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More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 How the Ukraine Crisis Matters to Joe Biden: Jonathan Bernstein

 The Specter of a Permanent Ukraine Crisis: Leonid Bershidsky

 U.S. Cant Let Russia Get a Sphere of Influence: Hal Brands

(1) U.S. net exports of oil (crude and products combined) averaged just under 175,000 barrels per day in the 12 months ending November 2021 (source: Energy Information Administration).

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journals Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times Lex column. He was also an investment banker.

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Only a few days ago, European officials were feeling pretty good about their united position regarding Russias troops along the Ukraine border. But the quiet hope was that Moscow wouldnt push them to the brink of actually having to deliver on their threat of sanctions. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight This week, as the dust settled on Chinas Winter Olympics, Russia did exactly that, with a decision to recognize two breakaway areas in Eastern Ukraine and send in troops.

It was a calculated slap in the face on several levels. The recent shuttle diplomacy by French President Emmanuel Macron had secured several promises from Vladimir Putin, including an eventual withdrawal and a ceasefire in contested areas. Those have now seemingly turned to dust.

The 2015 Minsk accords, which had turned a hot conflict in the Donbas region into a nominally frozen one, have also been torn up by Moscow. Europe will now be trying to restrain both sides via a diplomatic process thats been shattered.

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And the threats stacked up by a concordance of Western powers, from sanctions on Russia to more support for Ukraine, have failed to deter Putin from moving to rewrite a countrys borders in the zone between the EU and Russias historical backyard.

Whats chilling is how little time has passed since the last time war came to Europe. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 prompted a diplomatic EU riposte  185 people and 48 entities are currently under sanctions by the EU for threatening Ukraines territorial sovereignty and independence  but didnt change the reality on the ground. Nor did it reduce the EUs dependence on Russia for 40% of its gas. Throughout the years, the desire to bring Russia in from the cold via commercial ties or a geopolitical detente has persisted.

Something seems to have finally snapped this time around. In keeping with a recent sense of unity, the Wests response to Putins latest move has been a swift pledge of more sanctions. Germany has called for a halt to the certification of gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, while the U.K. has targeted the banking sector.

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But Russia will keep testing this resolve, betting those existing commercial ties will be to its advantage in playing divide-and-rule.

Already in the background, internal EU cracks are emerging over sanctions between hawks and doves. Does this count as an invasion or an incursion? Is it time to unleash the mother of all sanctions in U.S. terminology  targeting an array of sectors from banking to technology  or the more targeted punishment thats being flagged by officials in Brussels? If its the latter, which is looking increasingly likely, Putin wont be paying the full cost of Western retaliation  partly by design, but also self-interest.

Energy is the real elephant in the room. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rightly acknowledged that letting Nord Stream 2 run as normal in the current environment would be beyond the pale. Yet as think tank Bruegel has pointed out, giving up on Russian gas supplies without curbing demand looks impossible. Researchers at the European Central Bank estimate a 10% cut in gas supplies would reduce gross value added in the euro area by about 0.7%. Wielding the gas weapon has worked in Moscows favor, with rising energy prices a boon for the national coffers.

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If the West stands any chance of raising the price of war for Russia, Europeans need to work on weaning themselves off Russian gas. That could include diversifying into other sources like nuclear or diversifying gas supplies and building a pan-EU strategic reserve. Italy has floated the idea of excluding energy from sanctions, which would go against European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyens call to directly tackle the EUs reliance on Russian supplies. Less unity means any sanctions will be less effective and Putins ability to exploit them greater.

Sanctions on their own arent an answer to the long-term future of Ukraine, whose location along a potentially new form of the Iron Curtain has kept it outside NATO and the EU and exposed it to effective dismemberment without real deterrence. The Minsk accords only congealed a situation whereby Ukraine wants full sovereignty while separatists want to keep their territory. But for the EU to speak with one voice, while addressing dependencies, would be a start.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lionel Laurent is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the European Union and France. He worked previously at Reuters and Forbes.

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Russias recognition of Ukraines separatist Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics has raised the stakes in the volatile region, with Russian President Vladimir Putin planning to send peacekeeping forces to an area riven by conflict since 2014. With Russian troops still massed on Ukraines borders, the move is fraught with risk of military escalation. Western officials responded with sanctions, putting the self-proclaimed republics at the heart of one of Europes biggest security crises since the Cold War.

1. Where are Donetsk and Luhansk?

Long the home of Don Cossacks, the region, in eastern Ukraine, came under control of the Russian Empire in the mid-18th century, soon after the discovery of the coal basin that would provide its nickname  the Donbas. The coal attracted industry and Russian settlers from the mid-19th century, turning Donetsk and Luhansk into Ukraines industrial heartland. With its substantial Russian-speaking population, the Donbas since became a bedrock of support for Viktor Yanukovych, the Donetsk-born former president toppled in 2014 by street protests over his decision -- under pressure from Putin -- to renege on signing a trade association pact with the European Union.

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2. How did the trouble start?

Following Yanukovychs removal, which Russia saw as a Western-backed coup, Putin sent unbadged troops to annex Crimea, without a shot fired. Opponents of the new pro-Western government in Kyiv tried to emulate that success by taking control in cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. But this time there was resistance. Clashes broke out and an armed conflict developed in the Donbas. Russia denies allegations that it fomented the protests. Its clear many in the region wanted stronger ties with Russia, though not that they wanted to join it or fight. One of the first commanders of the separatist forces, Igor Girkin, otherwise known as Strelkov, was a Russian citizen who had been involved in Moscows operation to secure Crimea.

3. Why is Russia focused on this area?

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Putin has made clear since at least 2007 that he does not accept Europes post-Cold War, U.S.-dominated security architecture. He since tried to carve out a sphere of influence for Moscow in the former Soviet space, pushing back against efforts by Russias neighbors to join or associate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or, later, the European Union. He tried instead to build Russian-led equivalents -- the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Eurasian Union -- but without Ukraine, a fellow Slav nation of at least 41 million, they could amount to little. Russia says it has no plans to invade or attack Ukraine, but by unilaterally inserting troops labeled as peace keepers into an active war zone, the potential for escalation is clear.

4. Didnt Russia say it wanted to implement the Minsk Accords?

Yes. For seven years Russia tried to get Ukraine to implement the 2015 Minsk II peace deal, agreed after battlefield defeats for Kyiv. Russias interpretation of the accords would have federalized Ukraine such that Moscow  through the pro-Russia leaders of Donetsk and Luhansk  would be able to influence or block shifts in Ukraines orientation. Agreeing to implement the accords as Russia wants would for that reason be seen as capitulation and politically dangerous for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Ukraine offered its own interpretation of how to implement the Minsk deals, but by recognizing the separatist territories as independent states Putin has made the accords irrelevant.

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5. How valuable are the provinces?

The separatist territories are by now mainly of value for the disruption they cause Ukraine, cutting key transport links and supply chains and creating political risks that drive up borrowing costs and deter investors in the rest of the country. The territories produce coal and are home to some substantial factories, but the economy has been largely destroyed, with the war leaving about 14,000 people dead. Large numbers have fled the fighting and lack of rule of law in the territories, leaving either for Ukraine or Russia. One 2020 study estimated the cost of reconstruction at $21.7 billion, a bill that now falls to the Kremlin.

6. How large will the new states be?

Thats still unclear. Separatists hold about one third of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, with the remaining two thirds behind a roughly 450 kilometer (280 mile) front line defended by about 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The separatist governments, led by Denis Pushilin in the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Leonid Pasechnik in the Luhansk Peoples Republic, claim the whole Donbas region for their statelets. The documents signed by Putin on Feb. 21 did not define their extent. The territories remain part of Ukraine under international law.

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7. Why does the West care?

Putin is demanding a wholesale restructuring of Europes security infrastructure and has now altered the borders that emerged from the collapse of the former Soviet Union four times  twice in Georgia and, after Crimea and the Donbas, twice in Ukraine. He has also forced a much closer union on the embattled leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, with the result that Russian troops have been conducting exercises in Belarus near the Ukraine border. Thats worrying for the neighboring Baltic States and Poland, which have begun to ask for a stronger NATO presence in response, even if few analysts believe Russia would risk war with NATO.

8. Does this mean Russia has invaded Ukraine?

Ukraine says so, because Russian troops have long been in the country, a claim Russia denies. The U.S., EU and U.K. have been finalizing a package of sanctions on Russia, which would be triggered by an invasion. But by recognizing the separatist territories and proposing peace keepers, Putin has expanded the space for debate over what constitutes an invasion, and for disagreement on how harsh sanctions should be. Potential measures include targeting its billionaires, extra restrictions on sovereign debt or disrupting lenders ability to use dollars. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said certification would be halted for the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, while in London Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would sanction five Russian banks and three high net-worth individuals.

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9. Is a bigger Ukraine-Russia war now more or less likely?

The U.S. has been predicting a much larger Russian invasion, including against the capital, Kyiv, and a wider conflict could erupt given the scope for both deliberate and unintended escalation in the disputed Donbas territories. Yet Putins moves also leave room for a longer and murkier process of destabilization through repeated escalations by Russia that impose extended economic costs on Ukraine.

 A Bloomberg article on Germanys response to Putins moves in Ukraine.

 A column by Bloombergs Leonid Bershidsky on the specter of a permanent Ukraine crisis.

 A QuickTake on why the Minsk accords have been a murky path for peace in Ukraine.

 An International Crisis Group study on Conflict in Ukraines Donbas.

 A report by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies on the economic challenges and costs in the Donbas.

 A Foreign Policy article on Putins Frozen Conflicts.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Ethiopias government is open to talks with the rebel Tigray Peoples Liberation Front to end a 15-month conflict in the country, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said. While the government has yet to negotiate with the TPLF, this does not rule out the possibility of discussions, Abiys office said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday.

Abiys comments come days after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there was progress in efforts to end a civil war thats left thousands of people dead, displaced millions and damaged investor confidence. The African Union and neighboring Kenya have been encouraging both sides to negotiate.

On Monday, Ethiopias parliament announced the formation of an 11-member National Dialogue Commission. The panel has been tasked with presenting proposals aimed at ending simmering tensions between the nations ethnic and political groups and conflict that has destabilized one of Africas most-populous nations.

Once ready, the commissions proposals will be put to the Ethiopian people, Abiy said.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a big increase in murder and manslaughter (aka homicide) in the U.S. By the accounting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the homicide rate went from 5.8 per 100,000 Americans in 2019 to 7.5 in 2020.(1)It appears to have continued to rise, albeit at a much slower rate, in 2021.

Who suffers when the homicide rate goes up like that? Black Americans, mainly.

In 2020 those identifying or identified as Black or African American made up 13.5% of the U.S. population, according to CDC estimates (that for definitional and other reasons dont quite match the results of the 2020 U.S. Census). They also made up 55.6% of the homicide victims, and 65.6% of the increase in homicides relative to 2019. To put it another way, the homicide rate for Black Americans rose from 22.9 per 100,000 in 2019 to 30.7 in 2020. For all other Americans, the rate went from 3.2 to 3.8.

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Homicides have also gone up faster during the pandemic for those of Hispanic or Latino origin than for non-Black non-Hispanics but (1) the increase hasnt been as steep as for Black Americans and (2) the starting point was much lower, even though Hispanics make up a larger share of the population (18.7% in these CDC statistics).

Among Black Americans, homicide deaths were concentrated among one group in particular, younger men. Homicide deaths during the pandemic have been highest for Black men ages 18 through 30, but there have also been substantial increases over pre-pandemic levels among those a couple of years younger and several years older, so Ive gone here with an age range of 15 through 44.

It isnt exactly news that young Black men run a much higher risk of being murdered than the rest of us. It also isnt exactly a mystery whos killing them. Data on who commits homicides is for obvious reasons less complete than data on victims, and clearance rates  the percentage of crimes that are solved  were especially low for homicides in 2020. But the information that is available indicates that young Black men are the main killers of young Black men. This is neighborhood gun violence, for the most part.

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The CDC statistics, based on death certificates filed by doctors and medical examiners, do offer a starker and timelier view of the effects of the pandemic murder wave than Ive seen elsewhere, and also make it easier to put into epidemiological context. Covid-19 was twice as deadly for younger Black men as it was for all Americans in the 15-through-44 age group, for example, but it was far less of a threat to them than homicides (and also less deadly than drug overdoses, traffic accidents and suicides).

In 2021 Covid killed many more under-65 Americans than it did in 2020, so these rate comparisons will look a bit different  although probably not enough to really change the picture for younger Black men. Homicides were the leading cause of death for Black men ages 15 through 44 in 2020 and are running just behind accidents of all kinds (including drug overdoses, which the CDC lumps together with traffic fatalities and the like in its leading-causes-of-death rankings) in the 2021 data available so far. For Americans overall, heart disease remained the No. 1 cause of death in 2020 and 2021 as it has been for decades, and homicides dont make it into the top 15.

This does not exactly square with media coverage of the pandemic murder wave, which tends to underplay the ongoing carnage among young Black men as it focuses on other, presumably more shocking, killings. It also doesnt neatly slot into the debate since mid-2020 over crime and the role of police. According to the Mapping Police Violence project, police killed 249 Black Americans in 2020, which amounts to just 1.8% of the years 13,654 Black homicide victims. Excessive use of force by police is a real problem, and one that weighs heavily on younger Black men. But if police presence reduces violent crime, and the evidence that it does is reasonably strong, then the lack of police poses far greater risks to Black men in their teens through early 40s than the police do.

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Most of all, looking at the pandemic murder wave through this lens reinforces what an emergency it is. Its victims are disproportionately young men who ought to have long lives ahead of them. This has got to stop.

(1) The Federal of Bureau of Investigations more frequently cited estimates are lower but show a similar increase.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He was the editorial director of Harvard Business Review and wrote for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is the author of The Myth of the Rational Market.

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The puffy face of the man on the screen was distorted by hatred: Eyes narrowed, thin lips pressed together and pushing out sharp words in angry bursts. At times, the right hand  with an expensive watch on the wrist, concealed by too-long shirt and jacket sleeves  slid under the desk, as if he were fumbling for a button to push. Russian President Vladimir Putin was addressing the nation.

This extraordinary rant Monday evening  an almost hour-long denunciation of Ukraine and all it stands for, peppered with the quaint tangents of an amateur historian, and filled with rage at what he sees as broken promises and slights by the U.S.  left me with a sinking feeling. Id been both hoping and predicting that Putin, after a few half-hearted attempts at diplomacy, would stop at recognizing the puppet peoples republics of eastern Ukraine  the LNR and the DNR  or, at most, incorporate them into Russia itself. The speech, however, sounded at times as though it was the nuclear button Putin was fingering under the desk.

Yet recognition of the two statelets was his only practical option  not a massive invasion of Ukraine, with tanks rolling toward Kyiv and bombs raining down on Ukrainian cities. Though Putin may sound deranged, hes still seems to be in control of his faculties.

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This is by no means the end of the crisis. Nor is the relatively small step Putin took a sign of weakness or anticlimax. It is the strongest move he could have made in the cynical, conspiratorial, hostile world he inhabits.

Some analysts have argued that by recognizing the republics, Putin is throwing away his main bargaining chip, his biggest claim on a role in Ukraines policymaking: the Minsk agreements of 2015, which would have handed the unrecognized statelets back to Ukraine in exchange for giving them broad autonomy and a veto on major decisions. Yet Putin had despaired of ever being able to use the Minsk provisions. During the dramatically televised Security Council meeting that preceded the speech, his top negotiators told the audience something Putin already knew  that Minsk couldnt be revived because Ukraine would not accept it.

So Putin chose to trade the diplomatic bargaining chip for a military one. Instead of trying to limit Kyivs ability to make important decisions by creating a constitutionally ensconced fifth column, hes going to use the constant threat of overwhelming force to achieve the same result.

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The peoples republics constitutions contain claims on more Ukrainian territory, but its highly unlikely that Russia will immediately back these up militarily, although the implicit threat will remain. Putins next step, spelled out in his recognition decrees, is to send troops to the current contact line to maintain peace.

This creates a number of dilemmas both for the Ukrainian authorities and for their Western backers.

Ukraine has been saying for eight years that its been fighting Russia, not the separatist republics. In his recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated the claim that Ukraine has served as Europes reliable shield against Russian aggression. Now that Putin has given up on acting by proxy, it will be regular, official Russian troops, not Russian-backed militias, that Ukrainian soldiers face across the contact line  and anyone wholl try to say theres no difference will be guilty of wishful thinking.

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Shooting at the Russian military, even returning fire, will now be fraught  the riskiest since the conflict entered a slow phase in 2015. The Russian troops massed at Ukraines borders  and now indefinitely occupying neighboring Belarus, whose dictator Alexander Lukashenko has given up any pretense of independence  are, to a large extent, there to stay, making the threat of overwhelming punitive action permanent.

On the other hand, not shooting at the Russian troops  which are, in effect, annexing territory that Russia recognized as Ukrainian under the Minsk agreements  is politically tricky. One reason is that the Ukrainian troops and veterans believe its Russia theyve been fighting all along. Popular support for the military is one of the foundations of Ukraines current statehood. The reliable shield rhetoric directed at the West is another reason. A sudden pacifist turn would negate it, making a de-facto capitulation difficult for Zelenskiy.

Elected as a potential peacemaker, he faces a stark choice between becoming a war leader in a potentially suicidal conflict  the role former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili once played  and trying to demilitarize a nation that is accustomed to seeing itself as fighting a just war, gallantly keeping invading hordes away from Europe. Ukraines political destabilization is one of Putins key goals, and the recognition of the republics undermines Zelenskiys domestic and international standing.

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The recognition also is a crafty move in Putins geopolitical game against the U.S. Is it an invasion or isnt it? The Bidens administration has vowed to punish a Russian invasion of Ukraine with the harshest sanctions imaginable. The U.S. will undoubtedly crank up its own sanctions, but it will be difficult to drum up support for drastic action among its European allies. Many of them, likely including France and Germany, will argue that the statelets have been under Russian control for years and not much has changed. The North Atlantic Treaty Organizations united front on Ukraine, which Biden has engineered and enjoyed in the last few months, will be undermined by the sanctions debates.

After beating Putin at his own infowar game for months, Biden may need to shift gears from predicting a major, World War II-style Russian offensive in Ukraine  especially if Zelenskiy chooses the responsible pacifist option in order to spare Ukrainian lives. Yet now that Putin has made an aggressive move by casting away deniability in eastern Ukraine, it wont be easy for the Biden administration to claim it has prevented an aggression. Proving the U.S. wrong is an important motivation for Putin, one that is often underestimated in the U.S. If Russian troops move no further and merely maintain a threatening posture, Biden will need to engage in damage control both at home and in Ukraine, where he has earned no points by evacuating diplomats to a safer area.

Of course, a large-scale conflagration remains possible. An accidental clash, a move by rogue actors on either side and Putins unconcealed hatred of Ukraine could all cause events to escalate at a moments notice. The Russian president appears to understand, however, that his interests are not served by such an escalation, or at least not just yet. Otherwise he would have already made a more radical move, or gone for the incorporation of the republics in Russia  a scenario Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, brought up at the Security Council meeting, only to be slapped down by Putin: This is not being discussed now.The separatist statelets Crimea-style inclusion remains an escalation option for Putin  one, at any rate, that hell use before bombing Kyiv.

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Short-term, Putin has shown as much restraint as he could muster in his obviously emotional state. Long-term, the destruction of a Western-leaning Ukraine remains a strategic goal for him. He may be satisfied with a Georgia-like scenario  a government that is not openly pro-Russian but fearful of bringing on another Russian incursion and, thus, susceptible to pressure  or he may choose harsh action to achieve more. But hell not give up on undermining the neighboring country. Both Ukrainian and Western politicians still need to figure out how to live with that for the foreseeable future.

More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion:



Putin and Biden Both Win, Ukraine Loses: Leonid Bershidsky



Bombast, Distance and Distrust: Your Guide to Ukraine Talks: Andreas Kluth



Putin Is Only Pretending to Be Crazy on Ukraine: Eli Lake

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist. He recently authored a Russian translation of George Orwells 1984.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The political earthquake that just occurred in San Francisco should be a dire warning to the national Democratic Party, because the same fault line stretches across the country and the tremors are only increasing. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight In 2018 and 2020, I strongly supported efforts to win back control of Congress and the White House, because never in my lifetime have protection of the Constitution and the preservation of democracy been so threatened by domestic politics. I continue to believe that a healthy and vibrant Democratic Party remains essential to beating back the Republican Partys dangerous turn toward authoritarianism and its tolerance for election subversion. But I am deeply concerned that, absent an immediate course correction, the party is headed for a wipeout in November, up and down the ballot.

Three months after Republicans scored major election upsets in Virginia and New Jersey, largely because of the frustration parents felt with Democratic officials who catered to teachers unions and culture warriors at the expense of children, voters in San Francisco recalled three school board members by margins of nearly three to one. Coming from Americas most liberal city, those results should translate into a 7 to 8 on the Richter scale, because the three main factors that drove the recall are not unique to the Bay Area.

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First, the school board members failed to show any urgency in reopening schools even when it was clear that doing so was safe  and that remote classes were leaving students further and further behind. As private schools opened, public schools remained closed. Tragically, that failure will do lasting damage to many students and their career prospects, especially those from low-income communities. Data show that these students have fallen much further behind their peers  often losing a half years worth of schooling. Nothing has widened social achievement gaps more than poorly conceived remote instruction. Parents know this, and Democratic elected officials need to show them that they know it, too.

Second, the school board members seemed more concerned with political correctness than educating children. Instead of reopening schools, they spent their time renaming them, stripping off the names of historic figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln before a public outcry forced them to reverse course. Meanwhile, parents struggled to keep their heads above water as they tried to manage having their children at home. The citys Democratic mayor, London Breed, rightly criticized the board for having its priorities backward.

Third, the school board members voted to eliminate merit-based admissions at one of the nations top-performing schools. Students had long been admitted based on their grades and tests, until the board moved to a lottery system. Make no mistake: Lowering standards in the name of fairness only exacerbates injustice and inequality. Closing achievement gaps must be done by creating more high-quality schools, not undermining existing ones. Voters understand this, and they will keep casting their ballots for candidates who do, too.

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A recent Democratic Party poll showed that voters perceive it as being too focused on the culture wars  from renaming schools to defunding the police. But the advice that party leaders are giving members of Congress  to correct the record when Republicans criticize them on schools and culture  isnt going to cut it.

Voters need to hear from Democrats that schools remained closed for too long, and that improving schools means closing achievement gaps, not eliminating standards.

In New York City, one of the reasons I and so many Democrats and independents  and Republicans  supported Eric Adams for mayor is that he spoke to the fears and frustrations voters had around education and crime. His victory demonstrated that in deep blue cities, not to mention purple suburbs, Democrats want leaders who have the backbone to stand tall and take the political hits that come with being a practical problem-solver.

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Swing voters will decide the 2022 midterm elections, and right now, polls show they are swinging away from Democrats. The earthquake that shook San Francisco needs to shake up our party, before voters do it themselves in November.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, and UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions.

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As the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union impose new sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine and consider increasing them, one idea under discussion involves cutting off access to a messaging system called Swift. So central is Swift to the international financial system that any such talk rattles bankers and diplomats alike.

1. What is Swift?

Think of Swift, an acronym for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, as the Gmail of global banking. It delivers secure messages among more than 11,000 financial institutions and companies, in over 200 countries and territories. The message traffic -- 42 million a day on average last year -- includes orders and confirmations for payments, trades and currency exchanges. The member-owned cooperative, based just outside Brussels, was founded in 1973 to end reliance on the telex system.

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2. Why is losing Swift access such a big deal?

A country cut off from Swift can suffer significant economic pain. Thats what happened to Iran in 2012, when its banks lost access to Swift as part of European Union sanctions targeting the countrys nuclear program and its sources of finance. (Many of the banks were reconnected in 2016 after the EU took them off its sanctions list.) When Western nations threatened Russias access to Swift in 2014, Alexei Kudrin, a onetime finance minister close to President Vladimir Putin, estimated that it could reduce Russias gross domestic product by 5% in a year. Cutting Russia off from Swift could have ramifications for other nations as well, since Russia is a key energy supplier to Europe and countries rely on the Swift system to pay for fuel.

3. Is there a Russian alternative to Swift?

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Not really, or at least not yet. Since 2014, the Bank of Russia has run its own financial messaging system for Russian and foreign banks. But that one has only about 400 users. The Peoples Bank of China in 2021 announced a joint venture with Swift that was seen in some quarters as an insurance policy against being cut off from the global financial system. One fear among Western officials is that banning countries from Swift would encourage the use of such alternatives. Digital currencies and the underlying technology have also been touted as a threat to Swift for several years, but theyre nowhere close to replacing it.

4. How secure is the Swift system?

There have been multiple attempts to rob financial institutions through fraudulent messaging on Swift, some of them successful. The best known is when Bangladeshs central bank lost $81 million to hackers who breached it in 2016 and tricked the Federal Reserve Bank of New York into sending funds. Swift emphasized that its own network wasnt breached, but it beefed up security in the wider industry with mandatory and advisory controls at member firms.

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5. Who regulates Swift?

Since it doesnt hold deposits, Swift isnt regulated the way a bank is. Its overseen by the National Bank of Belgium and representatives from the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and other major central banks. Generally speaking, Swift would cut off access only if the European Union passed sanctions against a particular entity or country. Swift suspended certain Iranian lenders in 2018 after the U.S. imposed a new round of sanctions, although it says that was an isolated event that was taken in the interest of the stability and integrity of the wider global financial system.

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In the search to avoid a potential war as Russian President Vladimir Putin has massed troops around Ukraine, France and Germany, backed by the U.S., pressed for implementation of the controversial Minsk peace accords as the best chance for a diplomatic solution. The package of agreements, which they helped negotiate with Russia after Ukrainian military defeats in 2014 and 2015, were complex, hotly disputed and went to the heart of what is at root a struggle over Ukrainian identity and sovereignty. On Feb. 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin pronounced the agreements dead, closing a door to diplomacy, a day after recognizing Ukraines separatist territories as states.

1. How did the Minsk deals come about?

The accords sought to halt the armed conflict that broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The countrys pro-Russia leader Viktor Yanukovych had just been ousted by mass protests in Kyiv, triggered by his decision  under pressure from Putin  to renege on a trade pact with the European Union. Smaller protests against the new government in Kyiv followed throughout eastern and southern Ukraine, with armed Russia-backed separatists seizing territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, together known as the Donbas. Although the Kremlin denies involvement, Ukraine has claimed, and open source investigations in the West and Russia have put forward evidence, that Russian forces intervened directly to turn the tide of the fighting and inflict two crushing defeats on Ukrainian forces. Each loss was followed by a peace deal reached in Minsk, the capital of neighboring Belarus.

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2. What do the accords say?

Minsk 1, reached in September 2014, had 12 points, including a cease-fire to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a law on Ukraines decentralization with temporary special status for the separatist-held territory, local elections, an amnesty and other issues. As fighting continued, a follow-up memorandum two weeks later required heavy weapons to be pulled back from the front lines. The truce again struggled to hold amid disputes over sequencing and finally collapsed in January 2015. Minsk II followed a month later, amid renewed heavy fighting and with Ukrainian troops surrounded in the town of Debaltseve. The new deals 13 points included more detailed, but also confusing language on the settlements sequencing and political requirements.

3. Why have they been so hard to implement?

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One problem was that though Russia negotiated the Minsk deal, it said it was not a party to the conflict and therefore not responsible for implementation. Ukraine says it was. Beyond that there were at least three key disputes. The first was sequencing, in particular who should be in control when elections were held. Still more difficult was that the deal says the special status for the Donbas region, and arguably Ukraines constitutional restructuring, have to be made in consultation and agreement with the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics, through a specially formed group. Potentially the most dangerous dispute though, was over the extent of the special status territory, which was left undefined. The separatist leaders said it should include all of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, more than half of which remains under Kyivs control. Now that in Moscows eyes they have legal standing to make those claims as the leaders of sovereign states, and to invite Russia troops to help, that ambiguity creates a significant risk of military escalation.

4. How did Russia interpret the accords?

Russia saw Minsk as a deal Ukraine signed and was obliged to fulfill, returning the Donbas to Kyivs control while ensuring the safety and rights of the areas citizens, as many as 800,000 of which have now received Russian passports. Thats roughly 20% to 40% of the population, depending on estimates. Moscow also saw the accords as creating wide autonomy for Donbas and as a means to federalize Ukraine, making it in practice impossible for the country to join Western institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union. At a February meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Russia complained specifically about a Ukrainian pledge that none of Ukraines regions will be able to veto state-wide decisions, and that France, Germany and the U.S. had failed to pressure Ukraine to implement the agreement. Kremlin officials didnt define the form this federalization should take, but Vladislav Surkov, Putins Ukraine adviser until 2020, said after leaving office that Minsk II was written to give Ukraine symbolic sovereignty over the east, of the kind the British monarch exercises over Canada, or Australia.

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5. What about Ukraine?

Ukraine passed a law on decentralization as required by the Minsk agreement, but it was not negotiated with the separatists, seen by Kyiv as Moscows proxies, and was therefore rejected by Russia. The government says it is committed to implementing the accords, just not as Russia interprets them. It prepared draft bills for that purpose but insisted that security should be ensured first. Speaking out of turn, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov went further, telling the Associated Press in January that fulfilling the Minsk accords, signed under a Russian gun barrel, would destroy Ukraine as a country. Even a limited effort to implement the accords in 2015 led to violent protests in Kyiv. A December 2021 poll found that 75% of Ukrainians thought the Minsk accords should either be amended or abandoned. Just 12% thought they should be implemented.

6. What do the French and Germans say?

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France and Germany were central to negotiation of the Minsk accords, and to talks in the seven years since under the so-called Normandy Format  which includes those two countries, Russia and Ukraine  to implement them. They argue, as did Russia until it declared the territories independent states, that the agreements are the only available route to a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shuttled between Moscow and Kyiv in February in an effort to reignite the Normandy process.

7. Where did the agreement leave Ukraine?

Minsk reduced the Donbas conflict to limited trench warfare for seven years, yet each side blames the other for the failure to implement key terms. The fighting killed about 14,000 people and has left more than 1.4 million internally displaced within Ukraine, according to government data. It was always difficult to see a solution emerging, because as Duncan Allan, an analyst at the Chatham House think tank in London, wrote in a study, the accords rest on two irreconcilable interpretations of Ukraines sovereignty: Is Ukraine sovereign, as Ukrainians insist, or should its sovereignty be limited, as Russia demands?

(Updates intro with Putin declaring the accords dead)

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StarSolid StarHalf StarOutline StarOutline ( 1.5 stars ) Its pretty obvious what the hook is for the movie Studio 666, a goofily lowbrow horror-comedy starring Dave Grohl and his band the Foo Fighters, set in a haunted house. Hi, Dave Grohl, says the chirpy Realtor (Leslie Grossman), greeting the genial, longhair rock frontman (playing a version of himself) as he arrives at the Encino mansion in which the film is set  and in which the band recorded their 10th album, Medicine at Midnight, under circumstances that Grohl has described as plagued by poltergeists.

Hello, Foos, she adds, breezily lumping together the rest of the main cast  guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, bassist Nate Mendel, keyboardist Rami Jaffee and drummer Taylor Hawkins  under the collective taxonomy by which the average moviegoer will probably know the rest of them. Outside Foo fanatics, the bulk of the cast are not household names. Nor are any of the, um, thespians, as will become painfully obvious at times. And yet they are a likable bunch, in what comes across as a kind of home movie about a group of dudes trying to make an album while their band leader is plagued by writers block and the spirit of a deceased former resident who, before he killed himself, opened a portal to a demonic underworld.

If the idea of Dave Grohl  a nice and talented guy in real life, by all accounts  being possessed by a malevolent entity that has turned him into a dictatorial cannibal is enough of an elevator pitch for you, then rock on.

Rounding out the cast are a couple of ringers: Will Forte plays a restaurant delivery guy who is quickly dispensed with, in gory fashion, and whose cheesy special-effects-death will remind viewers of the low-budget slasher flicks of yesteryear. Whitney Cummings plays a neighbor and the love interest of Jaffee. Their fate, as is the case with most sexually aroused characters in films of this sort, is also sealed.

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There is nothing surprising here, other than the cast, which replaces the typical adolescent victims of this sort of thing with grown men in their 50s and 60s (albeit ones who, based on circumstantial evidence, have never grown up). Studio 666 is either a delightful lark or a mystifying waste of time: Your pleasure will probably depend entirely on how you feel about Grohl.

Dave  or at least the films version of him  is a monster. He instructs his band to play a song in the impossible key of L sharp, yet he is unable to find an ending to that song, which runs to more than 40 minutes.

Is Studio 666 a great idea, a cute idea, a silly idea or a stupid idea? As Dave tells one of his bandmates, struggling to find the key of L sharp on his guitar, youre getting warmer.

R. At area theaters. Contains strong bloody violence, gore, pervasive crude language and a sex scene. 108 minutes.

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Politicians, journalists slam Pakistans cybercrimes law: Pakistans political opposition and journalist community Monday rejected a tough new cybercrimes law approved by the countrys president that enhances jail terms for social media users convicted of disseminating fake news. The development came a day after President Arif Alvi approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, enhancing jail terms from three to five years for people convicted of spreading fake news on social media. Suspects arrested under the law will not be entitled to bail during trial. The legislation takes effect immediately.

Mount Etna erupts in Italy: Mount Etna has roared back to spectacular action after a few months of relative quiet, sending up a 7.5-mile high volcanic ash cloud over eastern Sicily. The lava flow from Etna, one of Europes most active volcanoes, was centered on the crater on the mountains southeast slope, Italys National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said Monday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage on the inhabited towns ringing the slopes of the volcano, which is popular with hikers, skiers and other tourists.

Slovakia honors slain journalist, fiancee: Slovakia marked on Monday the anniversary of the 2018 slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee by unveiling a monument to honor them at a central square in the capital of Bratislava. Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were shot dead at their home in the town of Velka Maca, east of Bratislava, on Feb. 21, 2018. Kuciak had been investigating possible government corruption when he was killed. The killings prompted major street protests and a political crisis that led to the governments collapse.

Search expanded in Greek ferry fire: Fire service rescuers expanded a search Monday inside a burning ferry anchored off the Greek island of Corfu where 10 people remain missing. The fire on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia is burning for a fourth day. The body of a Greek man was discovered inside the ship Sunday. A total of 281 people were rescued.
Prospective buyers at an open house in Star, Idaho, in June 2021. (Kyle Green for The Post)

As the Fed raises interest rates, experts say there are some signs the market is responding. But theres a long way to go.
Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on.
Cochlear chief executive Dig Howitt says the pandemic has shown the importance of investing in the training of new healthcare workers after the sector was hit by staff shortages during COVID.

Mr Howitt said he believed the shortages would be resolved eventually, despite hospital staffing issues impacting hearing implant volumes in the US.

Our training and education has to keep up with demand  that is an issue and I think that has probably been exacerbated by COVID, he said. I think its increasing the need for a good pipeline of healthcare workers.

Cochlear CEO Dig Howitt. Cochlear reported an increase in implant delivery for emerging markets in the first half, but developed markets saw a small decline. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Shares in the $12.5 billion medtech jumped by more than 9 per cent on Tuesday after Cochlears half-year results came out ahead of analyst consensus expectations and the company increased its interim dividend by 35 per cent to $1.55 per share.
The start of sanctions against Russia ended up soothing markets rather than rattling them, with Asian markets all closing higher as sentiment improved. However, volatility indicators remain high and traders were jittery.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 improved from a negative start to close 0.6 per cent higher at 7205.7 points, a gain of 44.4 points.

The ASX200 ended the session at 7205.7 points, the highest it got all day. Credit:iStock

The market was buoyant with only 56 companies closing lower, mostly in the utilities and consumer discretionary sectors. The big banks were split, with Commonwealth Bank and Westpac higher, while NAB, ANZ Bank and Macquarie closed lower.

MLC Asset Managements Anthony Golowenko said the ASX was buffered by the geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, like all stock markets, and this uncertainty was making investors jumpy. And, some stocks were priced extremely high leaving them vulnerable to sell-offs.

For example, he wasnt surprised to see Dominos fall 14 per cent to a two-year low of $86.14 after reporting a 6.9 per cent drop in half-year profits and warning it may not meet full-year forecasts. The stock was priced at 42 times earnings.

Unless you are delivering that growth implied by valuations, sustaining that premium rating is difficult, Mr Golowenko said, adding he preferred KFC and Taco Bell owner Collins Foods, which was priced at 28 times earnings.

Mr Golowenko also said he favoured Coles over Woolworths, which ended Wednesday 1.4 per cent higher despite reporting falling earnings and reducing its interim dividend.

It seems that Coles has been able to navigate COVID-19 in a better way, but both of them are incredibly well run businesses, he said.

After reporting results on Wednesday Scentre Group declined by 4.4 per cent but Stockland gained 3.5 per cent and WiseTech Global gained 4.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, new data showing annual wages growth was at a seven-year high of 2.3 per cent prompted recalculations on how soon the Reserve Bank of Australia could start lifting interest rates.

With inflation already running at 3.5 per cent per year, that could push the consumer price index over 4 per cent in the first quarter of this year, which could prompt the RBA to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in May, Head of Investments and Capital Markets at Van Eck, Russel Chesler, said in a note to clients.

He now expected to see rates as high as 1.25 per cent by the end of this year, up from 0.1 per cent currently.

The major miners had a positive session with South32 up 3.4 per cent and Lynas Rare Earths up 5.2 per cent. BHP gained 0.6 per cent and Rio Tinto closed at 1.2 per cent ahead of reporting full-year results on Wednesday evening.

There were also big gains in HUB24, up 9.9 per cent, and Tyro Payments which gained 8.6 per cent after falling sharply earlier this week. Zip Co gained 8.4 per cent after falling for four sessions in a row.

But Costa Group slid 8.6 per cent and JB Hi-Fi declined by 5.2 per cent.
A Stitch in Time

(M), 97 minutes, selected cinemas

 A Stitch in Time has an A-list Australian crew behind the scenes - just not from the current century. Thats part of the point: its a film that says its never too late to follow your dreams, or dump a husband whos a waste of space. Glenn Shorrock - that Glenn Shorrock - plays Duncan Miller, a washed-up geriatric rocker with a mean streak and a foul mouth. After years surviving on one gig a week at his local RSL, even that peters out. Maggie Blinco plays his long-suffering partner Liebe, whose only crime is to love a man who blames everyone but himself. So far, we have a variation on the plot of A Star is Born. Maggie Blinco and Hoa Xuande in A Stitch in Time. Credit:Hadden Motion Pictures The crew mixes vast experience with youth: the director is on debut, but Sue Milliken is one of the producers and the great Don McAlpine shot it. Belinda Giblin does fine work as Liebes rich but lonely friend Christine. In what must have been one of his last roles, John Gregg plays her husband Justin, who made millions after he turned his back on the band. Duncan reserves a special scorn for Justin.

Shorrock and Gregg go at each other like two pit bulls under a blanket - or two musicians who never held back, way back. Their scenes crackle with humour, but so do those between Blinco and Giblin. Writer-director Sasha Hadden has a facility for comedy; all he needs now is control of his sentimentality. The film will stop at nothing to make us cry. Its a feel-sad movie on its way to being feel-good. Liebe lost her parents in the Holocaust; she just got out of Germany on a kinder transport - the trains that took Jewish children out just before the war. She was a dressmaker, before Duncan destroyed her self-confidence. Loading With the help of a young Australian-born Chinese man at Balmain markets (Hoa Xande), Liebe starts to sew her way back to independence. Its a craft-driven comedy, in that sense, with some good textural scenes about cloth and cutting and design. There are homilies too, about doing things the hard way or not at all. Hadden leaves nothing to chance: we must eat our full pudding, treacle and all.
With its dramatic deep dive into teenage sexuality, US television series Euphoria, starring Zendaya and Australian actor Jacob Elordi, has attracted criticism for its copious nudity and explicit depictions of drug use, but its enthusiastic use of make-up remains beyond reproach.

The characters in Euphoria are pushing make-up boundaries and driving trends, Alexa Demie as Maddy, Sydney Sweeney as Cassie and Barbie Ferreira as Kat. Credit:HBO/Binge

The Emmy award-winning first season, screening on Binge in Australia, was a psychedelic free-for-all with the glitter-splattered faces of Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer), diamante embellished cat-eyes of Maddy (Alexa Demie) and saturated eyeshadow of cam girl Kat (Barbie Ferreira). Make-up artist Donni Davy dialled down the looks for season two, but the impact could be seen on the New York Fashion Week runway last week and is still being felt at the checkout.

Mecca make-up educator Ashleigh Fenton said that the industry is enjoying the Euphoria effect. Its not just the make-up, but its also the skincare, Fenton said. When Cassies (Sydney Sweeney) three-hour skincare routine aired, searches for body brushes and ice rollers went through the roof. On Meccas website, searches for brushes increased by 90 per cent the week after the episode aired. Ice rollers, for encouraging circulation and reducing puffiness, had a 64 per cent search increase.
A bounce back stimulus package for the Perth CBD including free night-time parking, a waiver of fees for establishing alfresco dining and the introduction of $5000 quick grants will soon be introduced by the local council to counter an inner-city exodus.

A mid-year budget review for the City of Perth reveals the council is working on a series of packages to support businesses as Western Australia prepares for an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas Credit:Peter de Kruijff

The council currently has three hours of free parking on weekends but will extend the scheme to its carparks during the week after 6pm from February 25.

There will be a limit on the grants handed out to a cap of $140,000 but Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said more could be allocated to the scheme depending on the number of applications.
Mining millionaire Clive Palmer and his United Australia Party have gained support from 4 per cent of the electorate after a mammoth spending campaign over the past six months, paying about $45 in recent months for every vote.

Mr Palmer has gained an edge over Pauline Hansons One Nation in a growing contest for disaffected voters as protestors complain about vaccine mandates, lockdown rules and the use of masks to counter the coronavirus.

The exclusive results come after Mr Palmer made a last-minute decision on Tuesday morning to cancel a speech he was due to give the same day to the National Press Club to set out his policies for the election.

Mr Palmer, whose luxury yacht is currently moored in Sydney, told the National Press Club he could not go to Canberra to speak because he had Covid-like symptoms and had medical advice saying he could not travel.
The US President, Joe Biden, has made it clear. If Russia launches a new military attack on Ukraine, America will not defend it.

Why not? Why will the US not defend a newish democracy of some 40 million people on the edge of Europe against an aggressive dictator and traditional US rival?

Illustration by Dionne Gain. Credit:Fairfax Media

Theres the obvious political reason. America is war-weary. After two decades of wasting blood and treasure on a faked war against Iraq and a failed war in Afghanistan, Americans are disillusioned and exhausted.

Fifty-five per cent of Americans oppose the idea of sending US troops to stop Russia, according to a YouGov poll last week. Only 13 per cent of Americans agree that itd be a good idea.
London: People who test positive for COVID-19 will be legally free to circulate in England from Thursday and all free testing will end on April 1, Boris Johnson has announced.

It will make England the first jurisdiction to allow those with infections to continue working and socialising without facing penalty, although the British Prime Minister stressed that those with infections should exercise the same consideration of others that they would if they had the flu.

Lifting restrictions: British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Credit:Getty

But the new policy came after a row in cabinet in which Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak overruled Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who wanted funding for free COVID tests to continue.

Unveiling his Living with COVID strategy to the Commons, Johnson said that the testing and tracing budget had cost the UK government the equivalent of the entire Home Offices budget in 2021.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday AEDT recognised 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.

Putins move follows days of heightened tensions in Ukraines 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.

A municipal worker prepares to put up a Donetsk People Republic flag on a building in Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine. Credit:AP

Russia recognising parts of Ukraine as if they were independent territories raises the risk that other countries will shrug off international law elsewhere.

Here is a look at the rebel-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine:
Woburn, MA (01801)

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Mostly cloudy with some showers after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Wilmington, DE (19810)

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Brett Hankison, left, exits the courtroom after the first day of jury selection in his trial on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. Hankison is on trial for allegedly firing shots into the apartment next door to Breonna Taylor's the night she was killed. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)
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RadioLab Founder Jad Abumrad to Speak at Weber State

February 16, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Jad Abumrad, creator of critically acclaimed and widely adored podcasts RadioLab, Dolly Partons America, The Vanishing of Harry Pace and More Perfect will share his knowledge of content creation and storytelling, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Weber State University's Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets are available to the public at weberstatetickets.com and cost between $12 and $15. Expected to last 90 minutes, the presentation is the featured event of the Browning Presents! series for Spring 2022 and is produced by the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities.

A key feature of Abumrads presentation will explore how people of all backgrounds can use technology and the power of storytelling to find their voice. In addition to his public presentation, Abumrad will spend time with classes in WSUs Department of Communication, giving students the opportunity to learn from the podcasting pioneer in small-group settings.

The range and depth of his projects demonstrates his ability to reach wide audiences while presenting a complex and nuanced understanding of American culture, politics and history, said Deborah Uman, Dean of the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. It is the hope of the college that learning from Abumrad will inspire students to develop their own voices, continue to ask questions and dive into research to find their answers, all while exploring the career opportunities available in the growing field of digital communications.

Abumrads podcasts are downloaded more than 110 million times each year, and his style of storytelling has influenced many of todays most popular audio programs. In addition to his work in journalism and podcasting, Abumrad is a musician, three-time Peabody Award winner and MacArthur Fellow. Abumrad announced his retirement from RadioLab on Jan. 26, 2022.

Reserve tickets at weberstatetickets.com

About Browning Presents!

Browning Presents! is offered to the community through the generous support of the Browning Foundation. As an industrialist, Val A. Browning made his fortune in his familys business. His passion for arts and education, combined with a generous philanthropic spirit, contributed immensely to the cultural, social and economic development of Utah. To enhance cultural richness and performing arts education along the Northern Wasatch Front, the program features public performances and educational residencies of artistic excellence in a diverse range of disciplines.

About the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities

The Weber State University Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities teaches students to excel as they seek, understand, question and express complexities critical to the experience of being human. Community events highlight student talent and allow audiences to engage with professionals in the industries we teach.

Lindquist College serves nearly 2,000 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students and offers degrees in communication, English, foreign languages, performing arts, visual art and design, and film studies.

For promotional graphics, please visit https://lindquistcollege.smugmug.com/AH-GENERAL/BP-Jad-Abumrad

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
WSU Selects Associate Provost of Enrollment Management and Student Success

February 22, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University has named Jessica Oyler as associate provost of Enrollment Management and Student Success beginning March 1.

Oyler has worked at Weber State since 2008, serving as the executive director of Student Affairs Strategic Initiatives and most recently as the assistant vice president for Human Resources.

In her new role, Oyler will oversee Admissions, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Registrar, and the Student Success Center.

This is a critical position for our institution and is directly connected to the strategic growth goals outlined in the universitys strategic plan, said Provost Ravi Krovi. The pandemic has altered student choices and market preferences leading to challenges but also new opportunities. Dr. Oyler brings the energy and passion, the expertise and the organizational and leadership skills needed to successfully lead the enrollment management efforts of the university.

Oyler is an Arkansas native who was inspired to pursue higher education when her mother attended college much later in life as a way of pulling their family out of poverty.

With her mothers example and support, Oyler earned a bachelors degree from the University of Arkansas in agricultural education, a masters in postsecondary educational leadership from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Utah.

My personal experience mirrors that of many of our Weber State students, and my goal is to be in a position where I can help these students also realize their dreams, Oyler said. I will work to eliminate barriers to higher education for students.

Oyler brings experience in data-driven analysis and strategic decision-making and has a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. She has co-authored articles about student success, including, Demonstrating student success: A practical guide to outcomes-based assessment of learning and development in student affairs.

In addition to her administrative work, Oyler teaches courses in the Master of Education and First Year Experience programs.

In the community, she serves on the Roosevelt Elementary School Community Council and as an Honorary Commander at Hill Air Force Base.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
BROOKFIELD  The boards of selectmen and finance must decide how the town will use $5.26 million in federal pandemic relief money after an ad hoc committee suggested various priorities, including small business grants.

Brookfield continues to inch forward with plans for relief fund allocations, but is still sorting out meeting times, dates and essential details like whether the final decision will come before residents for a vote.

After months of committee meetings and hours spent poring over hundreds of pages of guidance, Brookfields ad-hoc committee members delivered its recommendations for spending American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds during a Board of Selectmen meeting on Feb. 7.

The committees top 12 priorities are expected to cost around $2.37 million, while the total list contains 23 items worth $5.3 million. The priorities list includes money for the fire department, small business grants, behavioral health/case management, and a resident grant program for things like mortgage and rent relief, among other items.

First Selectman Tara Carr called the presentation very comprehensive and praised the due diligence and hard work the group put into its final recommendations.

They did a phenomenal job, she said. They were charged with a really hard task and they had a great group that came together.

Committee Chair Colette Sturm was pleased with the presentation and said she hopes the selectmen will consider the 12 most highly recommended uses for the funds.

Carr would not comment specifically on line items but said she was paying close attention to the top 12 recommendations, which jumped out at her during the presentation. The Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance have final input on how the $5.26 million will be spent, with the possibility that their priorities differ from the committees.

I thought it was very well received, Sturm said. We were grateful that the Board of Selectmen was able to receive it all and are taking time to consider the proposals.

Carr specifically praised Sturm for spearheading the project.

Shes such a great asset to the town in so many ways, Carr said. She just did such a super job on this ad hoc committee.

Now that members have fulfilled their charges, the ad-hoc committee will no longer meet on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Carr is scheduling a special meeting to discuss further actions. A date has not yet been set.

The first step is to get with selectmen and figure out how we want to move the ball down the field, she said.

Some Danbury-area towns began the process of allocating funds in 2021, while others, like Brookfield, are moving more slowly. Theres still time  per federal guidelines, the funds must be obligated by December of 2024 and spent by 2026.

In November, New Milford approved 16 items totaling just over $3 million in its first round of ARPA expenditures. The town opted to allocate funding in tranches rather than all at once. Ridgefield also approved a plan to allocate funds toward its Route 7 sewer project in late 2021. But Redding is still several months away from any decisions, and only began forming its ad-hoc committee on November.

Sturm said she would keep tabs on Brookfields continuing allocation process as it moves to selectmen and finance board members in the coming months.

Thats only natural, she said. When you spend so much time invested in something, youre going to follow it through to the end.
Mickey Mouse has turned Leftist Lousedue to circumstances beyond his control, and the long love affair that Disney has enjoyed with almost every American family appears headed for the rocks. The company has chosen to go woke, and that decision could conceivably leave the entertainment gia
Today

Cloudy and a little cooler with a few showers.

Tonight

Turning out partly cloudy.

Tomorrow

Pleasant with times of clouds and sun.
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Facilities Management Officer, Rome, Italy

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Country: Italy

City: Rome

Office: FAO Rome

Closing date: Thursday, 24 February 2022

2200245

Facilities Management Officer

Job Posting: 27/Jan/2022

Closure Date: 24/Feb/2022, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : CSLI

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition : Professional

Grade Level : P-3

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration : Fixed term: one year with possibility of extension

Post Number : 2008877

CCOG Code : 1A03

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture

Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply

Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAOs values

FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAOs Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. The Infrastructure and Facilities Management Service (CSLI) is responsible for the maintenance of the entire headquarters premises and for providing services to staff. CSLI assists Decentralized Offices in maintenance activities for spaces of FAO and those related to FAO technical projects. CSLI also coordinates the special infrastructure projects of the Government of Italy, which involve upgrading the structure and buildings of headquarters. The position is located in the Infrastructure and Facilities Management Service (CSLI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines The Facilities Management Officer reports to the Senior Facilities Management Officer/Head of CSLI.

Technical Focus

Solid Experience in the construction sector of office buildings;

Good knowledge of the Italian procedures to obtain approval for renovation works;

Good experience in maintenance works of large office buildings.

Key Results Plan and coordinate programmes/projects for the administration of physical operations, and contribute to the safety of the Organizations staff and premises.

Key Functions

Coordinate and supervise the maintenance of FAO headquarters facilities, including both civil and technical infrastructure, performed by CSLI staff and external contractors;

Assist the Senior Facilities Management Officer in the planning of major maintenance works to be performed either by FAO staff and contractors or by the Italian authorities, owners of the FAO headquarters premises;

Prepare the design and cost estimate of infrastructural projects to maintain and increase the efficiency of FAO facilities and monitor the execution of works;

Certify quality and quantity of all construction materials received relative to the maintenance areas and projects of responsibility;

Prepare tender specifications for construction works, maintenance and services relative to the areas and projects of responsibility and monitor contractors performance;

Assist the Senior Facilities Management Officer in the preparation of the biennial spending programme;

Programme the selection and evaluation of candidates for posts supervised;

Research and study the application of new construction materials and technologies and develop actions with FAO staff and/or contractors in order to achieve cost savings;

Act as contract manager for some of the concessionaires contracts;

Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced University degree in civil engineering, architecture or related fields;

Five years of relevant experience in facilities management, including maintenance contracts;

Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

Result focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

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Length and relevance of experience in facilities management, maintenance and construction activities for very large office premises, in particular in Italy;

Relevance of experience with the European facilities management environment, including knowledge of relevant laws also in the field of Work Safety and Security;

Relevance of experience with procurement of outsourced facilities management services;

Extent and relevance of experience in reading architectural layouts, interior design and maintenance related issues in large office buildings;

Knowledge of the UN system rules, policies and practices related to procurement of outsourced facilities management is considered an asset;

Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of Italian is considered a strong asset;

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds

FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries allowances/salary.htm Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

Dependency allowances

Rental subsidy

Education grant for children

Home leave travel

30 working days of annual leave per year

Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

International health insurance; optional life insurance

Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

elements of family-friendly policies

flexible working arrangements

standards of conduct.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile

Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications

Incomplete applications will not be considered

Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAOs behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application

Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered

Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile

We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1645356238186
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 37F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 37F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Danbury is hosting its own celebratory culinary tour of the city.

Tastes of Danbury will invite guests to try four local restaurants in the city each month. With the purchase of a $25 ticket, attendees can try specific dishes from each restaurant.

This month, the dishes include American comfort food like cheeseburger and milkshakes along with Portuguese pastries and Peruvian delicacies.

Once a ticket is purchased, the attendee will be emailed four separate tickets for each restaurant to be presented upon arrival. The tickets do not rollover and are only good for the month indicated on the ticket.

"Tastes of Danbury" will continue into April and May. Check with the website for updated menus.

Read on for restaurants and dishes on the menu for March

Mothership Bakery Mothership Bakery & Cafe held a pre-Christmas dinner for area homeless, day laborers and anyone in need in Danbury, Conn., on Wednesday Dec. 23, 2020. Volunteers from the food pantry Jericho helped bring in the guests for the dinner and staff at Mothership prepared and served the meals. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media This breakfast, brunch and lunch cafe focuses on using all-natural ingredients, including house-made dressings and house-roasted coffee and meats. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mothership Bakery & Cafe (@mothershipbakery) For Taste of Danbury, Mothership will offer guests the choice of a MoM Burrito and a coffee, a Sabrosa salad or any sandwich with a bottled drink or regular coffee or iced coffee. 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 331 Main Street, Danbury

Empire of the Incas Pescado a lo macho, a Peruvian-style fish stew seasoned with herbs, is on the menu at Empire of the Incas on Main Street in Danbury. Photo taken Thursday, May 5, 2011. Carol Kaliff This Peruvian restaurant has been in Danbury since 2005 and is decked in colorful murals depicting the landscapes of Peru. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Empire of the Incas (@empireoftheincas) For Taste of Danbury, Empire of the Incas will offer one of the following options: Papa a la Huancaina, Inca Platter, Tamale, Papa Rellena, Choclo con Queso, Anticuchos, Choritos a la Chalaca, Calamares Fritos, Camarones Empanizados, Chicken Wings, Chicharron de Cerdo con Yuca, Supreme Chicharron. Salchippa, Empanadas or Causa Rellena.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 241 Main Street, Danbury

Holiday Diner A corned beef reuben sandwich from the New Holiday Diner in Danbury, Conn. Thursday, March 6, 2014. The diner is a family-run business open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tyler Sizemore This family-owned diner has been in Danbury for 70 years, according to its Facebook page. Holiday Diner will offer a cheeseburger topped with tomato and lettuce, with the choice of a chocolate, vanilla or strawberry milkshake. 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, 123 White St. Danbury
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
MACKENZIE COUNTY - Alberta's largest and most northern county says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy.

A Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose is prepared at a mobile clinic in Montreal on Friday, April 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MACKENZIE COUNTY - Alberta's largest and most northern county says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy.

Mackenzie County says businesses that require employees, contractors or subcontractors to show proof of vaccination in workplaces or on work sites will not be hired to provide goods or services.

"Mackenzie County does not tolerate mandatory vaccination or any other discriminatory requirements for any employee," a document outlining the latest policy says.

The county's council approved the policy on Feb. 16.

A spokesman for the county says in a letter that vaccine mandates violate personal rights and freedoms and will not be tolerated.

"Mackenzie County is appalled by the response to COVID-19 that many governments and corporations have evoked," said Byron Peters, the county's interim chief administrative officer.

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"Corporate use of coercion and intimidation towards employees to dictate personal health choices are inappropriate, and we will not work with companies that tolerate or promote such behaviour."

Provincial data shows the county has the lowest vaccination rate in Alberta. Just over 38 per cent of its roughly 9,500 residents have had their first COVID-19 shot and just over 32 per cent have had a second.

Peters says in the letter that the county will be honouring existing contracts it has with businesses, including ones that have a vaccine mandate, for the time being.

"However, your employees will not be permitted to enter Mackenzie County premises or job sites," he adds.

Peters says all companies with a vaccination policy that are employed by the county need to work remotely or make arrangements to hire a subcontractor that does not have a similar policy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.
OTTAWA - The House of Commons has passed a motion to approve extraordinary, time-limited measures in the Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked last week in a bid to end blockades in Ottawa and at several border crossings.

Debris lays on the ground in front of Parliament Hills gates after police took action to clear the street of trucks and protesters to end a protest, which started in opposition to mandatory COVID-19 vaccine mandates and grew into a broader anti-government demonstration and occupation, on its 23rd day, in Ottawa, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. Being able to designate no-go zones, ensure tow trucks were available to remove vehicles and stop the flow of money and goods keeping the demonstrators fed and fuelled are all clear reasons the Emergencies Act was needed to end the Ottawa blockades, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - The House of Commons has passed a motion to approve extraordinary, time-limited measures in the Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked last week in a bid to end blockades in Ottawa and at several border crossings.

The motion to confirm the declaration of emergency powers passed 185-151 on Monday evening with the New Democrats voting in favour alongside the minority Liberal government.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said earlier Monday his party would support the motion, but would withdraw that support as soon as it decides the measures are no longer necessary, including if remaining convoy members stopped lingering in Ottawa and near border crossings.

The Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois opposed it, while the two Green MPs in the House were split.

The vote to approve the measures will keep them in place until mid-March at the latest. The Senate must also vote on the government's request. At any point, the Senate, House of Commons or government could pull support and the extraordinary powers stemming from the emergencies law would be revoked.

Leading up to the vote, there were signs the government had decided to make it a confidence vote, meaning that if it failed, the minority Liberal government could have fallen, which would have triggered an election.

Trudeau had not officially designated the vote as such, but he opened the door to that interpretation by likening the decision to a vote on a throne speech, which lays out the government's agenda.

"I can't imagine that anyone who votes 'no' tonight is doing anything other than indicating that they don't trust the government to make incredibly momentous and important decisions at a very difficult time," he said at a news conference earlier in the day.

Just before the voting began around 8 p.m. EST Monday, government House leader Mark Holland was asked by the Conservatives to clarify whether this was a confidence vote.

"It's time to vote," he replied.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during a news conference, Monday, February 21, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Singh said his party had always seen the vote as a confidence matter.

Toronto Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who voted in favour, said in the debate he might have voted against continuing to use the act now that the blockades had ended. He said he would vote yes because he had no interest in helping trigger an election.

Joel Lightbound, a Liberal MP who has criticized the government over its handling of the crisis, said invoking the act was "a slippery slope." He said he would be inclined to vote against the measures if it were not a vote of confidence, and asked for clarification from ministers. He also voted in favour of the motion Monday night.

Without any clear indication from Trudeaus office or caucus whips, the Official Opposition criticized the prime minister for what B.C. MP Todd Doherty styled a "veiled threat" of an election because his leadership was "threatened" and "fragile."

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said Trudeau seemed to have made the matter a vote of confidence because he was afraid of his own caucus. Bloc MP Martin Champoux questioned the validity of the vote and accused Trudeau of "twisting the arm" of people who might otherwise disagree.

After a weekend of fractious debate while police cleared protesters by Parliament Hill, the final hours Monday were peppered with barbs at Trudeau and Singh for giving the prime minister the backing he needed.

"When did the NDP lose their way?" B.C. Conservative Dan Albas asked, arguing that the use of the Emergencies Act "would further divide Canadians." Warren Steinley, a Saskatchewan Conservative, asked Trudeau how he convinced "the federal NDP to sell out the core beliefs of Jack Layton and Tommy Douglas," referencing two key, former leaders of the New Democrats.

Immediately after the vote, interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said the Tories would continue to fight the prime minister's "power grab" and the party tabled a motion to revoke the powers.

Ontario Conservative MP Dave Epp accused the prime minister of using "the politics of division rather than co-operation and understanding," using words Trudeau has said in the past.

"The capacity for kindness that Canadians are known for has been strained by our nation's leader," he said. "There is a sadness that comes when Canadians are pitted against Canadians."

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the Conservatives, by opposing the measures, had "abandoned all pretext of supporting law and order, and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the measures were "very proportional, measured and respectful of the charter" and not here to stay.

"We will absolutely retreat from the Emergencies Act as soon as we can," Mendicino said.

Edmonton MP Ziad Aboultaif said using the act was overkill to stop what amounted to some illegally parked vehicles.

Liberal Peter Schiefke criticized "frequent, unabated displays of hatred" during the protests including swastikas. He said U.S. financial backing for the protests had some links to supporters of the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Trudeau said a week ago he was invoking the act for the first time since it passed in 1988 because police needed extra help to end blockades that had been ongoing in downtown Ottawa for weeks.

Regulations under the act grant powers to make tow trucks into essential services, require banks to freeze accounts of people participating directly or indirectly in the protest, and designate no-go zones for public gatherings, including Parliament Hill.

Singh said Monday the act was needed because all three levels of government had failed to take the threat posed by the convoy seriously until it was too late.

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"Our support from the beginning has always been reluctant," he said. "We were reluctant because it should have never got to this point."

Singh's decision to support the Emergencies Act has drawn criticism from former NDP MP Svend Robinson who said it set "a very dangerous precedent."

"The NDP Caucus in 1970 under Tommy Douglas took a courageous and principled stand against the War Measures Act. Today's NDP under Jagmeet Singh betrays the legacy and supports Liberals on the Emergencies Act," the former Burnaby MP tweeted.

When asked if he was breaking from Douglas, Singh said the Emergencies Act is not the same as the War Measures Act, as the Emergencies Act has parliamentary oversight and limitations on its powers.

Former NDP Leader Ed Broadbent has also said the Emergencies Act is not the War Measures Act, which he voted against in 1970. He said the Emergencies Act has reduced powers, will expire after 30 days and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is not suspended.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2022.
LONDON (AP)  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.

FILE - A man wearing a face mask to curb the spread of coronavirus walks past a health campaign poster from the One NGO, in an underpass leading to Westminster underground train station, in London, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Scientists are warning the British government not to weaken the countrys ability to monitor and track the coronavirus when Prime Minister Boris Johnson ends the requirement for people in England to self-isolate if they contract COVID-19. Johnson will announce details in Parliament on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022 of the governments plan for living with COVID. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

LONDON (AP)  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.

He said it marked an end to "two of the darkest, grimmest years in our peacetime history."

"Today is not the day we can declare victory over COVID, because this virus is not going away," Johnson said at a televised news conference. "But it is the day when all the efforts of the last two years finally enabled us to protect ourselves whilst restoring our liberties in full."

Johnson confirmed that mandatory self-isolation for people with COVID-19 will end starting Thursday and the routine tracing of infected peoples contacts will stop. People will still be advised to stay home if they are sick  but will no longer get extra financial support.

Britain's Prime Minister leaves 10 Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to head to the House of Commons. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

Mondays announcement applies only to England, which is home to 56 million of the U.K.s 67 million people. It leaves England with fewer restrictions than most other European countries, with the exception of Denmark.

Many people in England who think they have COVID-19 may now never know for sure. Starting April 1, lab-confirmed PCR tests for the virus will be available free only to older people and the immune-compromised. The government will also stop offering the public free rapid virus tests, though they will be available for purchase.

Yet the government stressed that the pandemic isn't over and the virus could still spring nasty surprises. Johnson said scientists were "certain there will be new variants and it is very possible they will be worse than omicron," the currently dominant strain.

Johnson said the fact that Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday was a reminder that this virus was still prevalent. Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch was experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms.

The government plan foresees keeping the virus in check with vaccines and treatments. Everyone 75 and older will be offered a fourth vaccine dose, along with those 12 and up who have conditions that make them vulnerable to severe disease.

Some scientists said removing all restrictions was a risky move that could bring a surge in infections and weaken the countrys defenses against more virulent future strains.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government's new long-term COVID-19 plan. (Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP)

The government insisted it would retain a strong surveillance system, including the Infection Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics, which is considered invaluable because it tests people whether or not they have symptoms. It said it also will keep the ability to ramp up testing if needed.

Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said prevalence of the virus was still "very high" and urged people to continue to self-isolate if they had COVID-19.

"People should still, if they have COVID, try to prevent other people getting it, and that means self-isolating," he said.

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said the government's "half-baked" approach would leave Britain vulnerable.

"Ignorance is bliss is not a responsible approach to a deadly virus," Starmer said.

Johnsons Conservative government lifted most virus restrictions in January, scrapping vaccine passports for venues and ending mask mandates in most settings apart from hospitals in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which set their own public health rules, also have opened up, although more slowly.

A combination of high vaccination rates in the U.K. and the milder omicron variant meant that easing restrictions last month didnt lead to a surge in hospitalizations and deaths. Both are falling, though the U.K. still has Europes highest coronavirus toll after Russia, with more than 161,000 recorded deaths.

In Britain, 85% of people age 12 and up have had two vaccine doses and almost two-thirds have had a third booster shot.

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Monday's announcement was cheered by many Conservative Party lawmakers, who argue that the restrictions were inefficient and disproportionate. It could  and critics say was designed to  shore up Johnsons position among party lawmakers, who have been mulling an attempt to oust him over scandals including lockdown-breaching government parties during the pandemic.

But some scientists expressed alarm, saying that ending support for people to test and isolate would hit poor people the hardest.

"Todays announcement is not a plan for living with COVID, it is a plan for reducing spending on testing and cutting support for people who have or may have COVID," said Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary care health services at the University of Oxford.

"Learning to live with COVID does not mean pretending it isnt highly prevalent or pretending the virus is no longer dangerous," she noted.

___

Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
TORONTO - Several Canadian universities are maintaining COVID-19 precautions such as vaccine mandates and masking for in-person classes even as governments roll back pandemic restrictions.

Students walk across campus at Western University in London, Ont., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Most Canadian universities, including Western are keeping in effect their COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements for students attending in-person classes after several provinces announced recently plans to end many of the pandemic restrictions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins

TORONTO - Several Canadian universities are maintaining COVID-19 precautions such as vaccine mandates and masking for in-person classes even as governments roll back pandemic restrictions.

Ontario is ending its vaccine certificate system on March 1, when capacity limits in public settings and restrictions on social gathering sizes will fully lift as well, though masking requirements will remain for now.

Ontario's top doctor said last week that vaccine policies at post-secondary institutions have served their purpose and should be dropped, saying their removal should align with the end of the province's vaccine certificate system next week.

But several Ontario universities said they are keeping their vaccination policies in effect.

Western University in London, Ont., said it will uphold its vaccine mandate until at least the end of the current winter semester. A spokeswoman said the school will review later this year whether COVID-19 vaccination will be required for students who will attend on-campus classes in the fall.

"We will continue to work with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and our internal workplace health and wellness physicians and medical leads to inform our subsequent approach, including a planned review of our policy no later than September 1," Roxanne Beaubien said.

York University in Toronto also said it won't drop its vaccination and masking requirements.

Lucy Fromowitz, vice-provost of York University, said the school's vaccination mandate will remain in place until the end of the winter term.

"In light of changes to the provinces phased re-opening plan, I'm writing to share that the university has determined that there will be no change to Yorks health and safety protocols, processes, or approach at this time," Fromowitz wrote in a letter to the university community.

The University of Guelph said it intends to uphold its vaccine mandate until the end of the winter semester, but will review the policy soon and provide an update next month.

Other schools in Ontario, including the University of Toronto, said they aren't making changes to their COVID-19 vaccine policies and continue to consult with the government and public health officials on the issue.

In Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta said they're suspending their vaccination mandates when on-campus learning resumes next week.

But the two largest post-secondary schools in Alberta will keep their masking requirements in place despite the province's plan to drop that measure as of March 1.

Bill Flanagan, the president of the University of Alberta, said the school's vaccination policy has worked as 97 per cent of students and more than 99 per cent of faculty and staff members are fully vaccinated.

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"When many of us return in-person on February 28, ... proof of vaccination will no longer be required on campuses or to access services or events.," Flanagan said in a letter to students.

"Masks will continue to be required across all (University of Alberta) campuses until the end of the Winter 2022 semester."

Ed McCauley, the president of the University of Calgary, also said proof of vaccination will no longer be required from students.

"This shift is consistent with the direction from the province," McCauley said in a message to students. "Masking remains required until the end of the Winter Term. At that time, masking will become optional at the University of Calgary."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has said he'll announce "a final decision" this Saturday on whether to proceed with the second phase of the province's pandemic reopening plan, which includes the end of masking requirements.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is once again draping the union-friendly, red, white and blue bunting of his Buy American philosophy over a key component of his administrative agenda  one in which Canada dearly wants to play a role.

The White House is unveiling plans today for what it calls a made in America supply chain for the rare-earth minerals at the heart of the electric-vehicle revolution. A 2021 Model 3 sedan charges at a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo., in this June 27, 2021 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Zalubowski

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is once again draping the union-friendly, red, white and blue bunting of his Buy American philosophy over a key component of his administrative agenda  one in which Canada dearly wants to play a role.

The U.S. intends to take a "made-in-America" approach to its strategy for securing reliable domestic supply chains for critical minerals and rare-earth elements  the building blocks for the coming electric-vehicle revolution.

"It's all about the belief we share that to build a truly strong economy, we need a future that's made in America," Biden told Tuesday's virtual gathering, which included U.S. corporate leaders, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The event was designed to mark this week's one-year anniversary of Biden's executive order to review and recommend solutions for shoring up the country's fragile supply chains, battered by COVID-19.

From it, Biden decided that "if I was going to follow through on my commitment to say, 'We were going to make it in America and build it in America and have all of it built in America,' we needed a supply chain that was reliable."

It's far from the first time that the Democratic president has played the protectionism card when it comes to his much-vaunted but politically challenging effort to "build back better" from the impact of the pandemic.

He's already established a "Buy American" office within the confines of the White House to police the granting of contracts for federal infrastructure projects, and proposed a now-dormant tax credit scheme for EVs that critics say would devastate Canada's auto sector if implemented in its original form.

Canada, meanwhile, has been eyeing the growing demand for critical minerals and rare-earth elements with interest, considering it is home to what experts say are sizable stockpiles of the metals that will help the world kick the fossil-fuel habit.

For those in Canada hoping to latch on to that particular rocket ship, experts on both sides of the border have a clear message: don't panic.

Canada and the U.S. share a goal of expanding a lucrative trade relationship that's worth C$2 billion a day and supports countless jobs in both countries, said David Cohen, Biden's U.S. envoy in Ottawa.

"Critical minerals is one of the essential ways that I think we can grow the pie, and Canada has some real natural advantages by being a repository for so many critical minerals," Cohen said in an interview.

Tuesday's announcement, he said, "positions the United States to continue to engage in a dialogue with Canada about how we both take advantage of the presence of critical minerals in both of our countries, and build a real presence in that space and create jobs."

It was also primarily about ensuring Americans see the Biden administration putting their needs first, said Ben Steinberg, a former Department of Energy official who's now an executive vice-president at Venn Strategies, a D.C. government relations firm.

"This is a moment for the U.S. and this administration to say that they support the critical minerals industry domestically, irrespective of the fact that they need to co-ordinate with Canada and close allies, which I think is a must," Steinberg said.

"I don't think they've lost sight of that."

Steinberg also helps lead the Battery Materials and Technology Coalition, a group of 13 U.S. and Canadian companies from across the spectrum of the battery industry, from mining and processing to battery pack development and recycling.

"About half of our members are Canadian-based or have operations or equity in Canada, and that's a testament to how integrated the U.S. and Canada are on this from a markets perspective."

The White House says global demand for critical minerals is expected to increase by more than 400 per cent over the coming decades, and 4,000 per cent in the case of lithium and graphite.

With numbers like that, there's still plenty of room at the table, said Eric Miller, a Canada-U.S. expert and president of the D.C.-based Rideau Potomac Strategy Group.

"Obviously, as Canada's good friend and closest ally, it would be highly desirable if Canada and the U.S. could work together, but part of it is the U.S. is still trying to figure out how it wants to incorporate allies into this," said Miller, a global fellow at the Wilson Center's Canada Institute who works extensively on critical minerals issues.

Eventually, he added, the U.S. will need to be "clear-eyed about the fact that lots of the materials that it's going to use are not located in the United States."

Tuesday's event showcased a litany of government grants and private-sector projects intended to demonstrate that the U.S.  thanks, Biden and others noted, to his $1.2-trillion infrastructure plan, to date his administration's crowning political achievement  is well on its way to securing the future of U.S.-sourced and built electric vehicles.

The administration is giving $35 million to MP Materials, the only rare-earth miner on the continent, to upgrade its California facility and establish a domestic supply chain for "permanent magnets," a vital component in EVs, defence systems and wind turbines  and a market dominated by China.

The company, billed as the world's second-largest producer of permanent magnets, will in turn make a $700-million investment of its own that will result in the creation of 350 permanent jobs by 2024.

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"We are investing across the board, end to end, exactly as you have called for," CEO James Litinsky told the president, "so that we can have actually every aspect of this supply chain in the United States of America."

The lesson for Canada in all this? Better get cracking, said Mark Agnew, senior vice-president of policy and government relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"They are making in the U.S. very tangible actions towards building up their critical mineral supply chain, and they're doing it in a very specific and targeted way that we're just not yet seeing on this side of the border," Agnew said.

"So as much as the U.S. wants to work with allies, I think what it shows is that Canada's got a fair bit of homework and labour work to do, frankly, to get the U.S. to take us seriously as a partner."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.

 With files from Mike Blanchfield in Ottawa
A new apartment block is coming to one of Winnipegs largest and busiest transit and traffic corridors, and its being built on the former site of the Fort Garry branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Foundation work has already begun on the 82-unit apartment building called the Point on Pembina, which will be completed by the fall of 2023. (Supplied)

A new apartment block is coming to one of Winnipegs largest and busiest transit and traffic corridors, and its being built on the former site of the Fort Garry branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Last year, the legion, which operated at 1125 Pembina Hwy., since 1949, signed a lease to take over a former Pizza Hut building down the road, meaning that for the first time in 72 years, something else will sit in place of Branch 90s hall at the corner of Pembina and Windermere.

It was an opportunity too good to pass up, says Kurtis Sawatzky, the prime consultant and project manager of the Point on Pembina. Foundation work has already started on the 82-unit apartment block, to be developed by Foresight Development Group, built by Bouchard Brothers, completed by the fall of 2023.

What made it so appealing? Sawatzky  a structural engineer and partner in KNH Sawatzky & Associates  said it was the potential to develop needed new rental housing stock within the area and not in greenfields, creating greater density. That, he said, aligned with the citys infill guidelines for mature neighbourhoods, which is essential to combating sprawl.

The area is perfect for infill, says Kurtis Sawatzky, the prime consultant and project manager of the Point on Pembina. (Winnipeg Free Press)

That goes hand in hand with the citys climate action plan as well, he said. Plus, the developers have enrolled in an Efficiency Manitoba program meaning the building will be built to be 20 per cent more energy efficient than current codes require. Its parking lot will feature four electric vehicle charging stations to start, with the extra electrical servicing capacity to eventually include EV stations in half of its 58 stalls. Sixteen secure bike stalls are also included, Sawatzky added.

Plus, there will be a heated bus shack directly in front of the property, allowing for easy access to transit. In the immediate area, there arent many apartment buildings, Sawatzky said, giving the indication to some that it may be a place to drive past, not to live. "But we have a walkable index (score) of 70," he said. And the apartment block could help people see the busy artery in a different light.

"The project is a beacon to other developers that this is a really good area for infill," Sawatzky said. "Its something we felt was lacking in this area in particular."

Those elements are good news, but one feature that makes the building stand out is its complement of main-floor "live-work" units, which feature business space with direct access to the public. The spaces will offer residents who also run businesses to do their living and their working under the same roof, paying one rent instead of two and limiting their commute to a few paces rather than several kilometres.

The building is zoned as residential mixed use, which allows for greater density than the alternative residential multi-family medium zoning. That zoning requires a commercial component, Sawatzky said. And instead of putting in something typical  retail, a restaurant  it might be a good idea amid a pandemic to come up with an alternate plan. In those live-work units, a minimum of 20 per cent must be dedicated to residential use and at least 25 per cent of the gross footprint must be dedicated to business activities, according to city bylaws. Sawatzky said thats an ideal option for service providers  think massage therapists, photographers  consultants, and other non-retail-oriented businesses, who can also entertain clients on decks to be built in front, separated by greenery.

The Point will be built to be 20 per cent more energy efficient than current codes require, including four electric vehicle charging stations to start. (Supplied)

Having residents businesses on site will also increase engagement by the public with the neighbourhood. And with rail tracks separating the property from the nearest housing by a substantial margin, Sawatzky said there was very little concern raised during community consultation about the building.

The ward councillor, John Orlikow, who has announced he will be running for mayor later this fall, was effusive about the project in a release sent out earlier this month.

"Its exciting to see this stretch of Pembina Highway starting to be redeveloped and transformed," he said. "This will provide homes for many, along a transit corridor, who will patronize businesses and send their children to nearby schools and community centres."

Sawatzky said the six-storey building follows a strategy of building "up and not out." As development booms in the greenfields exterior to the city limits, he said the same type of interest has not necessarily spilled over to available land within the Perimeter in mature areas such as Fort Garry.

That is likely attributable to the comparably greater expense and specific, but important, guidelines associated with developing infill as opposed to in greenfields.

But the benefits of an "up not out" approach are tangible and meaningful from both a neighbourhood development and a cost perspective, he said. The surrounding area stands to benefit  businesses have more potential patrons, the likelihood of active transportation being prioritized increases  while there is no need to build more roads or massive infrastructure to serve the building itself.

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Along Pembina, that is very important, Sawatzky said. Its possible to create vibes similar to Corydon Avenue or Osborne Village with higher density, he said.

"We want to introduce residents to the area, but also, the area to residents," he said.

The units themselves will rent at a cost similar to local market rates, he said, and will feature nine-foot-high ceilings along with higher-end appliances, flooring, countertops and lighting.

And while the legion is moving down the road, Sawatzky said there are plans to honour the former branch, which was there long enough to have served as a relief centre during the flood of 1950. Details on that front are still being sorted out.

ben.waldman@winnipegfreepress.com
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A North Carolina motorcyclist who lost a leg after a collision with an Amazon delivery truck has filed a lawsuit arguing that unrealistic expectations for the tech giant's delivery drivers have led to negligence.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A North Carolina motorcyclist who lost a leg after a collision with an Amazon delivery truck has filed a lawsuit arguing that unrealistic expectations for the tech giant's delivery drivers have led to negligence.

According to his lawsuit, filed in Norfolk Circuit Court in January, Justin Hartley was riding his motorcycle in Virginia Beach on Oct. 4 when a rented truck with an Amazon logo turned directly into his lane, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

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The truck hit Hartley, causing fractures to his left wrist and left leg. Doctors were unable to save his left leg and amputated it just below the knee, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Amazon delivery driver Christopher Gill admitted to authorities that when the accident happened, he was looking down at GPS directions on his Amazon-supplied navigation device.

"The unrealistic expectations that are put on the drivers are fueling these negligence cases," said Hartleys attorney, Kevin Biniazan. "The driver was so entranced in making his delivery that he did not see our client."

Represented by Wilson Elser law firm, Amazons response denied all allegations and stated that the lawsuit failed to "implicate a legal or contractual responsibility owed on behalf of Amazon." The response denied that Amazon is "vicariously responsible for the acts or omissions of defendant Gill," while also denying that Gill is guilty of "any act of negligence" that caused the crash.

Drivers for Amazon.com and Amazon Logistics are required to use the Amazon "Flex App," according to the lawsuit. The app, the lawsuit said, manages every aspect of a delivery drivers route, including what directions to take, when to take breaks, and when to return to the station.

When a driver falls behind the desired pace during a route, the lawsuit said Amazon sends text messages stating the driver is "behind the rabbit" and needs to be "rescued" to ensure that they get back on schedule. A drivers pay can be reduced if he or she falls "behind the rabbit" or require rescues too often, the $100 million lawsuit said.

This is not the first time Amazon has faced a lawsuit regarding its delivery drivers. Bloomberg reported in November that Amazon has been a defendant in at least 119 motor vehicle injury lawsuits across 35 states.
DETROIT (AP)  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.

FILE - Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. According to a regulatory filling, the Tesla CEO donated about 5 million shares of company stock worth roughly $5.7 billion to charity in November 2021. Tesla didnt respond to a request for comment and Musk has not commented on Twitter about the donation since the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was made public Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

DETROIT (AP)  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.

Musk's tweet early Tuesday and a Monday letter from Musk lawyer Alex Spiro to a federal judge didn't offer any specifics about the leak, but the actions ramped up a war of words with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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.

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.

On Monday, Spiro filed another letter with the U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan accusing 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.

Tuesday morning, Musk tweeted that the allegations are just peeling back the first layer of the corruption onion. Stay tuned. No details were given.

The SEC declined comment Tuesday, and messages were left seeking details about the leak allegations from Tesla and Spiro.

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The SEC spat goes back to 2018, when Musk and Tesla each agreed to pay $20 million in civil fines over Musks tweets about having the money to take the company private at $420 per share. The funding was far from secured and the company remains public. The settlement specified governance changes, including Musks ouster as board chairman, as well as approval of Musks tweets.

After Spiro filed a letter with the court accusing the SEC of harassing Musk, the SEC responded with a letter saying it was following Nathan's instructions in trying to speak with Musk's lawyers about his posts on Twitter.

In a letter dated Friday, 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 the Musk 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.

Spiro sent a letter on Thursday accusing the SEC of harassing Musk with investigations and subpoenas over his Twitter posts.

And in further regulatory news involving Tesla, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it had reached a settlement with the electric car maker over Clean Air Act violations at its plant in Fremont, California. Tesla agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty for violations from October 2016 through September 2019 at the plant's vehicle coating operations, the EPA said.
SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Cruise ships are set to return to the port of Saint John, N.B., following a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AIDAdiva cruise ship, on a 10-day trip from New York to Montreal, arrives in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Cruise ships are set to return to the port of Saint John, N.B., following a two-year hiatus.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Cruise ships are set to return to the port of Saint John, N.B., following a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The first ship is due to arrive in Saint John harbour on May 4.

The port has released a draft schedule with 69 visits in 2022 from ships owned by 12 cruise lines.

The schedule has 10 vessels in the port between May and late August, with the bulk of the visits after the Labour Day weekend.

In a statement released today, Port Saint John said there will be 10 days with two ships in port, and five days with three ships at the same time.

The port says that before the pandemic, cruise ships injected about $68 million a year into the New Brunswick economy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022
NEW YORK (AP)  New York is paving the way for hemp farmers to get a head start on growing marijuana for legal sales that are expected to begin next year.

FILE  Dried hemp plants are sorted and trimmed at Hepworth Farms in Milton, N.Y., April 12, 2021. Hemp farmers in New York state will be able to apply for a license to grow marijuana this year under legislation signed Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, by Gov. Kathy Hochul. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  New York is paving the way for hemp farmers to get a head start on growing marijuana for legal sales that are expected to begin next year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday that lets hemp cultivators apply for two-year licenses to grow for the forthcoming legal recreational market for pot; like hemp, it's a type of cannabis plant. Licensees can start planting marijuana this spring.

Its a tremendous opportunity," said Allan Gandelman, a Cortland-based hemp grower and the president of the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association. The state is really standing behind the goal of putting New York's existing small businesses first."

For the state, it's a way to start gearing up supply and showing progress toward launching what's expected to become one of the United States' biggest legal marijuana markets. While New York legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults nearly a year ago, officials are still working on regulations for growing and selling it.

FILE  Dried hemp plants are sorted and trimmed at Hepworth Farms in Milton, N.Y., April 12, 2021. Hemp farmers in New York state will be able to apply for a license to grow marijuana this year under legislation signed Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022, by Gov. Kathy Hochul. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

The measure will jump-start the safe, equitable and inclusive new industry we are building, Hochul, a Democrat, said in a news release. The legislation includes environmental standards and requires licensees to provide training for people of color, women, disabled veterans and others the state terms social equity applicants.

At the moment, New York's only legal marijuana growers are 10 companies that supply medical weed to roughly 125,000 registered patients. Gandelman estimates about 200 small-scale hemp farmers could meet the new licensing requirements, which include having grown hemp for at least two of the last four years.

That would provide a starting point for the supply chain. Its not going to be nearly enough to meet the expected demand, he said, but its a good start.

The new law, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Hinchey (D-Saugerties), throws a lifeline to hemp farmers, who have seen prices tumble nationwide since a peak in 2019, shortly after Congress legalized the plant. Factors in the price collapse include oversupply and regulatory uncertainty surrounding CBD, a popular, non-intoxicating chemical derived from hemp.

So the opportunity to grow another crop thats profitable is certainly something thats welcome, said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, an industry group.

At the same time, the group is wary of blurring lines between marijuana and hemp, which gained Congress approval as a substance that doesnt get people high.

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This is a temporary, conditional program, and we want to see how things go but we want to make sure that in the long run, those boundaries are kept separate, Miller said.

But some hemp farmers, including Gandelman, are interested in doing both.

A former high school teacher, he started growing organic vegetables about a decade ago and subsequently got into hemp, which Congress legalized in 2018. He and business partner Karli Miller-Hornick also make and sell CBD products under the brand name Head & Heal.

The hemp business has had a rocky few years, but the good part was we got really good experience in growing cannabis in upstate New York, and so that has a lot of value, he said.

____________

Follow APs complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana.
MOSCOW (AP)  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.

MOSCOW (AP)  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."

STR - UKRAINIAN NAVAL FORCES PRESS SER This handout picture taken by Ukrainian Naval Forces Press Service and released on February 21, 2022 shows Ukrainian tanks in an unknown location of Ukraine.

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.

"None of us should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification." U.S. President Joe Biden

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.

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. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov)

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.

A woman carries a child as they are evacuated from the Donetsk region, the territory controlled by pro-Russia separatist government in eastern Ukraine, as they leave a train to be taken to temporary accommodations, at the railway station in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Roman Yarovitcyn)

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."

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 West. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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.

An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. Jon Finer

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."

Children evacuated from the Donetsk region, the territory controlled by a pro-Russia separatist governments in eastern Ukraine, are seen through a train window as they wait to be taken to temporary housing, at the railway station in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Roman Yarovitcyn)

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.

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. Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. The statement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up to Mondays recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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."

A man holds a giant stuffed toy while 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. Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. The statement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up to Mondays recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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.

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Dogs look at an elderly woman who shared food with them while waiting 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. Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. The statement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up to Mondays recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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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 is on the Azov Sea, not Black Sea.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Grant Frew, bar manager, poses for a photo at Bushwakker Brewpub in Regina on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The pub's main room is for vaccinated and unvaccinated customers, but a separate 50-seat room is now for patrons who have "immunodeficiency concerns, family health concerns or simply are not comfortable with the latest easing of health restrictions." To enter that room, diners must provide proof of vaccination and identification. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

REGINA - Walking into Bushwakker Brewpub during a lunch-hour rush, Darlene Woywoda looked for the vaccinated section.

Woywoda, 69, was meeting some friends, and they decided to dine in the Arizona Room  a 50-seat space reserved for guests who are fully immunized against COVID-19.

The feeling for Woywoda was reminiscent of the days when hostesses would greet diners with the phrase, "Smoking or non-smoking?" before cigarettes were banned from restaurants.

"My husband and I were talking that businesses will have to do something like that with COVID-19 vaccinations," Woywoda said.

"Except the smoke can infiltrate from one area to another, whereas here (the air) is more contained."

The Arizona Room at Bushwakker Brewpub was once a space reserved for birthday and retirement parties, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Customers no longer wanted to gather in big groups, said bar manager Grant Frew.

The room is now for the exclusive use of the fully vaccinated  despite Saskatchewan ending its vaccine passport requirement on Feb. 14.

Perks in the Arizona room include private washrooms, servers who are also fully vaccinated, and a ventilation system separate from the restaurant's main room, which can seat another 200 people both vaccinated and non-vaccinated.

"I've been told to never introduce politics and religion into a bar, but inadvertently that has seemed to happen, which has sparked quite a bit of controversy," Frew said in an interview.

Bushwakker introduced the separate section after longtime customers of the 31-year-old brew pub said they wouldn't return for a while after the province did away with its vaccine passport.

"When I heard that, well, it didn't make me feel very good obviously. We're trying to dig ourselves out of this economic catastrophe that the pandemic has caused to the entire hospitality sector," Frew said.

"We thought why don't we create this space where they can feel safe, and comfortable, because that's always first and foremost what we want to do."

The president of the Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association says the move is a good idea.

"Every operator has to make decisions that are in the best interest of their business," said Jim Bence, who said Bushwakker Brewpub is, as yet, unique in its approach.

"Bushwakker is responding to what their customers are telling them and adapting their model to fill that need."

While most people have praised the pub's decision, Frew said there has been pushback online. People have suggested the business is segregating people or accusing the brew put of creating division.

"That is not the case at all. This is simply a room we wanted to provide for those with health concerns. It's a temporary measure. Segregation and division was not our intention," said Frew, who added that unvaccinated patrons can still dine in the main room.

The Brewhouse is likely to keep its policy in place for a few more months, he said. Saskatchewan is preparing to lift its mask mandate on Feb. 28 and will no long required those who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate.

Nazeem Muhajarine, an epidemiologist at the University of Saskatchewan, said many customers are looking for alternatives now that government policy no longer mandates that vaccination status be shown.

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"It's a workaround," he said.

"They're not comfortable mixing yet with people who are not vaccinated, and they still don't want to get (the) Omicron (variant), even if it may be less severe than Delta."

Fully vaccinated sections or not, Muhajarine said, people can still reduce their risk of catching COVID-19 while dining out by sticking to the basics: wear a mask, test yourself before going out and stay home if sick.

For her part, Woywoda said she loves the room for the fully vaccinated and is encouraging other businesses to do the same.

"This just alleviates all of our concerns."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2022.
MONTREAL - Four Conservative members of Parliament say they want former Quebec premier Jean Charest to enter the race for the party's leadership.

Jean Charest speaks during a panel discussion at the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa on Wednesday November 13, 2019. Four Conservative members of Parliament say want former Quebec Premier Charest to enter the race for the party's leadership. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MONTREAL - Four Conservative members of Parliament say they want former Quebec premier Jean Charest to enter the race for the party's leadership.

In an open letter published Tuesday, the MPs say Charest is the best person to defeat the Liberals and lead the relaunch of Canada's economy.

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Charest, 63, became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1993, after he was one of two MPs from that party elected while former prime minister Kim Campbell was dealt a humiliating electoral defeat. Charest left federal politics in 1993 and became leader of Quebec Liberal Party.

Charest was premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012, when his party was defeated in an early election he called following massive student protests.

Since leaving politics, Charest has practised law, and has also been the subject of a multi-year investigation by Quebec's anti-corruption police related to financing of the Quebec Liberal Party.

Pierre Poilievre, an Ottawa-area member of Parliament, is the only confirmed candidate in the race for the Conservative leadership

The letter was signed by Quebec MPs Alain Rayes and Dominique Vien; Nova Scotia MP Rick Perkins; Ontario MP John Nater; New Brunswick Senator Percy Mockler; former MP David Sweet; Louis Leger, chief of staff to the premier of New Brunswick; and Leo Power, a former director of the Conservative Party's fundraising arm.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.
HALIFAX - The commissioners leading the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia began their first day of hearings on the defensive Tuesday after Premier Tim Houston accused them of disrespecting the victims' families.

A woman pays her respects to victims of a mass shooting at a roadblock in Portapique, N.S. on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Almost two years after a gunman disguised as a Mountie started a shooting rampage that claimed 22 lives in rural Nova Scotia, an independent public inquiry is set to begin public hearings today in Halifax.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - The commissioners leading the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia began their first day of hearings on the defensive Tuesday after Premier Tim Houston accused them of disrespecting the victims' families.

About 90 minutes before the proceedings opened at the Halifax Convention Centre, Houston issued a scathing statement saying family members feel "left in the dark" about how the inquiry will work.

"This is not only disrespectful, it should cause us all to pause and ask, 'If the families don't have confidence in the process, how can the public?'" the premier said.

The inquiry has been conducting an independent investigation of the shooting rampage, which started on the night of April 18, 2020 when a gunman disguised as a Mountie killed 13 people and set fire to several homes and vehicles in rural Portapique, N.S.

The next day, the shooter, driving a replica RCMP cruiser, killed another nine people, including acquaintances and strangers. After leading police on a chase that spanned more than 100 kilometres, he was shot dead by police at a gas station north of Halifax.

On Tuesday, Houston called on members of the commission to meet with the victims' families and provide them with a plan that "gives them confidence" in the process. He said Nova Scotians pushed for an independent, federal-provincial inquiry as opposed to an internal review to ensure it was "honest, comprehensive, detailed and most importantly, designed to answer questions."

The premier highlighted criticism raised last week by lawyers who represent 23 individuals and families, noting the inquiry has yet to release a witness list and has been vague about whether witnesses will be subject to cross-examination.

"This uncertainty is causing further, unnecessary trauma," he said.

Michael MacDonald, chair of the Mass Casualty Commission, addresses the opening session of the inquiry into the mass murders of April 18/19, 2020 in rural Nova Scotia, in Halifax on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Federal Immigration Minister and Nova Scotia MP Sean Fraser echoed Houston's sentiments in a statement Tuesday, saying he has heard from victims' families who don't have faith in the inquiry. He said they've expressed "a general sense that the flow of information is being controlled in an effort to protect them, when what they want more than anything is the truth, no matter how difficult."

The chairman of the commission of inquiry, former Nova Scotia chief justice Michael MacDonald, addressed some of the politicians' concerns in his opening remarks, saying cross-examination will be part of the inquiry.

"If there is a witness who can provide more information, we will bring them here and ask them questions," MacDonald said. "And we will enable legal counsel representing the participants to put forward questions and witness recommendations as well."

MacDonald, however, said some witnesses have been left hurting and "even broken" by the killer's rampage almost two years ago. "If we can get at the truth in ways that do not cause more hurt, then we have a responsibility to do so," he said.

The former judge stressed that the commission has consulted regularly with the victims' families over the past 16 months as it compiled so-called foundational documents that will guide the inquiry's work.

MacDonald confirmed the inquiry will not be using a predetermined list of witnesses, which is how public inquiries are typically conducted. He said the sheer volume of information that must be reviewed won't allow for that. With 17 crime scenes, hundreds of witnesses and 40,000 pages of documents to review, the commissioners have decided that most of the evidence will come from the foundational documents, expert panels and roundtable discussions.

"This inquiry could drift and drag on for years if we were to call all the witnesses involved in this," MacDonald said. "Too often, I have seen the emotional toll of processes that go on and on, lives waiting in the balance. This process cannot drag on for five years."

The commissioners have until Nov. 1 to file a final report with recommendations on how to improve public safety.

In all, there are 61 designated participants involved in the inquiry, including victims' relatives, injured survivors, first responders, police officers and the federal and provincial governments.

Houston told reporters he issued his statement as "a bit of an exclamation point" because he was growing anxious about how the inquiry would be conducted. He said he isn't worried that his intervention will undermine confidence in the hearings.

"There is no room for error here, we have to get to where we need to get to," he said. "Where people have concerns, that's the time to raise them, because there is always time to adjust."

However, Barbara McLean, the commission's director of investigations, said the commission staff were "surprised and disappointed" by Houston's comments.

"The mass casualty commission is an independent inquiry and must remain free from interference or external direction," she told reporters.

Nick Beaton, the husband of shooting victim Kristen Beaton, has said he and other relatives of victims are seeking a list of witnesses who will testify and a commitment from the commission that RCMP witnesses will face cross-examination. In addition, he said in a recent Facebook post that the families are seeking confirmation that Lisa Banfield, the killer's spouse, will be called as a witness.

As the hearings began, MacDonald read the names of all 22 victims and called attention to the fact that one of them, Beaton, was pregnant when she was shot dead on April 19, 2020, near Debert, N.S. The former judge then called for a moment of silence.

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"It shocked the nation, reverberating throughout our communities, institutions and governments," MacDonald said of the killings. "The ripples run deep and wide."

Inside the ballroom at the downtown convention centre where the hearings are being held, separate tables have been set up for the victim's families and other participants affected by the tragedy.

"Many of the events and issues we will be dealing with in these proceedings are going to be hard and potentially distressing to hear," MacDonald warned.

Later in the day, the inquiry featured an hour-long panel discussion with six experts who talked about the tragedy's impact on the mental health of Nova Scotians and Canadians in general.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.

 With files from Keith Doucette
MONTREAL - Quebec will distribute more than $3 million over three years to 11 police forces across the province to help them support victims of domestic violence and enhance surveillance of offenders, Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault said Monday.

Quebec deputy premier and Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault responds to reporters' questions, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL - Quebec will distribute more than $3 million over three years to 11 police forces across the province to help them support victims of domestic violence and enhance surveillance of offenders, Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault said Monday.

"Our objective is clear: to save lives," Guilbault said in a news release. "The lives of women, victims of violence, and of their children."

The money to help victims will be directed toward hiring social workers who will work with police, Guilbault added. Police forces in the cities of Bromont, Chateauguay, Mascouche and Repentigny are among those that will get the new funding.

Sgt. Ginette Seguin, with the police in Chateauguay, southwest of Montreal, says her force's mandate is to reassure women that they will be supported after they come forward.

"Victims will be at the centre of our actions," Seguin said in an interview Monday. "We want to follow up with them directly."

The minister's announcement followed news over the weekend about the deaths of two couples in separate incidents, in Laval, Que., north of Montreal, and in Dunham, Que., in the Eastern Townships. Police in both cases said they believed the deaths involved a murder followed by a suicide.

Statistics from the Quebec government indicate 21 women and girls were killed by men in 2020, while an unofficial count puts the number of femicides in 2021 at 18.

Quebec's government has invested more than $509 million since 2020 in the fight against violence toward women. Included in that funding package is a $41-million project that would require some people convicted of domestic violence to wear tracking bracelets. The electronic devices, which consist of an ankle bracelet worn by the offender, as well as a second element in the victim's possession, would alert police in the event an offender approaches his or her victim.

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Guilbault officially introduced a bill for the program on Feb. 2, and if adopted, the government would start by testing 16 bracelets, before expanding the system to about 500 devices.

Public Security Department spokesman Louis-Julien Dufresne said the money announced Monday is separate from the tracking bracelet system. He said the new funding would instead be used by police forces for interventions.

"It could mean to add more officers in the field, to do more home visits  it depends on each police force to determine how to proceed," Dufresne said in an interview.

Steve Toupin, spokesman for the police in Repentigny, east of Montreal, said the funding will help fund a five-year pilot project to promote better communication between victims, social workers and police officers.

"We care about fully understanding their realities in order to provide them with adequate support and ensure constant follow up of the case with both the victim and the suspect," Toupin said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 21, 2022.
Manitobans often quip about a slippery road or highway being like a skating rink after a spell of freezing rain.

Manitobans often quip about a slippery road or highway being like a skating rink after a spell of freezing rain.

In Hailey Gardhams case, it really was.

Driving along a deserted stretch of Highway 5 near their Baldur home Monday afternoon, Gardham asked boyfriend Marty Dalzell to pull over so she could put on her skates.

In a true Canadian moment, she went for a whirl on the ice-coated two-lane road while he recorded video against a backdrop of snow-covered fields and overcast skies.

"I said, Ive got my skates in the backseat, lets do this," Gardham, 21, said Tuesday. "The ice was thick. It was just as good as it would have been in our small-town Miniota rink, but I had to watch out for stones."

The couple was returning from Gardhams parents home in Miniota, about 100 kilometres northwest of Brandon, after blizzards and freezing rain over the weekend resulted in temporary highway closures across southern Manitoba.

Temperatures swiftly plunged after rain fell Saturday night, creating treacherous driving conditions for Gardham and Dalzells journey to Baldur, about 100 km southeast of Brandon.

Normally a two-hour drive, the highways were so icy it took them about four hours to get home. Dalzell, 21, had to drive as slow as 40 km/h at times to avoid the same fate as motorists whose vehicles slid into ditches.

About 10 minutes from home, the idea to go for a skate popped into Gardhams head. She figured it would be safe because its a quiet and familiar stretch of road.

No other vehicles came by during the brief pit stop on the clear and crisp -25 C afternoon.

"She said, Its icy enough, do you want to stop? And sure enough, she went skating," said Dalzell. "It was entertaining to watch. It was unbelievable."

He was worried Gardham would trip over a stone, but the surface was smooth. "It was a nice sheet of ice."

SUPPLIED Driving along a deserted stretch of Highway 5 near their Baldur home Monday afternoon, Hailey Gardham asked boyfriend Marty Dalzell to pull over so she could put on her skates.

Nice for skating, but not so much for driving, said Dalzell, who joked to Gardham she should skate all the way home.

"He howled as he watched me. He wanted his skates there, too," she said.

When she and Dalzell returned home minutes later, they were greeted by the aftermath of the storms  snow drifts more than a metre high in their yard.

Dalzell put the video of Gardhams skate on Facebook for families and friends to enjoy, but his post quickly went far beyond the couples social circle.

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Shared widely by about 4,000 Facebook users, the video had been viewed more than 112,000 times, as of Tuesday afternoon.

Gardham and Dalzell were surprised and amused by the interest. They were pleased the memorable moment has provided some levity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other serious matters.

"Every time (Dalzell) gets a new share he says, Oh my God, people are still sharing this video. We cant believe how many views its had," said Gardham. "(The) world is a little off right now, so I think people want to see something that will make them laugh. Im glad it made everybody happy."

Its not the first time Gardham has skated on a frozen road. Growing up in Miniota, she would skate on gravel roads that became covered in ice from time to time in winter. On at least one occasion, she tried to play a game of curling.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
Manitobas strained child-care sector got a $98-million boost from the federal and provincial governments Tuesday.

They announced a four-year deal to enhance recruitment and retention, along with higher wages and support for training and pensions. Its separate from the bilateral child-care agreement Manitoba signed with Ottawa in August.

Help for the underfunded sector was announced by Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko and federal Families Minister Karina Gould  19 days after they announced a bilateral agreement to triple the number of subsidized spaces and reduce child-care fees for families in the province by 50 per cent by the end of the year.

"Our government recognizes child-care workers have faced difficult work conditions, especially during the pandemic," said Gould, who participated virtually. "The true value of your work has not been recognized."

Ewasko said $15.5 million will be put toward ongoing commitments such as operating grants for 1,800 child-care spaces and support diversity and inclusion programs and northern and rural spaces. A renovation grant will allow non-profit centres to expand spaces and subsidies will increase training opportunities for the 40-hour child-care assistant certification course.

Another $19.2 million will beef up wages for the lowest-paid workers in the sector and provide a top-up of the percentage offered by Manitoba to the pension plan for centres and the RRSP program for home-based daycares. It will provide facilities with funding for staff to make a one-time investment in a tax-free savings account.

The rest of the funds will be used to provide tuition reimbursements to early childhood educators enrolled in or recently graduated from a training program, fund training programs and help child-care assistants seeking early childhood education certification.

The executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association said the initiatives will address some of the "systemic challenges" in the sector.

"What weve heard is 30 per cent of facilities are running on provisional licences because theyre unable to attract and retain qualified educated (early childhood educators)," said Jodie Kehl. The biggest barrier has been salary, she said.

"Its not a surprise to anyone that (staff) have not historically been paid what they deserved to be paid."

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The work they do educating "our most precious resource" is critically important, , and by moving the early learning child-care file to the education ministry, the provincial government has acknowledged that, she said.

"Children dont start learning the day they go to kindergarten. "The greatest brain development is from zero to five years of age," she said. "The important work that early learning child care offers to young children in many ways is just so critical.

"Todays initiative is one more layer toward supporting our workforce."

Malaya Marcelino, the NDPs critic for the status of women, said its taken the pandemic for the Progressive Conservative government to recognize the value of reliable child care. "Without it, good jobs are lost, families struggle and the economy suffers," a statement from Marcelino said Tuesday.

"Todays announcement fails to make up for years of PC cuts and freezes. Families know how valuable Manitobas early childhood educators are  its time for the PCs to catch up," she wrote.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
The Ukrainian community in Manitoba has grown even more concerned over Russias escalating rhetoric and military actions against its neighbour, calling for swift action from the West.

The Ukrainian community in Manitoba has grown even more concerned over Russias escalating rhetoric and military actions against its neighbour, calling for swift action from the West.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, shortly after Russias parliament recognized Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region as independent "republics"  the latest in a series of escalations of the conflict between the two states.

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said, via Twitter, Canada will move to impose economic sanctions on Russia.

President Joe Biden also announced the U.S. would order heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs, declaring Moscow had flagrantly violated international law. The 27 European Union members unanimously agreed Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions.

Yulia Zmerzla is the executive director of the Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre on Alexander Avenue. She, too, is worried over Russias aggression against Ukraine.

"It makes me, my family in Ukraine, plus other Ukrainians in Canada feel just terrible and we feel unsecure," Zmerzla said. "I check the news every 10 minutes and there is no good news."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES All Ukrainian-Canadians can do is raise funds and awareness, and continue to meet in churches and online to discuss the worsening situation,Yulia Zmerzla said.

She said she was glad to hear of increased sanctions placed against Russia, adding the eastern European nation also needs weapons for its defence.

Meantime, Zmerzla said, all Ukrainian-Canadians can do is raise funds and awareness, and continue to meet in churches and online to discuss the worsening situation.

Dmytro Malyk, second vice-president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba chapter, said he was appalled by an hour-long, televised speech Putin gave Monday.

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"I think for many Ukrainians, in Ukraine and Ukrainian-Canadians, that was a major wake up call  Mr. Putin spent one hour trying to justify his plan and invasion of Ukraines territories by saying and persuading that Ukraine should not exist," said Malyk, who immigrated to Canada in 2014.

"That was very concerning, and thats an indication that Putin and Russia will not stop just with the recognition of the so-called states (in the Donbas)."

Malyk said he believes a full-scale invasion may occur. "That will mean a loss of life for Ukrainians."

Without significant economic sanctions to "hurt Russias economy on Day 1" and weapons from the West, Ukraine may falter, he said.

"Ukraine will fight Russia regardless of whether the western governments are going to help or not. However, if Ukraine is left alone again without strong back up, without strong help, Ukraine will not win this."

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA  Manitoba MPs voted along party lines Monday evening as the Commons gave its consent, 185 to 151, to have the Trudeau government use the Emergencies Act to respond to protests against vaccine mandates.

OTTAWA  Manitoba MPs voted along party lines Monday evening as the Commons gave its consent, 185 to 151, to have the Trudeau government use the Emergencies Act to respond to protests against vaccine mandates.

"The debate we are having on the Emergencies Act is the most important and significant debate Parliament will have in a generation," Conservative MP Dan Mazier said Sunday, on the eve of the vote.

"It is a decision that will impact the lives of every single Canadian," said the MP for DauphinSwan RiverNeepawa.

Like most of Manitobas 14 MPs, he spoke at length during a historic, four-day debate in which MPs pointed fingers, recounted family histories and decried the state of Canadian democracy.

The debate kicked off Thursday with Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, who argued the Liberals overreached with the Emergencies Act because they had inflamed tensions around COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

"The prime ministers leadership in this situation has, frankly, been abysmal," said the MP for PortageLisgar.

"He has jumped straight to the most extreme measure."

Mazier argued that has hurt the unvaccinated.

"He stripped them of their dignity; he deprived them of their livelihoods. He made absolutely no attempt to unite this country or heal divisions."

Yet Liberal MP Terry Duguid noted that officials for Ottawa and Ontario said the Emergencies Act gave them extra powers they needed to clear the city centre.

"The Emergencies Act provided an immediate boost to local law enforcement agencies across Canada, said Liberal MP Terry Duguid. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

"The Emergencies Act provided an immediate boost to local law enforcement agencies across Canada, and the illegal blockades at border crossings began to be dismantled," said the MP for Winnipeg South.

Conservative MP Marty Morantz argued the Liberals brought upon the instability after reducing criminal sentences, attempting a special prosecution for SNC-Lavalin and not pushing back on calls to defund police departments.

"When a government abandons the fundamental adherence to the rule of law  what happens is lawlessness," said the MP for CharleswoodSt. JamesAssiniboiaHeadingley.

Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan argued the convoy was the result of growing income inequality, which far-right groups exploited under the guise of opposing a vaccination mandate for truckers.

"It is a dangerous movement that has been allowed to get out of control by a federal government that failed to pay attention," she said, castigating Conservative MPs for supporting "the radicalization of individuals into white nationalist movements."

Gazan contrasted the convoy organizers stated aim of overthrowing the government with the peaceful Idle No More protests she took part in.

Her fellow NDP MP Daniel Blaikie drew a similar link with the large Justice 4 Black Lives rally in Winnipeg.

"I remember organizers in the lead-up to that event publicly communicating that violent demonstrators were not welcome. I remember them working to make a plan that would make it hard for anyone who wanted to hijack the demonstration with violent or hateful acts," said the MP for ElmwoodTranscona.

"That is what a commitment to peaceful protests looks like," he said.

Blaikie also urged the government not to significantly loosen public-health measures until after the convoy protests clear, noting that a demonstration at the Manitoba Legislature persisted after the PC government announced it would drop most restrictions.

"Capitulation does not work."

The convoy is a dangerous movement that has been allowed to get out of control by the federal government, said NDP MP Leah Gazan. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

MPs also referenced their own family histories in explaining whether they supported using the bill.

"I am a descendant of those who fought against fascism in Europe and a descendant of those who know what dictatorships are really all about," said NDP MP Niki Ashton, who represents ChurchillKeewatinook Aski.

"This cannot be a moment when we sit idly by and allow fascism to be normalized and legitimized."

Conservative MP James Bezan spoke about his Ukrainian grandparents who had to present weekly to officials during and after the First World War, due to provisions under the War Measures Act, which preceded the Emergencies Act.

"They were declared enemy aliens and for four years had to go 20 miles one way to the RCMP station every week to register," said the MP for SelkirkInterlakeEastman.

"They had to (report weekly) for two years after the war ended, because the government refused to lift the War Measures Act."

Bezan also noted the Liberals attempted early in the pandemic to give themselves virtually unlimited spending powers.

"I am concerned that the Liberal government will want to continue to erode the civil liberties that we have now. We have to make sure that does not happen."

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Some MPs, such as Conservative MP Larry Maguire, focused their concerns on banks freezing accounts with no clear appeals process.

"Political justification does not always equate legal justification," the MP for BrandonSouris said Monday.

Earlier on, Winnipeg North MP Kevin Lamoureux accused Conservatives of being two-faced in their opposition to the Emergencies Act, citing media leaks.

He read into the Hansard portions of a letter obtained by the Free Press in which Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson urged Trudeau to take "immediate and effective" action days before saying the Emergencies Act would unduly "escalate situations."

The vote took place late Monday, passing 185 to 151 with support along party lines, with jeers and heckling from both sides of the aisle.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The University of Manitoba has appointed a historian with expertise in power and privilege, and how both of them are maintained and challenged, to oversee a new office tasked with addressing systemic inequality on campus.

The University of Manitoba has appointed a historian with expertise in power and privilege, and how both of them are maintained and challenged, to oversee a new office tasked with addressing systemic inequality on campus.

Tina Chen, a distinguished professor of history whose academic work focuses on modern China, became the first executive lead of equity, diversity and inclusion at the Winnipeg institution on Feb. 1.

Since then, Chen has been figuring out how her new post will allow her to work in tandem with staff members who have long been doing anti-racism work at U of M and build on their efforts.

"Without this new role, we would be falling behind," Chen said.

"Universities (need) to have this position if they are going to put into action the phrases that all universities like, about being committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, about transformative change; we know that these are catchwords now."

Chen was the first woman of colour and the second woman to head the U of M history department, where she began working in 1999. Over the next two years, she will continue teaching part-time while managing all so-called EDI initiatives at the school and setting up a robust permanent structure that will eventually replace her temporary role.

The position was created in the wake of the release of an extensive internal report that includes frank and, at times, scathing details about how the university has failed to support marginalized staff and students.

In October 2019, then-university president David Barnard founded a task force to examine micro and macro EDI efforts at the institution, and how to improve them.

In the committees final 328-page document, published in December 2020, its argued that the U of M sees improving inclusion and equity as "decentralized, devalued, and a side project that is not co-ordinated or resourced" and calls for an administrative structure solely focused on that improvement.

Community members critique the absence of visible and invisible minorities among employees and the lack of accessibility infrastructure at the university in the report. Concerns about overt and subtle bias, discrimination, racism and colonialism are also raised, as well as skepticism about the schools complaint processes.

"Diverse students and faculty report carding and having security called on them when they are doing normal aspects of campus life or work like going to the office, using a photocopier, or looking for your keys to open an office door," states an excerpt.

Among the eight recommendations in the report are calls to embed the EDI concepts into academic and administrative plans across the school, develop blueprints to increase diversity across student, staff and faculty populations, and create accountability mechanisms for evaluating and reporting progress on such goals.

The panel called on the university to better train academics so they can also address these topics in their teaching and research.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Chen will work alongside U of Ms newly established anti-racism task force. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

Chen said U of M has accepted all of the above recommendations.

This isnt the first time the school has created a role focused on tackling systemic racism on campus.

Lynn Lavallee, the first person to fill the schools vice-provost of Indigenous engagement role, resigned in 2018, one year after she started. At the time, Lavallee said she felt like her anti-racism efforts were being unheard at best and actively hindered at worst.

Chen said she believes "lessons were learned" by Lavallees resignation and commended the work of Catherine Cook, who was appointed as the U of Ms first vice-president (Indigenous) in 2020, as an example.

The work of Indigenous leaders at the student and administrative level will guide her work, she said.

Chen will also work alongside U of Ms newly established anti-racism task force, which is in the process of implementing the Scarborough Charter, a document the university officially endorsed last month, in turn pledging its commitment to taking meaningful action to address anti-Black racism.

Naomi Andrew, vice-president (administration) and co-chair of the task force, said her goal  not unlike Chens  is to establish a comprehensive approach to dealing with racism at the university.

Current complaint processes do not necessarily address the harm caused by anonymous acts of racism, such as the 2019 vandalization of the teepee at U of Ms National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Andrew said.

"As a university, we need to figure out how to address and respond to those issues in a way thats meaningful to the people who are hurt," she said.

Andrew said the 20-person panel, composed of racialized community members, will determine how to do just that by engaging with students, staff and faculty in the coming months.

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"The goal of this is really to ensure that we are understanding how different systems of oppression are interlocked at all times," said Chen, who, outside the university, is a member of Skate Canadas working group on EDI.

What does that look like to students? In time, the U of M historian said she hopes students will see a shift in how their school staffs, uplifts and supports marginalized communities on campus.

"It will take some time, Im sure, but theres also a lot thats already been going on," she said. "We hope this position will also give more visibility to all the work thats already being done, so that people can know where to find it."

One example, Chen said, is a new class on the history of race and anti-racism in the modern world, which she co-developed. The course is being offered for the first time this term.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Malak Abas

Reporter Malak Abas is a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography
What does it mean for a church to be intentionally anti-racist? Thats the question being asked by the Manitoba and Northwest Ontario Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

What does it mean for a church to be intentionally anti-racist? Thats the question being asked by the Manitoba and Northwest Ontario Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Held as part of Black History Month, and with support from the Anglican Diocese of Ruperts Land, the webinar Feb. 26 will feature United Church of Canada general secretary Michael Blair.

Churches have a tendency to make theological statements about racism and name it as a sin, said Blair, who is Black. But then it often stops there.

If congregations really want to be intentional about dealing with racism, they need to move beyond statement to lament, repentance and reconciliation.

Churches cant really say they are taking racism seriously until they make that shift, he added.

Becoming anti-racist will require congregations to learn about the history and experience of racialized people, Blair said, along with understanding the systemic barriers that prevent them from realizing their full God-given potential.

Being intentional about dealing with racism also requires churches to examine how Christianity has been proclaimed through a white lens. This includes looking at how they use of images and language  pictures of a white Jesus in their buildings, or how they use words like white for good and dark meaning bad in songs and liturgy.

It also means examining how they describe people in the developing world as only poor and needy when raising funds for relief and development work. This suggests they are not fully human, Blair said.

Doing this work will be uncomfortable, he said, but it is critical if churches will be welcoming to racialized Canadians.

Racialized people can smell an unsafe space, he said. Making spaces welcome will require commitment and building relationships of grace.

Bishop Jason Zinko said the webinar is a way to encourage people to dig into the issue and understand our faith pushes us to be anti-racist.

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The church has been pretty insular for a long time, he said, acknowledging the Synod, with its Scandinavian and Germanic heritage, is one of the whiter denominations in the province.

For too long, we cared more about attendance and finances. Our faith demands more of us, he said, adding: We want to get away from our ethnic roots.

His hope is the denomination, with 54 congregations and 11,000 members, can engage difference in a positive way and see our faith supports anti-racism work and including different voices.

People from every church are welcome at the free webinar. It is part of a series of events hosted by the Synod, called Faith in Context.

The webinar runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Zoom. Advance registration is required (wfp.to/QuT).

faith@freepress.mb.ca
Winnipeg police have given local so-called freedom convoy protesters a deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday to end their occupation of an area across from the Manitoba Legislative Building.

Winnipeg police have given local so-called "freedom convoy" protesters a deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday to end their occupation of an area across from the Manitoba Legislative Building.

In a letter issued Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators were warned they risk being arrested and charged if they do not comply with the order. The notices covered in clear plastic were also attached with plastic zip ties to vehicles on Broadway and occupying Memorial Boulevard.

"Its a sad day," one of the protesters said, getting a bite to eat at the sites temporary food tent Tuesday, away from the -34 windchill.

"Were done," said the man, who did not give his name. "For now."

Some of the half-dozen-or-so people at the site at the start of the afternoon rush hour seemed resigned to leaving. "I guess so," said one woman in a snowsuit.

Another protester joked about moving to the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street if forced to leave Broadway and Memorial Boulevard.

Co-organizer Caleb Brown said protesters will comply with the demand to move equipment off Memorial Boulevard but maintain a presence inside Memorial Park, though he didn't know what it would entail.

"It's mixed emotions, but we don't want this escalating to where people are in violation of the law. We knew this was coming eventually. We don't feel the job is done," he said.

The group is aiming to meet the 5 p.m. deadline, but there could be some stragglers, Brown said.

"It's a bit of a process to get everything moved."

The anti-COVID-19 mandate protesters, who have been camped in the area of Broadway and Memorial in downtown Winnipeg since Feb. 4, have been told to move their vehicles (including semi-trucks, farm tractors and a school bus), plus trailers and other structures before the deadline.

"Over the last three weeks, the Winnipeg Police Service has worked to balance your right to protest while protecting the rights of residents affected by protest activity," the letter states. "Your ongoing presence and blocking of streets is interfering with the lawful use and enjoyment of personal and public property."

Protesters who do not comply could be charged with mischief, intimidation or other offences under the Criminal Code, and their vehicles could be seized and become subject to an application by the Crown for forfeiture, police said.

Highway Traffic Act charges of obstructing police and failing to obey the instructions of a peace officer could also be considered, along with bylaw offences, including excessive noise.

Police warned the group the Federal Emergencies Act could be used to seize vehicles, trailers and equipment, and freeze assets.

Anyone who is charged and/or convicted could be prevented from entering the U.S., said police.

At a news conference last week, Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said he hoped the situation would be resolved in the near future, as police said they would continue with the strategy of communication.

Amid that ongoing dialogue, the demonstrations footprint became smaller on Feb. 18. Protesters agreed to move their vehicles off Broadway and on to Memorial, and honk horns only twice a day for two minutes per time.

The Winnipeg protest began a week after a cross-country convoy of truckers and supporters converged on Ottawa, where they occupied streets outside thr Parliament Buildings until police moved in on Feb. 18.

The national convoy started in response to a federal regulation requiring Canadian truckers arriving from the U.S. to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to avoid a 14-day quarantine. (The U.S. requires all non-Americans entering the country at land or ferry ports to be fully vaccinated and provide proof.)

It morphed into a demonstration against the government and restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Winnipeg council has instructed the citys chief administrative officer to explore a court injunction against what Mayor Brian Bowman has called an "unlawful occupation."

 with files from Carol Sanders

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
Last week, the Forks North Portage Partnership posted a call to hire a consultant to gather input from Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, private and public partners of The Forks, and members of the public regarding Canada Day programming.

Opinion

Last week, the Forks North Portage Partnership posted a call to hire a consultant to "gather input from Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, private and public partners of The Forks, and members of the public regarding Canada Day programming."

For most Winnipeggers, Canada Day at The Forks is a day where tens of thousands come downtown to experience fireworks, music, dance and whole lot of nationalistic pride.

Featuring one of the largest gatherings this side of Ottawa, The Forks on July 1 is usually blanketed in flags, citizens singing bars of O Canada, and proud Canadians clad in red and white shirts, pants and face paint.

The Canada of 2022 isnt quite the same as it once was.

Recent truths about the country including unmarked graves at residential school sites, rampant systemic sex abuse in the military, and racism against Black Canadians, coupled with a so-called "freedom convoy" movement that featured Canadians brandishing swastikas and the Confederate flag comfortably alongside the Maple Leaf, have changed the face of this country.

For some, these are horrific, new discoveries. For others, these are facts known all too well  coupled with relief that the nation is finally catching up.

Quietly over the years, The Forks has been diversifying its programming on Canada Day, featuring more Indigenous, people of colour and Manitoba-specific acts and programs.

Ive been a part of this movement.

In 2017, I became Indigenous curator at The Forks and in 2021 I appeared in its online Canada Day celebration.

Now, The Forks wants to ask Winnipeggers how to make this Canada Day the most inclusive  indeed, the most Canadian  as possible.

The main question is what to do with the flag.

I, like many others over recent weeks, have watched as individuals clad in Maple Leaf flags have occupied downtown city spaces and border crossings across Canada, attempting to impose their beliefs surrounding vaccine mandates and health restrictions under terms like "freedom" and "rights."

Polling shows the vast majority of Canadians do not support these desires or actions.

The courts dont support these beliefs either. No court, anywhere in Canada, has said workplaces and restaurants cannot legally require vaccination and mask requirements that limit "rights."

While scientists may not all agree on the specific government measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19, virtually all agree some restrictions are needed.

CP A protester holds a Canadian flag as police move in to clear downtown Ottawa near Parliament Hill of protesters on Saturday. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press)

So, despite the fact the majority of Canadians dont agree with them, a small minority of Canadians have co-opted the Canadian flag into a symbol for anti-vaccination, the elimination of health restrictions, and the overthrow of democratically elected governments.

What protesters may also not realize is the original intention of the Canadian flag doesnt fit their movement either.

In 1965, when the Canadian flag was adopted and flown for the very first time (replacing the Union Jack and Canadian Red Ensign), Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson announced: "may the land over which this new flag flies remain united in freedom and justice sensitive, tolerant and compassionate towards all."

Of course, the 1960s was the time of the civil rights movement but was also Canadas first real attempt to break from its colonial past  a time characterized by the theft of Indigenous lands and resources, violence against racialized groups like Black and Chinese Canadians, and laws that entrenched Caucasian superiority.

Most of these actions continue to exist today, but any historian will tell you that the flag has also come to represent some monumental, unifying moments since 1965, too.

Most involve art, culture and sport, like the Olympics. As in every Olympics previous, nearly every single person in this country cheered for people who may not look like them but sport the Maple Leaf.

Some involve politics, like the first gay rights protest in 1971 which led to the huge, dynamic Pride events in virtually every city today.

Others involve individual acts of Canadian heroism, like Romeo Dallaire in Rwanda.

Last week marked the anniversary of that first raising of the Maple Leaf flag on Feb. 15, 1965.

I wonder what Pearson would think of Canadians using it to promote insensitivity, intolerance and selfishness.

I bet hed be less than impressed.

Im not a flag waver. Far too much violence has been perpetrated by Canadians to Indigenous communities like my own to ever make me wear it proudly.

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I do, however, respect my relatives  many of whom take the symbol of the flag very seriously.

My two grandfathers, who both put their lives on the line for Canada, respected it, and thats good enough for me.

For them, the flag was everything it was promised to be in 1965.

I wonder if Canadians still see it the same now.

Or if we can, in a place like The Forks, see it in a new way. A better way.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Former premier Brian Pallister infamously once said its inappropriate for a political leader to visit  and thus use as props for a photo op  citizens grieving a tragedy or enduring a disaster. Last week, his successor, Premier Heather Stefanson, showed she believes otherwise.

Editorial

Former premier Brian Pallister infamously once said its inappropriate for a political leader to visit  and thus use as props for a photo op  citizens grieving a tragedy or enduring a disaster. Last week, his successor, Premier Heather Stefanson, showed she believes otherwise.

Ms. Stefanson made the bold decision to visit the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, an Indigenous community 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, to join residents in grieving the deaths of three children  teens aged 17 and 13 and a toddler just two years old  in a house fire on Feb. 12. The premier said that as a mother, she could not fathom a loss of this magnitude.

We are here to help you heal, Ms. Stefanson said. Were here to help you through this absolutely horrific and tragic time.

From the immediate response she received, the premier appears to have made the right decision. People dealing with a tragedy such as this are comforted by knowing political leaders grasp the visceral reality of their situation. It seems clear Ms. Stefanson understands this.

And yet, her visit to Pimicikamak also created great expectations the government she leads will do something to help the remote northern community. When asked what form that might take, however, the premier could not enunciate a single concrete measure.

If she is looking for the right thing to do, Ms. Stefanson could start by pledging to update the terms of a compensation claim by Pimicikamak over the damage done by Manitoba Hydros dam construction.

In marshalling the power of northern rivers for Manitoba Hydro generating stations, the province created huge ecological, economic and cultural impacts on Indigenous communities. Manitoba acknowledged the error of its ways in 1977 when it created the Northern Flood Agreement to compensate the Indigenous communities most impacted by Hydro development.

Pimicikamak (also known as Cross Lake) has continued to argue the NFA did not adequately reflect the full impact of Hydro developments, or deliver appropriate compensation to achieve open-ended goals such as poverty reduction. It has repeatedly asked the province and Hydro to consider a more robust revenue-sharing addendum to the original NFA.

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During Ms. Stefansons visit, Pimicikamak Chief David Monias called directly on her to live up to the aspirational goals of the original NFA. In response, the premier could only say she would do what she can to make sure that (a tragedy like this) doesnt happen again.

Ms. Stefanson and her government must do better than that. Its time to take another look at the NFA.

Its true that responding to Pimicikamaks request by updating the terms of the NFAs settlement agreement would inevitably require talks with the other four First Nations that signed on to the agreement in the late 1970s. But that cannot be an excuse to do nothing.

The Pimicikamak fire and the lives that were lost are the direct result of the crippling poverty that still exists in that community  poverty that was supposed to be directly addressed by the NFA.

Full credit to the premier for visiting Pimicikamak. However, if her government does not deliver meaningful progress on issues outstanding from the original Northern Flood Agreement, another problem will arise.

Ms. Stefanson will be seen by some to have fulfilled Mr. Pallisters original claim, by using the people of Pimicikamak as props for a photo opportunity. And such a conclusion would only compound the tragedies the community has suffered.
OTTAWA  The federal government will press Manitoba to implement 10 days of paid sick leave, while moving ahead with its own COVID-19 vaccination mandate for some agricultural workers.

OTTAWA  The federal government will press Manitoba to implement 10 days of paid sick leave, while moving ahead with its own COVID-19 vaccination mandate for some agricultural workers.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus ORegan said his government wants to shore up Canadas defences against COVID-19 in case a worse variant emerges, and make it easier for people to phone in sick post-pandemic.

"We feel this is an important part of Canadas social safety net," ORegan told the Free Press.

Hell meet Feb. 25 with his provincial counterparts, in part to touch base on Ottawas pledge to implement 10 days of paid leave for all federally regulated workspaces.

Those jobs account for just six per cent of Canadas workforce, and ORegan has no clear sense of when paid leave will actually come into place, despite Parliament passing legislation last December.

The Liberals will only formally launch consultations next month, after hearing from business and union groups.

"Well move absolutely as quickly as we can (but) we want to take the time to do it right," said ORegan, predicting it will take months before Ottawa drafts the rules.

"Where bad regulation can take place and rear its head is in the details; in the weeds."

While his team sorts out specifics, ORegan will be asking provinces to broaden their own labour rules to include 10 days of paid sick leave.

Those 10 days originally reflected the time it takes to isolate after a COVID-19 exposure, but he argues that could in future prevent staff from spreading other infectious diseases, which put companies at risk of multiple absences.

"Weve got to make sure we dont overburden a lot of businesses that are already feeling the pain," he said.

"At the same time, we recognize that we have to ensure workers have the rights that they need, not only to look after themselves but  their workplaces, and the country."

Statistics Canada data shows 58 per cent of Canadian workers didnt have access to paid sick leave, including 55 per cent of Manitobans, as of 2016. The agency is still processing more recent data from the General Social Survey.

Manitoba is among the stingiest provinces for those who do qualify for sick leave, offering just three days of unpaid leave for anything from illness to bereavement, though employers and union contracts can offer more than that.

Most provinces only offer unpaid leave, while Quebec is the most generous of the 10, with up to 130 paid sick days.

In May 2020, Manitobas PC government was among the first to call for a national paid sick leave program, but only related to COVID-19. The province now offers just five days of paid leave through a pandemic program that labour groups argue is hard to access.

ORegan says Ottawa will share its homework from the ongoing consultations, which could make it easier for provinces to craft their paid-leave policies.

"Theres a difference between being respectful of jurisdiction and getting caught up in it, and how allowing it to be an obstacle, to doing things that we need to do," he said.

Meanwhile, ORegan said the Liberals are pushing ahead with their plans to expand a federal vaccination mandate beyond the public service to include private workplaces that are regulated by Ottawa.

That would mean COVID-19 vaccination would be mandatory for people working in ports, phone companies, railways and certain agricultural tasks.

"If were going to finish the fight against COVID, Canadians have got to get vaccinated," said ORegan, who argued that having passed the Omicron peak doesnt mean another variant wont hit Canada hard.

"We have some breathing room to make sure we get this right, and that whatever we put into place is effective and the least intrusive as possible."

While firms have already implemented vaccine mandates in white-collar workplaces that Ottawa regulates  such as banking and broadcasting  agricultural groups have warned of pushback among those working in grain elevators, seed mills and feed warehouses, all of which are federally regulated.

The Winnipeg-based Western Grain Elevator Association has asked for Ottawa to compensate employers who face staffing drops when the mandate is applied, and to assume all liability for human-rights and privacy complaints.

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ORegan wouldnt give a hint as to how Ottawa might navigate those concerns.

Some Conservative MPs, such as Ted Falk of Provencher, have argued these mandates are unnecessarily punitive, when Canada already has one of the highest immunizations rate in the world.

Thats a common point raised in trucker-led convoys seen this month on Parliament Hill, the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg and the Emerson border crossing.

ORegan said those protests wont dissuade his government.

"What would be hurtful to workplaces and the competitiveness of the country is people actually getting COVID  not necessarily mandates, or anything like that."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  The defense attorney for the third former Minneapolis officer charged with violating George Floyds civil rights as Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck rested his case Monday, after the officer testified that he didnt realize how dire Floyds condition was until paramedics turned him over.

FILE - In this image from a police body camera, bystanders, including Alyssa Funari, filming at left; Charles McMillan, center left in light colored shorts; Christopher Martin, center in gray, with hand on head; Donald Williams, center in shorts; Genevieve Hansen, filming, fourth from right; Darnella Frazier, filming, third from right, witness as then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on George Floyd's neck for several minutes, killing Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Frazier, who recorded the widely seen video of Floyds killing, began crying Monday, Feb. 14, as she started testifying in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers who are charged with violating the Black mans civil rights, prompting the judge to take a quick, unexpected break. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  The defense attorney for the third former Minneapolis officer charged with violating George Floyds civil rights as Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck rested his case Monday, after the officer testified that he didnt realize how dire Floyds condition was until paramedics turned him over.

Thomas Lane testified that it was the first time he had seen Floyds face since officers had struggled with 46-year-old Black as they tried to arrest him. While Floyd was handcuffed, facedown on the pavement, Lane held Floyds legs and testified that he thought he saw Floyds chest rise and fall, and believed Floyd still had blood pressure based on the appearance of veins in his arm.

"What went through your mind when you saw his face there, once he was tipped over?" Gray asked.

"Um. He didnt look good," Lane said.

Lanes co-defendants, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, presented their cases last week. Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Thao kept bystanders back.

FILE - This image from video 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. The two and another former Minneapolis officers are on trial in February 2022, on federal civil rights charges in Floyd's death. All three are expected to testify. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)

All three former officers are all charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin in the May 25, 2020, killing that triggered protests worldwide and a re-examination of racism and policing.

The trial was nearing an end just as another major civil rights went to a jury Monday in Georgia. In that case, three white men are charged with hate crimes in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old Black man who was chased and shot in February 2020.

Closing arguments in the Minnesota trial are scheduled for Tuesday.

FILE - In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, Minneapolis police officers attempt to place George Floyd in a police vehicle, on May 25, 2020, outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis. Former police Officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

Under cross-examination, Lane told prosecutor Samantha Trepel that he was trained that he had a duty to intervene and to provide medical care if needed. Lane said when someone doesnt have a pulse, CPR should be started as soon as possible "in ideal situations," but said that isnt always possible in law enforcement.

Lane agreed with Trepel that medical aid should be provided if a person is passed out with someone on their neck. But he also said he didn't know how much pressure Chauvin was applying or where exactly his knee was when Floyd passed out.

"It seemed reasonable at the time. Mr. Floyds been pretty unpredictable," Lane said, noting that Floyd had fought his way out of a squad car when officers put him there while responding to a complaint that he had used a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store.

FILE - In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, paramedics arrive as Minneapolis police officers, including Derick Chauvin, second from left, and J. Alexander Kueng restrain George Floyd in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Former police officers Tou Thao, Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

Lane said officers at one point considered using a hobble  a restraint device that would have required that Floyd be put on his side so that he could breathe more easily. The hobble has straps that bind the ankles together, and can also attach to someone's waist.

The officers decided against using it. Lane said Thao noted that if they used the device, they would have to call a supervisor to the scene. Also, Lane had called an ambulance because Floyd was bleeding and the device would have to be removed for paramedics, he said.

"It seemed kind of excessive because we had an ambulance coming," Lane said.

FILE In this courtroom sketch, from left, former Minneapolis police Officer Tou Thao, attorney Robert Paule, attorney Natalie Paule, attorney Tom Plunkett, former Minneapolis police Officer J. Alexander Kueng, former Minneapolis police Officer Thomas Lane and attorney Earl Gray appear for opening statements for their trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court on, Jan. 24, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. Floyd died May 25, 2020, after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck as Floyd, who was handcuffed, said he couldn't breathe. Judge Paul Magnuson abruptly recessed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP, File)

Lane said he also suggested putting Floyds legs up, since he was kicking, but that "Officer Chauvin said, No, were good.'" Lane also recalled Chauvin rebuffing him when he asked if Floyd should be rolled onto his side after he stopped resisting.

When a bystander said Floyd wasn't breathing, Lane responded that he was. Asked why, Lane testified, "I could see his chest rise and fall."

He said even after he couldn't find a pulse in Floyd's ankle, he thought Floyd still had blood pressure because he could see that the veins in Floyd's arm were raised. Lane also said: "I could see the ambulance turn and I heard it before that."

FILE - This photo provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Thomas Lane. Lane and two other Minneapolis police officers have been charged with aiding and abetting Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after being restrained by the Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP File)

Once paramedics arrived, one checked Floyd's pulse and put him on a stretcher. Lane said he did not understand how grave Floyd's condition was until he saw Floyd's face. Lane said he then got into the ambulance to help and was told to do chest compressions.

As he recalled efforts to save Floyd's life, he paused a few times and sniffed.

"I wasnt sure if he was breathing or not," Lane said.

This courtroom sketch shows former Minneapolis Police Officer Thomas Lane during his trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The former Minneapolis police officer charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights testified at his federal trial that officers considered using a type of restraint known as the hobble because Floyd was kicking and had hurt himself, but that it seemed excessive because an ambulance was on the way. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

Paramedic Derek Smith testified previously that Floyd had no pulse, and other medical experts have said he likely stopped breathing minutes earlier.

Prosecutors have argued that the officers violated their training by not rolling Floyd onto his side or giving him CPR. Defense attorneys have attacked the department's training as inadequate.

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Thao testified last week that he was relying on the other three officers to care for Floyds medical needs while he controlled the crowd and traffic. Kueng, who like Lane was a rookie, said he deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer on the scene.

At the start of the monthlong trial, Magnuson selected a total of 18 jurors, including six alternates. As closing arguments were set to begin, 15 people remained  12 who will deliberate and three alternates.

Lane, who is white; Kueng, who is Black; and Thao, who is Hmong American, also face a separate state trial in June on charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin, who is white, was convicted in state court of murder and pleaded guilty in December to a federal civil rights charge.

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Find APs full coverage of the killing of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  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.

FILE - In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, Minneapolis police officers attempt to place George Floyd in a police vehicle, on May 25, 2020, outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis. Former police Officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  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 Department's 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.

FILE - In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, paramedics arrive as Minneapolis police officers, including Derick Chauvin, second from left, and J. Alexander Kueng restrain George Floyd in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Former police officers Tou Thao, Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

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.

FILE - This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. The former policer officers are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. Judge Paul Magnuson abruptly recessed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

But attorneys for rookies Lane and Kueng urged jurors to question why their clients were charged at all.

Lane's 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.

Kueng's attorney, Thomas Plunkett, said police weren't 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.

FILE - In this image from a police body camera, bystanders, including Alyssa Funari, filming at left; Charles McMillan, center left in light colored shorts; Christopher Martin, center in gray, with hand on head; Donald Williams, center in shorts; Genevieve Hansen, filming, fourth from right; Darnella Frazier, filming, third from right, witness as then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on George Floyd's neck for several minutes, killing Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Frazier, who recorded the widely seen video of Floyds killing, began crying Monday, Feb. 14, as she started testifying in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers who are charged with violating the Black mans civil rights, prompting the judge to take a quick, unexpected break. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

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.

FILE - This image from video 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. The two and another former Minneapolis officers are on trial in February 2022, on federal civil rights charges in Floyd's death. All three are expected to testify. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)

Thao's 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.

Former Police Officer Thomas Lane appears before U.S. District Judge Magnuson during his trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The former Minneapolis police officer charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights testified at his federal trial that officers considered using a type of restraint known as the hobble because Floyd was kicking and had hurt himself, but that it seemed excessive because an ambulance was on the way. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

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.

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, Feb. 21, 2022. The former Minneapolis police officer charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights testified at his federal trial that officers considered using a type of restraint known as the hobble because Floyd was kicking and had hurt himself, but that it seemed excessive because an ambulance was on the way. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

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.

This courtroom sketch shows former Minneapolis Police Officer Thomas Lane during his trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The former Minneapolis police officer charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights testified at his federal trial that officers considered using a type of restraint known as the hobble because Floyd was kicking and had hurt himself, but that it seemed excessive because an ambulance was on the way. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

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 juror's 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.

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This story was updated to correct Floyd's age when he died. He was 46, not 45.

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Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan.

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Find APs full coverage of the killing of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
MOSCOWAfter recognizing the independence of two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin defied the threats of his western adversaries and dispatched troops to defend the territories and their people against what he called a blitzkrieg.

MOSCOWAfter recognizing the independence of two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin defied the threats of his western adversaries and dispatched troops to defend the territories and their people against what he called a "blitzkrieg."

In doing so, the Russian leader has pushed a lingering conflict in Europe into a dangerous new phase and once again set the world on edge.

Putin took the monumental decision Monday in a strident, nearly hour-long address to the nation. He said ultimately that the Russian-speaking majorities of Donetsk and Luhansk, which together make up the region known as Donbass, needed Russias political, cultural and physical protection, a need he could no longer refuse.

But in sending Russian forces into the republics to perform "peacekeeping functions," Putin risks turning the years-long standoff between Ukrainian forces and separatist rebels into the hottest of wars.

Acknowledging this very possibility, the Russian president issued a warning to the Ukrainian authorities, who have repeatedly denied responsibility for the dramatic spike in violence of recent days.

"We demand a stop to the hostilities immediately; otherwise all the responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodbath will be on the consciousness of the regime that is ruling in Kyiv," Putin said.

Western leaders condemned the independence recognition as a violation of international law, but their reaction was initially hesitant as they made telephone calls between world capitals, fine-tuning a retaliatory strategy they have been honing since the first warnings of a Russian invasion that were forecast last fall.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not speak publicly but consulted with his National Security Council and with foreign leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel.

Zelenskyy has urged the international community to impose pre-emptive sanctions on Russia in order to deter an invasion, arguing that any measures after the fact offer no real protection to the Ukrainian people.

That hypothesis looks set to be tested in the coming days and weeks.

In Washington, Biden spoke with allied leaders and signed off on executive orders to prohibit Americans from investing, trading and engaging in financial activities in Donetsk and Luhansk  the first penalties to be put in place after the escalation.

The American orders also envision individual sanctions against anyone doing business in the disputed lands.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Russias move "a blatant violation of Ukraines sovereignty and international law."

Global Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Canada would be following Washingtons lead  sanctioning the recognitions of independence and, separately, addressing the invasions with some form of the sanctions that they have worked up over the course of recent weeks.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in a 2:45 a.m. message on Twitter, wrote: "World capitals dont sleep now, regardless of their time zones. The scope and timeline of the sanctions are being finalized. Ukraine insists: further Russian actions rely on how the world reacts."

Those sanctions are expected to penalize Russia more broadly by targeting banks, individuals and state-owned companies.

The retaliatory moves come as no surprise in Moscow.

"Once again they threaten us with sanctions," Putin said in his televised address. "They will always find an excuse to introduce more sanctions regardless of the situation in Ukraine. The only goal they have is to contain the development of Russia. They will do that as before, without any formal excuse, only because we exist."

The paranoid and persecuted tone of Putins speech was almost as troubling as the implications of his decision for global peace and security.

Putin, who won the Russian presidency for the first time in 2000, sounded the notes of a leader doomed to exclusion from the group of the worlds most powerful nations.

After the fall of communism, he said Russia made overtures to the West. It withdrew military forces from central and eastern Europe, helped end the Cold War, sought to improve security in Europe and even accepted the creation of the Russia-NATO Council, discussing security concerns with its one-time enemies.

"More than that, I will say one thing that I have never said before in public. I will say it for the first time: Back in 2000 when President Bill Clinton was visiting Moscow at the end of his term, I asked him how would America see Russia joining NATO?" Putin said. "I wont give you all the details of that conversation, but the reaction to that conversation was reserved, let me put it this way."

The NATO reject nevertheless watched as five waves of NATO expansion pushed the borders of the military alliance and its weapons and missiles ever eastward, ever closer to the western flank of Russia.

"Thats like having a knife against our throat," Putin said.

In security negotiations leading up to Putins decision Monday, Russia has demanded that NATO pull troops back from eastern Europe, vow not to deploy offensive weapons and promise to stop expanding to the east, notably by accepting into its ranks Georgia and Ukraine.

NATO and the United States countered with proposals to build confidence between Russia and the western forces, such as sharing advance details of military exercises, holding mutual inspections of military installations and negotiating new treaties to limit and control missiles. But NATO refuses to close the door to any country aspiring to membership in the alliance, as does Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken were scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss Russias security demands. This was to have been followed by a meeting between Putin and Biden, though the U.S. president stipulated that he would only meet with his counterpart on the condition that Russian forces not invade Ukraine.

Its unclear, in that sense, what the next steps might look like in this conflict. But the sheen of diplomacy, the time for kind words and handshakes, has been overtaken by events on the ground in eastern Ukraine.

Putins enmity toward Russias western neighbour and former Soviet ally was particularly evident, with his grievances against Ukraines western and democratic aspirations accounting for nearly half of his total speech.

He plunged into the history books, jumping from the 17th century to the Bolshevik Revolution to post-Soviet years, and noting that Ukraines borders have been repeatedly and arbitrarily changed by its myriad rulers.

His point  that the country of Ukraine is a sort of geopolitical clay to be moulded by whomever happens to be in power  may have been an attempt to justify or minimize the impact of his recognition of the breakaway Donbass republics, which risk turning Russia into a pariah state.

Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, Putin said, "squeezed" Donbass into Ukraine. Josef Stalin parcelled out parts of western Ukraine to Poland, Romania and Hungary. Nikita Khrushchev "for some reason" took Crimea from Russia and offered it to Ukraine.

"This is how the territory of Soviet Ukraine was formed," Putin said, omitting mention of how he oversaw the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014.

But he lamented the turn that Ukraine took after the breakup of the Soviet Union, describing how Ukrainians gleefully demolished statues and monuments to Lenin and turned their back to Russia.

"Do you want decommunization?" Putin asked, referring to the smashed Soviet monuments. "Well, that suits us just fine. But it is not necessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunization means for Ukraine."

In Ukraine, there are preparations for the worst.

Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, which had closed its operations and pulled staff back to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, will now pull all staff out of the country.

Canada has already secured passage for Canadian citizens and permanent residents into the countries that share a border with Ukraine should the need for urgent or large-scale evacuations arise.

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Meanwhile, unconfirmed video purported to show Russian military trucks already driving in convoy into the disputed republics, preparing to take up their positions.

The future of the conflict is murky, but the Russian presence in eastern Ukraine looks set to be lengthy, according to agreements signed between Putin and the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics.

The documents state that the legal currency in the territories will be the Russian ruble, that there will be joint patrols of the borders that Russia shares with the Donbass, that both sides will be able to build and use military facilities on the other parties territory and that the agreements will be in force for 10 years and be automatically renewed.

And as the Ukrainian government girds for an escalation in the conflict with their richer, stronger and better-equipped neighbour, officials emerged from an emergency National Security Council meeting with an offer to Donbass residents: Its not too late to flee the "temporarily occupied territories" and switch sides.

The Ukrainian government stands alone against Moscow, but it has the western world on its side.

Allan Woods is a Quebec-based freelance reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @WoodsAllan
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  The three white men convicted of murder in Ahmaud Arberys shooting were found guilty of federal hate crimes Tuesday in a verdict that affirmed what family members and civil rights activists said all along: that he was chased down and killed because he was Black.

FILE - This photo combo shows, from left, Travis McMichael, William "Roddie" Bryan, and Gregory McMichael during their trial at at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. The jury is deliberating in the federal hate crimes trial of three white men in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Jurors discussed the case for three hours Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, and were to resume Tuesday morning. The three men are serving life sentences for the murder of the 25-year-old Black man. (Pool, File)

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  The three white men convicted of murder in Ahmaud Arberys shooting were found guilty of federal hate crimes Tuesday in a verdict that affirmed what family members and civil rights activists said all along: that he was chased down and killed because he was Black.

The verdict  handed down one day before the second anniversary of Arberys death on Feb. 23, 2020  was symbolic, coming just months after all three defendants were convicted of murder in a Georgia state court and sentenced to life in prison.

But family and community members viewed the hate crimes trial as an important statement. The case also became part of a larger national reckoning on racial injustice after graphic video of Arberys killing leaked online.

Ahmaud will continue to rest in peace. But he will now begin to rest in power, Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, told reporters outside the courthouse.

Arberys father, Marcus Arbery Sr., bowed his head and shook his fists in quiet celebration as the guilty verdicts were read in the courtroom. He then pressed his hands together in front of his face as if saying a silent prayer.

Arbery Sr. and Cooper-Jones emerged from the courthouse holding hands with their attorney Ben Crump, then raised their clasped hands to cheers from supporters.

FILE - Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, center, is surrounded by supporters after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan to life in prison in the Glynn County Courthouse, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Brunswick, Ga. The man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery and his father have reached a plea deal that could avoid their trial on federal hate crime charges. Arbery's parents denounced the deal as a betrayal, and called on the judge to reject it. Court documents filed late Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, by prosecutors for the U.S. Justice Department say plea agreements were reached with Travis and Greg McMichael. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)

But Cooper-Jones did not describe the outcome as a victory.

We as a family will never get victory because Ahmaud is gone forever, she said.

Arbery Sr. noted that his son used to call every day, even if just to tell his family that he loved them.

Ahmaud was a kid you cant replace, because of the heart he had, he said. Im struggling with that every day, he said. It hurts me every day.

Defendants Greg and Travis McMichael sat stoically at the defense table as the guilty verdicts were read. When called one-at-a-time before the judge to discuss next steps in their cases, the father and son answered with hushed voices.

The McMichaels and their neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, were also found guilty of attempted kidnapping, and the McMichaels were also convicted of the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The trial 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, a Black man, 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. Attorneys began delivering their closing arguments in that case on Tuesday.

The family and attorneys of the Ahmaud Aubery raise their arms in victory after all three men were found guilty of hates crimes at the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Roddie Bryan, the three men convicted of murder in Arberys fatal shooting have been found guilty of federal hate crimes. (AP Photo/Lewis M. Levine)

Weeks prior to the hate crimes trial in the Arbery killing, the McMichaels had both agreed to enter guilty pleas to the hate crimes in exchange for being able to serve their sentences in federal, rather than state prison. Judge Lisa Godbey Wood rejected the deal, however, saying it would tie her hands at sentencing, and after Arbery's family vehemently opposed it.

What we got today, we wouldnt have gotten if it wasnt for the fight by the family for Ahmaud, Cooper-Jones said Tuesday, reiterating her anger at Justice Department prosecutors, who she said chose to ignore the family's cry."

The facts of the case were not disputed during the hate crimes trial. The McMichaels grabbed guns and jumped in a pickup truck to pursue Arbery after seeing him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the pursuit in his own pickup and recorded the cellphone video that later leaked online.

To back the hate crime charges, prosecutors showed roughly two dozen text messages and social media posts in which Travis McMichael and Bryan used racist slurs and made derogatory comments about Black people. The FBI wasnt able to access Greg McMichaels phone because it was encrypted.

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.

A woman who served under Travis McMichael in the U.S. Coast Guard a decade ago said he called her nr lover, after learning shed dated a Black man. 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.

Crump remarked after the verdict that for many of us, there was never any doubt that Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan targeted Ahmaud because of his skin color.

But because of indisputable video evidence, disgusting messages sent by the defendants, and witness testimony, their hate was revealed to the world and the jury, he said. We hope and demand that the severity of their crimes are reflected in the sentencing, as well.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the verdict makes clear that the Justice Department will continue to use every resource at its disposal to confront unlawful acts of hate and to hold accountable those who perpetrate them.

Garland added that Arbery's family and his friends should be preparing to celebrate his 28th birthday, later this spring, not mourning the second anniversary of his death tomorrow.

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"Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today, he said.

Defense attorneys contended the McMichaels and Bryan didnt chase and kill Arbery because of his race but acted on the earnest, though erroneous, suspicion that Arbery had committed crimes in their neighborhood.

The attorneys for the McMichaels, Amy Lee Copeland and A.J. Balbo, declined to comment on the verdict. Bryans attorney, Pete Theodocion, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The jury of eight white people, three Black people and one Hispanic person received the case Monday. The jurors adjourned for the night after about three hours of deliberations, and then deliberated for about an hour Tuesday morning before announcing they had reached a verdict.

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Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family of Hannah Goman  a 20-year-old Winona State University student who passed away from injuries sustained in a car crash in Winona Saturday.

Already, as of Tuesday at 2 p.m., more than $14,000 has been raised to help support the family during the challenging time. A total of 238 donations had been made toward that amount.

The fundraisers goal as of Tuesday is $15,000.

The creator of the GoFundMe fundraiser, Korryn Dean, a friend of Hannahs mother Michelle, wrote about the tragic situation on the fundraisers page, This is every parents worst nightmare. Michelle is the sweetest soul and the first person in this community to step up and help out anyone in need, its time for us to help her in this heartbreaking time. The least we can do is help ease the financial burden of funeral expenses.

All donations that are received through the GoFundMe will be deposited into Michelles bank account to help support her and her family.

To donate to Hannahs family, visit the Help the Goman family! GoFundMe page.

Additionally, a Power of Five fundraiser has been set up for the family. More information can be found on The Power of 5 Facebook page, including information on where to send donations.

Organizer of the Power of Five fundraiser, Nicole Peters Stroik, shared on Tuesday that over $18,000 have been raised to go directly to the family through this fundraiser so far.

All of the Power of Five funds raised will go directly to Michelle in a check.

Hannah, a resident of Stevens Point, Wis., succumbed to injuries sustained after a 2010 Camry Toyota she was a passenger in was hit by a 2015 Chevy Silverado traveling the wrong way on Highway 61

The crash happened at 12:45 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 61.

Adam Samuel Anderson, 35, of Winona, was driving the Chevy while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Minnesota State Patrols report. Trena Lynn Anderson, 35, also of Winona, was a passenger in the Silverado. Neither of the Andersons experienced any injuries due to the crash.

As of Tuesday morning, Adam Samuel Anderson was in Winona County jail for charges of fourth-degree driving while impaired and criminal vehicle operation causing bodily harm, according to the countys jail roster.

All three occupants of the Toyota were transported to Winona Health to be treated for injuries sustained during the crash.

While Goman died due to her injuries, Toyota driver Nicholas Robert Lemmerond, 21, of Oshkosh, Wis., and passenger Natalie Lynne Carlson, 22, of Oshkosh, are expected to survive theirs.

Winona State University shared a statement Sunday saying that the universitys community is mourning the passing of Hannah, who was studying social work there.

Counseling and support services are now available to the universitys community, according to the statement.

The WSU Dance Society, of which Hannah was a member, shared on Facebook about her passing, It absolutely shatters our hearts to announce that we have lost a member of our family. Hannah was truly a light and blessing to each and every one of us in the (Theatre and Dance) department. There wont be a day that she isnt with us.

The society dedicated their final Dancescape show of the year to Hannah on Saturday.

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A Minnesota man is charged with drug crimes after allegedly crashing his vehicle on the interstate near New Lisbon while under the influence of drugs.

Mya Oo, 30, of Maplewood, Minnesota is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, repeater; felony possession of tetrahydrocannabinols, second and subsequent offense; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, repeater.

If convicted he faces up to three years and six months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each of the felony charges. As Oo has a previous felony conviction for fifth degree possession of marijuana within a five year period prior to this arrest he faces an additional four years in prison due to the repeater modification.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 4:39 a.m. Jan. 4 Trooper Kyle Walczak of the Wisconsin State Patrol was dispatched to mile post 63 of Interstate 90/94 for report of a possible single vehicle crash. Dispatch reported a sedan possibly collided into a guard rail and came to a stop in the shoulder median.

Upon arrival Walczak located a vehicle about 10 feet into the median. Two males were outside the vehicle, but as Walczak pulled up one entered the drivers seat and attempted to drive while the other pushed on the vehicle. The vehicle did not move as it could not gain traction in the snow and ice.

Walczak asked the male outside the vehicle, later identified as Rah Taw, if there were any injuries. Taw did not speak fluent English but Walczak was able to determine neither occupant was injured. Taw appeared nervous and attempted to avoid communicating by not responding to questions and walking away while speaking.

The driver, identified as Mya Oo, was told to stop moving the vehicle. Asked for a license Oo stated he did not have one on his person, but was identified verbally. As the driver was writing information for Walczak the trooper observed butane lighters in the passenger side door slot and another on top of the center console.

Walczak told Taw they would be unable to retrieve the vehicle from the ditch by themselves and a tow truck would be needed to pull them out.

A records check showed Oos driving status as suspended out of Minnesota and Taws driving status as revoked out of Minnesota with an active warrant for contempt of court. The warrant was enforceable to states surrounding Minnesota.

Due to the suspicious behavior of the occupants and the lighters indicating possible drug paraphernalia Walczak requested a K9 unit to the scene, but no K9 units were available.

Walczak returned to the vehicle and informed Oo that his license was suspended and he would not be able to drive, and notified Oo that he was being issued a citation for operating without a valid license.

While explaining the court and payment procedures Walczak observed a jar containing a green leafy substance on the rear seat.

Taw was placed under arrest for the active warrant and searched but nothing of evidentiary value was found.

Oo was asked to exit the vehicle and informed that Walczak observed marijuana in the rear seat. A search of Oos person located nothing of evidentiary value. A search of the vehicle located a glass pipe with a bulb bowl containing a burnt white substance Walczak identified as methamphetamine.

Walczak asked Taw who the contraband belonged to and Taw said it belonged to Oo. Oo stated someone must have left the contraband in the vehicle.

Both Oo and Taw were transported to the Juneau County Jail. A test of the suspected methamphetamine and marijuana returned positive results for the respective substances at weights of 0.28 grams for the methamphetamine and 1.9 grams of marijuana.

Oo is scheduled for a plea hearing March 17 at the Juneau County Justice Center.

Reach Christopher Jardine on Twitter @ChrisJJardine or contact him at 608-432-6591.

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RACINE  The Racine Police Department reported that it is investigating as a homicide the death Sunday of a 50-year-old man who was a 21-year-veteran of the Racine Fire Department.

The dead man has been identified as driver/operator Christopher Lalor, Racine Fire Chief Steve Hanson said Monday.

No information regarding the possible cause of death or potential suspects has been released.

The investigation began just before noon Sunday when first responders were sent to Pinehurst Avenue in reference to a male not breathing, the RPD said in a statement Monday.

Pinehurst Avenue is a relatively short residential street just south of St. Lucy Catholic Church and Grade School.

More information is expected to be released by the Racine Fire Department Tuesday morning.

In the statement, the RPD asked for witnesses or those with information about the death to call the Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 262-636-9330 or via the p3 app.

On Monday afternoon, three Racine Police officers were seen by a reporter at the scene, but no crime scene tape or other signs of an active investigation remained.

In a statement Monday, Mayor Cory Mason said I was deeply saddened to learn about death of one of our very own in the Racine Fire Department. Loss of life is always tragic but losing someone who spent 21 years saving lives is incredibly sad. My heart breaks for all those who knew him and I ask that the community keep the members of the Racine Fire Department in your thought and prayers as they mourn their fallen brother. The Racine Police Department has an investigation underway, and it is our belief that those responsible for his death will be held accountable.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Brothers and Sisters in Racine after a tragic loss yesterday, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, a statewide union for firefighters, said in a Facebook post Monday.

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SUPERIOR  Authorities said Sunday they are investigating an incident in Superior over the weekend where a local police officer unknowingly ran over a person who was lying in the road.

The person is listed in critical condition, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is investigating the Saturday night incident. Officials say they do not know whether the person was injured prior to being run over.

The officer has been placed on administrative duty as dictated by department policy. No further details were immediately available.
What it means to live a good life, a flourishing life

Words about mental health need to align with peoples understanding of well being.

In South Africa, English is only the sixth most common language spoken within households. But its dominant outside the home, including health and medical contexts.

Communicating information relating to health in South Africa requires careful consideration of the cultural context in which this information is to be received. Clinicians must think about this to enhance their relationship with patients and the patient experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed the need to communicate concepts of health in ways that the public understands.

It matters, too, when talking about mental health  a field often entwined with peoples cultures and histories, and where outward symptoms might not show. South Africa has come a long way in understanding the struggle of language within psychiatric or mental healthcare. But some concepts are still only vaguely understood by the general public. This is not just true for poor mental health  like anxiety and depression  it is also true for good mental health.

Flourishing is one way to think about good mental health. Flourishing as a concept involves what it means to live a good life or a life worth living. Flourishing is an old concept. But in recent years, interest has grown in how flourishing relates to health. Most of the published research, however, is overshadowed by western ideals and concepts, mainly pointing towards internal mechanisms such as personal traits for flourishing.

We set out to understand what flourishing means by way of a deep dive into studying real people and cultures in South Africa. Flourishing is related to peoples lived experiences, which differ from place to place.

Recognising how people conceive flourishing in relation to, or in spite of, a diagnosed medical condition can help clinicians grasp why and how patient perceptions of health may not always align with medical terms. Such local understanding can transform how clinicians frame clinical decisions and weigh the impact communal resources and relationships may have on how patients are cared for, or feel cared for within clinical spaces.

Ukuphumelela in Soweto

As we started our second year of a study of stress and chronic illness, we realised that people wanted to talk about how they conceptualised good health as much as they wanted to explain what caused them to become sick.

We interviewed 30 people in Soweto who had expressed interest in discussing what it means to live a good life, a flourishing life. They were a balance of men and women. Most were middle class and middle aged (around 45-50 years old), and relatively healthy.

Soweto is an urban area of more than five million people. It is heterogeneous in terms of housing, language, occupations, and living standards. Speaking IsiZulu, the most commonly spoken language within South African households, we found that flourishing was largely a social concept and has personal attributes. The people we spoke to used the IsiZulu word ukuphumelela (roughly translated as becoming victorious) when speaking about doing well despite obstacles.

Many people used their personal journey to describe how they flourished (or not), and how they defined ukuphumelela. We found ukuphumelela involved three elements: material or structural factors (like money or financial security); internal or personal character (like discipline); and social dynamics (like reciprocity and caring for others).

One young man explained:

I can say its a person whos not from a good background  Managed to finish school after all those worst case scenarios so now hes made it  Hes just started a family, got married and weve all witnessed that. He now drives fancy cars. He looks after his siblings and he has renovated his home so that it shows hes made it in life.

A woman in her early thirties explained ukuphumelela in terms of the term ubuntu, generally understood as meaning a person is a person because of other people. She said it was important to her to help others, despite her own limited means. It underscores the idea that the self extends beyond an individual to include their community.

These findings show that the ideas people use to describe good mental health are not universal.

Our findings showed that people in Soweto defined flourishing by both individual and collective elements. Individual elements include things like determination, faith in God, and overcoming challenges. Often these individual characteristics were bolstered by structural elements like having an opportunity to pursue a good education and have enough money to cover basic needs.

Also connected were collective elements, such as having strong mentors and caring for others. Flourishing is not just about what an individual becomes in their pursuit of a good life but also the impact they have on the people around them. In this way, many people described flourishing not as an endpoint or goal, but a journey.

Good life and health

Recognising how people think about themselves in relation to others, and what it means to live a good, meaningful, and flourishing life, is crucial for understanding health.

Speaking the language of good health is also an important element of understanding, designing programmes for, and elevating the health of people and populations.

This research emphasises the social and relational aspects of health that could make the clinic a poor solution for fostering good public health. Investing in churches as places to gather, or mentorship programmes through schools and community centres, may facilitate improved health and well being in meaningful ways.

Without understanding ukuphumelela  what fuels or impedes someone to flourish  health promotion will struggle to serve the people who need it most.

Lindile Cele, Research associate, SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand; Edna N Bosire, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Georgetown University (USA) & Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Malawi); Researcher, DPHRU, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) & Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, East Africa., University of the Witwatersrand, and Emily Mendenhall, Professor, Georgetown University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Report launch: Unearthing the truth about mining in Sekhukhune

Today, CALS and our partners launch our latest research report into mines operating in Sekhukhune and the experiences of communities living in the area

Today marks the launch of Unearthing the truth: How mines failed communities in the Sekhukhune region of South Africa. The report captures research into three mining companies operating in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo and the experiences of local mining-affected communities. This research was undertaken by a team from Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies and Amnesty International South Africa.

South Africas mining industry is built on a history of inequality and exploitation. Mining-affected communities continue to bear the greatest burdens of mining  from losing farmland to facing environmental harm  often without seeing the benefits. One of the key mechanisms designed to address this is the social and labour plan system. A social and labour plan is one of the documents required for a company to apply for a mining right which sets out how the mine intends to offset some of the impacts of mining and share some of the benefits. Projects could include, for example, upgrading local roads, building clinics, or providing access to water and sanitation in the area.

Unfortunately, a growing body of research has shown that the social and labour plan system has struggled to achieve its aims. Plans are often poorly designed without the input of the communities they are intended to serve, and many mines fail to comply with their commitments  all while the state regulator is unwilling or unable to hold them accountable for these failures. This is particularly significant in rural areas which remain mineral-rich but under-resourced.

Over the last two years, a team from Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities (SCMAC), the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and Amnesty International South Africa has conducted research into the social and labour plans of three mines and the experiences of communities in the Sekhukhune area. These mines include: Twickenham Platinum Mine, Marula Platinum Mine and Sefateng Chrome Mine. The findings of this research are captured in the report Unearthing the truth: How mines failed communities in the Sekhukhune region of South Africa which has been launched today. This is an example of community-led research with SCMAC being both directly impacted community members and co-authors of the report.

This report adds to Amnesty International South Africas work with mining affected communities, including the research we released following the Marikana shooting, says Marike Keller, Amnesty International South Africas researcher. It also contributes towards the growing body of research on the impact of mining on communities basic human rights, such as water, healthcare and education.

Report findings

The findings of the report show that, to varying extents, the mines are not complying with their legally binding social and labour plan obligations. For example:

Twickenham Platinum Mine acknowledged in an annual compliance report that the mine had failed to complete a project related to water and sanitation in schools before its deadline. This project remains unfinished more than three years later. When pressed for answers about this lack of compliance, mine representatives acknowledged the delays in implementation, but blamed problems with procurement.

acknowledged in an annual compliance report that the mine had failed to complete a project related to water and sanitation in schools before its deadline. This project remains unfinished more than three years later. When pressed for answers about this lack of compliance, mine representatives acknowledged the delays in implementation, but blamed problems with procurement. Marula Platinum Mine has completed projects on electrification and water supply and reticulation. The company also claimed in one of its most recent reports that the mine had completed a project to build or rehabilitate a nearby road. However, site visits by the research team and interviews with community members could not confirm this.

has completed projects on electrification and water supply and reticulation. The company also claimed in one of its most recent reports that the mine had completed a project to build or rehabilitate a nearby road. However, site visits by the research team and interviews with community members could not confirm this. Sefateng Chrome Mine was only in partial compliance with its water support and school support projects. Information from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy indicates that the mine has not been submitting annual compliance reports. This would suggest that the company is not complying with its reporting duties in terms of national mining legislation, though mine representatives have denied this, noting that they have been submitting reports regularly.

was only in partial compliance with its water support and school support projects. Information from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy indicates that the mine has not been submitting annual compliance reports. This would suggest that the company is not complying with its reporting duties in terms of national mining legislation, though mine representatives have denied this, noting that they have been submitting reports regularly. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy failed to adequately regulate mines and carry out its oversight role to ensure the implementation of SLPs in the region. Researchers found that that the DMRE had a poor record management system and hindered access to information and that the DMRE was unable to enforce compliance with SLP reporting obligations resulting in communities feeling abandoned.

Community experiences

Researchers not only undertook site visits and an extensive review of documents related to the implementation of the mines social and labour plans, but also conducted interviews and focus group sessions with community members to get an idea of their experiences living in areas impacted by mining. The overall picture painted by participants in the study pointed to a range of negative environmental, social and economic outcomes, gender inequality and lack of adequate complaints mechanisms. While this research does not draw a direct link between individual mining operations and the challenges faced by communities, we conclude that the failure to implement social and labour plans is a compounding factor, which negatively impacts the enjoyment of human rights by communities, such as the rights to education, access to healthcare, livelihoods, and water.

Recommendations

To the mines, the research team recommends that they urgently comply with their legally binding social and labour plan obligations. This includes developing an action plan for completing all outstanding commitments in full and submitting all outstanding compliance reports. We further recommend publishing all social and labour plans and related reports. To the state regulator, we recommend developing and implementing an action plan to ensure the Department increases its capacity to monitor and enforce compliance with social and labour plan obligations. We further recommend that all reports related to social and labour plans are made public and available to mining-affected communities. Finally, we recommend reviewing the social and labour plan framework with affected communities, mining companies and other relevant stakeholders.

Comments

Not enough is being done to hold mining companies accountable, says Marike Keller of Amnesty International. As with many issues in South Africa, we have great laws in place, but little implementation. What we expect and are hoping for going forward is that mining companies take their legal and social responsibilities more seriously, that they abide by the legal obligations pertaining to social and labour plans, and that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy holds them accountable and improves their monitoring and oversight capacities over mining operations. Most importantly, we are hoping for further engagement with all relevant role players and to see noticeable improvement in the lives of communities that are affected by mining.

Social and labour plans that are meant to benefit communities should belong to communities as agents of development, says Robert Krause, researcher at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies. Instead, they are too often carried out in a top down manner with communities left in the dark regarding their progress and compliance status.

The full research report is accessible here.

For more information, please contact:

From the Centre for Applied Legal Studies

Robert Krause (Researcher: Environmental Justice) at Krause@wits.ac.za

Louis Snyman (Head: Environmental Justice) at Snyman@wits.ac.za

From Amnesty International South Africa

Genevieve Quintal (Media and Communications Officer) at quintal@amnesty.org.za

Sibusiso Khasa (Campaigner) at khasa@amnesty.org.za

From Sekhukhune Combined Mining-Affected Communities

Elton Thobejane (Chairperson) at nkwaneelton@gmail.com

ABOUT SEKHUKHUNE COMBINED MINING-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

Sekhukhune Combined Mining-Affected Communities (SCMAC) is a non-profit community-based organisation. SCMACs membership is made up of communities and individuals from various parts of the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo, whose environmental and human rights are affected by mining and related activities in the region. The focus of our work is the compliance of mining companies with their social and economic obligations.

ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR APPLIED LEGAL STUDIES

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) is a civil society organisation based at the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Founded in 1978 by Professor John Dugard, CALS is one of the oldest organisations of its kind in South Africa. We continue to use a combination of research, advocacy and litigation to advance human rights and social justice in South Africa across a range of programme areas. Read more about our work at https://www.wits.ac.za/cals/ or follow @CALS_ZA.

ABOUT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people which mobilises the humanity in everyone and campaigns for change so we can all enjoy our human rights. Amnesty Internationals vision is of a world where those in power keep their promises, respect international law and are held to account. Amnesty International is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by their membership and individual donations. Amnesty International believes that acting in solidarity and compassion with people everywhere can change our societies for the better.
W&M professor, Institute for Integrative Conservation seek to involve Indigenous voices in conservation

Collaborative Conservation: Assistant Professor Mara Dicenta works with undergraduate student researchers through the Institute for Integrative Conservation. The staff at the IIC come from all different backgrounds, but we all come together to collaborate, she says. Photo by Alfred Herczeg Photo - of - Hide Caption

The following story originally appeared in the winter 2022 issue of the W&MAlumni Magazine. - Ed.

What do beavers in Argentina have to do with river herring in Virginia? Anthropology Assistant Professor Mara Dicenta believes both can help us understand the long-term effects of colonialism on the environment.

Before coming to Williamsburg in fall 2021, Dicenta conducted ethnographic fieldwork related to beavers in Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia, Argentina. The Argentine government introduced Canadian beavers to Tierra del Fuego in 1946 to encourage a fur trade that could help modernize the region and attract more residents. Without predators, the species expanded and has severely damaged native ecosystems.

She is planning to work in Virginia with scientists and Indigenous communities, starting with a project to restore river herring and bring to light traditional ecological knowledge. According to William & Marys Virginia Institute of Marine Science, river herring populations have been in dramatic decline since the 1970s due to habitat loss, overfishing and pollution.

I see many parallels between my research in Tierra del Fuego and my research here, Dicenta says. If you think about it in terms of the environment, both areas have been marked by water. Here we have huge rivers which flow into the sea. Tierra del Fuego is surrounded by the ocean.

Both places also have ties to colonialism.

Tierra del Fuego became an international trade port, Dicenta says. Here, we have Jamestown and Williamsburg as key Colonial enterprises. Colonial commerce marked the histories of those who lived in these lands and waters before.

In Virginia, Dicenta is beginning to work in collaboration with the Rappahannock Tribe and the Smithsonian Institution on the restoration of river herring, integrating the tribes oral histories and current practices regarding rivers, aquatic life and fishing. In Tierra del Fuego, Dicenta is working with Indigenous communities to guarantee their right to be consulted before implementing conservation projects.

Undergraduate students will be involved in her research through the Conservation Research Program housed in William & Marys new Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC). The IIC opened in 2020 with the mission of research and education to help solve the worlds most pressing conservation challenges.

In just a few years, the Institute has created so much. The staff at the IIC come from all different backgrounds, but we all come together to collaborate, says Dicenta.

John Swaddle, the IICs faculty director, says the addition of Dicenta and faculty member Fernando Galeana-Rodriguez has allowed the Institute to launch its new integrative conservation minor. A dozen students have expressed interest in the new minor so far, while about 10 students are expected to declare self-designed conservation majors.

Mara and Fernando both have years of experience working with Indigenous communities on conservation solutions framed in environmental justice, Swaddle says. As emerging leaders in their fields, Mara in anthropology and Fernando in sociology, they are already helping students learn about the crucial connections between people and nature.

Dicenta, who has Spanish and Argentine heritage, became interested in anthropology in 2007 while she was taking a course on gender and sexuality.

In this course, I learned that the idea that we have two genders is not the way the rest of the world thinks about things, she says. I learned about cultures that had three genders, five genders. It shocked me. I discovered that everything I had assumed could be questioned and I decided then to pursue a B.A. and two masters degrees in anthropology. After that, she completed a doctorate in social studies of science.

As an environmental anthropologist, I realized it is important to also study scientists and how knowledge is shaped by cultural values, she says. Working in partnership with faculty and students is the IICs Conservation Advisory Board, composed of scientists, business leaders, community organizers and conservation leaders. Weve received so many proposals of interest from conservation partners who want to work with William & Mary students, Dicenta says. We want to collaborate on long-term projects where we can work for multiple years to truly create change. As an example, one former IIC student, Kat Baganski 21, worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society on a six-month project to analyze places for potential restoration of landscapes in Central America and Mexico that were deforested by cattle ranching. Looking ahead, Dicenta sees numerous possibilities for the IIC, including bringing a data scientist onto the staff to assist with collecting and interpreting information. I also would love to see a future for the Institute where art is a focal point to help us communicate with each other, among disciplines and communities, she says. This past semester, Dicenta taught Conservation Ethics, an intimate class of 12 students that diverted from traditional environmental ethics courses to include more diverse voices and subjects. Topics included issues related to animal culling, management of animals in zoos and wildlife refuges, the troubled history of national parks and co-management programs, the land back movement calling for the return of colonized land to Indigenous people, and myths portraying the Global South as pristine and wild. Central to the course is examining who has a voice in conservation and how to integrate nature conservation with social and historic reparation, she says. Students teach some of the classes themselves, which has been amazing. Many are so creative  they bring in art or, in one case, cupcakes to help the rest of the class grasp their topics with all of our senses. Driving students interest in conservation are issues such as biodiversity loss, environmental decline and climate change, Dicenta says. Many conservation and anthropology students also are interested in the conflicts of settler colonialism and decolonizing the environment  a process that includes elements such as acknowledging the long-lasting effects of colonialism on environmental sciences, resetting the relationship between humans and nature, and seeking justice in spaces where discrimination has been prevalent.
Vice Provost Steve Hanson to return to teaching and research

Steve Hanson: As director of the Reves Center from 2011 to 2021, Hanson championed the universitys internationalization efforts. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Steve Hanson, who has advanced William & Marys global relevance for more than a decade, will step down from his current role at the end of the academic year to return to teaching and to focus on his scholarship about global regime change.

Hanson, who serves as vice provost for academic and international affairs and W&Ms Lettie Pate Evans Professor of Government, has worked at the university since 2011, primarily leading its international efforts as director of the Reves Center for International Studies. His last day as vice provost will be June 30, 2022.

With Steve at the helm of the Reves Center, William & Marys global reputation blossomed  with increased resources for study abroad and global research and a broader international community of partners, friends and alumni, said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. The W&M Democracy Initiative  an anchor of Vision 2026  is shaped in important ways by his collegial vision.

His strategic awareness, ability to get things done and generosity have benefited William & Mary in countless ways.

As director of the Reves Center from 2011 to 2021, Hanson championed the universitys internationalization efforts. His work to build partnerships around the globe helped support W&Ms global education and engagement efforts as well as the growth of the Global Research Institute and the Whole of Government Center of Excellence on National Security. He also served as co-director of the W&M Democracy Initiative, which aims to make W&M a place where challenging topics can be discussed civilly and respectfully.

I want to thank Steve for his many contributions to William & Mary during more than a decade of service he devoted as a member of the universitys leadership, said Provost Peggy Agouris in a campus message. Since his arrival in Williamsburg in August 2011, he has been a stalwart supporter of all things international at W&M.  I wish him great success as he returns to his academic career and know he will make great contributions in the future.

William & Mary achieved international recognition during Hansons tenure. In 2016 NAFSA: Association of International Educators awarded William & Mary its prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. Named for the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, NAFSAs Simon Award recognizes colleges and universities that are making significant, well-planned, well-executed and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization  especially those using innovative and creative approaches across several areas, such as student and faculty access to a global education experience.

Seven times in the last decade, William & Mary has been the number one public university for undergraduate study abroad participation in the U.S., and despite the disruptions caused by COVID, is currently the #4 public university for study abroad. Nearly 60% of all undergraduates study abroad in their W&M careers. More than 750 undergraduate students study abroad each year in more than 50 countries around the world.

William & Mary more than tripled the number of its international students and scholars during Hansons leadership and increased the diversity of countries from which they come. Before the pandemic, each year more than 1,000 students, scholars, alumni and dependents are part of the universitys community. William & Mary currently has close to 600 international students enrolled, both graduate and undergraduate students, across multiple disciplines and professional schools. They represent more than 60 countries.

Hanson worked to increase financial support for internationalization, and the Reves Center currently offers approximately $700,000 annually for study-abroad scholarships as one of many efforts to reduce financial barriers.

Hanson has also prioritized safety and risk management, hiring the universitys first International Travel and Security Manager and spearheading the creation of the International Travel Policy.

It has been the honor of my professional career to serve on this great universitys leadership team, said Hanson. Together we have significantly advanced William & Marys global reach and academic impact.

Hanson is renowned expert in Russian and Soviet history and politics who has written numerous scholarly articles and books, including Post-Imperial Democracies: Ideology and Party Formation in Third Republic France, Weimar Germany, and Post-Soviet Russia and the award-winning Time and Revolution: Marxism and the Design of Soviet Institutions. He is often sought after by members of the press for his expertise, including his insights on current issues concerning Russia.

After leaving W&M, Hanson will serve as a visiting scholar at Harvard's Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies for the 2022-2023 academic year. He will also work on a book about the causes of global regime change. He plans on returning to W&M following the completion of that work to again take on the role of the Lettie Pate Evans Professor of Government.
Aerial photo taken on Oct. 13, 2020 shows a resettlement area at Sanhe Village in Zhaojue County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu]

BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua)  In China, the first of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar is called "Lichun," or the "Beginning of Spring," which falls in early February every year. It is seen as the start of a promising season full of hope.

For Jihaoyeqiu, a villager in the mountainous Sanhe Village in southwest China's Sichuan Province, his memories of spring 2018 are particularly vivid: his family welcomed a special guest, President Xi Jinping.

About a year before Jihaoyeqiu welcomed the president into his home, Xi participated in deliberations with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Sichuan during the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. During the deliberations, Xi told the deputies, "I have been to most of the country's 'contiguous impoverished areas' and will visit Lyuliang and Liangshan, where I have not yet been, as soon as possible."

True to his word, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, went to the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture during his inspection tour to Sichuan in February 2018.

Villagers of the Yi ethnic group move into new houses for relocated residents at Sanhe Village of Zhaojue County in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 11, 2019. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

Liangshan is home to China's largest ethnic Yi community. The prefecture had long struggled with grinding poverty due to rough terrain and a harsh natural environment as well as a lack of roads and amenities. Eleven of the prefecture's 17 county-level regions were key areas in the state's poverty alleviation campaign.

Xi went to the then impoverished Sanhe, a village 2,500 meters above sea level in the Liangshan Prefecture.

Xi passed through a low courtyard gate and walked into Jihaoyeqiu's home. Before stepping over the threshold, he carefully read the poverty alleviation support card on the door of the house. He then took time to enquire how the family was getting along with their life and whether their children were attending school.

"I have always been concerned about the Yi people. I am very happy to be here and I am heartened to see that your lives are getting better," Xi said. Xi was happy to learn that villagers had increased their incomes by raising cattle and growing potatoes, peppers and walnuts.

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 8, 2022 shows a test bullet train running on the new Chengdu-Kunming railway in Dechang County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

Over the years, the Liangshan prefecture had undergone a massive anti-poverty campaign, building over 10,000 kilometers of rural roads, relocating 350,000 residents to government-funded housing, and helping 215 villages develop a collective economy. More than 11,000 officials were sent to villages to assist in local anti-poverty battles.

In Sanhe, especially thanks to improved rural transport, villagers have found a path to develop their domestic industries. Today, local agricultural products such as potatoes, peppers and walnuts are sold beyond their mountains, markedly increasing incomes.

Xi, as the commander-in-chief of China's anti-poverty fight, promised that "the CPC will do whatever it takes to honor its commitment to the people."

Last year, China announced victory in its pursuit to eradicate absolute poverty. The authorities have been since then placing more emphasis on a strategy to modernize the vast countryside, or the rural vitalization drive.

During this year's pre-Spring Festival trip to Shanxi Province, Xi noted that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

(Source: Xinhua)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council, in Moscow, Russia, on February 21, 2022.
Refurbishment plans for tired and dated Wrexham pub receive approval

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 22nd, 2022

A historic Wrexham pub which has been described as looking tired and dated has had plans for a major refurbishment approved.

The Long Pull, also known as the Old Vaults, has been based on Chester Street in the town centre since the mid-19th century.

The Grade-II listed pub was once featured in a Sky One documentary called The Toughest Pubs in Britain.

However, its fortunes took an upturn in September last year when it was named the joint-best establishment in town in a competition run by Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton.

The building is now due to undergo a transformation after a planning application to refurbish the ground floor of the pub was rubber-stamped by officials from Wrexham Council.

In a response to the proposals published at the end of last month, a conservation officer for the local authority said it would deliver a number of benefits.

Kathryn Moore said: (The pub) sits prominently within the Wrexham town centre conservation area on Chester Street.

There are several 18th and 19th century buildings surviving on Chester and Yorke Street which evidence the historic importance of this part of the town, which was dominated by pubs and retail.

The proposals for internal reordering could be considered to cause a small amount of harm through the complete enclosure of an internal courtyard which is currently partly covered.

This is mitigated by the removal of other, more modern partitions which will allow the overall plan form to be more clearly read.

She added: I consider the benefits that the scheme brings in allowing for the building to continue to operate as a public house to outweigh the small aspect of harm.

The proposed repainting scheme for the exterior of the building will enhance the listed building and its contribution to the wider conservation area. 

Agents acting on behalf of applicants Admiral Taverns previously said the plans would help to improve the viability of the business.

In a statement submitted to the council last year, they said: The purpose of the proposals is clearly to bring what appears to be a tired and dated public house up to modern hospitality standards in order to provide for a secure and viable commercial future.

The principle of the proposals is considered to be acceptable and broadly beneficial in terms of carrying out necessary improvements to a commercial building in order to improve viability.

The proposals will result in more space being created for the pubs customers, including a larger bar area and new toilets.

The empty upper floors of the building are due to be redecorated and brought back into use as living accommodation.

Meanwhile, repairs will be carried out on the pubs roof following significant leaks and the outside of the property will be repainted.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Wrexham is a really good place for a night out as PCC visits Safer Streets project

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 22nd, 2022

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has joined local police in Wrexham to see how lives are being saved on the streets.

The Safer Streets project in the town was launched with funding from PCC Andy Dunbobbin to make Wrexham town centre safer for weekend revellers.

Now Safer Streets Three has brought half a million pounds of extra funding to extend the scheme and the Commissioner joined Police Inspector Claire McGrady to see how the money is being spent.

A big part of the campaign is aimed particularly at protecting women and girls and on Friday and Saturday nights.

It also sees a four-strong team of Street Marshals trained in first aid, walking the streets and helping staff the Hafan y Dref contact centre at the foot of Town Hill.

There have also been extra police patrols, including officers in plain clothes, in the town centre and trees, hedges and undergrowth cut back to improve walking routes out of the town, CCTV cameras installed, extra lighting in the town centre and even training for licensees to help them spot people who may be vulnerable.

Inspector McGrady said: It has literally saved peoples lives. We had people who have been injured or taken ill and been treated quickly in the centre and without the need to call out an emergency ambulance.

The Street Marshals have just started and wed like to encourage people to approach them and engage with them and chat with them because they are ambassadors for the town.

There are four of them provided by Parallel Security and they are working in partnership with Events Medical who have trained them

We want to encourage people to enjoy the night-time economy here in Wrexham and at the same time to feel safe and to know there is a reassuring presence on the streets.

We want the town to be bustling and busy and to have a thriving night-time economy because it is a really good place for a night out.

Andy Dunbobbin said: Im delighted that we have been able to secure extra funding for what is already proving to be a very positive scheme which has already had a real effect in making Wrexham a safer place for a good night out.

This is going to become increasingly important as the pandemic lockdown restrictions ease and hopefully more people venture out to enjoy themselves in towns across North Wales.

This is an excellent example of partnership working between North Wales Police and Wrexham Borough Council and of course with local licensees who are receiving bystander training.

This will give them the confidence to intervene if they see tell-tale signs of harassment and while it is still at a low level and it gives customers the confidence to complain if there is any harassment, sexual or otherwise.

Were determined in North Wales to do all we can to protect people and keep our streets safe.

We want people to be able to enjoy themselves sensibly and to get home safely and we believe that extra eyes on the streets can make a difference and so can making our streets better lit and having trained help and support available.

The Safer Streets pilot was originally run by Northumbria Police in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 2019 and proved a big success, with a 30 per cent reduction in rapes and serious sexual assaults in the city centre.

North Wales Police were the first force in Wales to run it themselves and the latest rounds of funding secured by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner takes the amount being spent to over 1 million.

Mr Dunbobbin added: We want to showcase what we are doing here in Wrexham and share it across North Wales so that other towns can benefit as well.

There are a number of reasons a person can become vulnerable, including excess alcohol, getting lost, or becoming separated from friends and in Wrexham there will be people out on the streets and in the pubs and clubs looking out for them and keeping them safe.

Top pic: PCC Andy Dunbobbin in Wrexham High Street with Alison Watkin, left, of Wrexham Borough Council, and Police Inspector Claire McGrady.
Trucks and protestors block downtown streets near the Parliament Buildings as a demonstration led by truck drivers protesting vaccine mandates continue on February 15 in Ottawa, Ontario.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (C) speaks during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Ukraine crisis, in New York, February 21.
US official says Russian troops could move into separatist regions of Ukraine as soon as tonight
In the most provocative manner, the Liberal-National governmentbacked to the hilt by the Labor Party oppositionhas charged China with aggression, intimidation and bullying after a Chinese naval vessel reportedly pointed a laser at an Australian surveillance plane.

A PLA-N Luyang-class guided missile destroyer and a PLA-N Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock vessel leave the Torres Strait and enter the Coral Sea February 18, 2022. [Image: Australian Defence Department]

All the circumstances and timing surrounding the incident point to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Labor counterpart Anthony Albanese rushing to make deliberately incendiary allegations against China. There is a bipartisan ratcheting up of an increasingly frenzied anti-China witch-hunt, driven by a deepening domestic political crisis and an escalating US-led confrontation against Russia, which is also directed against China.

Without providing any evidence to back his charge, Morrison branded the mere pointing of a laser rangefinder at the patrol spy plane as an act of intimidation that could have killed the flight crew. Australia, he declared, would never accept such acts of intimidation. It was unprovoked and unwarranted and Australia stands up to coercion, bullying and intimidation.

Labor leader Albanese was no less frothing. He labelled the incident an outrageous act of aggression. He broadened the charge to accuse China of being engaged in much more aggressive activity of which we have seen this latest report has been just one example.

As always with such war-mongering accusations, it is necessary to examine the facts carefully, and then place them in an historical perspective.

The incident occurred at 1.35 p.m. on February 17 as two Chinese vesselsa destroyer accompanying an amphibious transport dock shipwere transiting through international waters in the Arafura Sea, which is located between Australia and Indonesian West Papua.

This sea is part of an important global shipping route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Yet the two Chinese craft were subjected to five days of tracking and observation by Australian aircraft and warships, starting off the southern coast of Java.

According to the official account provided by the Australian Defence Department, a P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft from a Chinese vessel. This was a serious safety incident. Yet no details or photo imagery were provided, not even to identify which ship was involved or specify how close the Australian air force surveillance plane came to it.

All modern warships are equipped with lasers. These are used to determine the distance of nearby objects, although they can be used to ascertain firing ranges for targeting purposes. In less than 48 hours, however, the Australian Defence statement was issued without the pretence of any investigation or clarification with Chinese authorities, and Morrison and Albanese seized upon it to accuse China of a major provocation.

Chinas response rebuked these claims. Australias statement was completely inconsistent with the facts, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defense, stated on Monday. He said the Australian aircraft had flown very close to the Chinese vesselswithin four kilometresand provocatively dropped a sonar buoy into the water, citing photos taken on board the Chinese ships.

Sonar buoys can be used to gather acoustic information and help detect submarines. An image released by Chinas national defence ministry showed a triangular orange buoy in the water.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Australia should stop maliciously disseminating China-related disinformation. Wang added: The normal navigation of Chinese vessels on the high seas is in line with relevant international law and international practice and completely legal and legitimate.

Significantly, Morrison quickly sought to draw other US-aligned powers into the affair, saying other countries such as the US, UK, Japan, France and Germany would also be alarmed by Chinas actions. So far, Japan has said it is fully behind Australia on this matter. Noticeably, however, the two other countries bordering the Arafura Sea, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, have made no comment.

Thus, the affair has all the hallmarks of a provocation by the Australian government, seeking to further stoke the confrontation against China, which the US regards as the prime threat to its global dominance.

The accusations against China came hard on the heels of a fortnight-long parliamentary sessionwith a federal election loomingthat saw unprecedented attacks by Morrison and his ministers on the Labor Party, virtually accusing its leaders of being treasonous agents of China. In reply, Albanese and his shadow ministers doubled down on their own charges against China and their total bipartisan commitment to the US military alliance.

As the WSWS explained, the hysterical character of the accusations is the result of two inter-related developments. One is Washingtons intensifying preparations for war against both Russia and China and its demand that the Australian ruling elite play a frontline and confrontational role, particularly against China.

The other factor is the unravelling of Morrisons government, which is responsible for an ongoing toll of COVID-19 infections and death. Riddled by factional infighting, it confronts collapsing approval ratings and rising working-class unrest over falling pay and shocking conditionsfrom nurses and teachers to rail workersdespite the efforts of Labor and the trade unions to contain and stifle the discontent.

Morrisons charges of Chinese aggression came after Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is jockeying against Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to replace Morrison, declared that China had committed aggressive, bullying acts against Australia.

Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Dutton said the attack was very aggressive and Australia would work closely with its allies to respond. He declared that the alliance between China and Russia was deeply concerning. Dutton issued an inflammatory threat: Russia does need to understand, as does China, that there is a price to pay for those acts of aggression.

All the government and Labor accusations against China have been uncritically accepted and broadcast throughout the corporate media. Not one critical question has been asked about the facts and background of the Arafura Sea incident.

Instead, the affair has been exploited to ratchet up demands for a massive increase in military spending in preparation for war. A February 20 editorial in the Murdoch medias Australian praised Albanese for supporting the governments stand, but said trading insults is not enough. A serious demonstration of military capability was needed.

The newspapers foreign editor Greg Sheridan, who enjoys close relations with the US-linked military and intelligence apparatus, produced a long list of the weaponry required. That included many hundreds of long-range missiles, and putting anti-ship missiles on offshore patrol vessels. Also several more squadrons of fast jets, sophisticated drones, and more warships. In addition, extra submarines to urgently deploy while waiting for the nuclear-powered attack submarines promised to Australia by the US and UK in last Septembers AUKUS pact, directed against China.

Sheridan provided no price tag, but it would run into hundreds of billions of dollars, which would require deep cuts to social spending and working-class living standards.

With the deeply unpopular Coalition government melting down, Labor is seeking to demonstrate to the ruling elite that it would prosecute this militarist agenda and could lead the country into war, as it did in World War I and World War II.

Over the past five years, Labor has backed every aggressive economic and political measure taken by the Coalition government against China. That has included banning Huawei Technologies from the countrys proposed 5G broadband network in 2018, imposing severe restrictions on investment by Chinese companies, adopting criminal laws against alleged Chinese-linked foreign interference and agitating for a supposed independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in a bid to blame China for the global disaster caused by the profit-driven policies of every capitalist government.

This weekend, the WSWS is hosting an international online webinar, Fight COVID! Save Lives! Stop the drive to World War III! to elaborate a political program to mobilise the working class against war and the pandemic. We urge our readers to register and attend this critical event.
On Sunday, the New York Times reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been withholding the publication of critical data that could have helped local and state public health departments better target their responses to stem infections and protect lives.

Students and parents walk to class at Tussahaw Elementary school on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson]

Instead, they have been cherry-picking vital information to present an upbeat assessment of the state of the pandemic, which has only further endangered lives in the process.

The author of the report, Apoorva Mandavilli, wrote, Two full years into the pandemic, the agency leading the countrys response to the public health emergency has published only a tiny fraction of the data it has collected, several people familiar with the data said.

Omitted from publication included data on the effectiveness of boosters in adults under 65. Without the data, health experts had to turn to international sources such as Israel to recommend the third shot. However, Israels definition of severe disease differs from that used in the US. (In Israel, a person with rapid breathing and oxygen levels below 94 percent is considered to have a severe illness, while the CDC reserves that category for anyone who is sick enough to need hospitalization.)

Also, the social dynamics of the two countriespublic health initiatives, state of the health care infrastructure, therapeutics, etc.are dissimilar, meaning the best decisions can only be made by using real-time data available for the region.

The Washington Post, also reporting on the CDCs remarkable negligence, said that on July 12, 2021, Pfizer scientists had met with senior US government health officials to explain that their rationale for booster shots was based on data from Israel that showed immunity to the vaccines waned quickly, especially among the elderly and immunocompromised. The CDC indicated their data showed something quite different.

The Post wrote, Other senior health officials in the meeting were stunned. Why hadnt the CDC looped other government officials on the data? Could the agency share itat least with the Food and Drug Administration, which was responsible for deciding whether booster shots were necessary? But CDC officials demurred, saying they planned to publish it soon.

A month later, reports published in the US corroborated the Israeli data.

It is more likely the CDC had siloed and forgotten the information, choosing to ignore its implications and leading to the backpedaling the Post describes. But it further confirms that the CDC has become deeply enmeshed in political decisions to control the flow of scientific information to the public. The deliberate intent is science conforms to policy rather than shaping it.

Other vital data left out that has only recently been published included information on hospitalizations and death by age and vaccinations status, including breakthrough infections rates that could have warned the public about the rapid decline in vaccine effectiveness.

Another glaring omission has been data derived from wastewater surveillance across the country that could identify emerging COVID-19 hot spots and new variants. It was more than a year ago the CDC had established its National Wastewater Surveillance System. Early this month, the agency added wastewater data to its COVID-19 trackers, providing a broad perspective on the surge of infections across hundreds of communities.

CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund told the Times, The agency has been slow to release the different streams of data because basically, at the end of the day, its not yet ready for prime time. [The agencys] priority when gathering any data is to ensure that its accurate and actionable.

The pandemic has demonstrated that the CDC cannot handle large volumes of data while operating under political oversight. There are grave dangers to the population when the premier public health authority is unable to provide timely and vital information on the status of this or any other epidemic.

Nordlund let it be known that the agency was reluctant to share efficacy information on the vaccines with the public because they might be misinterpreted as the vaccines being ineffective, the Times wrote. She also said that the data represented only a small percentage of the population, which is a devious attempt to sidestep the issue.

Epidemiologists and scientists frequently utilize limited but broadly applicable data to address critical and pressing questions. The CDC had no problem generalizing that COVID-19 had little impact on school-aged children using limited data obtained from a single school or district, much that is untenable even for the CDC.

These developments are significant. Hospitals are no longer required to report real-time data on COVID-19, specifically deaths, to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), relying on the CDC to update these statistics.

As children were facing a deluge of infections due to a concerted national effort to force teachers back to the classrooms and schools be opened regardless of the cost or impact on communities, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has been substituting as a reliable source on COVID-19 infections among children, was repeatedly asking the CDC on the granular data relating to hospitalized children. They were told it was unavailable.

Since the pandemic began, according to the limited data available on the CDCs COVID-19 tracker, at least 1,346 children have died. Those under five make up the largest subgroup, with 434 total deaths. According to the AAP, approximately 60 percent of all child deaths occurred in the last six months. Between January 25, 2022, and February 19, 2022, 219 children died, of whom 74 (one-third) were under five. By contrast, the influenza virus has killed fewer than five children in the last two years.

Early in the pandemic, several international studies pointed to the importance of schools and children as vectors of community transmission for the coronavirus. Many principled researchers and epidemiologists defied the official pretense that children were neither impacted nor very contagious when infected. Yet, the CDC has repeatedly taken the baseless position that children are essentially immune to the disease and has put children in harms way.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chair of the AAPs Committee on Infectious Disease, speaking with the Times, said she had also repeatedly asked the CDC for an estimate on the contagiousness of a person infected with the coronavirus five days after symptoms begin. She said, Theyve [CDC] known this for over a year and a half, right, and they havent told us. I mean, you cant find out anything from them.

Due to the massive surge of infections caused by the Omicron variant, instead of calling for an immediate shutdown and the application of stringent mitigation measures, the CDC simply shortened their isolation period to five days, claiming there was a sound scientific basis for their decision.

In late December, when the guidance was issued, Yonatan Grad, an associate professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvards School of Public Health, declared, To me, this feels honestly more about economics than about the science. I suspect what it will do is result in at least some people emerging from isolation more quickly, and so therell be more opportunities for transmission, and that, of course, will accelerate the spread of COVID-19.

Later, a human challenge trial based in the UK, where healthy volunteers were purposely infected with the coronavirus to provide the basis for future studies to test new vaccines and therapeutics, found that symptoms started within two days. Viral load increased rapidly, peaking after five days. Many still had high levels of active virus 10 days, and some 12 days following infection. And yet, the CDC director told health care workers that they didnt have to isolate if they had the sniffles. This week she claimed it was essential to give people a break from masks even as new subvariants of Omicron are accelerating in the US.

Aside from the death of hundreds of children, even the CDC has had to acknowledge the catastrophic loss of life sustained in the US over the last two years. More than 80 million have reportedly been infected. Over 960,000 have died from COVID-19. Excess deaths are 15 to 35 percent higher than the officially recorded COVID-19 deaths. Close to 2,000 people die each day of COVID-19, but even these horrific figures are in question. How many more deaths are we no longer tracking?

These revelations mean that the CDC and the head of the agency, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, are complicit in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
Written and directed by Sian Heder

CODA, written and directed by Sian Heder, is an adaptation of the 2014 French film The Belier Family (La Famille Belier). It concerns a working class family in Gloucester, Massachusetts, three of whom are deaf. CODA stands for Children of Deaf Adults. A coda can also be the concluding, summarizing part of a musical piece or a literary work.

Emilia Jones in CODA

The film premiered virtually at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, winning four awards, including the festivals US Grand Jury Prize and Best Director in the US Dramatic section for Heder. It also set a festival acquisition record, selling to Apple for $25 million. Troy Kotsur, 53, who plays the family patriarch in CODA, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making him the first male deaf actor to receive such a nomination. Marlee Matlin, also in CODA, was the first deaf person not only to be nominated but to win an Oscar, for Children of a Lesser God (Randa Haines, 1986).

CODA is a refreshing film for its marked humanity and its concern not only for the tribulations of the deaf, but also for a hard-pressed, exploited fishing community. Its unique focus and concerns lift the work above the danger of becoming formulaic.

The film opens on a rusty, fishing trawler in the waters of Cape Ann, off the coast of Gloucester. Seventeen-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones), in fishing Grundens (orange, rubberized sea-wear) belts out an Etta James tune playing on a small radio. She, her bearded, weather-beaten father Frank (Kotsur) and older brother Leo (Daniel Durant) are sorting out an impressive haul of fish on deck. Ruby is the only hearing person in the Rossi family, which includes Frank, his wife Jackie (Matlin), as brassy and argumentative as her husband, and Leo.

Eking out a living from the sea becomes increasingly difficult as the big processors cut into the fishermens profits. Additionally, the federal government is insisting on at sea monitors which will cost $800 a day. A high-school senior, Ruby starts her day at 3am and must both work as a deck hand on the Rossi boat, as well as a translator-interpreter for the family business. School time becomes an opportunity for sleep.

Sign language between family members is highly dynamic. Despite the lack of verbal communication, noise levels in the household often prove ear-numbing, and occasionally embarrassing, for Ruby.

The teen signs up for choir taught by the emotive music teacher Bernardo Mr. V Villalobos (the flamboyant, caustic Eugenio Derbez), who recognizes Rubys talent and pairs her with her secret crush, Miles (Irish-born Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), for the 1968 Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell duet, Youre All I Need to Get By.

Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant in CODA

Arresting vistas of the ocean are juxtaposed with images of boarded-up buildings. In one sequence, the Fisheries Council addresses a crowd of fisherman who are yet again being squeezed. Frank explodes and yells (via Ruby): Were tired of this shit  You dont care if these guys regulate us to death, cause youre the only one making money here! No ones getting paid what their catch is worth. He proposes the Fresh Catch Program of direct selling without the middle man. But when Frank and Leo are out fishing one day without Ruby, they fail to hear a Coast Guard signal and are penalized $2,500. Eventually, the strapped fishing community members take matters into their own hands.

Meanwhile, Ruby is encouraged to apply for Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her admittance is secured when, overcoming her initial stage fright, she fluidly interprets the lyrics with her hands as she sings to her family who have snuck into balcony seats. In a deeply affecting scene between father and daughter, as the script describes it, Frank lays his hand on her throat to feel the vibrations.  Frank moves his hands around on her neck to find her voice. He closes his eyesthats it. He can feel it. He moves his hand to her plexus, listening.

Director Heder explained in an interview with Decider: I dont think I fully registered that I would never hear these words, I would be seeing them. To watch this visual expression of your ideas or emotion come to life was the most exciting process.

She noted there was resistance from the financiers: The people in charge of the money wanted big stars and felt casting lesser-known Deaf actors would be too great a risk. Then Marlee Matlin  an undeniable star in her own right  joined the cast and threatened to quit the production if hearing actors were hired for the deaf roles  It was so undeniable once we started auditioning people, how much talent there was in the Deaf community. One can sympathize, given the limited number of opportunities, although the notion that only deaf actors can play deaf roles would set a dangerous precedent.

CODA

The music is such an important part of the film, asserted Heder in an interview with sagindie.com. Obviously, the title has a double meaning in that a CODA is a child of deaf adults, but a coda also signifies the end of a piece of music. I knew that music was going to be a very important part of the story also in how it would play against the silence. Rhythmically in the film, theres a lot of interplay between these silent ASL scenes and these choir scenes where the kids are performing these really fun choir numbers.

But actually, the more that I studied ASL [American Sign Language] and dug into Deaf culture and being inside of ASL conversations, she continued, theres so much in ASL that is musical in a way that English or any spoken language is not. ASL is very rhythmic and melodic and emotionally expressive in a way that the spoken word cant be, but music is. Heder added that so much of the film was in ASL, so much of the culture on set became about ASL, and it actually felt like the language of ASL and the language of music had all these incredible parallels that were unlocked within the story. It felt like it really highlighted thematically what the story was about.

Heders enthusiasm finds artistic expression in her unabashedly sincere film. Marius De Vries score is understated, while Paula Huidobros skillful cinematography helps deepen the films ambiance. Bright orange Grundens dot harsh waters that reluctantly give up their bounty.

Made a year before the onset of the pandemic, CODA provides insight into deafness. Being hearing impaired is not viewed as an insuperable disability, but as a challenge to an individual to gain his or her bearings in the world in a particular, complex fashion, with likely its own distinct rewards.
Britains government has finalised its living with COVID strategy. Speaking to parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear this should properly be called a plan for workers dying with COVID. He announced:

From today, the end of guidance that school staff and students test twice weekly.

From this Thursday, the end of the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test, routine contact tracing and self-isolation support payments.

From March 24, the end of COVID sick pay provisions.

From April 1, the end of free testing for the general public.

Every word uttered in defence of this murderous policy is based on a lie. Johnson told the BBC on Sunday, 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.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (centre) speaking at Monday's Downing Street press conference with (right) Sir Chris Whitty and (left) Sir Patrick Vallance (screenshot from video/Boris Johnson/Twitter)

The Conservative governments strategy is based on the removal of all protections and will not lead to normality.

Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) member Professor Robert West told Times Radio that the government had decided to abdicate its own responsibility for looking after its population, adding, It looks as though what the Government has said is that it accepts that the country is going to have to live with somewhere between 20,000 and 80,000 COVID deaths a year and isnt really going to do anything about it.

Medium-term scenarios outlined on February 10 by SAGE in a universally ignored briefing raise even graver concerns. Professor Maggie Rae, President of the Faculty of Public Health, called the ending of free testing incomprehensible. There is no sound scientific or medical basis for the governments policy.

Johnson blurted out his real motivation in his BBC interview. We need people to be much more confident and get back to work We dont need to keep spending at a rate of 2 billion a month [on testing].

The super-rich view any public health response to the pandemic as a state-subsidised interruption of the flow of profits, which must end. Their new normal does not mean doing away with the virus, but with the victims of the virus who will be forcibly exposed to COVID-19 in their workplaces.

The work till you drop drive has reached such a pitch that Britains 95-year-old monarch has been enlisted as the royal face of the campaign. Queen vows to carry on working with Covid, cheered the Daily Telegraph; Queen, 95, hit by Covid but she vows to work on, the Sun; the Mirror reported, Queen gets Covid but she carries on; the Metro ran the inevitable Queen keeps calm and carries on; and the Daily Mail touted Queens Covid example to us all.

The boardrooms and their media outposts have worked themselves into such a frenzy that no one in the corporate media has asked whether risking the life of the head of the British state at a time of extreme political crisis, including within the monarchy, is a good idea.

The second lie is that COVID-19 can now be managed by, in Johnsons words, encouraging personal responsibility. He added cynically, Its very important we should remain careful.

How, exactly? Interviewed on Sky News yesterday, Business Minister Paul Scully said that for people who contracted COVID, like any transmissible illness youd stay at home but itll be down to themselves or down to their employer. In fact, it will be entirely down to their employer with workers doubly pressured by having no access to even limited sickness and self-isolation payments.

Without free testing, moreover, most people will have no way of knowing whether or not they even have a COVID infection. The virus will be allowed to run rampant.

Enter the third lie, that the combination of the Omicron variant and the vaccination programme have ended any serious threat from COVID. The UK is in a different world, Johnson said Sunday. I want to be able to address the problems of the pandemic with a vaccine-led approach.

It is Johnson and his supporters that are living in a different world or trying to sell the myth of one. Omicron is still taking a significant toll on health and lives, with the long-term implications still unknown. Vaccinations, a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19, are being continually undermined by the removal of other public health measures, allowing the virus to circulate and new variants to develop.

As the governments Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance admitted yesterday, there is no guarantee that the next variants will be less severe. We expect there to be further variants and they could be more severe.

More than 1,000 cases of the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant of Omicron had already been detected in the UK by the start of this month. Preliminary results from a study at the University of Tokyo suggest it may be more severe and resistant to treatments. Deltacron, a hybrid of the more deadly Delta and Omicron variants, has also been confirmed in the UK.

Even with additional shots, immunity from vaccination is waning. A recent study of triple-jabbed people by the US Centre for Disease Control found that protection against hospitalisation fell from 91 percent during the first two months to 78 percent after four. For protection against visits to urgent care and emergency departments, it fell from 87 percent to 66 percent. After more than five months, effectiveness fell to 31 percent, though the researchers note the estimate was imprecise because few data were available.

Plans for a fourth jab in the UK, announced by Health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday, are being limited to people aged 75 and over, the immunosuppressed and residents in old age care homes.

As SAGE advisor Professor West told Times Radio he would be very surprised if the living with COVID strategy would be cost effective, given the economic costs of Long COVID and hospital admissions. But this underestimates the brutality of what is planned.

From the beginning, the governments preferred herd immunity policy has been to trade the lives of the old and the clinically vulnerable off against the profits of the rich. Its attacks on social security payments and underfunding of the National Health Service show it has no intention of caring for the aged and infirm. Seeing them die is seen as a positive boon, as Johnson made clear in October 2020 with his infamous declaration, No more fucking lockdowns. Let the bodies pile high in their thousands!

Johnson is given a free hand to act by the Labour Party and the trade unions. He made his statement to a parliamentary chamber that looked half asleep.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer raised some pro-forma concerns, to be forgotten in a weeks time, advancing Labours obscenely-named plan to live well with COVID, framed as a more responsible version of the governments policy. He said, in reference to testing, If youre 2-1 up with ten minutes to go you dont sub off one of your best defenders.

The UK is not 2-1 up, it is 180,000 lives down.

Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances OGrady agreed with Johnson, that We are all looking forward to getting on with our lives, before appealing to his criminal government to put the country and public health first by maintaining free tests and improving sick pay. This is something neither she nor any union leader has any intention of fighting for.

Johnsons announcement applies specifically to England, with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following their own timescales. But whatever political points they try to score today over the Tories, they will follow suit in short order, as they have done throughout the pandemic.

At home with the pandemic and abroad with the war plans against Russia, the Johnson government and its supporters are dragging the working class over the precipice. Workers must urgently organise a joint fight against COVID-19 and the danger of war on the only possible basisthe struggle for international socialism.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is preparing to move further to the right as the Biden administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress unabashedly prosecute the interests of Wall Street and American imperialism and reject even the paltriest proposals for social reform.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman (Wikimedia Commons/Office of Sen. Bowman)

The DSA has long presented a mythical version of the Democratic Party, suggesting that it would open up avenues for social reform once in power.

Since the inauguration of Joe Biden, the DSA has presented the Democratic administrationbacked by a Democratic majority in both houses of Congressas a driving force of progressive social change.

In its first quarterly statement published after the November 2020 election and Bidens inauguration in January 2021, the DSAs Socialist Forum editorial committee wrote: It seems like Democrats have learned some important lessons from the Obama administration. Whats more, there is now, for the first time in many years, a meaningful Left in this country that will continue to push for the biggest and boldest policies possible to combat the pandemic, social inequality, racial injustice, and climate change.

The DSAs promise of a meaningful Left through the Democratic Party has proven to be a disaster for the working class. Biden has brought the world closer to the prospect of nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Half a million more Americans have died of COVID in the year since Biden took office, and now the Biden administration and Democratic governors are ending all restrictions on the pandemic as more than 2,000 people die every day.

This reality explodes the DSAs claims that its influence has encouraged the 200-year-old party of imperialist reaction to transform itself into a left-wing party of social progress.

In a series of recent statements, the Democratic operatives who lead the DSA have begun to acknowledge the growth of left-wing opposition to DSA-backed politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, who are increasingly seen as conventional capitalist politicians and apologists for Biden and Pelosi. Aware that this opposition reflects broader working-class discontent, the DSA concludes that it must work even harder to present a mythical version of the Democratic Party in order to better channel social discontent behind it.

To bridge the growing chasm between the DSA myth and the Democratic reality, the DSA leadership is maneuvering to the right, calling for an end to any political principle that might marginalize the DSA from the Democratic Party establishment. Prominent DSA figures are praising even conservative Democrats like Chuck Schumer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. DSA-linked politicians are abandoning slogans that were associated with the mass demonstrations against the Trump administration, including Abolish ICE and defund the police.

Concern over the influence of left-wing critics

There is a growing recognition by the DSA leadership that its defense of the Democratic Party is so detached from reality that it is provoking serious opposition from the left.

A February 14 Jacobin article by Natalie Shure, The End of the AOC Honeymoon, notes that the enthusiasm of the Sanders presidential campaign of 2020 has largely dissolved and given way to frustration with the Democratic Partys progressive elements. Two years later, the outlook for this new left is still not clear, Shure writes. Thanks to the limits of the human life span, there wont be a Bernie 2024. And large parts of the post-Bernie vacuum are losing faith in his young successors, thirty-two-year-old Ocasio-Cortez and the progressive members of Congress surrounding her.

These concerns over large parts of the post-Bernie vacuum losing faith in the DSAs political leaders are at the heart of the DSAs raison detre. The DSA exists to trap social opposition and to channel it back into the Democratic Party.

Shure references growing opposition to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who left-wing critics say had been tamed and co-opted by the Democratic Party. Shure also refers to left-wing dissent about the Squads political project when DSA member and New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman sparked ire for voting to fund Israels Iron Dome.

Shure admits that the hundred-plus DSA members serving in state and local office across the country, and even the socialists with significant blocs on city councils in urban centers like Chicago and New York, sometimes take positions that are wildly at odds with those of their organization.

But Shure defends Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman and argues there is no principle worth defending if it alienates the Democratic Party establishment. Imperfect progressives make insurgent progressive politics more popular within the Democratic Party, Shure writes, and attacks left-wing critics: This angry fallout and the media spectacle that accompanies it risks turning progressives like Bowman away from the DSA and prevents the DSA from working in coalition with more and more groups. This is an appeal for a reconciliation with a broader, more explicitly right-wing segment of the Democratic Party.

Referencing Bowmans Iron Dome vote, Shure cites DSA Vice President and former DNC official David Duhalde as advocating for the need for flexibility when it comes to public officeholders. Shure quotes Duhalde as saying, For people like me, this is about winning, about building power with those elected to advance public policy and coalition work, and to raise the profile of DSA, not to act as a tribune for the organization. In other words, the DSA must abandon all positions that threaten to disrupt its coalition work with the Democratic Party establishment.

Jacobins New York Example

In a January 11 article by Liza Featherstone titled New York Democratic Socialists are Playing the Long Game, Jacobin acknowledged left-wing frustration over the inability of DSA members of Congress to accomplish anything, but the author argued that prospects for pressuring the Democrats are much better on the state and local level. According to Featherstone, the New York Democratic Party state machine is leading the march to socialism:

Democrats in Albany work with the socialists on issues of common ground, cosponsoring bills and even joining protests together. Both New York senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, who are centrist Democrats, endorsed [DSA-backed Buffalo Mayoral candidate] India Walton after she won her primary. Schumer has embraced some of the socialists top priorities, even showing up for the taxi workers protest. [New York State Senator Julia] Salazar explains, Senator Schumer is a shrewd politician who has his ear to the ground, and sees that politics are changing and that communities are electing democratic socialists because these are the policies they support.

Featherstone praises right-wing Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul as being somewhat responsive to socialist demands. Featherstone then claims the DSA has given a substantial section of the Democratic Party the strength to proclaim that they are longtime socialists: Others are progressive politicians who might not have admitted their socialist sympathies and now feel emboldened to do so more openly.

In reality, Comrade Hochul is an unelected arch-reactionary who took over control of the state after former governor Andrew Cuomo was ousted in a sex scandal and is the party establishments pick for the 2022 gubernatorial election. Hochul has recently ended the states mask requirements, implemented a ban on homeless people resting in subways during cold winter months, declared that no one in my administration supports defunding the police, won the enthusiastic endorsement of Hillary Clinton, and has raised $21 million in campaign funding, largely from Wall Street, real estate speculators, hospitals and nursing homes, hotel chains and gambling companies.

Notably, Jacobins article praises Hochuls support for increasing police budgets, with Featherstone writing, There is no one working-class view on policing, but so far, the defund the police message could complicate NYC-DSAs efforts to build a mass electoral base, calling it a risky message that can seem out of touch with well-founded fears of crime. Such statements make clear the DSA is not pressuring the Democrats to move to the left, but that the DSA is voluntarily moving further to the right to accommodate the Democratic establishment.

Additional evidence of this is seen in the open repudiation of protest slogans by DSA-linked candidates like New York Assemblywoman Alessandra Biaggi, who helped instigate the sex scandal that unseated Cuomo and is now running for Congress.

A February 17 Washington Post article titled Democrats are fighting against far-left proposals they once accommodated notes that Democrats across the country are abandoning past statements of support for protest slogans. The Post quotes Biaggi as apologizing for once sharing a tweet that used #DefundThePolice: Unfortunately, the phrase doesnt fully capture that, and its been so politicized and so many people believe that it is solely about cutting funds to police departments. In 2020, Biaggis assembly campaign was endorsed by the Bernie Sanders-founded Our Revolution group, with Biaggi saying at the time, A lot of what were fighting for is in alignment with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Similarly, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes has apologized for a photo that shows him promoting a DSA t-shirt with the slogan Abolish ICE. Barnes is now running for Senate. He recently told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: I am not a part of the Abolish ICE movement because no one slogan can capture all the work we have to do. Such is the response of the Democrats to DSA efforts to pressure them from the left.

Praise for the Congressional Progressive Caucus

Another important shift was identifiable in a recent quarterly statement by the editorial board of DSA-aligned Socialist Forum, which offered praise for the Congressional Progressive Caucus usually only reserved for DSAs own members of Congress. It would be a mistake to write all of this off as business as usual, Socialist Forum writes of the congressional Democrats actions since the 2020 election.

For months, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) thwarted various attempts by Democratic centrists to sink the [social spending] deal. This reflects the positive changes in the CPC led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others to turn it into a more cohesive and programmatic bloc. It reflects the growing influence the broad Left has been able to exercise since Bernie Sanders first ran for president in 2016.

In reality, the Progressive Caucus caved to Pelosi and voted to support Bidens infrastructure bill without social spending, but the shift in language is significant. In a 2018 Jacobin article headlined, We need a Socialist Caucus in Congress, prominent DSA figure and Jacobin editor Bhaskar Sunkara called for Ocasio-Cortez and future DSA members in Congress not to join the Democrats Progressive Caucus and to instead form a socialist caucus.

Moreover, Socialist Forums benediction of the work of the Progressive Caucus lends political support to figures like Hakeem Jeffries, a Progressive Caucus member (and leading member of the New York state Democratic machine) only undermines their own position. Jeffries recently formed a political action committee called Team Blue backed by corporate money for the explicit purpose of crushing left-wing primary challenges to right-wing Democrats.

The Left in Purgatory

Jacobin editor Sunkara vaguely outlined the situation confronting the DSA in a February 15 Jacobin statement titled The Left in Purgatory, announcing the latest print edition of the magazine which features the same title.

In the statement, Sunkara writes, Socialists in the United States are stuck. How do we become masters of our own fate?

Sunkaras statement acknowledges growing disillusionment in figures he and Jacobin have consistently promoted. There is no doubt that were at the end of a period of rapid politicization and settling into one of either gradual decline or slow advance, he writes, adding, The considerable talents of even national figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seem to be directed less toward confrontation with political and economic elites and more toward the terrain of cultural battles of late, destined to resonate most in deep-blue districts.

Sunkara expresses his concern that the DSA has been unable to build support for its pro-Democratic Party politics in the working class:

We might feel more confident about the prospects for the Left if, rather than a momentary shift leftward in liberal economic priorities or the rhetoric of certain parts of the mainstream media, there had been deeper inroads made among workers. There have been rare exceptions, but on the whole, it would be delusional to say that our ideological left has made a decade of progress merging with a wider social base.

He writes that one year of marginality drifts into another and concludes: The question we may have to ask ourselves in the years to come is whether some of our actions could be hastening rather than reversing the process of class dealignment.

Warnings of marginalization are simply justifications for opposition to any policy that would challenge the interests of the financial aristocracy which the Democratic Party represents. To these layers. who have no connection whatsoever to the class struggle, seeking a wider social base does not mean a turn to the social interests of the working class but, on the contrary, to the Democratic Party and the trade union bureaucracies.

Sunkaras off-handed acknowledgement that the DSA is a barrier on the development of the struggle for socialism is perhaps the first honest statement he has ever made. The DSA is a faction of the Democratic Party that exists to protect the two-party system and stop the development of an independent socialist movement in the working class. Like its parent organization, it responds to pressure from below by moving to the right.
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with strikers yesterday and distributed the statement, UK university workers begin strikes against attacks on pensions, pay and conditionsUnite education workers and students! Build rank and file committees!

University of Leeds

Angela, who teaches academic English to postgraduate international students, said higher education workers are striking because Workloads increased massively [during the pandemic] and this hasnt been taken into account. Last year we didnt get a pay rise at all. Our main concern is for younger staff and those that are casualised. The marketisation of the universities is having a massive impact and this university is not going in the right direction.

She added, The pandemic has had an impact on our struggle as colleagues who were out in [spring] 2020 against pension cuts arent out now. There is a [government] narrative that students have suffered, and that narrative has been used against us. There are lots of students who are sympathetic to us.

The picket line at the University of Glasgow (WSWS Media)

Gabriella teaches in the School of Business. Asked why university workers were striking she said, People know it is probably the last chance to stop the cuts for this pension scheme  The cost-of-living crisis means people are worried about losing pay by going on strike but they are also worried that ultimately the amount of money we would lose if we dont go on strike is higher.

Gabriella (WSWS Media)

She said, I think the marketisation of higher education is the biggest part of the picture of what we are fighting against and thats why we should find solidarity with the students because they are those paying the cost of this marketisation

Students can get loans but then they have to pay this back when they are working, so this is another form of disciplining the working class. This is a system that is not sustainable. We are becoming more and more like a private institution and so this is incredibly dangerous. It changes the relationship with our students and changes the quality of any discussion about education.

Sheffield Hallam University

John, a lecturer, said, Im picketing today over the main issues of casualisation, increasing workloads, inequality and low pay.

Pickets at Sheffield Hallam University (WSWS Media)

This affects the whole Higher Education (HE) sector. For example, at the University of Sheffield (TUOS) theyre on strike over massive cuts to their pensions. If I was working over there, my annual pension would have fallen by about a third  Theyre cutting it for ideological reasons because they want everyone on a private pension

Other universities were out last week, and we werent because were not in the same pension scheme, were on the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) because of the separate history of polytechnic institutions. Its one big struggle, its not two struggles.

Theres the same issue over contributions to the teachers pension. Theyre threatened with being fired-and-rehired on contracts where the schools trust doesnt have to contribute to the pension fund anymore. Its disgusting.

We do this job out of a sense of duty and to make a difference, not because we want to make lots of money. We have the deferred gratification of knowing that we should have a decent pension when we retire. When they take that away, whod want to do this job? Many colleagues are considering leaving the profession.

Were seeing undergraduate numbers drop because more prestigious universities, for example the University of Sheffield, take them on, but they dont have the resources to service these students. Weve got the resources, but theyre taking them on. So, they have to take on lecturers who havent taught the topics before. Its not focussing on quality, or thinking about the next generation, or the wider social benefits.

We thought thered be a longer-term plan rather than throwing everything to the market. Marketisation causes disorganisation across the sector. Everything is chaotic because theyre following the drive for money, they want to keep money coming in. They need money because theyre taking on lots of new buildings.

This disorganisation and chaos causes us real stress. If I manage to get a good nights sleep two nights a week, Im lucky. Were told to redesign modules as resources are constantly cut. We need good organisation to focus on quality, not the production of a mass-market commodity.

Speaking about the divisive role of the National Union of Students, John said, At this university, the National Union of Students is against the strike. The students union has pretty much been taken over by management. They dont support the strike but advise students how to work around it.

Glasgow University

Diarmaid Kelliher, a human geography lecturer, said, We have two separate disputes, one of them pensions. There are very significant cuts to our pensions. The other dispute, what we call the Four Fights dispute, is about pay, equality, workload, casualisation. So, there are two separate things there, but they are interconnected as part of general attacks on our pay and conditions

Diarmid (WSWS Media)

Theres that then there are all the equality issues. There are a huge amount of people on insecure, fixed term contracts.

Asked his thoughts on the University and College Unions efforts to keep the disputes separate, Diarmaid replied, We have struck over them simultaneously and repeatedly, so its not like we view them as entirely separate things, but it is difficult. It's not just that there are different institutions, some institutions are going to go on strike over one thing, and they are not going to go on strike for another  There are also different employers organisations and negotiation mechanisms. We are all employed by different people. It is important to keep those disputes linked and link these to broader arguments about how cuts in pensions are cuts in deferred wages.

On the pandemic, he replied, People like being able to teach people in person. But obviously there are health and safety issues  Universities were saying you can do teaching in person, or you can do it online. Now they are saying you can do it in person andonline, you can double your workload. There is no consideration.

I think it is really important to make sure that people who need to work from home can do so, and also that there are mechanisms to monitor the effect on workload. It has been really terrible for people with care responsibilities, these have rocketed during the pandemic.

Evans, a student, was on the picket line supporting the lecturers strike. He said, The strike is something that affects many people. Its necessary to stand in solidarity, to try not to be selfish, to think of others, to care for their future and your future. It will affect you; you have got to keep that in mind.

Evans (WSWS Media)

Asked his thought on the growing war danger in Europe, Evan said, It is being inflated, it is being exaggerated by the West, trying to sell weapons and hype up another war. The arms companies are demanding a new source of income after the end of the Afghan war. They have decided that the new source will be Ukraine. They are just hyping up a war that is very unlikely to happen. Russia doesnt have much of a reason to invade.

WSWS reporters explained that the major NATO powers were seeking the eventual carve up of Russia. He replied, Yes, they have a lot of natural gas, oil and a lot of untapped resources in Siberia, so they are definitely wanting to carve up Russia for those reasons. I dont agree with Russia personally, but they are not the bad guys in this situation.
Over the past fortnight, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has campaigned at a number of orientation events where it has student clubs, including Macquarie University in Sydney, Newcastle University in regional New South Wales and Victoria University in Melbourne.

IYSSE orientation week stall at University of Newcastle (WSWS media)

The youth and student wing of the Socialist Equality Party won a strong response to the revolutionary, socialist and internationalist perspective it advanced. The IYSSE was the only club on the campuses raising opposition to the US-led war preparations against Russia and China, which are actively supported by the Australian political establishment, and the let it rip pandemic policies that subordinate health to private profit.

Students beginning university, aged only 17 or 18, were very receptive to the IYSSEs perspective. There was widespread opposition to the prospect of a major war, concern over the ongoing Omicron surge and a social crisis that afflicts increasingly broad layers of young people.

The IYSSE explained that all of these issues were a product of capitalism, an outmoded system in global crisis. Students and young people had to turn to the working class, the revolutionary force in society, and take up a fight for socialism based on the lessons of history.

The IYSSE is holding a major meeting, entitled As the pandemic rages onThe threat of World War looms: Take up the fight against imperialism and for international socialism! We urge students and youth to register for the meeting and take part on Saturday March 12 at 4 p.m. (AEDT). Promote it among your friends and join the IYSSE!

Below are interviews with some of the students the IYSSE spoke to at recent orientation weeks.

Ronan

Ronan, a 17-year-old journalism student at University of Technology in Sydney, said: I think that the COVID response isnt actually dictated by the medical science. To a degree it is but for the most part its more determined by the economy. So, the governments are trying to reopen the country, reopen the borders. And I think that is generally just to stimulate the economy so they can continue their wealthy lifestyles.

Its not about the common good of the people. Its about the people on top, I would say politicians, wealthy billionaires. They always seem to be ahead of everyone else, even though the rest of the world is so far behind. They really should be helping to bring their fellow humans up but instead they exploit them for profit, all the time.

As a journalism student, our reporters asked for his opinion on the persecution and show-trial of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. I think he should be free. He needs to be free because he isnt in contempt of anything. Hes working for journalistic freedoms. So, if the government is keeping national secrets, then, if that is the national security, how secure is your nation if you are having to keep secrets from your own populace?

The United States has been militaristic for many, many years now. Its amazing to see how much they have continued that trend. We should try to unite people. We shouldnt be trying to kill them. It just saddens me almost. It just feels wrong in so many ways.

Asked what he thinks can be done to resolve social ills, Ronan answered: I genuinely think that equality and equality for the people would be definitely the right move. So, socialism is a good system, and it works, and its been proven to work in many cases. But it doesnt make people rich. It just brings up the entire populace. So, the 1 percent, or even smaller than the 1 percent dont want it. And if they dont want it, they have the power to throw around and stop it. As a populace we need to unite. We need to unite, and we need to make things happen. We need action. You can talk about it all you want, but there needs to be some form of action done.

Asked by a reporter what social force would do that, he said I would think, just the working class. The people who are always downtrodden, everybody who is just going through a rough time. If you are at work and you are just paid minimum wage by an employer who expects you to be doing every possible thing that you can. They expect maximum effort for minimum pay. How is that fair? It isnt.

Asked about Trotsky and his role, Ronan said: I did modern history in school, so I know at least a little bit about what he stood for. He stood for the working class. He stood for the same ideals that Lenin did, unlike his opposition, Stalin, who actually said he stood for Leninist ideals but instead was more a totalitarian dictatorship.

Youp spoke to the IYSSE at the University of Newcastle, in the regional industrial city north of Sydney.

Speaking of the let it rip policies, he said: Initially I understood why there was the argument for making it endemic, given the nature of COVID being very widespread. But in reality whats happening is a huge number of working people are getting sick, which is making things worse for the economy, and things are falling apart.

We dont need to infect everyone. Plus therell be a lot of deaths. I think that it could get to the point where it will become extremely challenging to come up with a vaccine against a constantly evolving virus that is allowed to spread. Its unsustainable.

Asked about his interest in socialism, Youp said, Capitalism has some very obvious flaws, the 1 percent getting richer at the expense of everyone else. You end up looking for an alternative, and socialism is very enticing. Having an interest in science and technology I recognise that a lot of scientific achievements occurred in the Soviet Union. To list just a couple they put the first man into space Yuri Gagarin, and Pyotr Ufimtsev who came up with the mathematics behind stealth aircraft.

I have ended up spending a lot of time researching the Soviet Union and the Russian Revolution online (you could call me a Wikipedia warrior of sorts!). We dont get any education about it in school, which is strange because its a massive thing that dominated peoples lives for an entire century. Its immensely important but I know next to nothing about it. I am interested in hearing other peoples perspectives so thats why I signed up.

Amelie

Amelie, a psychological science student, also at the University of Newcastle, opposed the official pandemic policies: As soon as [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison put us into lockdown and then as soon as the economy started slowing down, it was like, I dont really care if Australian citizens are dying, we need the economy to start back up again.

Dominic Perrottet came straight in, he was so against the Delta wave lockdown. Then when he came in as the New South Wales state premier, straight away, he got rid of the lockdowns and then we saw the infections went up from hundreds a day all the way up to 80,000 plus cases a day, and having over 400,000 active cases at a given time recently. You can tell they just dont care about anyone, anything but money, capital, big business. It is so devastating to see that so many people had to suffer because the government does not care at all.

When told about the death toll in the past two months surpassing the total death toll of the past two years, she said: That is absolutely horrific, its like their whole attitude is like we can see that you are all dying, but we are making money so we dont care.

On the US-led drive to war with Russia over Ukraine, Amelie stated: There is such a lack of effort by so many governments to be diplomatic, even in Australia, Scott Morrison is like, well pull all our people in the embassy out [of Ukraine], lets hope nothing happens. This is on top of us putting so much money into defence. You have all your citizens struggling so much, they have got virtually no welfare support, were not getting free rapid antigen tests, tens of people are dying from COVID everyday here and you are putting that much wealth into the defence force?

Asked why she thinks governments are turning to war, Amelia responded: Money. Its all about what is in their best interests economically.
On Monday evening, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting dedicated to denunciations by the major capitalist powers of the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day to recognize the independence of two regions in Eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Also on Monday, the Russian government reported that two Ukrainian armored personnel carriers entered its borders and were destroyed, killing five Ukrainian soldiers. Russia announced that it was sending military forces into Eastern Ukraine, which has been targeted by massive military barrages from the Ukrainian government.

These developments mark a significant escalation in the development of the conflict in Ukraine into an all-out war involving Russia, the United States and the major European powers in the NATO military alliance.

Under conditions of crisis, it is necessary not to be swept up by the militarist propaganda that is promoted relentlessly in the media. For this, current developments must be placed in their broader historical context. The present conflict did not arise overnight. It is a culmination of a whole series of provocations and actions by American and European imperialism, which have worked relentlessly to expand NATO into Eastern Europe.

Six years ago, on February 18, 2016, the International Committee of the Fourth International published a statement, Socialism and the Fight Against War, which anticipated the current war danger with remarkable precision.

The WSWS is reposting portions of this statement below. The fact that the statement could foresee so clearly developments that are now erupting is itself a powerful refutation of the claims by the Biden administration that its war threats are an immediate response to Russian aggression and a defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The statement should be carefully studied by all those who want to understand the driving forces behind the present crisis and what must be done to stop the danger of World War III.

***

Excerpts from Socialism and the Fight Against War, Statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International, February 18, 2016

Fifteen years after the United States launched the war on terror, the entire world is being dragged into an ever-expanding maelstrom of imperialist violence. The invasions and interventions organized by US imperialism have devastated Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. NATO is engaged in a massive rearmament program in preparation for war with Russia

The world stands on the brink of a catastrophic global conflict. The statements of heads of capitalist governments grow increasingly bellicose. The proxy wars in Ukraine and Syria have drawn NATO and Russia closer to a full-scale confrontation As in the years that preceded the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and World War II in 1939, political leaders and military planners are approaching the conclusion that a war between major powers is not a remote possibility, but, rather, highly probable and, perhaps, even inevitable

The drive to war is centered in the efforts of the United States to maintain its position as the global hegemonic power. The dissolution in 1991 of the Soviet Union was seen as an opportunity to assert unrivaled US domination throughout the world. It was glorified by imperialist propagandists as the end of history, creating a unipolar moment in which the unchallengeable power of the United States would dictate a New World Order in the interests of Wall Street. The Soviet Union had encompassed a vast expanse of the globe, stretching from the eastern boundaries of Europe all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Thus, the vast regions of Eurasia, occupied by a debilitated Russia and newly independent Central Asian states, were again in play, open for corporate exploitation and plunder. The Stalinist restoration of capitalism in China, its police-state repression of working-class resistance in 1989 and the opening up of free trade zones to transnational investment made available a vast reservoir of cheap labor

The application of such geostrategic plans is evident in both Europe and Asia. A systematic buildup of American and allied military power is underway in the Indo-Pacific against China, while Russia has been confronted with NATO deployments in Eastern Europe and US pledges of military support to the ultra-nationalist regimes in the Baltic states and Ukraine. The American ruling class has drawn the conclusion that the nuclear-armed states in Beijing and Moscow must be brought to heel, sooner rather than later. Washingtons objective is to reduce China and Russia to the status of semi-colonial client states, control the heartland, and rule the world.

Seventy years after the fall of Hitlers Third Reich, the German ruling class is once again demanding that its state assert itself as the unquestioned overlord of Europe and as a world power. In the face of deeply felt anti-war sentiments within the German population, Berlin is deploying military force to assert its interests in the Middle East and Africa. It is pouring money into rearmament, while apologetics for the crimes of the Nazi regime are being advanced across the political establishment, media and academia, with the aim of justifying the revival of German imperialist ambitions

British imperialism, for its part, sees in the US decline an opportunity to expand the still significant global operations of the banks and finance houses based in the City of London. France is striving to regain its grip over its former colonial dominions in North and West Africa

The crisis of the capitalist nation-state system gives rise to two irreconcilable perspectives. Imperialism strives to overcome the clash of economic and geostrategic interests inherent in the capitalist nation-state system through the victory of one world hegemonic power over all its rivals. This is the aim of imperialist geostrategic calculations, and its inevitable outcome is global war.

Opposing the geopolitics of the capitalist class, the international working class is the social force that objectively constitutes the mass base for world socialist revolution, which signifies an end to the nation-state system as a whole and the establishment of a global economy based on equality and scientific planning. Imperialism seeks to save the capitalist order through war. The working class seeks to resolve the global crisis through social revolution. The strategy of the revolutionary party develops as the negation of imperialist nation-state geopolitics. The revolutionary party, as Trotsky explained, follows not the war map but the map of the class struggle.

The Russian government is the representative of the oligarchs who emerged from the Stalinist bureaucracy after it dismantled the Soviet state and abolished nationalized property relations. Its promotion of Great Russian nationalism is the extreme outcome of Stalinism itself, which was a violent and counterrevolutionary repudiation of the internationalist program of Marxism

World economy and world politics have entered a new stage. The period of capitalist triumphalism that opened up with the restoration of capitalism in Eastern Europe and reached fever pitch with the Stalinist dissolution of the USSR is over. The speculative house of cards that has underwritten the parasitic wealth of the ruling class is collapsing. The fall of stock market valuations is not only deflating the size of portfolios, but shattering the reputations and credibility of pro-capitalist theorists and political leaders.

***

The eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic that began two years ago has intensified the tendencies identified by the ICFI six years ago. The pandemic is a trigger event that has accelerated all the fundamental contradictions of contemporary capitalist society.

The present crisis confirms both the analysis of the ICFI six years ago and the conclusions that the statement drew. A new international movement against war, uniting the great mass of working people and youth in opposition to capitalism and imperialism, must be built, the ICFI declared. The same capitalist crisis that produces the insanity of war also generates the impulse for social revolution.

The statement outlined the following essential political foundations for a movement against war:

The struggle against war must be based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society, uniting behind it all progressive elements in the population.

The new anti-war movement must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and put an end to the economic system that is the fundamental cause of militarism and war.

The new anti-war movement must therefore, of necessity, be completely and unequivocally independent of, and hostile to, all political parties and organizations of the capitalist class.

The new anti-war movement must, above all, be international, mobilizing the vast power of the working class in a unified global struggle against imperialism.

This is the urgent political task confronting the international working class.

On Saturday, February 26, the World Socialist Web Site is hosting an international online webinar, Fight COVID and Save Lives! Stop the Drive to World War 3! We call on all our readers throughout the world to register and make plans to attend this critical international event today.
At least one person is dead and five others have been injured after a gunman, unidentified as of this writing, opened fire on anti-police violence protesters gathering for a Saturday march in Portland, Oregon.

Victims of the Portland shooting (Source: Twitter/AndyNgo)

Police have chosen not to identify either the shooter or any of his victims up to now. At least three of those injured are in critical condition, including the shooter, who himself was apparently shot by a protester who returned fire, according to Oregon Live. The same report claims that police investigators recovered at least eight shell casings from the scene that matched a .45 caliber gun.

Portland police have also claimed to have recovered one rifle round, which was apparently fired by the protester who hit the shooter, stopping the rampage. That same protester turned himself and his rifle into the police after the shooting.

The day before the shooting occurred, a tiny group of Patriot Front fascists briefly hung an anti-immigrant banner over a bridge in downtown Portland. The banner was taken down by local members of the community.

Prior to the shooting, roughly 50 anti-police violence protesters had gathered at Normandale Park in Northeast Portland. The purpose of the demonstration was to march in solidarity with 22-year-old Amir Locke, who was murdered by Minneapolis SWAT officer Mark Hanneman on February 2. The New York Times reported that the march was partly led by Letha Winston, whose son, Patrick Kimmons, was killed by Portland police in 2018.

According to local media reports and eyewitness accounts, as the marchers were set to begin walking, at around 8 p.m., an armed and agitated man exited a nearby home and approached in the crowd. In an interview with the Portland Mercury, a woman who wished to remain anonymous out of fear for her safety, said she and three other women, all unarmed, were serving as traffic safety volunteers when they spotted the man angrily walking towards them.

We were unarmed and actively working to de-escalate him and get him to leave, the woman recounted to the Mercury. He wasnt threatened by us. He walked up to us yelling about protesters in his neighborhood and opened fire within 90 seconds.

The woman claimed the man was about 10 feet away from her when he began shooting. She said bullets grazed her knee and arm while one woman was shot in the stomach, leg and chest, another was hit in the neck, while a fourth woman was fatally shot.

We show up voluntary to put ourselves between people exercising their first amendment rights and outsiders who would kill them for doing so, the woman told the Mercury. We did our jobs.

In an interview with New York Times, one of the victims, 39-year-old Dajah Beck, told the paper she was shot twice. Prior to the shooting, Beck and other members of the volunteer motorcade were confronted by the enraged man, who, in language that could have been ripped from the lips of Donald Trump, accused the group of being violent terrorists.

Beck told the paper the man said that they were responsible for violence in the city before threatening the unarmed group of women: If I see you come past my house, Ill shoot you.

In social media posts Sunday and Monday, Beck further detailed her horrific experience: My best friend and I walked out of the ER with 11 total bullet holes and multiple grazes. She added: It was all traffic corkers he opened fire on. Four women. Unarmed. Non threatening. One with a cane. Two more heard the shots, came to help, he shot them too.

Four women trying to de-escalate & he unloaded a 45 [pistol] into us because he didnt like being asked to leave and stop calling us terrorist c*nts. We were in high vis[ibility] and dresses. He murdered a disabled woman.

Adding that her GoPro camera, which was taken by the police, would substantiate her claims, Beck warned, Do not believe PPB press releases or the statements of mass murders. The police, Beck added, took two of us to the same hospital as him [the shooter]. We [were] wheeled past each other twice.

He came there to kill us, I am positive. He thought we were protesters. Beck posted a graphic picture of a gunshot wound she suffered.

Despite multiple witnesses describing the same activity, an angry armed man confronting the women and refusing to leave before attempting to murder them, police have refused to say if they have leveled any charges, or even arrested the mass shooter.

Democratic Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who last April encouraged fascistic violence against anti-police protesters, saying, [t]hose who are engaged in it, lets make it hurt them a little bit, waited until late Sunday night before releasing a statement on social media where he thanked Portland police officers for the careful work they are doing and recognize the exhaustion they must be experiencing.

The tight-lipped Portland police held their first public press conference following the shooting Sunday afternoon. Eschewing their indoor conference room, the police held the news briefing outside, which was almost immediately interrupted by anti-police protesters, which the police used as an excuse to withhold information. Multiple protesters and eyewitnesses have claimed that the police attempted to arrest community medics who were providing medical aid to the injured following the shooting.

In an interview with the New York Times, Portland Police Lt. Nathan Sheppard claimed the shooting appeared to be a confrontation between armed protesters and an armed homeowner. Blaming victims for being unwilling to talk, Portland police claimed the crime scene was extremely chaotic and that a number of witnesses were uncooperative with responding officers. Most people on scene left without talking to police. The mass distrust of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is more than understandable given the departments intimate connections with fascist paramilitary groups, such as the Proud Boys and Patriots Prayer.

In what is surely an undercount, the PPB, earning a toothless reprimand from the Department of Justice, acknowledged using force against demonstrators more than 6,000 times during protests throughout 2020. As part of the DoJ investigation into the PPB, it was revealed last month that riot-police training materials used by the PPB included fascist memes about assaulting dirty hippies, frequently shared in Proud Boys circles.

One slide, which displayed a riot cop smashing a protester with a baton, included a far-right prayer that read in part: For thou talk of Marx, yet know him not ... so I shall send among you, my humble servants with hat, and with bat: That they may christen your heads with hickory, and anoint your faces with pepper spray.

While police have so far declined to identity the mass shooter, who is currently hospitalized, the fact that elements in society feel empowered and justified in carrying out homicidal violence against left-wing and anti-police-violence protesters is entirely due to the support they have received from the ruling class, the police and the courts.

Throughout Donald Trumps presidency, he frequently blamed amorphous antifa terrorists for any and all crimes, including his failed January 6 coup. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked multiracial protests against police violence throughout the country and internationally, Trump, in something of a dress rehearsal for his coup, launched a federal occupation of Portland, flooding the city with hundreds of agents.

Emulating tactics developed by right-wing military regimes in South and Central America, federal thugs clad in black armor and unmarked vans snatched protesters off the streets, disappearing them for hours to undisclosed locations for interrogation.

Saturdays mass shooting comes roughly three months after aspiring police cadet, honorary Proud Boy and Trump supporter Kyle Rittenhouse, was acquitted on all counts in the Kenosha, Wisconsin killings. In both circumstances, protesters against police violence, a majority of whom were unarmed, were confronted by a gun-wielding assailant who shot and killed people, yet was not immediately arrested.

As the WSWS warned prior to the verdict of Rittenhouse: If Rittenhouse is acquitted, it would embolden the violent paramilitary militias that have been cultivated in the orbit of Trump and the Republican Party. It would effectively provide legal sanction for neo-Nazi and fascistic militias to march into future left-wing protests armed to the teeth, to terrorize workers, students, and youth with assault rifles, and to shoot protesters whenever they feel threatened.

The normalization of far-right vigilante violence, which has been deliberately promoted and cultivated by a historically bankrupt ruling class, can only be stopped by a mass movement of the working class against the capitalist system, the source of inequality and fascism.
Last Tuesday, San Francisco residents voted overwhelmingly to recall three of the seven members of the San Francisco Board of Education (SFBOE), removing board President Gabriela Lopez (with 75 percent supporting the recall), board Vice President Faauuga Moliga (72 percent) and board member Alison Collins (79 percent).

A pedestrian walks past a San Francisco Unified School District office building in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The recalled board members will officially be removed from office and replaced by mayoral appointments 10 days after the election is officially accepted by the Board of Supervisors, giving Democratic Mayor London Breed extraordinary power over the composition of the board. The newly appointed board members will likely take office as soon as mid-March.

The SFUSD school board members, all Democrats, have repeatedly attempted to implement race-based policies within the district, alienating large sections of the citys working class population. Such politics have only paved the way for the emergence of the right-wing recall campaign backed by Silicon Valley billionaires and pro-charter advocates with millions of dollars in funding. Mass disaffection at the choice between two right-wing options is reflected in the low turnout at 36 percent city-wide.

Democratic Party politicians are using the results of the recall election to justify a further lurch to the right, which supports gutting funding for public education and keeping schools open amid the ongoing dangers of the pandemic. On Sundays Meet the Press, Breed responded to the recall by saying, It was really about the frustration of the Board of Education doing their fundamental job. And that is to make sure that our children are getting educated, that they get back into the classroom. And that did not occur. They were focusing on other things that were clearly a distraction.

Breeds sentiments are in lockstep with the broader push at the state and federal levels to scrap all significant public health measures to contain the pandemic, particularly in classrooms. Last week Governor Gavin Newsom announced his plan to live with the virus. On schools, the plan advocates an ongoing transition away from quarantining students, adding that students potentially exposed to COVID-19 can remain safely in-school. It warns parents to prepare for the eventual change to universal school masking, which is expected to be announced on February 28.

Siva Raj, co-leader of the recall campaign, said, We have a school board that talks nonstop about social justice but doesnt do the single most important thing that our school district needed the whole year (to fully reopen schools) because education loss is a more important public health concern for children. The concept of learning loss has been used by both the Biden and former Trump administrations as reason for reopening the schools amid the pandemic. For the ruling class the health of finance capital and the stock market is of greater concern than mass infection and the deaths of thousands of children and their families.

The right-wing racialists on the school board capitulated entirely to this campaign of mass infection. Under immense pressure from teachers over unsafe conditions, SFUSD remained mostly remote until the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) brokered a rotten deal with the school board to resume instruction while community transmission remained high in February last year.

As cases mounted during the Omicron surge, teachers took matters into their own hands, conducting a wildcat sickout to demand safer conditions including distance learning, but again the school board relied on the teachers union to isolate and demobilize the teachers.

Public health measures to contain and ultimately eliminate the pandemic, like mask mandates and distance learning, remain very popular despite the propaganda campaign demanding that workers learn to live with infection, illness and death. A recent poll out of UC Berkeley shows a plurality of California voters want mask mandates to persist into 2023 or later. Hostile to this popular sentiment among workers, the school board members relied on UESF to mount an opposition to the recall, but the school boards long record of racial obsession paved the way for widespread abstention.

In early 2021, the board attempted to rename 44 of the districts schools, or one-third of the total in the district. The attempt to rename schools named for revolutionary historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Paul Revere produced an onslaught of opposition from parents, community members and the public at large who criticized the process as flawed and lacking historical context.

There is nothing progressive about this thoroughly right-wing initiative to rename schools based on racial politics. The WSWS campaigned actively against these measures at the time and explained that the initiative was an attempt to deny the revolutionary and progressive nature of the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Prior to the pandemic in 2019, the board engaged in a censorship campaign against the 13-panel mural titled the Life of Washington at San Franciscos George Washington High School, which the WSWS also actively opposed. The murals, which WPA-era painter Victor Arnautoff intended as a damning critique of racism and colonialism, clearly depict the oppression of slaves and Native Americans and unflinchingly reveal the historical contradictions present at the founding of the United States. This was a reactionary, right-wing campaign to promote false concepts of race and gender as the fundamental categories of American society, to disorient and keep the public from recognizing class exploitation as the driving force of capitalism and actual source of social inequality and poverty. Aside from the WSWS, no other political organization opposed this racialist narrative from the left.

Significantly, former board member Collins, was stripped of her leadership position on the board when past Twitter comments resurfaced by recall proponent and Lowell graduate, Diane Yap, in which Collins accused Asian Americans of being anti-black and claimed they had internalized white supremacy, an absurd claim in San Francisco which bears a long history of anti-Asian racism, from the days of the railroads and Chinese Exclusion through Japanese American internment to the promotion of the Wuhan Lab conspiracy today. Collins responded by suing the district for $87 million, costing the budget-strapped district some $400,000 before it was dismissed by a judge.

Who was behind the recall?

The recall campaign was primarily driven by far-right opponents of public education, Silicon Valley billionaires and investors wanting to keep schools open so that workers can be forced back to unsafe workplaces to provide the surplus labor needed to keep profits flowing for Wall Street.

A school board race in San Francisco usually costs about $40,000. This billionaire-backed campaign for the recall raised nearly $2 million, an amount far higher than all the school board candidates together have raised over several prior years elections. Deep-pocketed, right-wing donors shoveled money into the recall, while the mainstream media outlets exploited the discontent and frustration felt by the public, weaving it into a narrative about parents rights.

One of the top two financial donors of the recall campaign, Teach For America, is an organization that funnels untrained college students into teaching positions at rock-bottom salaries in the most desperate schools. Arthur Rock, the Silicon Valley-based billionaire and director of Teach For America, also supports the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Another of the recall campaigns biggest donors was Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy, a political action committee that has been funded by Silicon Valley-area tech investors. Among the other big donors of the recall were David O. Sacks, a San Francisco-based tech investor and former CEO of PayPal and the California Association of Realtors.

Recall used to centralize authority through creation of a new agency

The crises of the pandemic and the districts $125 million budget shortfall were seized upon not only by the right-wing recall campaign but also by Mayor Breed, who saw this as an opportunity for carrying out a systemic restructuring of the school district.

As Siva Raj & Autumn Looijen, co-leaders of the recall campaign, tellingly put it, By installing new board members appointed by Breed on the SFBE in time to choose the next superintendent, after Superintendent Vincent Matthews retires this summer, we plan to remake the upper levels of management so there will be leaders in place that we can trust to manage the districts budget crisis.

To this end Breed recently introduced an oversight plan and ballot initiative called the Childrens First Initiative, which would create a new city agency, the Childrens Agency, to oversee all of the citys departments dealing with children and families and would also have control over the school board.

If the mayors proposed amendment is approved by the Board of Supervisors, it will go before voters in June. If passed it would oversee both the Department of Early Childhood and the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and would base city funding for schools on the behavior of the SFBOE. The amendment would give the mayors office unprecedented power and control over San Franciscos public schools. Breed proclaimed at a press conference that we have to get away from the system of 10 agencies serving families.

If Breeds ballot measure passes, her Childrens Agency would be on par with the powerful Public Utilities Commission and the Municipal Transportation Agency. San Francisco schools could lose millions in city funding each year if school board members misbehave, essentially forcing the school board to change how it operates and how members conduct themselves if they are to receive any discretionary funds. The school board would be required to submit an annual report verifying it has followed requirements and would have to go through special training in order to receive city funding.

Whatever Breed claims is the reason for her support of the recall and her proposed charter amendment, the real motivation behind these policies is to further slash funding for the citys public schools, children and family services, and to ensure that schools stay open no matter what the cost in the lives of San Francisco school children and their families may be due to the pandemic.

Every part of the government, from local city and county municipalities all the way up to the federal government, have now abandoned enforcing any measures for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The Biden administrations relentless push to open public schools for in-person instruction for the purpose of keeping the economy running at all costs has been joined by state governors, counties and cities across the country in a frenzied push to save a decayed and rotting economy at the expense of hundreds of thousands of peoples lives. This effort by the entire political establishment is most significantly expressed by California Governor Newsoms homicidal endemic plan.

Educators, students and parents must recognize these latest maneuvers as yet another assault on public education and organize independent rank-and-file committees outside of both political parties and the sclerotic, corporatist trade unions. We call on teachers, parents, students and all workers in San Francisco and across the state of California to unite for the defense of safe public education, and to contact us today and join the Northern California Educators Rank-and-File Committee.
Truth Social, Donald Trumps new social media platform, was launched late Sunday by becoming available for download on the Apple App Store.

While the app rose to the number one spot among free apps downloaded on iOS, most new users were unable to get on the platform. Some users reported they were placed on a wait list with more 150,000 users and others were prevented from gaining access when the account setup process halted during email verification.

Truth Social in the Apple App Store

According to Inside, the Twitter-like app experienced a partial outage as of 7:15 a.m. on Monday which lasted for more than seven hours. A status page said, The Truth Social application is online, although user creation is currently rate-limited during our rollout. We will expand capacity over the coming hours to enable more users to join Truth Social.

Through his media company Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the fascistic former president and January 6 coup plotter announced the app on October 20 in a press release from Palm Beach, Florida. The statement said the mission of the media company was to create a rival to the liberal media consortium and fight back against the Big Tech companies of Silicon Valley, which have used their unilateral power to silence opposing voices in America.

The press release then quoted Trump himself, who said, I created TRUTH Social and TMTG to stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech. We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American President has been silenced.

Actually, Trump was suspended and then permanently banned from using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube beginning on January 6, 2021, during his attempt to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election and remain in power through a violent mob assault on the US Capitol.

Twitter, which had been Trumps primary method of promoting his right-wing populism, racism and xenophobia prior to the 2016 election and throughout his presidency, blocked his account for twelve hours on January 6 and warned of a permanent suspension for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. His account was reactivated and, following three more Tweets of further incitement of his supporters, Twitter permanently suspended Trump from the platform on January 8.

In the case of Facebook, Trump was indefinitely suspended from the largest social media platform and its subsidiaries Instagram and Snapchat on January 7, at least until the end of his term in office. A statement from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor.

In June, Facebook extended this ban to two years, saying his actions merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols, and the company will reconsider the decision in January 2023. A large Facebook group called Stop the Steal, associated with Trumps campaign to block the election results from being certified by claiming it had been stolen, and its hashtags were permanently banned two days after the election on November 3, 2020.

A report in the New York Times on Sunday said that start date of Truth Social was being pushed back to March and the app available on the Apple App Store was a limited test version. The Times also reported that Trumps merger with the blank check company Digital World Acquisition Corporation (DWAC) that created his TMTG media enterprise was facing a regulatory investigation.

A blank check company is a firm that exists for no other purpose than to make acquisitions. Also referred to as special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), these businesses sell shares to investors and then go around and find businesses to merge with. In December, the Securities and Exchange Commission requested information about the deal between DWAC and TMTG, the identities of some investors and documents and communications between the two firms. At the time of Trumps announcement of the media business, he claimed it had a cumulative valuation of $1.7 billion.

Aside from the politics of Trump himself, the individuals whom he has assembled around him in support of the social media initiative shows something of the political forces that are lining up and participating in the ongoing development of a fascist movement in the US.

Former California Republican congressman Devin Nunes, who had been chairman and then ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, resigned from office at the end of 2021 to take a position as chief executive of TMTG and work on Trumps social media platform.

The far-right Republican has called global warming nonsense, supported Trumps Muslim travel ban and, during the early days of the pandemic in March 2020, told families who were healthy to go out and go to a local restaurant, likely you can get in easy. He also said at that time that the developing public health disaster would be over by Easter 2020. He has repeatedly referred to Democrats as followers of neo-Marxist, socialist, Maoist or Communist ideals.

Nunes proved his loyalty to Trump by publishing a four-page memo on February 2, 2018, that said the FBI may have relied on politically motivated or questionable sources to obtain a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to surveil Trump adviser Carter Page in the early days of Mueller probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2020 elections.

Another significant figure joining Trumps tech team is billionaire Peter Thiel. The New York Times reported on February 7 that Thiel is resigning from the Meta (formerly Facebook) board of directors to focus on candidates who support Trumps agenda in the midterm elections in November.

The Times report, based on comments from an anonymous source, said Thiel views the midterms as crucial to changing the direction of the country. Another unnamed individual told Fortune that Thiels focus, will be on supporting Blake Masters, JD Vance and others who support the Trump agenda. He wanted to avoid being a distraction for Facebook.

Thiel, 54, is a German-American venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, the US intelligence and defense department big data firm. He was the first outside investor in Facebook, and his estimated net worth is approximately $10 billion. In his business advice book, Zero to One, Thiel argues in favor of corporate monopolies and says that monarchies are the most efficient form of government.

A friend of far-right media personality Ann Coulter, he campaigned for Trump in 2016, publicly announced a $1.25 million campaign donation to his candidacy and was a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. After Trump won the presidency, Thiel was named to the executive committee of the President-elects transition team and nominated several of his friends for White House positions.

As of February 14, Thiel had contributed a total of $20.4 million to 16 different Republican Party candidates running in the 2022 elections. At least two of these candidates for US Senate, Masters in Arizona and Vance in Ohio, have maintained that Trump was defeated among massive election fraud and Masters stated in a campaign ad, I think Trump won in 2020.
Events in the war crisis over Ukraine between Russia and NATO overtook each other on Monday. The day began with news that two reconnaissance-sabotage units of the Ukrainian army had crossed into Russias Rostov region and ended with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering Russian troops to enter the East Ukrainian separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk which he had just recognized as independent.

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army clean weaponry ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, N.C. on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nathan Posner)

Amid a barrage of war propaganda in the Western media and belligerent speeches by US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, fighting between the American-funded Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists in the East Ukrainian Donbass has escalated since Thursday. There have been thousands of violations of the ceasefire that was brokered in 2015.

The civil war erupted in the wake of the February 2014 coup in Kiev, which had been heavily funded and backed by the US and was effectively carried out by far-right forces like the Right Sector and the Azov Battalion. The conflict has already claimed over 14,000 lives and left at least 3.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistancealmost a tenth of Ukraines population.

Since Thursday, civilian infrastructure across Donetsk, including kindergartens and schools, has been subject to shelling. According to the separatists in Donetsk, one civilian was killed in Mondays shelling by the Ukrainian military.

On Friday, separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk initiated the mass evacuation of the civilian population to Russia, excluding men aged 18 to 55. So far, at least 49,000 people have reportedly arrived in Russia, most of them in the Rostov region. Kilometer-long lines of cars waiting to cross the border have been reported since Friday.

Up to 700,000 women, children and elderly people may be evacuated from Donetsk alone. With most of these people already completely impoverished before they were forced to flee, they are now faced with the loss of virtually all of their belongings and a catastrophic social and public health situation in Russia, where over 150,000 new COVID-cases are being reported every single day.

As the fighting continued to escalate over the weekend, the separatist authorities called upon all men capable of carrying arms to take weapons into their hands.

On Monday afternoon Moscow time, it was reported that the Russian secret service FSB, along with troops from the interior ministry, opened fire and killed five Ukrainian soldiers, while taking one captive. Russian news had also reported on Friday that Ukrainian bombshells had exploded in Rostov near the border with Ukraine.

Also on Monday afternoon, Putin convened an extraordinary session of Russias National Security Council, arguing that the situation in the Donbass had become critical. The meeting was also attended by the heads of the separatist so called Peoples republics of Donetsk (DNR) and Lugansk (LNR). Both were formed by pro-Russian separatists in the wake of the 2014 coup in Kiev. At the meeting, one leading Russian official after another argued in favor of Russian recognition of these republics as independent.

Late Monday evening Moscow time, Putin gave an hour-long address to the nation. Beginning with an anticommunist tirade in which he denounced the 1917 October Revolution and claimed that Ukraine was a creation of Bolshevik, Communist Russia, Putin devoted much of the speech to glorifying the Tsarist Russian Empire and various Tsarist generals.

He pointed to the systematic encirclement of Russia by NATO, complaining that US President Bill Clinton responded extremely coolly when he asked him in 2000 whether or not the US would support Russias accession to NATO. The Russian president then discussed at length the implications of the US-backed coup of 2014 for Russia, which, in his words, had turned Ukraine de facto into a colony and puppet of the US.

Putin noted that Ukraines adoption of a new military strategy in March 2021 meant that the country was openly preparing for war with Russia. With the US and NATO ignoring Russias demands for security guarantees and de facto arming Ukraine, Russia, he said, had a knife at its throat. Putin also alleged that a genocide against Russians was taking place in East Ukraine and argued that the Kiev government has de facto ignored the Minsk Agreements of 2015.

On that basis, Putin claimed that recognizing the separatist territories of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples republics was the only way to safeguard Russias security interests.

Right after the speech, Putin signed two decrees recognizing the DNR and LNR as independent and calling for the preparation of treaties of friendship between the republics and Russia. The decrees also stated that, until such an agreement would be signed, the Russian Ministry of Defense would provide troops to both republics to safeguard peace. Shortly thereafter, Putin gave the order to send Russian troops into Donetsk and Lugansk.

Putins speech led to the most severe collapse on the Russian stock marketby over 14 percentsince the 2008 world financial crisis. Since Monday was a holiday in the US, most of the sell-off was driven by European and regional, including Russian, investors. Some of Russias biggest companies and banks, including the state-owned oil company Rosneft and Sberbank, lost between 21 and 25 percent of their value. On international markets, the Brent oil price rose above $97 per barrel, the highest price since 2014.

US President Biden immediately denounced Putins move as a violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and signed a decree prohibiting any trade with the DNR and LNR. In the decree, he described the recognition of the DNR and LNR as an an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Everyone who engages in trade with or donates to the authorities of the DNR and LNR will henceforth be banned from entering the US.

So far, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been engaged in a year-long civil war with US-backed Saudi Arabia, have endorsed Russias recognition of the DNR and LNR. Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega indicated that he supported Putins decision but has not officially recognized the separatist republics.

US officials announced that more sanctions will be forthcoming on Tuesday. The EU and UK also announced severe sanctions, as did Japan and Australia.

In a brief address to the nation, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had already spoken with Biden, claimed, in clear defiance of his governments saber rattling and official military strategy, that it was only interested in peace. He insisted that Putins recognition of the DNR and LNR constituted a threat to Ukraines territorial integrity and that Ukraine was entitled to self-defense under these conditions.

Mondays escalation comes after weeks in which the US and NATO recklessly ratcheted up tensions with Russia, including by sending 5,000 troops of the 82nd Airborne Division to Poland and 300 Javelin missiles to Ukraine, and unleashing a torrent of war propaganda in the media.

The unfolding war crisis is the culmination of the decades-long effort to encircle Russia and subjugate the entire former Soviet Union as part of the attempts of US imperialism to maintain its global hegemony.

Fundamentally, the drive to war is rooted in the decline of US imperialism and the profound crisis of the world capitalist system, which has been severely accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sitting on top of a social powder keg, the US ruling class, in particular, has been driven into a war frenzy, desperate to find a path to divert the immense social tensions outward and close ranks within the ruling class.

The dynamics unleashed by these processes are rapidly spinning out of control. In its statement from February 14, the International Committee warned, War with Russia in Ukraine, however it begins or whatever the course of its initial stages, will not be contained. It will follow an uncontrollably expansive logic. Every state in the region will be drawn into the conflict. The Black Sea, which laps across the shoreline of seven countries, will be transformed into a cauldron of escalating conflict, sweeping across Transcaucasia, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia and beyond.

Workers and youth must draw the necessary conclusions: the only way to fight against the threat of world war is by building a socialist anti-war movement and a revolutionary leadership within the working class.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers and locations in Indiana... White River at Edwardsport and Elliston. Wabash River at Montezuma. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days, including today, will lead to minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions on the Wabash River. Additional rainfall later this week should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...From late tonight to Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 9.1 feet. - Forecast...The river will oscillate around flood stage with a maximum value of 16.4 feet early Saturday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
WASHINGTON (WTVA) - U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., issued statements Tuesday afternoon in response to the presidents new round of sanctions against Russia for its actions against Ukraine.

Wicker

Americans know that Russia is the only aggressor in this crisis. Mr. Biden and our NATO allies have stronger sanctions available, and I hope they do not hesitate to use them.

Vladimir Putin and his cronies only respond to strength, and we have to make Russian leadership understand that their invasion will have painful consequences. It is imperative that we stand with Ukraine during this dangerous time.

Hyde-Smith

The world has been cast into a very dangerous predicament with Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of international law. I am concerned that our adversaries, including China, sense weakness in the White House and disarray in the administration, and that this will further embolden our enemies. Well see if sanctions and unified allied opposition convince Putin to reverse course. I am deeply concerned about this serious threat to global security and the resulting economic discord.

I cant help but think that stronger White House leadership from the start might have deterred this Russian aggression. Going forward, there can be no question that Putins aggression will be answered or where the United States stands when it comes to protecting democracy.

Open the link below to learn more about the sanctions.
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., issued statements Tuesday afternoon in response to the presidents new round of sanctions against Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - As News 19 recognizes Black History Month, we're partnering with the Enduring Families Project to highlight some of the area's prominent African-American residents.

Denise Christy-Moss tells us about the pioneering Western Wisconsin community that leaves behind a unique legacy.

Our thanks to Denise and the Enduring Families Project. Rebecca Mormann-Krieger conducted the research on the text and photographs using source material by Dr. Bruce Mouser. Additional support for this edition is courtesy of the Cheyenne Settlers Historical Society and "Barns Without Corners" by Kevin & Patty Alderson.

Learn more and watch extended historical reenactments by the Enduring Families Project by going to the La Crosse Historical Society's website.

Related stories:
Kansas man busted with more than 15 pounds of meth in Onalaska
"De mi parte tienen todo el respaldo para que participen en los gabinetes binacionales para enfrentar juntos los grandes desafios que tiene America Latina", resalto el presidente @PedroCastilloTe durante un encuentro con los integrantes del Parlamento Andino.

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American Queen Voyages is starting new 12-day cruises sailing out of Jacksonville, but the company and its small-scale ship are no strangers to the city.

The second of American Queen's cruises aboard the 202-passenger Ocean Voyager left the Jaxport cruise terminal on the St. Johns River on Monday, setting sail for stops in Savannah and Charleston before turning back south and visiting Brunswick, Ga., Amelia Island, Port Canaveral and Freeport in the Bahamas. The company has plans for 11 more cruises out of Jacksonville this year.

The ship bears little resemblance to a traditional cruise ship. It has no water slides, no go-kart tracks, no casinos. That's no surprise, since it has about 1/10th of the capacity of the Carnival Miracle, the large cruise ship that also homeports in Jacksonville. Cabins aboard the Ocean Voyager for the 12-day Southeast USA cruise start at $5,599 per person.

The Ocean Voyager was originally built in 2001 by American Marine in Jacksonville and went through extensive renovations a decade later in Green Cove Springs. It was operated by another cruise line before it and a sister ship, the Ocean Navigator, were brought into the American Queen line in 2019. Plaques on display aboard the ship show that it has been from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Elsewhere in cruising: Disney Cruise Lines reveals adult experiences aboard newest ship, the Disney Wish

Earlier: JaxPort: Carnival cruises still on hold from Jacksonville until March

American Queen Voyages is part of the Hornblower Group parent company, which also operates river cruises on the Mississippi and Columbia rivers and small-ship cruises on the Great Lakes. Hornblower also operates dinner cruises and ferries, including the ferries carrying passengers to and from the Statue of Liberty and Alcatraz.

The Compass Lounge on the Saloon Deck of the 202-passenger Ocean Voyager cruise ship.

John Waggoner, founder and chairman of the company, said he didn't initially intend to get into the cruise business. But then he found the American Queen, the world's largest paddlewheel steamer, at a dock in Green Cove Springs and arranged to purchase it, intending to operate as a one-boat line. Within weeks, though, he was offered a second ship. Now the company owns 230 vessels and operates in 111 countries, but none have capacity for more than 400 passengers.

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"We like the boutique-y cruises," Waggoner said. "We like to keep it unique."

When the Ocean Voyager made its first cruise from Jacksonville earlier this month, it was the first time passengers had embarked from the Jaxport cruise terminal in nearly two years, due to the pandemic shutdown. Frederick Wong, chief operating officer at the port, said that's a big deal.

"It's significant because it's a restart of cruising," Wong said. Carnival returns to the port in March, meaning the cruise terminal can return to full staff. A homeported vessel like the Ocean Voyager or the Carnival Miracle means the port needs security guards and baggage handlers and embarkation teams, and local hotels and taxis should see an increase in business, he said.

"It's a huge deal for us," Wong said. "It's is so important for the local economy to get back to cruising."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ocean Voyager brings first passengers back to Jacksonville port
Grocery apps in New York City might have to tone down promises of ultra-fast deliveries. The New York Post reports city Councilman Christopher Marte plans to introduce a bill that will ban these apps from advertising 15-minute delivery times. The estimates encourage couriers to violate traffic laws and put people at risk, Marte said.

The bill should be ready within the next few weeks. It would be part of a larger legislation bundle tackling grocery apps. Marte said he was pressing for bills that would provide more benefits and protections to delivery workers, but hasn't shared more details.

The potential law comes as competition for fast deliveries heats up in New York. Services like Gorillas, Fridge No More and Jokr already boast of 15-minute delivery times, and DoorDash is piloting a similarly quick service in Manhattan. In many cases, the services manage speedy deliveries by shopping within a small radius and using full-time employees instead of gig workers.

However, they also follow a small but growing string of e-bike accidents in NYC. At least 20 people died in collisions linked to e-bikes in 2020. The bill won't guarantee the safety of delivery workers, but it might reduce the chances that they'll gamble with their health to arrive on time.
Linda Emond as Clara Barton, one of the savviest player in The Gilded Age game

Marian: Do you like Mrs. Astor?

Agnes: Thats like saying, Do you like rain? She is a fact of life that we must live with.

Were halfway through season oneof The Gilded Age, and I am happy to report season two is happening! This weeks Charity Has Two Functions begins with Gladys once again trying to make a break for it, this time assisted by the housemaid Adelheid (Erin Wilhelmi), who is angling to be her ladys maid. The mission fails, but it inspires George to suggest Bertha meet the current crush Gladys is trying so hard to sneak off to see. At first, Bertha wont hear of it, but she takes Georges point that the more they lock the girl down, the more likely she will do something genuinely foolish, which, for all their money, is the last thing they can afford.

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In short order, Adelheid is promoted, much to Turners annoyance, with Mrs. Bruce to keep an eye on things in place of a governess. The crush, Archie Baldwin (Tom Blyth), is invited to dinner. But its not to finalize a deal for her hand, as he thought. Instead, George is there to pay him off, offering him a lucrative broker position with one of the Panama Canal investors in exchange for him breaking it off with Gladys. The poor thing has to watch him walk out without a backward glance. (Even Larry is horrified.) But perhaps his hasty exit is for the best, as Clay arrives with news that Georges greatest fear has happeneda derailment.

Across the street, Marian is trying to be smooth and gain permission for a ride-along with Aurora Fane to Dansville and the Red Cross chapter opening. Agnes is no fool; she has a feeling Little-Miss-Innocent-Eyes needs a chaperone and insists Peggy go too. Its a far less appealing proposition now that Marian understands the woman isnt her friend the way she thought. But, despite Marian being the dullest character on the show currently, the series cant let last weeks shoe incident go without a smoothing-over. To wit, not only does Marian get to effuse over Peggys first story getting published, but she gets a scene with Mrs. Scott as well. Mrs. Scott (for *reasons* I suppose) unburdens their family issues to Marian, explaining they dont want their daughter living a servants life, no matter what her dreams are. (At least Peggy does not take kindly to her mothers talking to Marian, which is the only believable bit about this segment.)

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Theres a notable change in how Marian thinks of Peggy, referring to her as Aunt Agnes secretary instead of by name to Aurora. But Agnes isnt wrong to be pushing for an extra set of eyes. Shes right; Marian isnt the only one Aurora invited to see Clara Barton. Mrs. Russell is also on the guest list. But before that occurs, theres the promised meeting with the famous Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane) at a luncheon Aurora is also inviting Marian to attend. Upon learning McAllister is *the* Society Gatekeeper, Marian asks Aurora to also invite Raikes in hopes hell gain approval as well.

Marian may play innocent, but she knows better than to mention that last part to Agnes when disclosing shell be in the presence of Mrs. Russell. But she tells everybody else. Peggy, for her part, starts side-eying Raikes sudden social climbing behavior and asks Marian the hard questions about lifestyle expectations. Ada merely warns her not to let love make her a fool. Considering how quickly Raikes manages to work his way into taking the trip to Dansville, it seems they may both be right. But its the long, ravishing look McAllister bestows upon Raikes that confirms hell be rising in society faster than his bank account can handle.

Carrie Coon, Louisa Jacobson and Kelli OHara are impressed by Nathan Lane and Nathan Lanes mustaches. Not pictured: Nathan Lanes equally amazing accent.

Speaking of bank accounts! The rise of Mrs. Russell is mirrored by the fall of Anne Morris, the former one-time partner of Morris & Fane, Charity Women Esq. Wandering around in gothy black, she has yet to accept she no longer has a place in societyno husband, no money, no friendsand her accusations Aurora will be dropping her next have the sting of cold hard truth. Aurora is in the market for a new charity partner, whether she wants to admit it or not, and Mrs. Russell is her best bet. Watching Mrs. Russell invited up to stand with Barton for funding, not one but three new chapter locations, is just about the limit for Anne, who starts calling her nemesis a murderer in helpless rage.

But the real tell is how Annes racist response to Peggys interviewing Barton for the Globe goes over like a lead balloon. Barton loudly invites Peggy to join the society on the tour of the new chapter after hearing Morris horrified whispers. It seals the grieving widows spot in the pecking order at the very bottom. Aurora is rightit would be best for Annes sake to accept her losses rather than burn what little she has left.

But unlike Anne Morris, Clara Barton is no fool. You dont build something like the Red Cross without a whole lot of savvy. Shes willing to use whatever society tools come to hand, whether it be Berthas social climbing or Peggys career moves. But she also wants Mrs. Chamberlains money, and recognizing Marians innocent rebel act, pushes the girl into promising to make it happen.

As for innocence, Marians genuine shock at Raikes hoping to bed hop is a tangible reminder of what a disservice society did to women of her age and stature. Its only Peggy who keeps her from being seduced (or worse). It finally provides an opportunity for Peggy to open up and talk about the man her parents rejected for her, a stock boy, Elias Finn. Though Marian innocently thinks nothing more than kissing happened, Peggys sidestep suggests this goes deep.

Stray Observations
President Joe Biden officially declared sanctions against Russia, saying the country is in "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into territories along the Ukraine border, something Biden said is a violation of international law.

In his remarks Tuesday on the standoff in Ukraine, Biden said all measures being taken on Russia are "totally defensive moves" by the United States, and he has no plans in engaging armed forces against Russia.

"I'm announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions," he said.

Here is what some of the things Biden said mean, and what happens next in the U.S. role in the Ukraine situation.

President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington.

Biden announces sanctions for Russia: Here's what that means for conflict in Ukraine

'Brutal act of war': Photos of Russia invading Ukraine show mass evacuations, rockets

Is Russia invading Ukraine?

Biden said Russia is in the beginning stages of invading Ukraine because of its decision to send armed forces into Ukraine. Putin received authorization from the upper chamber of his country's parliament to place troops outside the country as he said they are deploying the military in rebel regions of Ukraine.

About 150,000 troops are deployed on three sides of neighboring Ukraine.

"An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway," said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser.

What is definition of sanctions? What is a tranche?

Sanctions are financial penalties against a country as a form of economic pressure. Biden said the U.S. will impose a "first tranche" of sanctions against Russia, meaning the U.S. will be withholding portions of financial assistance provided to the country. Sanctions Biden mentioned included those against Russian "elites" and blocking the country from receiving Western financing.

Sanctions have been issued on Russia before. In 2014, sanctions were put in place after Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

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Biden said the sanctions will continue to increase if Russia does not cooperate and pull out of invading Ukraine.

Ukraine-Russia crisis: How do you pronounce Donetsk? And is it Kyiv or Kiev?

What is international law?

Biden said Putin violated international law by saying Ukraine is a territory created by Russia.

"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.

The United Nations says one of its primary goals is to uphold international law.

"International law defines the legal responsibilities of States in their conduct with each other, and their treatment of individuals within State boundaries," the organization says. "International law's domain encompasses a wide range of issues of international concern, such as human rights, disarmament, international crime, refugees, migration, problems of nationality, the treatment of prisoners, the use of force, and the conduct of war, among others."

What is NATO territory? Is Ukraine part of NATO?

Technically no, but the North Atlantic Treaty Organization comprises many countries near Ukraine, including Poland, Hungary and Romania. All 30 members of the organization are political and military allies.

Despite Ukraine not being a member, NATO has partnered with the country for decades because it believes a "sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro-Atlantic security." The NATO-Ukraine Commission was created in 1997 to better strengthen cooperation.

Biden said that because of Ukraine's partnership with NATO, the U.S. will defend the territory and any other NATO territories threatened by Russia.

Contributing: USA TODAY staff reports

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What are sanctions? Key terms to know about invasion of Ukraine
California officials reportedly completed an autopsy for actress Lindsey Pearlman, known for shows such as Vicious and General Hospital, days after her body was discovered inside a car in Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed Pearlman died last Friday after finishing the autopsy.

An official cause of death has not been released as the investigation continues.

Pearlmans body was discovered near Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles last Friday, five days after her disappearance.

Shes gone, her husband, Vance Smith, said last week on Instagram. Im broken. I will share more later, but I wanted to (say) thank you to everyone for their love and efforts and ask you to respect the privacy of her family at this time.

Pearlman, who was 43, appeared on a 2015 episode of Empire before beginning recurring roles on General Hospital, The Ms. Pat Show and Vicious.

Her cousin, Savannah Pearlman, tweeted after the actress body was found, Please know that you are never truly alone. Lindseys sister has asked that we share the National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.
Bethany Williams has stepped under the spotlight with an exhibition of her past work  and process  going on display at Londons Design Museum this week, and a thought-provoking, arty collection for fall.

Williams has built a fashion label on environmental and social values, working exclusively with upcycled and recycled materials or deadstock, and with craftspeople, marginalized communities and charities.

More from WWD

Shes done collaborations with San Patrignano, the drug and alcohol dependence rehab center in Italy; the Magpie Project for mothers and children living in insecure housing in East London; and Adelaide House, a womens shelter based in Liverpool.

Each season, Williams works with a different charity and donates a percentage of profits to its cause. Her label is small and independent, and Williams remains committed to her vision of fashion as a force for change.

Her fall 2022 collection debuted at The Design Museum, one floor above where her Alternative Systems exhibition is taking place. It was filled with all sorts of interesting materials, including wooden buttons sourced from a tree surgeon in London; a cactus leather jacket, and clothing made from bamboo silk, or bottle caps.

Calling the collection The Hands That Heal Us, the designer said this latest outing was inspired by the ever-growing community of makers, creatives, local and social manufacturers, all of whom play an integral part in the brand and supply chain.

Williams does not compromise on design: These were clothes that looked and felt great, from the denim and hemp worker jackets with removable rivet buttons, to a coat fashioned from a patchwork of blankets, to the bamboo silk pajamas covered in swirly abstract patterns.

The designer also has a great sense of humor: The patches on the front of one jacket were made from curtain upholstery, recalling the floral outfits that Julie Andrews whipped up for the von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music.

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Detachable coat collars, hats and bags were all made from a collage of fuzzy wool bits, fringes, trim and braiding that looked as if they were swiped from an interiors shop, or some aristocratic home.

Launch Gallery: Bethany Williams RTW Fall 2022

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Click here to read the full article.
TOPSHOT-CHINA-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. Credit - Alexei DruzhininSputnik/AFP/Getty Images

In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a note to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to celebrate three decades of diplomatic ties. Ukraine is, after all, a key member of Xis signature Belt and Road Initiativea $1 trillion repaving of the fabled Silk Roadwith whom China enjoyed over $15 billion of bilateral trade in 2020. I attach great importance to the development of the China-Ukraine strategic partnership, Xi said, hailing a deepening political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation in various fields and even closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

It must have come as something of a shock, then, when Xi learned that Ukraine, according to the claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, never had a tradition of genuine statehood.

Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong isnt used to being contradicted. But as Russia ordered troops into Ukraines restive eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Monday, Chinas stance regarding Putins revisionary aggression remains curiously incoherent and ambivalent: On one level in support of the rules-based international order; on the other tacitly backing Putins strongman realpolitik.

Read More: Putins Moves Toward War in Ukraine Show How Dangerous He Has Become

Following a summit at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Xi and Putin issued a joint statement on Feb. 4, criticizing the negative U.S. influence both in Europe and across the Asia-Pacific. They also said they would be deepening a no limits strategic partnership, while opposing the further expansion of NATO in what they deemed a Cold War era approach.

Professor Steve Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute at the University of London, argues that it was as strong can you get in terms of support short of forming a formal alliance. Chinese state media, meanwhile, gushed that the two nations stood shoulder to shoulder in upholding justice in the world.

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At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday, Zhang Jun, Chinas ambassador to the U.N., called for restraint by all sides. While officially calling for calm, restraint and dialogue on Tuesday to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Beijings repeated repudiation of the West, like that in Beijing Feb. 4, is effectively cheerleading Putins belligerence.

Meanwhile its purchase of Russian oilbilateral trade rose 33.6% year-on-year to some $140 billion in 2021is likely to dampen the impact of Western sanctions. Following the 2014 invasion of Crimea, several Chinese state banks provided loans for Russian counterparts sanctioned by the West.

Still, it remains a muddled, contradictory relationship. On Feb. 19, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the Minsk accords, two faltering ceasefire agreements that nevertheless remain the bedrock for any negotiated settlement on the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, the only way out for the Ukrainian issue. But then Putin effectively shredded that agreement two days later when he recognized the independence of the two regions in his speech on Monday.

Beijing is not generally in the habit of endorsing territorial revisionism (other than on its own periphery to its own benefit). It has not recognized Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea, for one. But there are signs of a shift in thinking. Last month, China was the only country on the 15-member U.N. Security Council to vote with Russia in a failed attempt to stop a U.S.-requested meeting regarding Moscows troop build-up at its border with Ukraine.

Read More: The Threat of a Russian Invasion Is Crushing Ukraines Economy and Culture

What is clear is that China, as the ultimate geopolitical pragmatist, doesnt really care what happens to Ukraines 44 million people as long as its own interests are protected. A quick assault and pro-Kremlin regime installed in Kyiv isnt, ultimately, a bad outcome for Beijing. But were Ukraine to descend into chaos, Chinese interests are not being looked after, says Tsang. (China is the biggest trading partner of Ukraine, which sells Beijing strategically important military hardware including parts for advanced weapons systems.)

So, what does Xi get out of chaos? A distracted U.S. may be a net positive given the tenor and trajectory of recent Sino-U.S. relations. If there is a major war in Europe  it still will steal a lot of oxygen in any war room, says Alexander Gabuev, chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center. And that means that there will be diversion from the China challenge.

But the irony is, of course, that by tacitly backing Putin, Xi has all but confirmed Western hawks greatest fears about an authoritarian arc stretching from St. Petersburg to Shanghai, harking back to the Sino-Soviet alliance of the 1950s. Stronger Beijing-Moscow ties, after all, simply provide democratic rivals a rallying point. As NATOs secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Feb. 15, Fundamentally what we see is that two authoritarian powers, Russia and China, are operating together. Moreover, while Xi galvanizes the worlds split into two opposing blocsthe U.S. and Europe; Russia and Chinait cant be lost on him that hes thrown his hat in with the weakest of the lot.

Foremost in Xis mind might be what the Ukraine crisis means for his desire to recapture Taiwan, the self-ruling island that broke from the mainland following Chinas 1945-49 civil war, and whose unification he has repeatedly called the great trend of history.

And military parallels arent terribly helpful. Ukraine is neither an ally nor strategically important to the U.S., whereas Washington is obliged by treaty to sell Taiwan the weapons it needs for its own defense and the island is a geostrategic lynchpin, producing much of the tech that makes the modern world run. Ukraine would be a messy, attritional ground war; Taiwan would be fought by navies and missiles.

The unknown question for Xi is what kind of economic retaliation he could expect for any offensive on Taiwan, and its in this respect that Ukraine might offer an example. At $1.7 trillion, Russias economy is less than one-tenth the size of Chinas. If Western nations cant handle the hardship of meaningful punitive economic measures on the Kremlin, then how would they stomach sidelining the worlds top exporter and trading nation? The Chinese have reasonable grounds to believe that, if and when they are ready to take Taiwan, they will get a similar response [to that Russia receives for Ukraine], Tsang says.

On Tuesday, the first sign of that Western response began to take shape. The U.K. announced sanctions on three Russian individuals and five banks, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted the certification process for the $10.6 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline, through which Moscow was due to sell up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. The U.S. is due to announce its own new sanctions package on Tuesday.

Read More: What the West Will Never Understand About Putins Ukraine Obsession

While this might be chastening regarding Xis ambitions for Taiwan, it might not be bad news in the short term at least. After all, a glut of Russian gas means resource-ravenous Beijing is better placed to cut a deal. After 2014, Russia found itself closer to China and more dependent on China, Gabuev says. Here, a very similar moment is coming.

There may be additional costs, of course, in terms of Chinas international credibility. World leaders are unlikely to put much faith in Xis celebratory notes, for one. While Putin may relish the role of worlds pantomime villain, Xi still clings to the notion that a resurgent China is a force for good. But by hedging his bets on Ukraine, he risks showing the world his true colors.
Presidente @PedroCastilloTe: "Tenemos que llevar el recurso del gas natural a todos los comedores populares del pais. Ademas, es importante fortalecer el trabajo de las ollas comunes en favor de la poblacion vulnerable". pic.twitter.com/QJIBgSUgvi
Photo: Tiko Aramyan (Shutterstock)

Doressia McKee spent two years consistently fighting for the truth about the death of her son, Freddie McKee, per a NBC News report. He died in 2020 in Columbia, Missouri at only 37 years old by an alleged drug overdose. However, with conflicting evidence and swift closure of the case, his mother believed the police failed to properly investigate his death.



According to NBC, Freddie was found dead on his fathers front patio. The initial toxicology report found no trace of drugs, however, it was later updated to reveal Freddie had eutylone (synthetic bath salt), caffeine, nicotine and antidepressants in his system. A medical examiner reported the amount of the synthetic drug concentrated in his body was accurate to those who had died from it, per NBC. Yet, Freddie was also reported to have cuts, bruises and scrapes around his elbows, knees and shoulders.

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From NBC:



Doressia McKee said she does not believe her son would have knowingly taken bath salts and questioned why police wouldnt have wanted to investigate how a drug like that would have come into the community. She said when she spoke with the medical examiners office, it told her the scrapes and bruises on his body were not self-inflicted or from an animal but could have been caused by an altercation.

McKee believed there was foul play involved in her sons death. She took matters into her own hands and filed a complaint against the police department for failing to do a thorough investigation as she noticed inconsistencies between what led to her sons death and the conclusion of this alleged overdose. Per the Columbia Missourian, his shoes and cellphone were also reported to be missing.



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From NBC:

McKee said police failed to interview witnesses and review all the potential evidence and was offended over disparaging remarks she said a detective made to her about residents in the mostly Black and lower-income neighborhood where her son died.

In April 2021, she filed a misconduct complaint with Columbia police in which she laid out why she believes there were flaws with the departments handling of the case. Six months later, Police Chief Geoff Jones responded in a letter that her allegations were unfounded and misconstrued but she could appeal to the citys Citizens Police Review Board.

In McKees appeal, she claimed her son may have been dragged on his back and that he also might have been intentionally placed where he was found, reported NBC. She also noted that police didnt interview witnesses though one neighbor had called the police after encountering Freddie and inquired about what happened after they responded to the call. According to NBCs report, the detective on the case had filed a restraining order to keep McKee from receiving police records she requested.

Following her appeal, Columbia police agreed to reopen the investigation into the department as well as her sons death, reported NBC. The rising concerns about police brutality in the Black community seemed to have inspired authorities to make a move on McKees demands. Rep. David Tyson said its rare that the board would reopen an investigation but its a testament to McKee that she didnt give up, via NBC.



McKee believes if her son were white, they wouldnt have been so quick to settle on an overdose as his cause of death, per the Columbian Missourian. The investigation is still ongoing but the Citizens Police Review Boards decision to reopen the case has given hope to McKee and her family.


As we start to move out of the harsh winter season and coronavirus numbers continue to fall, we're all cautiously optimistic about the prospect of a COVID-free spring and summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), new infections have dropped 43 percent in the last week, while virus-related hospital admissions have fallen by 28 precent. And given the fact that several state officials have now started stripping back mask requirements and vaccine mandates, there is a real feeling that the COVID pandemic is on its way out. But heading toward the clearing doesn't mean you're out of the woods yet.

RELATED: Virus Experts Are Warning Vaccinated People Not To Do This.

In a new interview with The Washington Post, several virus experts warned that COVID is still very much a part of our lives. "The pandemic, whether we want to believe it or not, is still happening," Michael Mina, MD, an epidemiologist and chief science officer at eMed, told the newspaper. Even when it's gone, Mina said it's unlikely that COVID-19 will stay away forever. "This virus is going to turn out to be seasonal; it is going to come back," he said.

Many experts, like Gigi Gronvall, PhD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, have said it's important to realize that the world is never going to look like it did before the pandemic. "2019 doesn't exist anymore," she told The Washington Post. With that in mind, certain COVID restrictions and precautions might never be fully out of our lives.

In regards to mitigation measures, "it doesn't have to be an on-off thing," Mina told the newspaper. Instead, you can use and layer what we've picked up over the past two years depending on what the situation demands.

"Masking, avoiding crowded areas, these are all tools we can use and mix and match as needed," Henry Wu, MD, an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory TravelWell Center, told The Washington Post. "We're not going back to the previous normal  I think the new normal is using these tools to help protect ourselves."

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Some experts say it is important to look carefully at where you are when it comes to deciding if you need to be using certain precautions. "It really depends a lot on the place," Gronvall told The Washington Post. "Even if restrictions are relaxed, if you are still seeing substantial community transmission, you want to be aware of that."

States like California, Montana, and New Mexico have all lifted statewide indoor mask mandates this month, but according to the CDC, populous counties such as Los Angeles County, California; Yellowstone County, Montana; and Bernalillo County, New Mexico are all still dealing with high community transmission as of Feb. 22. "If you're indoors in an area with low community transmission, I think that's very different than indoors in a very crowded space where you're still seeing a lot of community spread," Saskia Popescu, PhD, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and assistant professor at George Mason University, explained to The Washington Post.

There are other tools virus experts are not willing to pack up just yet. Popescu told the newspaper that it would still be a good idea to continue doing the "due diligence" of testing before and after traveling, especially if you've had a recent COVID exposure. "As long as the tests are available, which they generally are  I think it's a pretty low ask to have people test themselves before traveling," Mina said.

When it comes to traveling, the federal mask mandate is currently only set to remain in place through March 18, but Mina told The Washington Post that even after it's no longer required, it makes sense to continue wearing a face covering while at airports, especially since you're surrounded by people who could be coming from places with substantial transmission. "I don't think I'll ever stop wearing a mask in airports," he told the newspaper.

Finally, some experts say it might even be a good idea to consider wearing a face covering whenever you're around a lot of people you don't know. "If you're in a tight crowd with strangers and you're not eating or drinking at the moment  personally, I'm going to wear a mask," Grovall told The Washington Post. Other virus experts recommend continuing to keep and push tools like vaccines, boosters, and stricter precautions when around immunocompromised people.

RELATED: Dr. Fauci Just Said When COVID Restrictions Will Really Be Gone.




The Dominican Republic on Sunday began constructing a wall that will cover about half of its 244-mile border with Haiti.

The wall is an effort to stop the smuggling of goods, weapons and drugs as well as illegal migration from Haiti, according to Reuters.

"The benefit for both nations will be of great importance," Dominican President Luis Abinader said of the wall before officially beginning the construction efforts, Reuters reported.

The president started the project just before the anniversary of the Dominican Republic's independence from Haiti on Feb. 27, 1844. He noted that the first part of the wall should be finished within nine months, the news service added.

Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the Americas and the Dominican Republic's only land neighbor, has been riddled with crime and scandal following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise.

Earlier this month, investigators and a judge alleged that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was involved in the assassination.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic has seen recent success as a Caribbean tourist destination. Given the contrast of the two countries, many Haitians have traveled to the Dominican Republic seeking work.

As of the most recent immigration survey, which took place in 2018, 500,000 Haitians along with tens of thousands of their descendents lived in the Dominican Republic, which has a total population of around 11 million people, Reuters noted.
Rep. Billy Long kicked off his U.S. Senate campaign at PFI Western Store in Springfield on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, standing in front of the "Billy Bus" emblazoned with his name and photo.

Southwest Missouri will have a new representative in Congress after next year's election. Barring any late additions to the field, it will be one of half a dozen Republicans.

Rep. Billy Long, a Republican who has held the seat since 2011, is running for U.S. Senate  leaving his position in the House open for the taking. Missouri's 7th district encompasses Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, Barry, Polk, Greene, Christian, Taney Counties, and a small portion of Webster County. It's a dark red district (Long won almost 70 percent of the vote in 2020), a composition unlikely to significantly change when district lines are redrawn with new census data.

A number of Republican candidates have already emerged to vie for the GOP nomination. No Democrats have announced their candidacy. The winner will serve a two-year term in the U.S. House, joining the other seven members of Missouri's delegation.

Here are the candidates competing to represent the 7th District in the U.S. House next year:

Dr. Sam Alexander

Calling himself the "political outsider" of the field, emergency physician Dr. Sam Alexander is seeking elected office for the first time since 2004.

Sam Alexander

A longtime employee of CoxHealth, Alexander criticized "career politicians" in an October interview with the News-Leader and said if elected, he would use his experience in the medical field and on his family's farm to hear from a range of constituents. A group of 35 southwest Missouri physicians wrote an open letter to colleagues Friday asking them to support Alexander in the primary.

U.S. House District 7 election: Dr. Sam Alexander, ER physician and ally of Gov. Mike Parson, formally joins race

Though Alexander has never held elected office, he has been involved in Missouri politics for years. Gov. Mike Parson, who Alexander ran against in his first state House race, appointed Alexander to the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts in 2019. He's also served on Parson's advisory board for MO HealthNet, the state's Medicaid program, and said he has advised the governor on medical issues, as well as donating to his inauguration.

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Alexander has contracted the consulting firm Victory Enterprises, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission. His campaign had $120,147.10 on hand as of Sept. 30 (though Alexander loaned himself $90,000 on Sept. 29, according to campaign filings, driving up that number).

Alex Bryant

Alex Bryant, who launched his campaign in mid-February, is a conservative pastor and the founder of his own ministry.

Alex Bryant

He painted the current political landscape in his candidacy's announcement as a "culture war," arguing that "there is an outright attack on our conservative family values." Originally from Illinois and a graduate of Evangel University, Bryant, who is Black, is centering his platform on his religious background and experiences.

He and his ministry have garnered a significant social media following, amassing over 50,000 followers on Facebook, due in part to a viral video he and his family filmed that focused on "peace and unity."

Eric Burlison

State Sen. Eric Burlison, a Battlefield Republican, tax consultant and investment adviser, is hoping to make the jump from Missouri politics to the national scene.

Burlison was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2018, previously serving seven years in the House. He currently represents part of Greene County and Christian County in the chamber, and is a member of the Senate Conservative Caucus  a subsect of Republicans in the chamber who have taken hardline stances on issues such as abortion and vaccine mandates, at times butting heads with party leadership and the governor.

U.S. House District 7 election: State Sen. Eric Burlison jumps into race

While in the higher chamber, Burlison has been one of the most vocal advocates for the Second Amendment Preservation Act, a law passed in Missouri this year that effectively nullifies some federal gun laws and fines police who enforce them. Earlier this year, he pushed to reintroduce "right-to-work" legislation, which bans unions from requiring membership and was rejected by 67 percent of voters in 2018. He's also been a proponent of making it more difficult for voter-led petitions to end up on the ballot.

He's earned early conservative endorsements, including those of FreedomWorks, the House Freedom Fund and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Burlison recently announced Jeff Layman, an alumnus of former Gov. Eric Greitens and Billy Long's campaigns, as campaign chairman; he has also contracted consultant Axiom Strategies.

Mike Moon

State Sen. Mike Moon, like Burlison is attempting to transition from Jefferson City to Capitol Hill, as the cattle rancher and Sunday school teacher seeks the Republican nomination.

Mike Moon

Moon spent several years in the Missouri House before winning a Senate seat in 2020, representing parts of Barry, Lawrence, McDonald, Stone and Taney counties. In the year since joining the upper chamber he's been a vocal part of the Senate Conservative Caucus, urging the Republican supermajority to defund Planned Parenthood, ban critical race theory (although it is not taught in K-12 schools) and prioritize "election integrity." He's also been a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates, attending a Springfield protest outside Mercy Hospital in August.

U.S. House District 7 election: State Sen. Mike Moon announces run

The Ash Grove lawmaker picked up national notoriety in 2017 when he posted a video on social media decapitating a chicken while urging former Gov. Eric Greitens to take stronger action against abortion providers. In the online ad announcing his candidacy, Moon said if elected he would represent constituents rather than lobbyists or "party bosses"  a mindset he recently brought to the Missouri Senate floor, where he and other members of the Conservative Caucus feuded with party leadership on the rules and traditions of the chamber.

2022 elections: Who's running for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat?

Audrey Richards

The only woman to file candidacy documents for the race thus far, Audrey Richards is hoping to carve out her own path forward in the primary field.

Audrey Richards

A Joplin native and graduate of George Washington University, Richards has never held elected office but has spent time in Washington, working for the federal Office of the Comptroller of Currency for six years.

Her platform is a far cry from the rest of the Republican field  more akin to the typical progressive Democrat than a member of the GOP. She frequently reposts critiques of both Republicans and the Biden administration on Twitter, and is focused on education funding and stronger support for rural communities.

Richards, running with the slogan of "Rural. Republican. Relentless," maintains that her ideology and candidacy are not limited to one party. She ran as an independent write-in candidate in 2020, garnering 1,279 votes, according to Ballotpedia.

Jay Wasson

After working as a state lawmaker and mayor, Jay Wasson now is running for Congress.

Wasson hadn't originally planned to campaign for the seat, he told the News-Leader in September, but said recent spending proposals from Democratic leadership in Washington frustrated him and prompted him to enter the race. He served as the mayor of Nixa for five years before being elected to six terms in Jefferson City  four in the House and two in the Senate. He also serves on the governing board for Missouri State University.

U.S. House District 7 election: Former Nixa mayor, state senator Jay Wasson enters race

As a lawmaker, Wasson focused on funding education and balancing state budgets, a policy he pledged to keep if elected to Congress. He said he would push for a "balanced budget amendment" that only allowed Congress to spend as much money as revenue gathered during any given year. In his announcement ad, he also touched on popular Republican talking points, criticizing the Biden administration's immigration policy along with critical race theory.

Paul Walker

A retired Army colonel, political science instructor and author is also part of the Republican primary field.

Paul Walker

Paul Walker, a Springfield resident and Missouri State University alumnus, told the News-Leader that his goal in running was to "fight the Woke Left and help continue the policies of our party leader, Donald Trump."

"Ronald Reagan once said, 'freedom was just one generation away from extinction," Walker said. "I'm not going to let that happen."

Walker is the author of several books on U.S. history, including "Truman's Dilemma: Invasion or the Bomb" and "Cavalry Battle That Saved the Union: Custer vs. Stuart at Gettysburg."

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Who's running for southwest Missouri's open U.S. House seat in 2022?
Little good comes from a journalist trying to dissuade you from believing the latest fictional account of another journalist.

And yet, here I am, weighing in on the depiction of a reporter in Netflixs new series "Inventing Anna."

So predictable of us, this gut reaction whenever TV or film comes up with another version of what we do for a living. This is especially true when the actor is portraying, sort of, a real-life journalist, and thus elevating our colleagues' profile. We pick that apart like cats on a codfish.

One might be tempted to think envy plays a role here, but to you journalists reading this, let me stress that I do not mean you. You would never.

Here I go: Real journalists never persuade criminal defendants to reject plea deals so we can use the unfolding tragedy of their lives to reboot our stalled careers. We dont hide our professional identities to circumvent a jails visitation rules or help defense lawyers build their cases. And we dont give defendants clothes from our own closets to produce the right look for their courtroom appearances.

And now, if you havent already seen it, you probably cant wait to watch Shonda Rhimes "Inventing Anna." If you love to hate journalists, this series will make you swoon.

Intrigue, glamour and not quite reality

"Inventing Anna" is based loosely on a 2018 New York magazine story by Jessica Pressler, titled, Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track Of It. The series is about the two women in this story: The journalist, a now fictional Vivian Kent, played by Anna Chlumsky, and her subject, Anna Sorokin, better known as Anna Delvey, played by Julia Garner.

More Connie Schultz: Did you miss some of her USA TODAY columns? Catch up now.

Julia Garner as Anna Delvey, left, and Anna Chlumsky as journalist Vivian Kent in a scene from "Inventing Anna."

Sorokin was a 25-year-old con artist who, for a while, convinced New Yorks elite that she was a wealthy heiress from Germany determined to build an exclusive arts club for people like them. Clever Anna swindled about $200,000 from banks and hotels, and people who thought they were her friends. At one point, she managed to steal a private jet to attend business magnate Warren Buffetts invitation-only annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.

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Vivian is a disgraced journalist trying to revive her career at the fictional Manhattan magazine. She shares a corner of the newsroom nicknamed Scriberia for its veteran residents, a wise-cracking threesome who apparently have all the time in the world to help Vivian soar to new investigative heights, without any credit. This happens in newsrooms all the time, on camera.

The series is what weve come to expect from the unlimited talents of Rhimes  full of fast-paced intrigue, glamour and double crosses, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the playgrounds of the obnoxiously wealthy.

Final 'Jeopardy!' answer: 'Who is Amy Schneider'? The category? Champions, of course.

Shonda Rhimes arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

New York Times reporter Emily Palmer, who covered the real trial of Sorokin in 2019, offers a thoughtful critique of how journalism is portrayed in the series:

For a show that includes a reporter among its producers, the writers pay little attention to what true or at least ethical reporting looks like.

Yes, office politics can influence decisions and relationships within publications, as in most workplaces. And yes, good reporting can include flattering and even befriending sources only to air their dirty laundry. But the series hinges on a moment when Vivian convinces Anna to forgo a generous plea deal and go to trial against the advice of her lawyer, all so Vivian can score a career-redeeming article. In the real world  or at least in the journalism world  that could have been the storys biggest scandal.

Columnist Jill Lawrence: 'Ozark' and 'Yellowstone' are about awful people. That's not my kind of COVID escapism.

Inventing Anna. Julia Garner as Anna Delvery in episode 104 of Inventing Anna. Cr. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix  2021

Were supposed to feel sorry for Vivian, and sometimes I do. She is pregnant and married to a man who cant understand why her career should ever come first. She is dramatic, with the boundaries of a toddler. She bursts into a meeting of white male editors to declare that she has a better idea than all of them  and gets away with it. Again, this always happens.

Life in a real newsroom

Ive been a journalist for more than three decades, the first two spent in a newsroom run mostly by men and fueled by turf wars. It was impossible to watch Vivian attempt to climb out of that barrel of crabs and not have some warm and fuzzy flashbacks.

Vivian is a woman who is pushy and loud  in a newsroom, which took me back to my first weeks as a reporter at The Plain Dealer. A colleague who called me Connie Tyler Moore  it was not a compliment  pulled me aside for a brief tutorial on appropriate newsroom behavior. If you dont stop being so cheerful, she said, everyone here will hate you.

Connie Schultz is an Opinion columnist for USA TODAY.

When I laughed, she grabbed my sleeve and pulled me closer. This is exactly what Im talking about. No one needs to hear this. In that moment, I was a 36-year-old first grader in need of her mommy.

Twenty-two years later, I was a juror for a prestigious journalism competition. So exciting. We were divided into groups and assigned to various tables in a large room. During one of our groups discussions, someone said something funny, and I laughed. Moments later, a man whose work I had admired for years walked over from another table and stood next to me.

Me! He was going to talk to me!

He leaned in and, for everyone to hear, said, Youre very loud. Could you lower your voice? He walked away and no one said a word. Fortunately, by then I was a 57-year-old middle schooler. I called my five best friends, told them what happened and named him, every time.

The truth about media attention

Go, Vivian, I may have whispered once or twice during those nine episodes.

In a scene of searing truth about our profession, Vivian confronts Annas lawyer, Todd, after his client is sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. Despondent about this, Vivian describes who Anna will be by the time she gets out: Shell be a lonely, middle-aged woman whose life was stolen from her.

She glares at Todd.

What? he finally says. What do you want me to say? You didnt make her do the interview? You didnt use her? She didnt end up getting a longer sentence because of all of the media attention?

Sorry, he adds, without apology, but you got more clicks, Anna got more time. Plain and simple.

Well, that was harsh.

Connie Schultz is a columnist for USA TODAY. She is a Pulitzer Prize winner whose novel, "The Daughters of Erietown," is a New York Times bestseller. Reach her at CSchultz@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @ConnieSchultz

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix's 'Inventing Anna' doesn't reflect my journalism life
A mink at a Denmark estate where all minks were culled due to a government order on November 7, 2020. Mink in Oregon also were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2, the animal virus linked to COVID-19. The legislation passed Monday in Oregon does not apply to mink farms.

This story was updated at 3 p.m.

The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill prohibiting live-animal markets in the state to reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19.

Zoonotic diseases, which spread from animals to humans, are on the rise worldwide, driven by habitat loss, climate change and wildlife exploitation, including wildlife trade and trafficking.

In addition to COVID-19, those diseases include Ebola, avian flu, swine flu, SARS, MERS and HIV.

House Bill 4128 prohibits the sale of live wildlife for human consumption in Oregon unless specifically allowed by law.

New leadership, same Capitol: Priority bills moving, partisan friction simmering

Oregon doesnt have very many live-animal markets, said Rep. Ken Helm, D-Washington County, who sponsored the bill.

But California and Washington are considering similar bans, Helm said. That could shift the industry into Oregon, unless the state also acts.

If Washington and California clamp down on their ports, our ports would become a key place of entry, Helm said.

The United States is one of the worlds top importers of wildlife, with an estimated 20% of the global wildlife market.

The prohibitions in House Bill 4128 apply to certain wild animals sold live for food. They dont impact animals used on farms, or certain native marine species, such as live crab.

The bill also strengthens state agency coordination.

It requires the Legislative Policy and Research Office, in coordination with state agencies, to prepare a report evaluating the states current framework for monitoring, preventing and responding to zoonotic diseases, and recommend ways to strengthen that framework.

And it requires the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to review and update its list of prohibited species, to protect the state from the threat of zoonotic disease. The current list was developed to protect wildlife, but not humans, from disease.

The long list includes species such as wildebeest, mongooses, capybara, and piranhas.

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HB 4128 now goes to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature.

Similar legislation was considered during the 2021 legislative session after COVID-19 was identified in mink at an Oregon mink farm. That bill died in committee after concerns from agriculture interests that it could prohibit mink farms.

The current bill does not apply to mink farms.

Proposed federal legislation, however, does target mink farms.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the America COMPETES Act earlier this month. It bans the possession of mink raised in captivity for fur production.

The amendment was sponsored by Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio. The legislation still needs Senate approval.

Tracy Loew is a reporter at the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Legislature approves bill to ban live-animal markets
Tina Ennis and Jill Lopez

courtesy Tina Ennis and Jill Lopez Tina Ennis; Jill Lopez

A pair of strangers in Oklahoma is living out what sounds like the plot of a Lifetime movie.

After her daughter convinced her to take an Ancestry.com DNA test in 2019, Tina Ennis of Hobart, Okla., learned that she was allegedly switched at birth with a woman named Jill Lopez on the same day 57 years ago at a hospital in Duncan, Okla., according to The Daily Beast.

"My heart just sank because I was just like, 'This is for real,'" Ennis said of the moment she and Lopez, both 57, confirmed what they feared to be the truth about their parentage.

To add to her pain, Ennis also learned that her own biological parents, Joyce and John Brister, had died years earlier, before she had a chance to meet them. Although Lopez has regaled her with memories and photographs of the couple, Ennis admitted she was now somewhat jealous of her.

"Jill got to be with my real parents, and now she gets to be with my parents I grew up with," Ennis told the outlet. "I didn't know what to think about it at first, but the more I think about it, it makes me really sad."

RELATED: Florida Woman Who Was Switched at Birth Opens Up About Her Life Post-Scandal: 'I Couldn't Handle the Resentment'

Along with Ennis' mother Kathryn Jones, who allegedly gave birth to Lopez in May 1964, the women are suing Duncan Regional Hospital for negligence and inflicting emotional distress, according to documents filed in Stephens County District Court that were obtained by PEOPLE.

Tina Ennis and Jill Lopez

courtesy Tina Ennis and Jill Lopez Tina Ennis; Jill Lopez

An attorney for DRH did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. A trial is set for March 11 at Stephens County District Court.

RELATED: 'Forty Years Gone': Two Canadian Men Break Down in Tears After Discovering They Were Switched at Birth

The saga unfolded when Ennis' daughter, now 26, convinced the woman Ennis had known as her mother to take an at-home DNA test in 2019 to track down a grandfather the daughter had never met. When she got the results back, Ennis and her daughter learned that their family tree was filled with people with the last name Brister, which was unfamiliar to them.

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After Ennis asked Jones to take the test as well, the women were further shocked to find they didn't appear in each other's family trees. They even called Ancestry.com's customer support to confirm the mix-up wasn't an error on their end.

Ennis' daughter did some social media sleuthing and eventually found Lopez, who was born on the same day as Ennis and bore a strong physical resemblance to Jones. The daughter convinced Lopez to take a DNA test, which quickly confirmed what they feared to be true.

RELATED: Switched at Birth: French Families Awarded $2.1 Million After Baby Mix-Up

After meeting Lopez in person, Ennis broke the news to her siblings and Jones, who was reluctant to accept the baby-swap scenario until she saw a photo of Lopez, her apparent biological daughter. "Because she actually looked just like me. And it devastated me," Jones said.

"It was like somebody had ripped out a part of my heart," Lopez added. "I just couldn't deal with it."

Jones was overcome with guilt for missing out on the important moments in Lopez's life but she was also worried about losing Ennis, the daughter she had raised. Jones said that learning her grandchildren weren't her biological kin "was one of the low points of the whole thing," adding, "I felt like I was losing my daughter and my grandchildren too."

RELATED VIDEO: Identical Twin Sisters Separated at Birth on Reuniting 33 Years Later: 'It Just Can't Be Real'

Although Ennis and Lopez are still struggling to adjust to their situation, they both brought their kids to Jones' house for Christmas, and enjoyed their time together.

"I just had to get my emotions straight for a while, because it's a whole lot to get your mind around," Lopez told the Daily Beast. "Like, you had a mom and I had a mom, and now I have a different mom."
?? Presidente Pedro Castillo: "Si se ha herido la susceptibilidad de la prensa, pido las disculpas correspondientes" pic.twitter.com/YDr39SRHEo
MESA, Ariz., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlis Motor Vehicles (ATLIS), a start-up mobility technology company, announced today the signing of a collaborative agreement with a U.S. Military supplier to jointly design and produce new technology to convert military vehicles such as gasoline or diesel-powered High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) into electric vehicles. Under the agreement, the technology can be sold to third-party customers, including the United States and international allies.

Through this partnership, ATLIS's expertise designing, developing, and manufacturing the fully electric XP platform for Class 1-2, light to medium-duty trucks, will be combined with the supplier's extensive experience in the design, manufacturing, and sale of military-grade equipment to the United States Military and foreign allies.

The Atlis XP platform is the base for the 500-mile range electric ATLIS XT pickup, and it is a stand-alone medium to heavy-duty electric platform. The XP is the only full suite EV skateboard solution to convert a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an EV. Its modular system is designed to be plug-and-play, from a pickup to a box truck to a HMMWV. The standard XP platform consists of two identical modular drive systems located in the front and rear of the vehicle, four traction motors, independent suspension, drive-by-wire technology and an ATLIS battery pack.

The U.S. Department of Defense continues to express a desire to transform its fleet of ground vehicles through the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric drive technologies to address climate change, boost U.S. industry, and achieve operational advantages. ATLIS and the supplier believe their joint development work will be able to supply technology to electrify military fleets with longer-range, faster charging, fully-capable vehicles.

"We've always said that anyone who does work should be able to do it in an electric vehicle, without any compromises," said Mark Hanchett, CEO of Atlis Motor Vehicles. "This also applies to the men and women of the U.S. military. The XP platform is the basis to create a variety of emissions-free vehicles that can achieve the same performance characteristics of petroleum-powered products needed by the armed forces."

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About ATLIS Motor Vehicles

ATLIS is a mobility technology company developing products that will power work. The ATLIS innovators are building an electric vehicle technology platform for heavy and light duty work trucks used in the agriculture, service, utility, and construction industries. To meet the towing and payload capabilities of legacy diesel-powered vehicles, ATLIS is developing proprietary battery technology and a modular system architecture capable of scaling to meet the specific needs of the all-electric vehicle. For more information, visit www.atlismotorvehicles.com.

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atlis-motor-vehicles-and-united-states-military-supplier-sign-agreement-to-electrify-military-vehicles-301487125.html

SOURCE Atlis Motor Vehicles (ATLIS)
Seasoned halved avocados

Getty Images

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that avocado exports from Michoacan, Mexico would resume, after being briefly suspended. On Saturday, February 13, the exports were put on hold after a U.S.-based plant inspector reportedly received a threatening message on his phone.

In its statement announcing that avocado imports had been allowed to resume, APHIS said that it worked with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico's Regional Security Officer, Mexico's national plant protection organization (SENASICA), and the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) to "[enact] additional measures that enhance safety" for the agency's inspectors who were working in Michoacan.

"The safety of USDA employees simply doing their jobs is of paramount importance," APHIS wrote. "USDA is appreciative of the positive, collaborative relationship between the United States and Mexico that made resolution of this issue possible in a timely manner."

The Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico, which represents more than 30,000 avocado producers and 74 packers, also released a statement after reaching that agreement with U.S. authorities to resume inspecting and exporting avocado shipments. APEAM's Director General, Armando Lopez Orduna, said that the government of Michoacan would be implementing "an operational security plan" regarding avocado exports, and it would also enhance its existing security protocols to "safeguard the physical safety of the officers and facilities" that are associated with the USDA.

"On behalf of the entire industry, I would like to thank the authorities of both countries for their support and commitment to reactivate the exports of the Michoacan avocado to the United States in order to avoid, to the extent possible, the impact on supply, after the suspension of harvest and shipments announced on Friday, February 11," Lopez Orduna said.

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After the suspension was announced, some analysts started to worry aloud about the possibility of avocado shortages or price increases, due to the sheer volume of avocados that are imported from Michoacan. "If this ban lasts only two weeks, we will probably see less availability, but I don't think that the impact is going to be too big," David Magana, a senior fruits and vegetables analyst for Rabobank, told CNBC. "We're just past Super Bowl weekend, and people probably already have avocados in their kitchen."

Although the temporary suspension ended up lasting less than a week, it still had a significant financial impact. APEAM told Eater that the brief shutdown "likely resulted in a cost of more than $120 million in the United States throughout the supply chain, impacting wholesale, retail, and service industries at both the state and national levels."

Last year, the U.S. imported 1.2 million metric tons of avocados, and 1.1 million (89 percent) came from Mexico. And in the past two years (2020 and 2021) around 80 percent of the avocados that were exported from Michoacan were sent to the United States.
Tyajiah Ruff gets her COVID-19 booster shot Saturday morning, Feb. 5, 2022, at Holbrook Middle School in Lowell, N.C.

Ohio reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 12,492 new cases. That's down 43.8% from the previous week's tally of 22,211 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Ohio ranked 48th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 42% from the week before, with 722,053 cases reported. With 3.51% of the country's population, Ohio had 1.73% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, three states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Guernsey County reported 65 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 111 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 10,323 cases and 140 deaths.

Noble County reported 20 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 19 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 3,160 cases and 53 deaths.

Across Ohio, cases fell in 86 counties, with the best declines in Franklin County, with 1,343 cases from 2,262 a week earlier; in Hamilton County, with 799 cases from 1,486; and in Montgomery County, with 519 cases from 1,196.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Ohio ranked 43rd among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 62.7% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 76.1%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

In the week ending Saturday, Ohio reported administering another 92,643 vaccine doses, including 18,151 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 116,624 vaccine doses, including 24,380 first doses. In all, Ohio reported it has administered 17,152,418 total doses.

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Within Ohio, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Lawrence County with 429 cases per 100,000 per week; Van Wert County with 417; and Gallia County with 405. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Franklin County, with 1,343 cases; Hamilton County, with 799 cases; and Cuyahoga County, with 781.

In Ohio, zero people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 46 people were reported dead.

A total of 2,644,828 people in Ohio have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 35,493 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 78,479,134 people have tested positive and 935,335 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Ohio's COVID-19 hospital admissions falling

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Feb. 20.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Last week: 2,613

The week before that: 3,406

Four weeks ago: 7,527

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Last week: 83,365

The week before that: 105,697

Four weeks ago: 183,913

Hospitals in zero states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in one states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in zero states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Guernsey County reported 65 additional COVID-19 cases this week
A long-duration winter storm brought freezing drizzle to parts of southern Wisconsin Monday night, causing dozens of area schools, including Milwaukee Public Schools, to close Tuesday.

Light freezing drizzle moved into the counties north of Milwaukee just after 8 p.m. and school districts well north and west of Milwaukee already started announcing Tuesday closings Monday night. MPS and Marquette University announced their closures early Tuesday, while the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee classes went online only.

A system of showers and thunderstorms is moving into southeastern Wisconsin, which will likely result in sleet and small hail, but freezing rain is possible toward southwestern Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 2 p.m., the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported good winter driving conditions on Interstate roads south of Milwaukee, but ice-covered and slippery roads virtually everywhere else in southern Wisconsin. Updates on road conditions can be found on the DOT's tracking website, 511wi.gov.

Ice from freezing rain and sleet will make travel difficult in southeast Wisconsin through Tuesday evening, meteorologists say. The peak of the storm is expected to last until 3 p.m. and taper off until 6 p.m.

On untreated roads, ice is worse than snow, said Paul Collar, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Sullivan.

"It'll be rough," Collar said of travel conditions in southeast Wisconsin. "It doesn't take much ice to have the roads get real slick."

Howard Freeman, with Winter Services spreads salt on the sidewalk outside WTMJ on East Capitol Drive in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. A long-duration winter storm brought freezing drizzle to parts of southern Wisconsin Monday night, causing dozens of area schools, including Milwaukee Public Schools, to close Tuesday.

Milwaukee Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Tuesday afternoon also declared a weather emergency because of travel dangers. The declaration allows many city government offices, including health clinics and libraries, to close by 3 p.m. while essential employees will continue working, according to a statement from the Mayors Office.

The statement from Johnsons office noted that Department of Public Works employees have had difficulty maintaining safe sidewalks. The declaration is expected to be lifted Wednesday morning.

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Froedtert Hospital treated seven people who injured themselves from falls, along with an unspecified number of people from three car crashes  all of which were weather related, spokesperson Gerry Steele said.

A foot of snow was expected in northern Wisconsin, but virtually no snow is expected south of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, according to the National Weather Service. There were some impressive totals reported from the Northwoods to the National Weather Service, including 21 inches of snow in Washburn by 5 p.m.

Milwaukee began salting its streets at 9 p.m. Monday and completed residential and main streets as of 5:20 a.m., according to Brian DeNeve, a spokesperson for the citys Department of Public Works.

DeNeve said Tuesday morning road crews were again salting main roads to prepare for rush hour traffic. "We advise the public to be cautious if traveling and take it slow," he said.

Freezing drizzle developed in south-central Wisconsin shortly after 7 p.m. and was moving to the northeast. It had spread across Dodge, Washington and Ozaukee Counties by 8 p.m.

Rounds of freezing rain and sleet are expected for southeast Wisconsin Monday night through Tuesday.

On the state's road conditions map the 'good winter driving' green slowly turned to 'slippery stretches' purple as the rain moved across the state. By 9 p.m., roads northwest of Madison in the Dells area were reported to be ice covered. By 10 p.m., roads from Beaver Dam to Manitowoc were ice covered and by midnight roads from Madison to Sturgeon bay were icy.

As of 12:30 p.m., the sate Department of Transportation reported at least three crashes on Interstate roads in the Milwaukee area  two on I-41 in Oak Creek and West Allis and another on I-94 in West Milwaukee. The crashes resulted in lane and exit closures.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport reported a plow truck on the taxiway came to rest on its side after a single-vehicle crash around 9:30 a.m. The driver suffered minor injuries and the crash had no impact on airport operations.

"Flights are continuing to land and take off at MKE," a statement from the airport said. "The airport remains open during this winter storm, and crews are doing an excellent job keeping the runways treated and open for airline traffic."

Schools well north and west of Milwaukee already started announcing Tuesday closings by 8 p.m. Monday. Among them: Elmbrook Schools, Fox Point-Bayside School District, Germantown Schools, Beaver Dam School District, Hartford Union High School, Kewaskum Schools, Hustisford Schools, Slinger and Waupun School District. Madison Public Schools also closed late Monday night. You can check for all the school closings here.

Be careful if you are heading out tonight. We are expecting freezing rain, sleet and rain to rapidly develop and spread across southern WI. #swiwx pic.twitter.com/yPVptsClBS  NWS Milwaukee (@NWSMilwaukee) February 21, 2022

There may be some delays to garbage and recycling collection as staff will need to take their time to ensure safety in icy conditions, particularly in alleys, DeNeve added.

If there are delays to scheduled collection service, residents should leave their cart set out and return it to a storage location when emptied. All residents should clear snow and ice around, on top of, and next to their garbage and recycling carts to create a clear path and serviceable condition for city crews.

Updates can be found at milwaukee.gov/snow.

No changes to existing parking regulations are expected.

Power outages are also a concern.

Around noon Tuesday, We Energies reported about 3,500 people in the Milwaukee area were without power, but power was restored to a majority of those customers by 2 p.m. Alison Trouy, a spokesperson, said the company has dealt with scattered weather-related outages throughout the Milwaukee area Tuesday.

She said most of it is caused by frozen tree limbs falling onto We Energies equipment, but that there was also one instance of a car sliding off the road and colliding with a power pole.

"We are keeping a close eye on the weather and updating staffing plans to have crews available if needed," We Energies spokeswoman Amy Jahns said in a statement.

People should stay away from downed power lines and should report any to We Energies or law enforcement. To contact We Energies if your power goes out, use the utility's mobile app, call 800-662-4797 or go to we-energies.com/OutageManagement.

Storm to affect the entire state

This winter storm is different than most, said Rebecca Hykin, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Green Bay.

So far this winter, most storms have been affected by clipper systems that move faster and accumulate a lot of snow within 6-12 hours. This storm, however, is moving slower with a low-pressure system coming in Monday and the bulk of the precipitation coming Tuesday.

Second wave of precipitation

The storm will affect the entire state.

As of Monday morning, the winter storm had already started in far northern Wisconsin, where cities like Ashland and Hurley could get 12-18 inches of snow.

Central Wisconsin will see a chance of snow later Monday evening into Tuesday. According to the Weather Service, Wood and Portage counties could see between 2-4 inches of snow by Tuesday night, while Wausau could see 3-5 inches with higher amounts of snow predicted in the northern part of Marathon County, Hykin said.

There is also potential for freezing rain and sleet in central Wisconsin, which could impact snowfall totals, she said.

The eastern part of the state, including the Fox Valley and lakeshore, could see some snow, but the Weather Service expects to see more of a wintery mix, with most precipitation happening late Monday night into Tuesday. That area could see some ice and sleet accumulations.

Expected snowfall from 6 a.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Snowfall forecast for the eastern part of the state includes 1-2 inches in Green Bay, less than an inch in Appleton and south, 1-2 inches in Sturgeon Bay, 2-3 inches in Sister Bay, Oconto and Marinette and less than an inch along Lake Michigan.

Hykin said drivers in the Northwoods and north-central Wisconsin could see some impact in their commute Monday night. The storm could affect Tuesday morning commutes throughout the state, but the largest impact is expected to be Tuesday evening, as the bulk of the snow and wintery mix is expected to occur Tuesday afternoon, according to the Weather Service.

Fond du Lac could see up to 0.25 inch of ice accumulation while Sheboygan could get up to 0.5 inch.

Milwaukee weather radar

Refresh your browser if the radar isn't working or click here if you can't see it.

Snow expected Wednesday, Thursday

After Monday and Tuesday's freezing rain and sleet, the forecast in southeast Wisconsin calls for rounds of snow Wednesday and Thursday.

Weather service meteorologists in Sullivan aren't certain on exact snowfall totals yet, but several inches are possible, especially along Lake Michigan.

The system is expected to begin Wednesday night with lake effect snowfall. More snow Thursday will also have lake enhancements, Collar said.

Temperatures are expected to dip to 32 degrees with Monday night's storms and should remain below freezing throughout the week.

Elliot Hughes and Steve Martinez contributed to this report.

Contact Caitlin Shuda at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

As much as a quarter of an inch of ice could accumulate in the Milwaukee metro area.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Winter storm to bring freezing rain, ice accumulation to Milwaukee
By Tom Balmforth and Maria Kiselyova

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament was expected on Tuesday to ratify treaties with two separatist Ukrainian regions, a step that could pave the way to Moscow building military bases there, adopting a joint defence posture and tightening economic integration.

President Vladimir Putin recognised the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent statelets on Monday, defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and kill peace negotiations.

With the United States and its European allies now poised to announce harsh new sanctions, Russia's lower house of parliament began meeting to discuss the two 17-page draft friendship treaties with the breakaway republics and vote on them.

The treaties were submitted to parliament by Putin for ratification on Monday night.

Each party gives the other "the right for its armed forces to build, use and improve military infrastructure and military bases on its territory," they say.

Once the documents are ratified, Russia, which has massed troops near Ukraine fuelling fears of a looming war, could overtly send military forces into the regions.

An explanatory note attached to the documents says the documents create a "legal basis" for the arrival of Russian military units to the people's republics that it said were needed for "peacekeeping" activities.

In the event of a threat to their respective "sovereignty", the treaty's parties will immediately hold consultations "with the aim of ensuring joint defence, keeping the peace and mutual security," the documents say.

"In the course of these consultations, they will determine the necessity, type and scale of help that one party will provide to the other party to eliminate a threat that has arisen," it says.

The treaties also say Russia and the breakaway statelets will work to integrate their economies. Both of them are former industrial areas in need of massive support to rebuild after eight years of war with Ukrainian government forces.

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The 10-year treaties are automatically renewable for further five-year periods unless one of the parties gives notice to withdraw, the draft documents said.

In Moscow, many residents said they supported the move, which they interpreted through the lens of Russia's wider standoff with the West over security demands.

"We have to defend the country and drive American, pro-Western troops away from our borders, who have been trying to conquer Russia since the last century and probably throughout the centuries," said one of them, who identified himself as Nikolay.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova declined to comment when asked what exact borders the two self-proclaimed republics would have, one of an array of questions that remains unclear.

"Let's let our lawmakers play their part today and the legal process take place," she said on Russian state radio.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Maria Kiselyova, Anton Kolodyazhnyy; editing by Mark Trevelyan)
The United States moved its Ukrainian embassy operations to neighboring Poland overnight amid the buildup of Russian military assets around Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putins fiery speech saying he wants to redraw the regions borders.

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 Monday night. 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.

Blinken went on to say the decision did not undermine the U.S.s position on Ukrainian sovereignty, which remained unwavering amid the threat of a Russian incursion.

The fact that we are taking prudent precautions for the sake of the safety of U.S. government personnel and U.S. citizens, as we do regularly worldwide, in no way undermines our support for, or our commitment to, Ukraine, he said. Our commitment to Ukraine transcends any one location.

The U.S. temporarily moved its Ukraine embassy from Kyiv to Lviv last week, citing the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces. Many non-essential embassy staff had already been ordered to leave the country, but key diplomats have remained.

The State Department has urged American citizens to leave the country, and Blinken stressed Monday that any military operations could hamstring commercial air travel and threaten the safety of anyone regardless of nationality.

Those threats only grew Monday after Putin ordered Russias Defense Ministry to sent troops to two separatist territories in Ukraine, escalating the conflict while saying the military movements were operating under peacekeeper functions. The move prompted an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and the Biden administration said it would impose sanctions on the breakaway regions, but not on Russia for now.

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The U.S. has warned a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any moment, although world leaders have pushed for last-minute diplomatic solutions.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Both the Yakima Police Department and the Yakima Municipal Jail are located in the Richard A. Zais Law & Justice Center at 200 S. Third St. in Yakima.
A lack of broadband infrastructure has hindered education, economic development and public services to rural Yakima County residents for several years. A team of local officials is working to find grant money to address the problem.
Rosemary A. DiCarlo

Mr. President,

It is with great concern and sadness that I brief the Council this evening on the unfolding dangerous situation in and around Ukraine.

In his statement today, the Secretary-General was clear: He considers the decision of the Russian Federation to recognize 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 United Nations. We very much regret this decision, which risks having regional and global repercussions.

We also regret the order today to deploy Russian troops into eastern Ukraine, reportedly on a peacekeeping mission.

These developments follow the decision to order a mass evacuation of civilian residents of Donetsk and Luhansk into the Russian Federation.

We are concerned by the escalating shelling across the contact line, reportedly leading to a number of casualties. OSCEs Special Monitoring Mission has recorded a total of 3,231 ceasefire violations in the Donbas area from 18-20 February: 1,073 ceasefire violations, including 926 explosions in the Luhansk region, and 2,158 ceasefire violations, including 1,100 explosions, in Donetsk region.

We remind all involved of their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and human rights law.

Although the United Nations is not in a position to verify the numerous claims and allegations made by various actors, we are deeply concerned about the reports of civilian casualties, targeting of critical civilian infrastructure, and ongoing evacuations.

Mr. President,

We are extremely concerned about the possible implications of the latest developments for the existing negotiation frameworks. Amid the current risks and uncertainty, it is even more important to pursue dialogue.

Negotiation is the only way to address the existing differences among the key actors regarding regional security issues, and the settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in accordance with Security Council resolution 2202 (2015).

Before the current, already dangerous conditions escalate further, we call on all relevant actors to focus their efforts on an immediate cessation of hostilities. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and actions and statements that may worsen the situation must be avoided.

Over the past few weeks, key actors have been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to avert a new eruption of conflict in the heart of Europe. The Secretary-General fully supports these efforts and has deplored even the possibility that a new conflict could break out.

Mr. President,

We are committed to our long-term partnership with Ukraine  a founding member of the United Nations  as it continues to pursue the democratic reform agenda 30 years after independence.

And once again we reiterate the full commitment of the United Nations to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions.

Throughout the eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, the United Nations has continued to provide life-saving humanitarian support to all in need as well as human rights-related work. During this difficult period, we are committed to stay and deliver and remain fully operational in Ukraine, including in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The safety and security of all our staff must be respected by all parties.

Mr. President,

The next hours and days will be critical. The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. I can assure you of the full commitment of the Secretary-General to work toward a diplomatic resolution of the current crisis.

Thank you, Mr. President
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American TV network NBC reported that the US will send 130 troops and armoured vehicles to Hungary because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto declared last week that no NATO soldiers would be deployed in Hungary in response to the Russia-Ukraine tension, because Hungary already has enough NATO soldiers to defend the country  Hungarian soldiers.



In reply to questions from news website 24, the Defence Ministry said Every year, there are domestic and international exercises, joint training and preparations in Hungary, for which soldiers from NATO member states come to Hungary. It will happen this year, too, on several occasions.



The official briefing indicated that the first such training exercise will take place from late February to early March.



The US soldiers arrive with 40 combat vehicles from forces stationed in Europe and Africa.
Over 30 galleries, auctioning houses and art dealers will have their stands at this years Art and Antique art fair in the Balna centre in Budapest between March 3 and 6, the organisers announced recently.

The Virag Judit Gallery will put on display for sale Tivadar Csontvary Kosztkas Child in Red Dress (painted around 1894), Jozsef Rippl-Ronais Anella and Laszlo Moholy-Nagys Composition.



The Erdesz Gallery will put on show Sandor Bortnyiks Cabaret and titles by Istvan Nadler, and the Deak Erika Gallery will present titles by Dora Maurer and Dezso Korniss, among others, they said.



The fair will also feature dealers presenting furniture and jewelry.



During the show, art historian Peter Antalffy will give guided tours in Hungarian and English.



This year, a diamond necklace and earring set worth one million forints will be raffled off among visitors.



Venue: Balna ("Whale")

Address: 1093 Budapest,

Fovam ter 11-12 .



Click here for more
Agents of the National Investigation Bureau carried out co-ordinated raids on six places against drug traffickers in Budapest, Hatvan and Apc on Tuesday.

Investigators seized Ft 36 million in cash, along with luxury watches, jewellery and two BMWs. In addition, some 3,000 MDMA ecstasy tablets and a kilogram of marijuana were found.



A police video of the raid posted online said that the criminal organisation had been shut down with the help of 21st-century methods .



This means that the Hungarian drug dealers were caught via encrypted telephones developed by the FBI.



The FBI developed an app called ANoM with the Australian Federal Police. The app was then made popular in criminal circles around the world.



Criminals believed it was a secure communications platform, however, it was a trap the FBI had set up.
The foreign ministers of Hungary and Belgium unveiled a plaque in Brussels on Monday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the first Hungarian embassy in the city.

Peter Szijjarto of Hungary spoke about the history of the past 100 years, highlighting its many progressive and some sad developments and said after 100 years, issues of security are being raised again because of crises in the eastern parts of the continent as well as coronavirus pandemic.



The critical situation highlights the importance of consistent dialogue based on mutual respect, he said.



Hungary and Belgium are friends; Hungary celebrates the centenary in that spirit and will cooperate with Belgium in that spirit in the next 100 years, Szijjarto said.



Belgiums Sophie Wilmes referred to her country accommodating children from Hungary after the first and second world wars, as well as granting asylum to Hungarian refugees after the failed anti-Soviet revolt of 1956, making a special mention of economist Sandor Lamfalussy, the father of the euro.



The centenary reminds the parties of bilateral economic ties, of values, principles and duties linked to their NATO and European Union membership, Wilmes said.



Belgium always urges dialogue on such issues as shared values or the rule of law, especially in times such as of the crisis currently facing Europe, she said.





Photo courtesy: FM's Facebook page
New Delhi: 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.

Live TV

#mute
New Delhi: Big IT companies are again contemplating to ask their employees to gradually get back to work from office.

Though the companies had announced that the employees would be asked to return to office last September onwards, the rising cases of Omicron and localised lockdowns had put a halt to the decisions. (Also read: World's richest man Elon Musk 'dating' THIS actress: All you want to know)

Media reports have said that top IT firms like TCS, Wipro, Cognizant and Infosys are contemplating to end Work From Home provision and ask the employees to return to office.

Wipro has asked all managerial level employees, who have got both dozes of vaccination, to return to offices by March 3, as per a News 18 report. Wipro is however going to begin with two-days a week work from office pattern. Meanwhile the rest of the employees can continue to work from home. (Also read: Govt unveils Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022)

Tech biggie Cognizant too is planning to reopen the office. This will not be mandatory for the employees though. Cognizant will ask the employees to return to office on a voluntary basis from April. The Economic Times reported that Cognizant is planning to reopen offices in a phased manner.

TCS will also allow its employees to work on a hybrid model, which means that they can continue work from home and be in the office premises occasionally. Similarly, Infosys too will adopt hybrid model for its employees in the next couple of months.

Live TV

#mute
New Delhi: India's annual textiles exports can rise to USD 100 billion in the next five years from the current USD 40 billion, a top official said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 44th Foundation Day of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Textiles Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh said the country's apparel industry must focus on vertical integration to increase its scale and size and to benefit from the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

"Apparel and garmenting is not very investment-centric but it is important from the employment point of view. Perhaps, there is a need for backward integration and more of you can get into integrated value-chain like spinning and weaving," Singh said.

Virtually addressing the event, the textiles secretary said that along with the PLI scheme, the government is committed to making the Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme a success. Idea is not to just have a world class infrastructure but also a thriving industry there, he added.

Stating that textiles has always been among the top priorities of the government, the secretary said, "There are a lot of big opportunities. The demand continues to be robust and the China plus one sourcing strategy by the west is certainly a great opportunity for us."

Singh said it depends on how good, efficient and integrated the Indian apparel industry is and how it increases its size and scale.

"We should be in a position to breach USD 20 billion apparel exports by next fiscal or the year after that," Singh said.

He added that the country's textile exports can increase from the current USD 40 billion to USD 100 billion in the next five years.

Live TV

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The sectoral brands include Cafes del Peru; Cafes del Peru, Especialidades Unicas; Alpaca del Peru; Peru Textiles; Peru Xpert; Super Foods Peru; and Pisco, Spirit of Peru.





"The Peru Brand has been operational for 10 years and, in this period of time, has helped bring together a valuable legacy around its identity that summarizes its rich ancient history and a present full of enthusiasm and progress, which the world recognizes and values as a powerful distinctive sign," Foreign Trade-Tourism Minister Roberto Sanchez stated.





According to the government official, this legal recognition in the world of sectoral brands "represents the appreciation of Peruvian products, the work of men and women who through Peruvian companies and the State strive to provide products of unique quality that global users can identify as Peruvian."





Amora Carbajal Executive-President of Peru's Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru), a Mincetur's body in charge of safeguarding the Country Brand and sectoral brands commented on the matter.





"This global step to include Peruvian sectoral brands in the WIPO legal register will provide adequate protection against unauthorized use by third parties," Carbajal said.





"We had a positive experience defending the Peru Brand, in which we won a dispute that protected the country against the use and appropriation of its identity by a third party without authorization," she added.





Throughout these years, the Peru Brand has become an essential part of national pride and is Peru's main emblem in all the important moments in which we are represented both locally and internationally.



??Peruanidad reconocida a nivel global!?????? La Organizacion Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (Ompi) reconoce a las marcas sectoriales peruanas, una importante noticia que nos llena de orgullo. @marcaPERU???? (1/2)

#Comercio #Exportaciones #ComercioExterior #Peru pic.twitter.com/r4MbXd4bks  MINCETUR ???? (@MINCETUR) February 21, 2022

(END) NDP/JOT/RMB/MVB

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) , a United Nations agency, recognizes the sectoral trademarks of Peru, which constitute a powerful distinctive sign and value the work of Peruvian men and women, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has reported.Published: 2/22/2022
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated on Tuesday that the government will proceed with the LIC's initial public offering (IPO). The minister told a press conference in Mumbai that there is a lot of excitement and interest in the market for the LIC IPO, and that it will go forward.

On February 13, the draft red-herring prospectus (DRHP) of the LIC IPO was filed with market regulator SEBI. The government intends to sell up to 316.25 million shares, or about 5% of the life insurance giant.

When asked about the recent increase in global crude oil prices, Sitharaman stated that rising crude prices are a challenge mentioned in the conference on financial stability, and that we will keep an eye on it.

Sitharaman stated that the government is closely monitoring the Russia-Ukraine issue. When asked about the impact on commerce, the finance minister stated that the Russia-Ukraine impact has yet to be realised and that the government is taking precautions to ensure that our exporters do not suffer.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for more details.
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel has warned the state government of a statewide agitation if no action is taken on withdrawal of pending criminal cases lodged against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti members during 2015 Patidar reservation agitation.

"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 while addressing a press conference on Monday.

If there is no action on govt'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: Gujarat Cong working president Hardik Patel (21.02) pic.twitter.com/96sRYO3uvD  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

In the press conference, Patel also said the youth will stage dharna outside the houses of Patidar community MPs and MLAs of the BJP if they do not support the demand of dropping criminal cases.

Patel accused the Gujarat government of misleading and fooling the Patidar community with fake promises of dropping criminal cases against Patidar youth. Hardik Patel emerged as the leader of the agitation demanding reservation for the Patidar community in Gujarat in 2015.

Reacting to the demands made by Patel, BJP Gujarat co-spokesperson Dr Rutvij Patel said in a video statement: Hardik Patel and the Congress party have lost their political ground and both have no issues to fight for. This is a political stunt to be in the news. The Patidar community stands strongly with the BJP. We have withdrawn 80 per cent of the cases and about the remaining cases.''

Live TV
Dehradun: Fourteen people returning from a wedding were killed and two others injured when a vehicle fell into a deep gorge on the Sukhidhang-Dandaminar road in Uttarakhand's Champawat district, police said on Tuesday.

The accident occurred at around 10 pm on Monday but the information reached the authorities by around 3 am and rescue teams were rushed to the spot, an official at the Champawat district disaster management office said.

Champawat Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha told PTI that 12 bodies have been recovered and efforts to pull out the remaining two from the deep and narrow gorge are underway. The dead included five women and two children.

The injured are being treated at different hospitals in Tanakpur and Champawat, the SP said, adding the recovery of bodies is still underway at the site.

The pickup vehicle was returning from a wedding at a Dharamshala in Tanakpur to Danda Kaknai village when it met with the accident, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those killed and 50,000 for the injured.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has condoled the loss of lives in the accident.

Live TV
New Delhi: The first Air India flight ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine is expected to arrive at New Delhi's IGI Airport on Tuesday night. The Tata Group-led Air India's special flight to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv took off at 7.30 am on Tuesday.

The flight was expected to land at T3, IGI Airport, around 10.15 pm with full capacity. But sources say that the flight is delayed and will arrive at 11.30 pm (tonight, February 21) at IGI airport.

"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," said Minister of State for External Affairs of India V. Muraleedharan.

According to industry insiders, the flight is ferrying a full load of passengers on Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline will be operating two more flights to Kiev on February 24 and 26. Besides Air India, other Indian operators are expected to start special flight services to Ukraine.

The development assumes significance as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops into two separatist areas within Ukraine, after recognising their independence, a move that some fear puts Kyiv and Moscow one step closer to a military conflict. Last week, the Centre removed the restrictions on the number of flights and seats between India and Ukraine, evidently to facilitate the return of Indian students and professionals stranded in the east European nation due to the ongoing tensions with Russia.

"The Ministry of Civil Aviation has removed the restrictions on the number of flights and seats between India and Ukraine under the 'Air Bubble' arrangement," the ministry said in a statement last week. Thus, any number of flights, including charter flights, can operate between the two countries now. "Indian airlines have been informed to mount the flights due to increase in demand. The ministry is facilitating in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs," the statement added.

The Centre, through an advisory, had asked Indians in Ukraine to leave the country, but reportedly there were no flights available before February 20. In view of the prevailing situation in Ukraine, a control room has been set up at the External Affairs Ministry to provide information and assistance to the stranded Indians.

India and Ukraine have a travel bubble agreement under which a certain number of flights can operate per week. The bubble agreement was inked when international travel was suspended in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Live TV
New Delhi: 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 said 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 said.

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.

Live TV
Shivamogga: In the Bajrang Dal worker Harsha murder case in Karnataka, so far six people have been arrested, while 12 are being questioned, said SP Laxmi Prasad, Shivamogga. He added that the six accused are Mohammed Kashif, Sayed Nadeem, Afsifullah Khan, Rehan Sharef, Nihan and Abdul Afnan.

On Sunday (February 20) night, Harsha was stabbed to death at Bharathi Nagar in Karnataka's Shivamogga allegedly by a group of men, who came in a car. Additional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy, who is camping in the town, earlier told reporters that all the accused have been identified. "All the accused have been identified by police and arrests have been made. Other arrests would soon be made," Reddy said.

According to him, a few vehicles were burnt in Tunganagar on Tuesday (February 22) morning, despite prohibitory orders which have been clamped under section 144 of the CrPC. "Following the murder of Harsha, there was a very tense situation in the city and certain surrounding areas. Additional forces were rushed to Shivamogga and lot of arrangements were made by the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to ensure that the fallout of the murder does not spread further," Reddy said.

The official said 14 different incidents of arson and violence took place in the city (after the murder), which would require filing of FIRs. In three cases FIRs have been registered, he said adding, the police were trying to trace those who lost their motorbikes and properties in the arson and violence.

In view of the tension in the region, the curfew has been extended. "Curfew extended in the district, movement allowed from 6 am -9 am. Section 144 extended by two more 2 days, till Friday morning. Schools will remain shut during these days," said Dr. Selvamani R, Deputy Commissioner, Shivamogga, Karnataka.

In Bengaluru, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gnanendra said over 12 persons have been detained in connection with Harsha's killing and interrogation is on. "The investigation is going on encompassing all the dimensions," he told reporters.

State Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the murder has a link with the ongoing Hijab row in the state. "This murder happened when the Hijab controversy started. It is evident that there is a link between this murder and the Hijab row," Ashoka said.

A few Muslim girls from Udupi have approached the Karnataka High Court when they were allegedly denied entry to the classes with their Hijabs or the Islamic headscarves on. In reaction to the girls wearing Hijab, Hindu students started coming to college wearing saffron scarves. The trend of Hijab versus saffron scarves gradually spread to other parts of the state leading to communal tension in some educational institutions.

(With Agency inputs)

Live TV
Imphal: 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.

These polls will decide next 25 years of Manipur. The process of stability& peace that started in the last 5 years now have to be made permanent. That's why a full-fledged BJP govt is necessary for Manipur. BJP Govt has made the impossible possible: PM Modi in poll-bound Manipur pic.twitter.com/Qiqa5wr4F6  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

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.

Congress never worked on developing and improving connectivity in the region. We did what we said. Manipur will become an important centre for East Asia connectivity after the highway connecting Myanmar-Thailand is completed: PM Modi at a rally in Manipur #ManipurElections pic.twitter.com/dRrtLdSMRG  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

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.

Live TV
New Delhi: The first Air India flight ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine arrived at New Delhi's IGI Airport at pm on Tuesday (February 21) night. The Tata Group-led Air India's special flight to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv took off at 7.30 am on Tuesday.

The flight was expected to land at T3, IGI Airport, around 10.15 pm with full capacity. But the flight GOT delayed and arrived after 11.30 pm at IGI airport.

#WATCH | Air India special flight carrying around 242 passengers from Ukraine reaches Delhi pic.twitter.com/ctuW0sA7UY  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

"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," Minister of State for External Affairs of India V. Muraleedharan had said earlier.

Air India will be operating two more flights to Kiev on February 24 and 26. Besides Air India, other Indian operators are expected to start special flight services to Ukraine.

The evacuation comes at a time when the tension between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, with the US and EU implementing sanctions against the Soviet nation. 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.

Earlier, 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. "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.

Live TV
New Delhi: At least six workers were killed and many others sustained injuries in an explosion at a factory in Himachal Pradesh's Una district on Tuesday (February 22, 2022) where firecrackers were being made.

Himachal Pradesh | At least six workers charred to death in a blast at a factory in Bathu industrial area of Una. Around 12 suffered burn injuries and brought to a hospital in Una. pic.twitter.com/gmt5B0nJ4K  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

According to a senior district official, the incident occurred in the Bathu industrial area of Una district. The injured have been rushed to a government hospital in Una.

Una Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma informed that most of the dead and injured are migrant labourers. He also added that police and rescue personnel are present at the spot.

The Prime Ministers Office has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from its National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the tragic factory mishap in Himachal Pradesh. Those who were injured would receive Rs 50,000 from the government.

Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the tragic factory mishap in Himachal Pradesh. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 22, 2022

The cause of the blast has not been ascertained yet. More details are awaited.

Live TV
New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (February 22, 2022) said that it has ordered blocking of apps, website and social media accounts of foreign-based Punjab Politics TV having close links with the banned organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).

"Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on 18th February to block the digital media resources of Punjab Politics TV," the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting said in an official statement.

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 Ministry added.

"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 further read.

The Government of India 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 Ministry said.

Earlier last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the Centre has taken "serious" note of a pro-Khalistan group's letter extending support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The letter purportedly written by the SFJ in Gurmukhi was forwarded to the home minister by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi along with a personal note saying the matter was "serious" and compromised the security and integrity of the nation.

Shah, in his reply to Channi's letter, had said that no one will be allowed to play with India's unity and integrity.

He had said that it is highly condemnable that to grab power some people go to the extent of joining hands with the separatists and also go to the limits of breaking Punjab and the country.

Channi claimed that in the SFJ letter, it was mentioned that it had given its support to the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in the assembly elections in Punjab in 2017 and similarly in these polls too.

It is noteworthy that polling for the Punjab assembly elections was held on February 20 and the counting will be done on March 10.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
Late Roman mosaic depicting feast found in Caesarea Germanicia in southeastern Turkey





During the excavations in the ancient city of Caesarea Germanicia in the southern Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, a mosaic describing an open-air feast where three women are dancing to music has been unearthed. The mosaic is believed to date back to 1,500 years.





Credit: DHA

Safinaz Acpayam, the director of the Kahramanmaras Museum and who is also the head of the excavation, stated that they found a magnificent mosaic, saying, We think that the mosaic was probably an open-air banquet before the hunt.





The seventh year of archaeological excavations in Germanicia, located in the citys Baglarbas neighbourhood, has come to an end. During the excavations, the remains of 1,500-year-old architectural structures and baths, as well as the mosaic measuring 50 square metres, have been found.









Credit: DHA

Acpayam said that within the borders of the ancient city of Germanicia, archaeological remains have been identified in 35 different areas so far and that works in seven of them were carried out under the presidency of the Kahramanmaras Museum Directorate.





During the excavations, a 50 square-metre mosaic, which is the continuation of the previous mosaic we discovered, was found. Some architectural structures and remains of baths were found in the same area. The mosaic is a truly magnificent one. We think it is depicting an open-air banquet. We unearthed a mosaic, consisting of two panels, during our excavations in 2015, and there were hunting scenes on this mosaic. The panel we found during the 2021 excavations is actually a continuation of this mosaic from 2015, and we think it was probably an open-air banquet before the hunt. There are two couples sitting in the centre and three women dancing to the music. There are also two male figures making presentations. There is also the figure of a barefoot little boy climbing a fig tree, she said.





Credit: DHA

Stating that the excavations will continue in the area where the mosaic is located, Acpayam said: Excavations have not been carried out in the entire area, we plan to continue the excavations in the same area in 2022. At the end of 2022, we plan to open the area, where the excavations were carried out, in line with the permissions of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. We would like to thank the Culture and Tourism Ministry and all institutions for their support.





In the examination of the floor mosaics, which were unearthed during the illegal excavation of a house in the Baglarbas district in 2007, it was determined that the mosaics belonged to the ancient city of Germanicia, which was founded in the first century AD.





Credit: DHA

The existence of the ancient city had been known for years, but its traces had not been discovered until 2007. Works on the ancient city were initiated by the Kahramanmaras Museum Directorate. Expropriation works started in the ancient city in 2008 and archaeological excavations started in 2009. Until today, mosaics and ruins from the fourth and sixth centuries have been found.





The ancient city covers the entire Dulkadiroglu, Baglarbas, Seyhadil and Namk Kemal neighbourhoods and a part of the Kanuni district.





In 2014-2015, a walking platform was built around the mosaic area with a temporary protection wall and roof. After restoration and conservation processes were carried out on the mosaics, the area was opened to visitors for free.





The social life in the era was featured by mosaics, which covered the floors in the late Roman era. The mosaics entered the archaeology literature in the multi-language publication of the World Mosaic Unions and increased the importance of the region.





Source: Hurriyet Daily News [February 05, 2022]





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CTET Exam results 2022: Thousands of students are hooked on to CTET.nic.in, waiting anxiously for their Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) results, for the past few days. The CTET exam result 2022, that was supposed to be released on CTET.nic.in on 10th February, have not been declared yet. The undue delay in releasing resuts at CTET official website has lead to frustration and anger among the students. While some of the CTET students have slammed the CBSE over the delay, some of them have started cracking jokes on the system and even started a meme fest.

Some of the students, tagging CBSE and CTET and other relevant bodies, even demanded for an official time and date for the results to be released. The CTET exam was conducted between December 16, 2021, and January 21, 2022 in in online or CBT (Computer Based Test) mode.

Here is a look at the meme fest started by students on Twitter

Candidates Waiting for CTET Result.... pic.twitter.com/aIqRCAK5uh  AADARSH PRATAP (@AadarshPratap7) February 17, 2022

Here is a look at tweets by students slamming delay in CTET results:

1. Abhi Rajput, a student, tagging CBSE HQ, wrote: "CBSE India, how much would be tensed to ctet aspirants for result  Dont play with students future pls

2. Another student, Aksay, tagging CBSE HQ, wrote: "#ctetresult please give the result, we know you all are so busy but atlest have little time to notify us about when you going to give result or what is the issue. Please once think about us. Every minute is hard for us. Please dont play with our future."

3. Another student, Siddharth Mandesia, wrote: "CTET and CBSE are both of them irresponsible because they mentioned on their site to publish CTET results on 15th Feb but Still they didn't give any notification for publication for CTET result and I really disappointed from #CTET and #CBSE"

4. Another student, Prasanna Kumar, tagging CBSE HQ, wrote: "CTET DEC 21-22 Results will be published to which date Cbse_official @EduMinOfIndia @dpradhanbjp"

5. Another student, Amarendra Pandey, tagging CBSE HQ, wrote: "Release ctet result as soon as possible,Otherwise update something regarding result"

Important things to know about CTET Result 2022

The results of the CTET December 2021 examination are likely to be announced soon by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) ctet.nic.in. The students who appeared for the exam are waiting anxiuously for the results. The Central Teacher Eligibility Test, in wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, was conducted in online mode this time. The CTET December 2021 results - as per the official notification - would be soon released on its official website https://ctet.nic.in.

The result would be released on ctet.nic.in for 20 languages for two papers. Out of the two papers, Paper I was for a person who intended to be a teacher for classes I to V, while Paper II was for people intending to be a teacher for classes VI toVIII.

CTET result 2021: How to check results at ctet.nic.in?

- Once CTET December 2021 results are declared, visit the official website of CTET at https://ctet.nic.in.

- On the home, click on the "CTET December 2021 Result" link.

- You will be redirected to a new page where you need to enter your "Roll Number".

- Your CTET December 2021 Result will be displayed on your screen.

Some important things to be noted for CTET Result 2022:

- No rechecking or re-evaluation will be done once CTET Result 2021 is released on ctet.nic.in.

- CTET Results at Digilocker: Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) mark-sheets and eligibility certificates for successful candidates will be available in Digital Format in at DigiLocker.

- CBSE on January 31st after releasing the answer key for CTET-December 2021, provided the candidates the window to challenge the same till February 4.

- The answer key for the CTET December-2021 exam is available at https://ctet.nic.in/
The State Election Commission has notified that elections for the three municipal corporations in Delhi will be held in April and the publication of the lists of polling stations will begin from Wednesday. Due to the pandemic, the limit of voters per polling station has been fixed as 1250. The lists of polling stations will be published by the returning officers in their respective offices for the wards, with effect from February 23, it said.

"It is notified for the information of general public, political parties and all concerned that General Elections to 272 wards of three Municipal Corporation of Delhi are scheduled to be held in April- 2022," stated a public notice issued by the Commission. The general public, intending candidates, political parties can inspect the lists of polling stations and file suggestions and objections, if any, with the respective returning officers till February 28, said the notice.

There are over 14,000 polling stations in Delhi spread over 70 Assembly constituencies. Delhi has three municipal corporations - North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations - and the last civic polls were held in April 2017. In a previous order issued in January this year, the State Election Commission had stated that the number of wards reserved for the SC category in the three corporations as - NDMC (20), SDMC (15) and EDMC (11), proportionate to the population, or 19.38 percent, 14.15 percent and 16.58 percent respectively.

The five-year term of the three Houses is ending in April 2022 and half of the 275 wards are reserved for women candidates. The BJP is currently ruling all three corporations.

The party is controlling the civic bodies since the trifurcation of the erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 2012.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been given Z-plus security 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 security 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 security 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 Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh from pro-Khalistan activists," the official communication added.

The Dera Sacha Sauda 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.
New Delhi: 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.

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.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has divided Ukraine into three parts without even firing a single bullet. Russia has extended recognition to the two eastern regions of Ukraine. It has also announced that it will help safeguard these regions Ukraine's military aggression.

In today's DNA, Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary analyses Vladimir Putin's firm plan to re-create an "Akhand Russia" even if it costs being on wrong side of western nations.

The Ukrainian regions that have been extended recognition by Russia are Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia has deployed its troops in these regions and people here are already celebrating their independence.

The rebellion in these two regions had started dring Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The pro-Russian forces had taken government buildings and offices under their control in Donetsk and Luhansk during Crimea's annexation.

Putin, however, worked with a well-planned strategy and didn't recognise the forces working in these two regions at that time.

For those who are wondering as to how Putin divided Ukraine overnight, the answer is simple - around 80 per cent of the 60 lakh people in these two regions speak Russian language. That is, though these people were a part of Ukraine - they always had an inclination towards Russia.

Watch DNA with Sudhir Chaudhary to understand in detail the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday (February 22) flagged-off the humanitarian assistance of 50,000 tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab. The foreign secretary informed that the 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: Foreign Secretary of India," asserted Shringla.

"We're extending our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, in the form of 50,000 tonnes of wheat," added the foreign Secy.

"50 trucks carrying wheat from India will go to Afghanistan as the country faces a humanitarian crisis. India has had historic ties with Afghanistan and keeping in view the close ties, it has been decided to extend assistance to the country," said Foreign Secretary.

#WATCH | Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla, flags off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghanistans Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay pic.twitter.com/X1Tej9lyuj  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

It was the first consignment consisting of 2,500 tonnes of wheat in 50 Afghan trucks of 50,000 tonnes of wheat which will be sent to the World Food Program for dissemination in Afghanistan in the next -23 months.

"We're grateful to the Government of India that they stood by Afghanistan during difficult times. 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," said Farid Mamundzay, Afghan Ambassador to India.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressing the public in Gorakhpur said, "Goddess Laxmi doesn't visit one's house on 'Cycle', or 'Elephant'. Nor does she show up waving her 'Hand'. She only comes on 'Lotus'. Isn't that true?"

Underlining the BJP government's achievements Rajnath Singh said, "Yearly Rs 6000 for the poor, free ration, pucca houses to several people have been given."

Earlier addressing the Public in UP's Ballia district defence minister said, "We do politics not just for forming governments but we do politics for building society and the country that's why we are not reluctant in taking tough decisions."

"Whenever election comes, all political parties make huge promises to the people. If 'Netas' would have delivered on those promises in last 75 years then India might have become the world's most powerful country 10-20 years ago," added Rajnath Singh.

(With ANI inputs)

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BJP MP Tejasvi Surya today met the family of 23-year-old Bajrang dal member who was killed allegedly over his posts in support of Hijab ban in educational institutions in the state. Surya, who is the chief of BJP's youth wing, said that the incident was a result of "growing Islamic fundamentalism in Karnataka".

"This is Kerala model of terror that organisations like PFI, SDPI, CFI exported to Karnataka and other parts of the country," Tejasvi Surya said in Shivamogga.

Surya further appealed the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to slap terror charges against the accused

"I have requested Chief Minister and Shivamogga SP to not only register FIR u/s 302 IPC as murder but also register cases under UAPA and consider these as acts of terror," Surya said.

"I request the Chief Minister to establish an exclusive agency under State Intelligence Dept manned with necessary resources," he added.

The 28 year-old Harsha was stabbed to death on Sunday night here leading to clamping of prohibitory order even as the city witnessed arson, violence and stone pelting.

Tejasvi Surya and few other senior leaders of the BJP met Surya's family in Sivamogga today.

The police has so far arrested six people, a senior police officer said, as stray incidents of arson and violence were reported in the city this morning.

"We have arrested Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Ashifullah Khan, Rehan Khan, Nehal and Abdul Afnan in connection with the case. All are aged between 20 to 22 years, except Kashif who is 32. They are all residents of Shivamogga," Superintendent of Police B M Lakshmi Prasad told reporters.
New Delhi: Amid escalation in tensions over Russias move to recognize the breakaway regions of Ukraine, India on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory for students and its citizens, asking them to temporarily leave the eastern European country.

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 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. Updates received in this regard would be conveyed subsequently, the advisory read.

The Indian embassy in Kyiv said that it is organising additional flights out of Ukraine in view of the continued tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

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.

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 TS 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 PM 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 in 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.

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 UK`s Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward warned Russia that it will face "severe economic consequences to its economy" should it invade Ukraine.

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Geneva: 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.

The 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 October 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 honour to the commanders who were overseeing this war crime strategy," Roth said, expressing concern that it might also be implemented in Ukraine.

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Yerevans Gurgen Margaryan #94 Primary School and the Mariaremete-Hidegkut Ecumenical Primary School of the Archabbey of Pannonhalma of Budapest, Hungary signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).

The document was inked at the Gurgen Margaryan #94 Primary School.

The partnership between the Armenian and Hungarian schools will contribute to raising awareness among Hungarian students about the details of the ethnically-motivated murder of Gurgen Margaryan committed by an Azerbaijani military officer during a NATO training course in Hungary.

The partnership will also contribute to the prevention and condemnation of such crimes.

The Hungarian side specially chose to cooperate with the Gurgen Margaryan school to prevent such crimes in the future.

A Hungarian delegation had arrived in Armenia to deepen ties between the Armenian and Hungarian peoples.

Mariaremete-Hidegkut Ecumenical Primary School of the Archabbey of Pannonhalma Director Istvan Csere and General Director of Education and School of the Archabbay of Pannonhalma Hardi Titusz OSB, signed the MoC with the Gurgen Margaryan school administration.

The Hungarian Prime Ministers Offices Head of the Department for Strategic Analysis and External Relations Bertalan Kiss and the Head of the Department of Armenian Studies at the Catholic University of Budapest Balint Kovacs also arrived in Yerevan as part of the Hungarian delegation and participated in the event.

Armenian government officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Armenian Foreign Ministers Special Advisor Ashot Smbatyan and the Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan were present at the event.

Mariaremete-Hidegkut Ecumenical Primary School Director Istvan Csere said in his remarks that the gruesome murder of Gurgen Margaryan continues to be a very painful, difficult and unacceptable event for the Hungarian society.

In order to keep Gurgen Margaryans memory alive in Hungary and to prevent such crimes in the future we specifically chose to cooperate with the school named after him, and in this sense the signing of the memorandum between our very old, nearly 1000-year-old school and the young school after Gurgen Margaryan is very meaningful, Istvan Csere said.

The Hungarian side hopes that this school cooperation will enable to create solid grounds for the future relations between the two states and peoples, based on the existing historical rich ties between the Armenian and Hungarian peoples, and that the partnership will be beneficial for strengthening and enhancing the Armenian-Hungarian relations.

Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan said that in a sense this is a reconciliation step.

Reconciliation is most important. I am saying this as a Christian clergyman, because the Lord has given us power to bring reconciliation between man and God. When the faithful come to us for confession, in the end of the prayer they say Father, I have you as a mediator for reconciliation. Thats the feeling I have now, and I am happy and I dont want to somehow hide this, because today is a day of reconciliation for us, the Archbishop said.

Mutual-visits of teachers and students, joint cultural and educational events and other programs are also envisaged.

Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered by Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov during a February 2004 training course organized by NATO in Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan was asleep in his room when Safarov attacked him with an axe.

During the trial in Hungary, Safarov admitted in court to having killed Margaryan because of his hatred towards Armenia and Armenians. He was sentenced to life in prison by the Hungarian court. However, in 2012 Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan. He was released upon arrival, glorified on the state-level and pardoned by President Aliyev. On the same day, then-President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan severed diplomatic relations with Hungary.

The pardon and glorification of Safarov in Azerbaijan received widespread condemnation around the world.
Brussels: A top European Union official says Russia's recognition of the Ukrainian separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states and to send troops into the territories is an "act of war." Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, said the 27-nation bloc is ready to implement sanctions against Russia. Speaking to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, Reynders said a unanimous accord from EU member countries is needed for new sanctions to be imposed.

He said the anticipated measures would evolve gradually, depending on Russian actions. The first type would be travel bans against individuals and sanctions against economic entities via the seizing of assets in Europe and abroad.

In addition, Reynders said "it will be necessary to ensure that there are no more imports of goods or services from Russia, such as energy, and that Russia's global access to financial services is terminated." "Everything is on the table," he said, adding member states were discussing how gradual the moves would be and the possibility for diplomacy to ease the conflict.



Greece, which traditionally had friendly ties with Russia, expresses disappointment

Athens: Greece on Tuesday strongly condemned Moscow's recognition of two separatist republics in Ukraine, as the country's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, called an emergency meeting of top government defense and foreign policy officials to discuss the crisis.

"Russia's recognition of the illegal and unilateral declaration of independence' of the separatist territories of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine is a clear violation of fundamental principles of international law, Ukraine's territorial integrity, and the Minsk agreements," a Foreign Ministry statement said. It added, "We have repeatedly stressed that Greece is in favor of respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all states and condemns any decision that is contrary to these fundamental principles of international law." NATO-member Greece has traditionally friendly ties with Russia.

Committed to a political-diplomatic settlement, won't succumb to provocations: United Nations

United Nations: Ukraine's UN Ambassador is demanding that Russia cancel its recognition of the independence of separatist regions in the east, immediately withdraw its "occupation troops" sent there by President Vladimir Putin, and return to negotiations. Sergiy Kyslytsya told an 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 recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Ukraine's borders "will remain unchangeable regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation."

He said Russia's occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk ruin negotiating frameworks and "may be considered" as Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements aimed at restoring peace to eastern Ukraine. "We are committed to a political-diplomatic settlement and do not succumb to provocations," Kyslytsya said. While Ukraine has the right to self-defence, 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."

Kyslytsya urged the Security Council to support Ukraine and take action to restore international peace and security, but that will be virtually impossible because of Russia's veto power in the council.

Also read: 'Leave Ukraine temporarily': India's latest advisory for students amid rising tensions

A clear violation of Ukraine's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity: Turkey

Ankara: Turkey criticised Russia's decision to recognise the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, describing the move as a "clear violation of Ukraine's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity." A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement early Tuesday said: "We find this decision by Russia unacceptable and reject it." "We emphasise our commitment to the preservation of Ukraine's political unity and territorial integrity, and call on all parties to use common sense and comply with international law," the ministry statement read. NATO-member Turkey has close relations to both Ukraine and Russia and had repeatedly offered to mediate to end the tensions. Separately, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement to "strongly recommend" that Turkish citizens leave Ukraine's eastern regions.
United Nations: India on Tuesday called for "restraint on all sides" and said that all issue between Russia and Ukraine can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue" hours after Moscow recognized the Ukrainian rebel regions as independent and sent its troops for peacekeeping.

India calls for "restraint on all sides" and "immediate priority is deescalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries," India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said at the UNSC emergency meet on Ukraine.

We're convinced that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. We need to give space to recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to diffuse tensions, Tirumurti said.

We call for restraint on all sides.We're convinced that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.We need to give space to recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to diffuse tensions: India's Permanent Rep to UN ,TS Tirumurti,at UNSC meet on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/6Eye4iGTVb  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

Expressing concerns about the safety of Indian nationals there, he said, Safety and security of civilians is essential. More than 20,000 Indian students & nationals live & study in different parts of Ukraine, incl in its border areas. The well-being of Indians is of priority to us.

Tirumurti stated that India strongly emphasize 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.

The UNSC emergency meeting came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area.

Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

In a lengthy televised address, Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land.

Putin also said that he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

In response, US President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) 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.

"Taking to Twitter, Biden said, "I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on the next steps."

The Prohibition order was signed by Biden saying that, "Russia`s commitments under the Minsk agreements further threatens the peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and thereby constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

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Chennai: The DMK is clearly on its way to making a clean sweep of the urban civic polls in Tamil Nadu and has wrested the western region convincingly, considered a bastion of the main opposition AIADMK. Buoyed by one more huge electoral win, DMK workers celebrated the victory across the state by bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets, and hailing party chief M K Stalin's leadership.

Though the DMK won the 2021 Assembly election and formed the government, its arch rival AIADMK had won all the 10 Assembly seats in Coimbatore region and for a long time western Tamil Nadu is seen as a fortress of the AIADMK. As per results available and trends for this region, the DMK's victory score in urban civic polls has crossed about 75 per cent here.

Right after the last year's Assembly win, the DMK has been focussing on the western areas and the party-appointed Minister V Senthil Balaji hailing from the Karur in the region as party in-charge for Coimbatore. Many of Balaji's supporters in social media hailed the victory lauding him for the turnaround in DMK's prospects in this part of the state.

Notably, the DMK has also won in Thondamuthur town panchayat, the home turf of former AIADMK Minister S P Velumani, considered a heavy weight in the region. After decades, the ruling party has captured the Gobichettypalayam municipality, the native of another AIADMK stalwart, KA Sengottaiyan.

Stalin who had asserted that victory is sure and duty and responsibility is more said that the win in urban civic polls reflected the faith people have on the DMK government. Out of the total 1,374 wards in corporations, the DMK has so far won 425 and the AIADMK 75. In municipalities, of the 3,843 ward member seats, the DMK till now has won 1,832 and the AIADMK 494.

As regards town panchayats, the ruling party emerged victorious in 4,261 seats out of the total 7,621. The AIADMK has got 1,178 town panchayat seats.

As more and more results of victory poured in from municipal corporation areas, municipalities and town panchayats, DMK veteran and party general secretary Duraimurugan called on Stalin here and greeted him on the party's continuing winning streak. DMK MPs A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran were among others who visited Stalin. Maran tweeted, "We wholeheartedly thank all the voters for their immense faith and trust! "In yet another monumental victory, the people of Tamil Nadu have voted overwhelmingly in support of the #DMK in the #LocalBodyElections2022 Under the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble CM Thiru @mkstalin let us work towards taking TN to greater heights & glory! #DMKwins," Maran said in another tweet.

We wholeheartedly thank all the voters for their immense faith and trust!#LocalBodyElections2022 #DMKwins #DMK4TN 2/2  Dayanidhi Maran   (@Dayanidhi_Maran) February 22, 2022

The declaration of results is underway and the counting of votes started at 8 AM today.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin is a happy man today. DMK's clean sweep has made the CM a happy man and he said that the results portray recognition of the Dravidian model and certification of good governance to his government. "As DMK led UPA alliance is 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.

The dismal performance of the AIADMK was reflected with the party losing its bastions and the DMK winning several seats in western Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Erode and Salem. In Edappadi, the home constituency of former Chief Minister K. Palaniswami too, the AIADMK candidate lost the polls to the DMK.

Edappadi K. 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 Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai expressed happiness over the results. "Today, results of Urban Local Body Election came. BJP got a great victory. It has entered many places where we were not there earlier. We are making Lotus bloom in every nook and corner," he was quoted by ANI. He added, "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."

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New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is going to close the applications process for Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination 2022 Tuesday (February 22, 2022) at 6 pm. The candidates who wish to sit in UPSC CSE exams can visit the UPSC official website at upsconline.nic.in and apply for the examination.

Candidates must note that UPSC Civil Service (Preliminary) Exam 2022 will be held on Sunday (June 5, 2022).

The UPSC Civil Service (Preliminary) Exam 2022 will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2022. According to the notification, the commission is going to fill 861 vacancies through the examination.

However, recently the UPSC has informed that the Government has decided to recruit 150 personnel in the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), Group A through the Civil Services Examination- 2022.

UPSC Civil Service (Prelims) 2022: Steps to apply

Step 1. Visit the official website of UPSC at upsconline.nic.in

Step 2. Click on Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC link

Step 3. A new page will open, click on Part-I Registration against Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination 2022 link

Step 4. Read all instructions carefully and click on yes

Step 5. Enter your details and click on Continue/Proceed

Step 6. Pay the application fees and click on Continue/Proceed

Step 7. Complete your application process by uploading your Photograph, Signature and Photo Identity Card

Step 8. Select the centre and click on submit

Step 9. Download your filled application form for future reference

Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official UPSC website for latest updates about the exam.

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CTET Result 2022: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to announce the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) December 2021 results soon. As per the CTET December 2021 schedule available at https://ctet.nic.in, the tentative date for the declaration of the result was February 15. However, the scorecards have not been published yet.

According to several media reports, the results are likely to be announced this week.

ALSO READ | CTET Result 2022: Students frustrated over delay in result, vent out anger on Twitter

The 15th edition of CTET was conducted in a Computer Based Test or CBT mode from December 16, 2021, to January 21, 2022. The test was held in 20 languages across various cities in India.

There were two papers - Paper I was for a person who intended to be a teacher for classes I to V, while Paper II was for people intending to be a teacher for classes VI to VIII.

Once declared, CTET December 2021 candidates can follow the steps given below to check their results:

CTET results 2022: How to check scorecard?

Once CTET December 2021 results are announced, candidates need to visit the official website of CTET at https://ctet.nic.in.



On the homepage, candidates need to click on the " CTET December 2021 Result " link option.



" link option. Candidates will be redirected to a new page where they need to enter their roll numbers.



Candidates' CTET December 2021 Results will be displayed on their screens.

Candidates are advised to check the official website of CTET at https://ctet.nic.in regularly for the latest updates.

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New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited applications from eligible candidates for the post of Assistant. The bank is looking to fill a total of 950 posts in various offices through this recruitment drive.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply online on the RBI's official website: www.rbi.org.in. The last date to apply online for the Assistant post in RBI is March 8, 2022.

RBI Assistant Recruitment 2022: Important dates

Starting of the application process: February 17, 2022

Last date of online application: March 8, 2022

Click Here For Official Notification

Tentative date for Preliminary exam: March 26- March 27, 2022

Tentative schedule for the Main exam: May, 2022

RBI Assistant Recruitment 2022: Selection Procedure

The Candidates will be selected on the basis of competitive examination in two phases, i.e., Preliminary and Main examination followed by a Language Proficiency Test (LPT)

RBI Assistant Recruitment 2022: Application fee

The application fee for Gen, OBC and EWS category candidates is Rs 450/- while for the candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwBD category it Rs 50/-

RBI Assistant Recruitment 2022: Application Procedure

Step 1: Visit the RBI website: www.rbi.org.in and click on the "Recruitment for the post of Assistant" tab

Step 2: Click on the "Click here for New Registration" tab and entre the required credentials

Direct Link To Apply For RBI Assistant Recruitment 2022

Step 3: Upload the images of your photograph and signature.

Step 4: Submit the application and make the payment

Step 5: Download the application form for future references.

Candidates are advised to carefully fill and verify the details filled in the online application themselves as no change will be possible/ entertained after clicking the FINAL SUBMIT BUTTON.

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Udupi: One of the petitioners in the hijab case in the Karnataka High Court, Hazra Shifa, has alleged that his brother was attacked by members of a right-wing group on Monday night and damaged her property in Udupi.

In a series of tweets, she demanded that a case be filed against the attackers.

"My brother was brutally attacked by a mob. Just because I continue to stand for My #Hijab which is MY RIGHT. Our property was ruined as well. Why?? Can't I demand my right? Who will be their next victim? I demand action," she tweeted.

According to Shifa, her 20-year-old brother - Saif - is admitted to Hitech Hospital, Udupi.

Masood Manna, who is known to Shifa, claimed in a tweet that a mob of 150 people attacked Saif.

The full bench of the Karnataka High Court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J M Khazi and Justice Krishna S Dixit is hearing the case where Muslim girls and women are demanding that they be allowed to wear hijab in classrooms.

The bench comprising Karnataka Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J M Khazi and Justice Krishna S Dixit was constituted to hear the case against the hijab ban.

On January 1, six girl students belonging to a college in Udupi attended a press conference held by the Campus Front of India (CFI) in the coastal town protesting against the college authorities denying them entry into classrooms wearing hijab.

This was four days after they requested the principal permission to wear hijab in classes which was not allowed. Till then, students used to wear the headscarf to the campus, but entered the classroom after removing it, college principal Rudre Gowda had said.

"The institution did not have any rule on hijab-wearing as such and since no one used to wear it to the classroom in the last 35 years. The students who came with the demand had the backing of outside forces," Gowda had said.

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NEW DELHI: Veteran actor Raveena Tandon and her husband Anil Thadani are celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

Marking the special occasion, Raveena took to her Instagram handle and posted a series of video clips and pictures from her wedding day. The post also contains a picture of Raveena's parents blessing her and Anil after the wedding rituals.

"As we get into the "adulthood" of our married lives, 18 years today, I couldn't have asked for anything more than you. Through our good and bad, thick(me) and thin (u) good times trying times . You are it all ..." she captioned the post.

Raveena Tandon adopted two girls, Pooja and Chhaya, as single mother in 1995 when they were 11 and 8-years-old, respectively. She began dating film distributor Anil Thadani during the making of her film 'Stumped' (2003). The duo tied the knot on February 22 in 2004, in Jag Mandir Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Rasha in March 2005. In July 2008, she gave birth to her son Ranbirvardhan.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Raveena was recently seen in the Netflix web series 'Aranyak', where she played a police officer, for which she has recently received 'Best Actress in Web Series' accolade at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2022.

Raveena is all set to next star in the highly-anticipated Kannada film 'KGF Chapter 2' this year. The Yash-starrer also features Sanjay Dutt in a pivotal role.
New Delhi: Banking activities across the country will be unaffected and will continue to operate as the united forum of central trade unions has postponed the nationwide bank strike scheduled for February 23-24 to March 28-29.

The strike was postponed last month due to the third wave of Covid-19 and state assembly elections. A combined forum of central trade unions announced a two-day strike in November 2021 to protest government policies.

The trade unions said in a joint statement issued in January, "An online meeting of the joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and Sectoral Federations/Associations decided to postpone the two-day nationwide strike until March 28-29."

The second segment of Parliament's Budget Session will be in session during this time. The Budget session began on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to both Houses of Parliament sitting together, and the first part finished on February 11. After a one-month break, the second portion of the Budget session will continue on March 14.

The statement went on to say that preparations for the strike had begun in numerous areas and sectors. It urged all workers and unions, regardless of affiliation, to make the strike a huge success and "rescue the nation from the destructive, anti-national policy regime."

The National Convention of Workers had proposed a nationwide bank strike on February 23-24, 2021, during Parliament's Budget Session.

INTUC, AITUC HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC, and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations are among the trade unions represented in the joint forum.

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Press Release

February 21, 2022 De Lima thanks European Parliament for continued solidarity with her Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima thanked the European Parliament (EP) for renewing its call for the Philippine government to end her political harassment and immediately and unconditionally release her from unjust detention. De Lima, who will mark her 5th year in unjust detention on Feb. 24, said the support she receives from EP and other justice and freedom-loving groups and organizations here and abroad continue to strengthen her resolve. "The European Parliament was one of the first international organizations who stood by me after seeing the fakeness and baselessness of the charges being filed against me by Duterte regime. "Five years later, they are still by my side as we wait for justice to be upheld by the courts. Thank you, EU, for your constant support and solidarity. With the continuous backing of organizations like yours, I will continue to fight and fight more!" said De Lima in her statement posted on Twitter. The European Parliament issued a resolution last Feb. 17 condemning, among others, De Lima's continued unjust detention and other human rights abuses in the country. The text was adopted by 627 votes in favor. EP said Philippine authorities should "end the political harassment of Senator Leila De Lima, to order her immediate and unconditional release, and to prosecute in fair trials those found to be responsible for her arbitrary detention and other human rights violations committed against her, such as gender-based attacks and violations of her right to due process." The Parliament also called on the European Union to closely monitor the development of the remaining trumped-up cases against De Lima, which affect her bid for reelection for the upcoming national elections. "Senator De Lima, who has announced her intention to run again for the Senate, will not have the same rights and opportunities to run her electoral campaign as other candidates," part of the Resolution read. Likewise, in a speech at the EP Plenary last Feb. 17, Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli commended De Lima's courage and maintained that her rights to due process must be respected. "Finally, next week marks the fifth anniversary of the imprisonment of Senator De Lima. She will have spent five years in pre-trial detention yet is standing again in the country's general election. As former President Benigno Aquino has said, 'If injustice could be done to Leila, a sitting Senator, injustice could be done to anyone,' she said. De Lima said the continued solidarity she receives from the international community, like EP, is a testament that the the world is watching closely the injustices perpetrated by the current regime. "European Parliament's continued solidarity, along with other parliaments and international organizations, is solid proof that the world keeps its eyes on what's happening here. "I thank all of them in consistently taking time to check on the human rights developments in our country and call out the Duterte regime's unjust policies such as the murderous "War on Drugs", red-tagging of activists, journalists and other citizens who lend their voice and hands to help the marginalized sectors," she said. "And as I said before, with the whole world watching, and more and more people gaining discernment about Duterte regime's continued political persecution against me and other critics, my tormentors must realize that locking me up in jail and stripping me of my rights and freedom is a huge mistake," she added. Last year, the EP also adopted a resolution calling, among others, for action on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines under the present administration and for De Lima's immediate release from unjust detention. In March 2017 and April 2018, the EP also adopted resolutions on the human rights situation in the Philippines, highlighting the political persecution De Lima is subjected to under the Duterte regime.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not over, as much as Azerbaijani lawmakers are trying to convince themselves and others the opposite, Armenian MP Arman Yeghoyan said during the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Yerevan in response to the Azerbaijani delegates speech claiming that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is over.

I cant recall how many times the Azerbaijani colleagues repeated trying to convince themselves that the conflict is over. The conflict cant be over simply by saying its over. The conflict can be over when the reasons of the conflict are eliminated. The reasons which led to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict arent over. Id say they even got more acute because in Azerbaijan the hatred towards Armenians, Armenian culture and everything relating to Armenians is getting deeper and deeper, Yeghoyan said.

As proof, Yeghoyan cited the Azerbaijani governments efforts to erase Armenian records from churches and falsely present them as Albanian monuments.

In response to the Azerbaijani delegates efforts to present Azerbaijan as a multi-cultural country, Yeghoyan asked the delegate to explain where the 500,000 Armenians who used to live in Azerbaijan are now today. Where are these Armenians, where have they disappeared if Azerbaijan is a multi-cultural country? I dont know whether you want to convince yourselves or others around you, Yeghoyan said.

The Armenian lawmaker emphasized that peace at all cost is not possible. Peace must be built through work, mutual respect, respect of the rights of others, respect of human rights, right to life, right to property. Is the right to life and right to property of Armenians guaranteed in Azerbaijan? No, because you cant find a single Armenian whos living under the rules of the Azerbaijani regime. All of them, in Baku and other cities, have disappeared, Yeghoyan said.

He proposed to think about this fact and take into account while trying to suggest solutions.

Then, an Azerbaijani Member of Parliament and member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Euronest PA, Soltan Mammadov, claimed in his remarks that Azerbaijan doesnt want war, and claimed that their visit is a good step for the relations between the countries.
To offer maximum savings to frequent railway travellers, Bank of Baroda Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) have come together to launch the IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card.

The IRCTC users will get cheaper tickets if they book any AC class railway ticket using a BoB credit card. This card will also get multiple benefits for shopping across other categories ranging from groceries to fuel. Cardholders can also use this card to transact at international merchants and ATMs through the JCB network.

Rajni Hasija, Chairman and Managing Director, IRCTC said, "Cardholders of IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card will be able to earn up to 40 reward points (per Rs 100 spent) on 1AC, 2AC, 3AC, CC, or Executive Class bookings made through the IRCTC website or mobile app. The card also offers a one percent transaction fee waiver for the customers on all their train ticket bookings.

Also read: Sri Lanka completes trials of AC train supplied by India, see pics HERE!

Customers making a single purchase worth Rs 1,000 or more within 45 days of card issuance will get 1,000 bonus reward points."The co-branded credit card will offer four reward points (per Rs 100 spent) on grocery and departmental stores and two reward points on other categories. Cardholders will be entitled to 4 complimentary visits per year at partner railway lounges.

The card will also offer a 1 percent fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India. The cardholders will be able to redeem the accrued reward points on the IRCTC website and mobile app, after linking their Loyalty Number (printed on the co-branded credit card) with their IRCTC login ID.

Hasija, said, "Collaboration with BOB Financial in launching IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card is another landmark step towards promotion of the indigenous RuPay payment platform and realizing the vision of Digital India of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. IRCTC is happy to be instrumental in the fulfillment of this vision and we look forward to the resounding success of this card amongst our customers."

Also read: Ukraine says skies safe as airlines continue to suspend flights over Ukranian airspace

Talking about the launch, Shailendra Singh, MD, and CEO, BFSL said, "The card will offer uninterrupted payment convenience and benefits to customers for rail travel as well as all other shopping needs. We also expect the co-branded card to act as a catalyst for further adoption of digital payments in deeper geographies, helped by the presence of both the railway network as well as BoB branches.

"Speaking at the launch, Ms. Praveena Rai, COO, NPCI said, "We are delighted for RuPay`s Contactless Credit card launch by BOB Financial in partnership with IRCTC. This card will enable customers to save on their railway journey and to earn reward points on spending in other categories.

With RuPay, we aim to offer customized value propositions backed by cutting-edge technology to provide a rewarding experience to millions of customers. We are confident that this launch is a step ahead to make RuPay the preferred credit card for India," Rai further said.

With inputs from ANI

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CHENNAI: The MK Stalin-led DMK on Tuesday registered a big win in the urban local body polls by registering victory in 14 wards in the Vellore municipality, hours after the counting of votes began this morning.

Meanwhile, the opposition AIADMK won 4 wards, PMK in 4, AMMK- 1 & Independent - 3 in the Vellore Corporation area.

Tamil Nadu urban local body polls: DMK wins in 14 wards, AIADMK-4 wards, PMK- 4 wards, AMMK-1 ward & independent- 3 in Vellore Corporation area  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

The counting of the votes for the recently concluded Tamil Nadu urban local body elections is currently underway. The local body elections were held on February 19.

The counting began with postal ballots at 268 centres across the state.

Counting of votes for Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body Elections underway; visuals from GCT College, Coimbatore pic.twitter.com/7uB4l75AvE  ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

In Chennai, the counting of votes is taking place at one centre in each of the 15 zones. Chief Election Commissioner of Tamil Nadu, V Palanikumar has said that the commission has made elaborate arrangements at all the 268 counting centres in the state.

Palanikumar chaired a virtual session of the commission to review the arrangements for the counting of votes. This includes installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel, electricity supply, network connectivity and other minor requirements.

The virtual meeting chaired by the Chief Election commission also discussed the arrangements made for the counting of postal ballots, adhering to Covid-19 standard protocol, declaring the election results at the earliest as well as uploading the details.

The meeting discussed issuing Certificates and arranging the first meeting of elected representatives on March 2.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commission Secretary, A. Sundaravalli, Commissioner of Town Panchayats, R. Selvaraj, Director of Municipal administration, P. Ponniah, several senior officials and district collectors were present in the virtual meeting.

For the unversed, the local body elections in TN were held after more than a decade. The polls were last conducted in 2011 when the AIADMK was in power in the state.

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New Delhi: The Apple iPhone 14 is still some time away from its official release, but it appears that the future iPhone model is nearing the end of its design certification process. According to a recent report, the iPhone 14 has officially entered the trial manufacturing stage. This suggests that the business is now planning to construct a modest number of iPhone 14 units before moving on to major manufacturing in 2022.

This development could also imply that Apple has finalized the design of the next iPhone 14 model.

The trial stage allows both Apple and the manufacturer to determine whether the product's design causes any problems during the final production stage. It's similar to a beta version test of iPhone production before Apple is pleased with the final product created by its vendor, which in this case is rumoured to be Luxshare this year.

The timing of the iPhone 14 trial production is hardly surprising. In fact, Apple has done this every year in February. As a result, the process of developing the next iPhone flagship is well underway. Following the completion of the trial stage, the vendors share the bill of materials (BoM) with Apple, as well as the quality checks to ensure that everything is in order for mass production.

What we don't know is who has been tasked with producing the iPhone 14 series. Luxshare manufactured the iPhone 13 Pro series last year, but sources indicate that the vendor will produce the ordinary iPhone 14 gadget this year.

When it comes to the iPhone 14 series, we anticipate that the display will eventually drop the notch in favour of a new design.

Another claim suggests that the iPhone 14 Pro could have 8GB of RAM this year, which is the same as the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ handsets.

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New Delhi: BharatPe founder and Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grover revealed that while it has been great gaining the love of audiences, he hasn't been too happy about the social media trolling he started facing after featuring on the show.

In a conversation with comedian Rohan Joshi, the entrepreneur spoke about how he deals with trolls. He said, "Bahut gaali padti hai. Abhi bhi raat ko chhup chhup kar main 3 baje uth kar gande comments to delete maarta hoon (I get abused a lot. Even now, I get up at 3 am and delete abusive comments from my social media)"

Ashneer further said that he blocks them and even selects the option 'not only this person but any account they create in the future'.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

Interestingly, Ashneer also spoke about how fans of the show ask to click selfies with him which he finds baffling as he feels if they want a selfie, why not get it with a pretty actress instead of him.

He said, "I don't get it. If you want a selfie, get one with a pretty actress, why me?"

For the unversed, the show features Emcure Pharmaceuticals CEO Namita Thapar, Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal, SUGAR Cosmetics founder Vineeta Singh, BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover, Lenskart co-founder Peyush Bansal, boAt founder Aman Gupta and MamaEarth co-founder Ghazal Alagh as the judges.

Shark Tank presents a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of market leaders, who invest in their company and mentor them in return for equity stakes in their company.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan`s Prime Minister Imran Khan will fly to Moscow this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Islamabad confirmed on Monday - the first such trip by a Pakistani leader in two decades.

The two-day visit, starting on Wednesday, was planned before the current crisis over Ukraine.

"During the Summit meeting, the two leaders will review the entire array of bilateral relations including energy cooperation," Pakistan`s foreign office said in a statement, adding that Khan and Putin will also discuss issues including the situation in Afghanistan.

Relations between Pakistan and Russia were minimal for years as Islamabad sided with the United States in the Cold War and was given Major Non-NATO Ally status by Washington after U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001.

In recent years, however, relations between the United States and Pakistan have deteriorated and there has been thawing between Moscow and Islamabad, which has seen the planning of projects in the gas and energy fields.

In an interview published on Monday, Khan played down the timing of the visit, and any effect it would have on Pakistan`s relations with the West.

"This visit was planned well before the emergence of the current phase of Ukrainian crisis ... I received the invitation from President Putin much earlier," he told Newsweek Pakistan.

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United Nations: The United States on Tuesday warned that Russias actions will have dire consequences across the globe, hours after Moscow recognized the breakaway regions of Ukraine and ordered its troops for what it called peacekeeping.

Speaking at the UN Security Council emergency meeting, the US said Russias peacekeeping operation in eastern Ukraine is "nonsense" and Moscow's recognition of the breakaway regions as independent is part of its pretext for war.

The consequences of Russia's actions "will be dire - across Ukraine, across Europe, and across the globe," US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said during the emergency meeting of the 15-member council.

Tensions between Moscow and Western capitals are high following weeks of United States accusations that Russia has deployed up to 150,000 troops near Ukraine's borders for an invasion. Russia has denied it wants to invade Ukraine and accuses the West of hysteria.

"President Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds. We have been clear that we do not believe he will stop at that," said Thomas-Greenfield, referring to the agreements of 2014 and 2015 that aimed to end conflict between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday warned that his country is "not afraid" and "will not concede anything to anyone" after Russia recognized the rebel-backed territories in its eastern part and ordered troops for peacekeeping there.

Zelensky, in his address to the nation early morning, said that Russia's actions are a ''violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.''

He added that Russia is merely legalizing the Russian forces that have been in the Donbas since 2014 when Russia invaded and later annexed Crimea. Russia has denied having any military presence in the country, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The ongoing crisis deepened after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area.

Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

In a lengthy televised address, Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land. Putin also said that he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

In response, US President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) 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.

"Taking to Twitter, Biden said, "I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on the next steps."

The Prohibition order was signed by Biden saying that, "Russia`s commitments under the Minsk agreements further threatens the peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and thereby constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

Ukrainian forces have been battling the Kremlin separatists in eastern Ukraine for eight years. When Putin spoke Monday, he demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that "all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be completely and entirely on their conscience."

The UN Security Council also called an emergency meeting over Ukraine during which the United States and the Council of Europe denounced the Russian move and called Moscow to withdraw its recognition of Ukraines breakaway territories.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to UN, said, ''We demand Russia to return to the table for negotiations. We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine. We demand the immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops.''

"Today, the entire membership of the United Nations is under attack. Under attack by the country that occupied the membership of the Security Council in 1991 bypassing the UN charter. The country that occupied parts of Ukraine in 2014,'' Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the UNSC meeting.

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Kyiv: 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.

Russia has massed troops near Ukraine and the West has threatened economic sanctions if it launches an invasion. Moscow denies planning an invasion but has demanded sweeping Western security guarantees in a tense standoff.

Here is a timeline of the main events in Ukraine`s political history since it won independence from Moscow in 1991:

* 1991: Leonid Kravchuk, leader of the Soviet republic of Ukraine, declares independence from Moscow. In a referendum and presidential election, Ukrainians approve independence and elect Kravchuk as president.

* 1994: Leonid Kuchma beats Kravchuk in a presidential election deemed largely free and fair by observers.

* 1999: Kuchma is re-elected in 1999 in a vote riddled with irregularities.

* 2004: Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovich is declared president but allegations of vote-rigging trigger protests in what becomes known as the Orange Revolution, forcing a re-run of the vote. A pro-Western former prime minister, Viktor Yushchenko, is elected president.

* 2005: Yushchenko takes power with promises to lead Ukraine out of the Kremlin`s orbit, towards NATO and the EU. He appoints former energy company boss Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister but, after infighting in the pro-Western camp, she is sacked.

* 2008: NATO promises Ukraine it will one day join the alliance.

* 2010: Yanukovich defeats Tymoshenko in a presidential election. Russia and Ukraine clinch a gas pricing deal in exchange for extending the lease for the Russian navy in a Ukrainian Black Sea port.

* 2013: Yanukovich`s government suspends trade and association talks with the EU in November and opts to revive economic ties with Moscow, triggering months of mass rallies in Kyiv.

* 2014: The protests, largely focused around Kyiv`s Maidan square, turn violent. Dozens of protesters are killed. In February, parliament voted to remove Yanukovich, who flees. Within days, armed men seize parliament in the Ukrainian region of Crimea and raise the Russian flag. Moscow annexes the territory after a March 16 referendum which shows overwhelming support in Crimea for joining the Russian Federation.

- In April , pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of Donbass declare independence. Fighting breaks out which has continued sporadically, despite frequent ceasefires, into 2022.

, pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of Donbass declare independence. Fighting breaks out which has continued sporadically, despite frequent ceasefires, into 2022. - In May , businessman Petro Poroshenko wins a presidential election with a pro-Western agenda.

, businessman Petro Poroshenko wins a presidential election with a pro-Western agenda. - In July, a missile brings down passenger plane MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board. The weapon used is traced back by investigators to Russia, which denies involvement.

* 2017: An association agreement between Ukraine and the EU opens markets for free trade of goods and services, and visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainians.

* 2019: A new Ukrainian Orthodox church wins formal recognition, angering the Kremlin.

- Former comic actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy defeats Poroshenko in an April presidential election on promises to tackle corruption and end the war in eastern Ukraine. His Servant of the People party wins a July parliamentary election.

- U.S. President Donald Trump asks Zelenskiy in July to investigate Joe Biden, his rival in the U.S. presidential race, and Biden`s son Hunter over possible business dealings in Ukraine. The call leads to a failed attempt to impeach Trump.

* March 2020  Ukraine goes into its first lockdown to curb COVID-19.

* June 2020  IMF approves a $5 billion lifeline to help Ukraine stave off the default during a pandemic-induced recession.

* Jan. 2021  Zelenskiy appeals to Biden, now U.S. president, to let Ukraine join NATO.

* Feb. 2021  Zelenskiy`s government imposes sanctions on Viktor Medvedchuk, an opposition leader and the Kremlin`s most prominent ally in Ukraine.

* Spring 2021  Russia masses troops near Ukraine`s borders in what it says are training exercises.

* Oct. 2021 - Ukraine uses a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone for the first time in eastern Ukraine, angering Russia.

* Autumn 2021  Russia again begins massing troops near Ukraine.

* Dec. 7 - Biden warns Russia of sweeping Western economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine.

* Dec 17 - Russia presents detailed security demands including a legally binding guarantee that NATO will give up any military activity in eastern Europe and Ukraine.

* Jan 10 - U.S. and Russian diplomats fail to narrow differences on Ukraine.

* Jan 14 - A cyberattack warning Ukrainians to "be afraid and expect the worst" hits Ukrainian government websites.

* Jan. 17  Russian forces start arriving in Belarus, to the north of Ukraine, for joint drills.

* Jan 24 - NATO puts forces on standby and reinforces eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets.

* Jan 26 - Washington presents 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.

* Jan 28 - President Vladimir Putin says Russia`s main security demands have not been addressed.

* Feb 2 - The United States says it will send 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania to help shield NATO allies in eastern Europe from any spillover from the crisis.

* Feb 4 - Putin, at Beijing Winter Olympics, wins Chinese support for his demand that Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO.

* Feb 7 - French President Emmanuel Macron sees some hope for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis after meeting Putin in the Kremlin. Macron then visits Kyiv and praises the "sang-froid" of Zelenskiy and the

Ukrainian people.

* Feb 9 - Biden says "things could go crazy quickly" as the U.S. State Department advises Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately. Other countries also urge their nationals to leave.

* Feb 14 - Zelenskiy urges Ukrainians to fly flags and sing the national anthem in unison on Feb. 16, a date some Western media say Russia could invade.

* Feb 15 - Russia says some of its troops are returning to base after exercises near Ukraine and mocks Western warnings about a looming invasion. Russia`s parliament asks Putin to recognise as independent two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

* Feb 18 - U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Michael Carpenter says Russia has probably massed between 169,000-190,000 personnel in and near Ukraine.

* Feb 19 - Russia`s strategic nuclear forces hold exercises overseen by Putin.

* Feb 21 - France`s Macron says Biden and Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine.

* Feb 21 - Putin signs a decree recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities.

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Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area.

Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

An executive order on recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics has been signed https://t.co/CuzfdvHXB1  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

Here's a look at the implications for the wider crisis, in which the United States says Russia may be poised to invade Ukraine with a force of up to 1,90,000 troops it has massed near its neighbour`s borders.

WHAT ARE THE BREAKAWAY REGIONS IN UKRAINE?

Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - collectively known as the Donbass - broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014 and proclaimed themselves independent "people`s republics", until now unrecognised. Since then, Ukraine says about 15,000 people have been killed in fighting. Russia denies being a party to the conflict but has backed the separatists in numerous ways, including through covert military support, financial aid, supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and the issue of at least 8,00,000 Russian passports to residents. Moscow has always denied planning to invade Ukraine.

WHAT DOES RUSSIAN RECOGNITION MEAN?

For the first time, Russia is saying it does not regard the Donbass as part of Ukraine. That could pave the way for Moscow to send military forces into the separatist regions openly, using the argument that it is intervening as an ally to protect them against Ukraine. A Russian parliament member and former Donetsk political leader had recently said that the separatists would then look to Russia to help them wrest control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions still under the control of Ukrainian forces. If that happened, it could lead to open military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

WHAT ABOUT THE MINSK PEACE PROCESS?

Russian recognition effectively kills off the 2014-15 Minsk peace agreements that, although still unimplemented, have until now been seen by all sides, including Moscow, as the best chance for a solution. The accords call for a large degree of autonomy for the two regions inside Ukraine.

HAS RUSSIA RECOGNISED BREAKAWAY STATELETS BEFORE?

Yes - it recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Georgian breakaway regions, after fighting a short war with Georgia in 2008. It has provided them with extensive budget support, extended Russian citizenship to their populations and stationed thousands of troops there.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS FOR MOSCOW?

In the Georgia case, Russia used recognition of the breakaway regions to justify an open-ended military presence in a neighbouring former Soviet republic in an attempt to indefinitely thwart Georgia`s NATO aspirations by denying it full control of its own territory. The same considerations would apply to Ukraine.

On the downside, Moscow faces sanctions and international condemnation for abandoning the Minsk process after long maintaining that it was committed to it. It will also be saddled indefinitely with responsibility for two territories ravaged by eight years of war and in need of massive economic support.

HOW WILL THE WEST RESPOND?

Western governments have been lining up for months to warn Moscow that any movement of military forces across the Ukrainian border would draw a strong response, including stringent financial sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that recognition "would further undermine Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, constitute a gross violation of international law, (and) call into further question Russias stated commitment to continue to engage in diplomacy to achieve a peaceful resolution of this crisis".

He said it would necessitate a "swift and firm" response from the United States and its allies.

Live TV
New Delhi: Minutes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday (February 21, 2022) offered defensive support in a call with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Boris outlined his grave concern at recent developments in the region and told Zelenskiy that he believed an "invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days".

The two 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.

After the #NSDC meeting, discussed the current situation with @BorisJohnson. Now we are urgently preparing an address and after that, talks with @eucopresident and @RTErdogan are planned.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 21, 2022

Regardless of Putin's actions, the UK would be steadfast in its full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Boris said.

The British Prime Minister also 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.

Boris added that he was already engaging with partners on the issue and said that the UK would raise it at the United Nations Security Council and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the coming days.

Update on Ukraine 21 February 2022: pic.twitter.com/rRcJ3ome3y  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) February 21, 2022

He also told Zelenskiy 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 from February 22.

Joe Biden talks to Volodymyr Zelenskiy

US President Joe Biden also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also strongly condemned Putin's decision to purportedly recognize the independence of the rebel regions of Ukraine.

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.

I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps. pic.twitter.com/ZS81ivAPgs  President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2022

The developments came after Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

In a lengthy televised address, Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land.

Putin also said that he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

An executive order on recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics has been signed https://t.co/CuzfdvHXB1  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

"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," he said.

With his decision, Putin also brushed off Western warnings that such a step would be illegal, kill off peace negotiations and trigger sanctions.

The President of Russia and heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics have signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation https://t.co/CuzfdvHXB1  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

It is noteworthy that the US says that Russia has massed over 1,50,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and could invade within days.

"Russia has made and is making efforts to resolve all matters peacefully." The Security Council held a meeting at the Kremlin https://t.co/CzbbIEf2Go pic.twitter.com/xUpJW2i62R  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

Moscow, however, denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO.

Live TV
Kyiv: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday warned that his country is "not afraid" and "will not concede anything to anyone" after Russia recognized the rebel-backed territories in its eastern part and ordered troops for peacekeeping there.

Zelensky, in his address to the nation early morning, said that Russia's actions are a ''violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.''

He added that Russia is merely legalizing the Russian forces that have been in the Donbas since 2014 when Russia invaded and later annexed Crimea. Russia has denied having any military presence in the country, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The ongoing crisis deepened after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area.

Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

In a lengthy televised address, Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land. Putin also said that he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

In response, US President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) 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.

"Taking to Twitter, Biden said, "I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on the next steps."

The Prohibition order was signed by Biden saying that, "Russia`s commitments under the Minsk agreements further threatens the peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and thereby constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

Ukrainian forces have been battling the Kremlin separatists in eastern Ukraine for eight years. When Putin spoke Monday, he demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that "all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be completely and entirely on their conscience."

The UN Security Council also called an emergency meeting over Ukraine during which the United States and the Council of Europe denounced the Russian move and called Moscow to withdraw its recognition of Ukraines breakaway territories.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to UN, said, ''We demand Russia to return to the table for negotiations. We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine. We demand the immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops.''

"Today, the entire membership of the United Nations is under attack. Under attack by the country that occupied the membership of the Security Council in 1991 bypassing the UN charter. The country that occupied parts of Ukraine in 2014,'' Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the UNSC meeting.

Live TV
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh Artur Tovmasyan welcomed the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics.

We believe that this recognition will serve a base for ensuring the defense and security guarantees of DPR and LPR residents and strengthening international peace and regional stability.

We congratulate the people of Donbass on the legal-political recognition of the self-determination of the two republics, the Artsakh Parliament Speaker said in a statement.

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.
New Delhi: In what could accelerate the ongoing crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (local time) recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area.

Putin, who was joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signed 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.

In a lengthy televised address, Putin described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land.

Putin also said that he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

An executive order on recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics has been signed https://t.co/CuzfdvHXB1  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

The Russian President also delved into history as far back as the Ottoman empire and as recent as the tensions over NATO's eastward expansion - a major irritant for Moscow in the present crisis.

"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," he said.

With his decision, Putin also brushed off Western warnings that such a step would be illegal, kill off peace negotiations and trigger sanctions.

The President of Russia and heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics have signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation https://t.co/CuzfdvHXB1  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

There was no word on the size of the force the Russian President was dispatching, but the decree said Russia now had the right to build military bases in Donetsk and Lugansk.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is scheduled to meet shortly following a request by the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

It is noteworthy that the US says that Russia has massed over 1,50,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and could invade within days.

"Russia has made and is making efforts to resolve all matters peacefully." The Security Council held a meeting at the Kremlin https://t.co/CzbbIEf2Go pic.twitter.com/xUpJW2i62R  President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 21, 2022

Moscow, however, denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Security in the South Caucasus topic was included in the agenda of the Euronest Parliamentary Assemblys Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy, within the frames of which the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was discussed, Head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Maria Karapetyan told reporters at a briefing today.

This morning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was also discussed. Experts joined us online. The Armenian expert was in attendance, and one expert from Azerbaijan joined online. After that the Armenian lawmakers, almost the whole delegation, and the Azerbaijani lawmakers, exchanged views.

Our European partners expressed their positions. Here I would like to highlight the position of European Parliaments representative in the South Caucasus Marina Kaljurand. Today she once again reaffirmed that war is not a means of resolving a conflict and that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict still must get its complete, comprehensive, negotiated and peaceful solution, Karapetyan said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The issue of returning Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan was raised during the discussion of the topic on the security in the South Caucasus at the meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assemblys Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy in Yerevan, Head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Maria Karapetyan told reporters at a briefing today.

Asked whether this issue, or a resolution or any kind of decision relating to the Armenian POWs are expected on the sidelines of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, the lawmaker said: The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly doesnt suppose such a format, but, of course, the lawmakers raised that issue during the debate on the topic of the security in the South Caucasus. In general, the sessions of these committees conduct a preliminary debate of drafts similar to our parliament. The resolutions of the political, energy, security and social committees are still in the form of drafts, they are currently being debated, but I would like to note that they do not have a context of conflict, she said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan met with Minister of Interior Makis Voridis, the Armenian Embassy said in a statement on social media.

The sides discussed the opportunities of bilateral cooperation in public administration and administrative reforms. The Minister of Interior said Greece has a big experience in these fields and is ready to share it with Armenia. He briefly introduced the structure and activity of the Ministry of Interior.

In his turn Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan said Armenia has taken concrete steps on this direction in the past years, and the support of friendly countries and the exchange of experience will further contribute to the development of effective governance in Armenia.

Both sides expressed readiness to take concrete steps for the Armenian-Greek cooperation on this direction.
YEREVAN, 21 FEBRUARY, ARMENPERESS. A Security Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took place, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In addition to the members of the Security Council, the meeting was also attended by Alen Simonyan, acting President of the Republic, and Hakob Arshakyan, Acting President of the National Assembly.

Issues related to overcoming the challenges facing Armenia and the processes taking place in the international arena were discussed at the Security Council session.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not fully settled yet, but there is progress, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Moscow today, RIA Novosti reported.

At the meeting Putin said agreements have been reached over the development of trade and economic ties in Nagorno Karabakh.

The Russian leader said there are disputes, but Moscow will do the utmost to ensure the peaceful nature of the settlement process.

Certain agreements have already been reached on ensuring not only the security of all the people living there, but on developing trade and economic ties, unblocking transport communications. I know that disputes continue and there is much to be done, but, on our part, we will do our utmost to ensure the peaceful nature of this process and to satisfy all the parties involved in this process, he said as quoted by TASS.
YEREVAN, 22 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 22 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.27 drams to 478.43 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.12 drams to 541.68 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.23 drams to 5.99 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.90 drams to 649.76 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 3.37 drams to 29140.2 drams. Silver price down by 0.74 drams to 365.09 drams. Platinum price down by 209.43 drams to 16581.67 drams.
YEREVAN, 21 FEBRUARY, ARMENPERESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has issued a statement over initiating criminal prosecution against President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan and two former Presidents of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan by Azerbaijani authorities and declaring them internationally wanted, strongly condemning these trumped-up and anti-Armenian persecutions, as well as the abuse of international legal procedures, ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Armenia.

"Recently it became known that the Azerbaijani authorities have initiated criminal prosecution, have declared an international search for Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Presidents of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.

"We strongly condemn these criminal prosecutions initiated by Azerbaijan on these trumped-up and anti-Armenian grounds, as well as similar abuses of international legal procedures," the statement said.

According to the Armenian MFA, instead of trying to find the people involved in the extrajudicial killings of Artsakh civilians, the forced disappearances of Armenian prisoners of war, as well as the criminal networks that brought terrorists to the region, Azerbaijan is pursuing its anti-Armenian policy in Nagorno Karabakh with a new impetus, making new attempts to raise tensions on Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry calls on Azerbaijan to seek solutions in the constructive field, to take steps to protect the rights and well-being of all the peoples of the region, while reaffirming the Republic of Armenia's commitment to making efforts for peaceful coexistence and mutual tolerance in the region.
NATO condemned the recognition by Russian President Vladimir Putin of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, BBC reported.

February 22, 2022, 09:20 NATO Condemns Putin's Recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 22, ARTSAKHPRESS: "I condemn Russias decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic. This further undermines Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted.

In his statement, he again accused Russia of looking for an excuse to invade Ukraine.
Press Release

February 22, 2022 Gordon thanks supporters during visit in Mindanao CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Senator Richard J. Gordon headed today to Northern Mindanao as part of his campaign bid towards re-election in the Senate. Gordon, who garnered the third-highest votes in the city, said he wants to thank the hundreds of thousands of voters that shaded his name in ballots in the 2016 elections. "We head to Northern Mindanao today to thank and pay tribute to the hardworking residents, as they contribute a lot to the economy of the entire island, and the Philippines as well," said Gordon. "Pinakita rin natin na hindi natin pinapabayaan ang mga residente dito, at tinulungan natin silang makabangon sa iba't-ibang sakunang tumama sa lugar na ito," he added. Gordon arrived at Laguindingan Airport on Tuesday morning before heading to Cagayan de Oro City as a guest candidate of the Robredo-Pangilinan senatorial slate. He will then head to the province of Bukidnon, located adjacently to Misamis Oriental, in the final day of his two-day stop in the area. It may be recalled that Gordon, through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), allotted about Php 24.2 million as relief for victims of Typhoon Sendong (Washi) in 2011, where about 2,500 died. A total of 150 homes were also built in Valencia, Bukidnon, while over 1,500 people were assisted on tracing, inquiry and communication, 492 referrals, 12 family members of a political detainee were able to visit their loved ones in jail with the support from the ICRC. The PRC also provided food items to victims of Typhoon Pablo in 2012, feeding almost 600 families and awarding non-food items to 1,747 more. Help was provided months after the disaster as Gordon provided food and non-food items, built transitional shelters, gave away 1,686 repair kits, and donated one Ford ambulance to the local PRC chapter. It also opened a molecular laboratory in its Cagayan de Oro chapter, one of 14 scattered across the country, and is partly responsible for the total 5.7 million total swab and saliva tests conducted by the PRC since April 2020.
Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan met with Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia Nico Schermers, the Ombudsmans Office said in a press release.

February 22, 2022, 16:45 Armenian Ombudsman presents violations of rights of border residents by Azeri troops to Dutch Ambassador

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 22, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: 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.
Singapore's State Courts seen on 21 April 2020. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE  A chef at a Telok Ayer restaurant went to work despite being placed on medical leave for an upper respiratory tract infection.

Even when Lau Zhi Zhang, 25, developed a dry cough and lost his sense of taste, he went for a job interview at another restaurant.

Three days later, when Lau went for a swab test, he tested positive for COVID-19.

Lau, a Malaysian currently on a long-term visit pass, was jailed for five months on Monday (21 February), after he pleaded guilty to two counts under the Infectious Diseases Act for exposing others to the risk of infection by his presence in public places despite being issued with a medical certificate. Two similar charges were considered for his sentencing.

Lau was then a chef at Napoleon Food & Wine Bar located along Telok Ayer Street during the offences in early 2020.

Lau visited Heartland Health Clinic at Circuit Road on 31 March 2020 after developing a fever, cough and runny nose. He was diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection and was issued a medical certificate from 31 March to 4 April 2020.

His MC stated that Lau was required by law to stay home for five days and the doctor also stressed to him of the legal requirement.

Upon leaving the clinic, Lau had lunch at a nearby food centre.

The next day Lau left his house for work, meeting a colleague at Telok Ayer MRT station. This colleague advised him against going to work, but Lau ignored the advice.

Lau worked from 10.30am to 11pm in the kitchen with the colleague while he was wearing a mask.

On 2 April 2020, Lau developed a dry cough and lost his sense of taste, but it did not deter him from leaving his house for lunch at Circuit Road Food Centre the next day.

Lau and the colleague, both of whom were looking a new job, learned from Laus wife that there was a vacancy at a restaurant called Picotin at Fairways Drive. Lau arranged for a job interview for himself and his colleague on 4 April.

On the day of the interview, the pair met at Mattar MRT station where they took a private hire car to Picotin and had an interview with the restaurant manager for half an hour. The duo then took a cab to Napoleon as the colleague needed to work.

Story continues

Even though Lau was off, he stayed at the restaurant to drink and chat with his colleague. During this chat, Lau told the colleague that he suspected he had COVID-19 since 2 April when he had a dry cough. His colleague advised him to do a swab test as soon as he could and Lau left the restaurant for home.

Lau went to Geylang East Polyclinic for a swab test on 6 April and was notified of his positive result on the same day. He was conveyed via ambulance to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on 7 April and was discharged on 19 April.

Laus wife and their domestic helper were also infected with COVID-19. The colleague was on quarantine as he was deemed a close contact of Lau, but he was not infected.

His lawyer, Anil Singh Sandhu, said that it was only after Laus colleague informed him that his mothers friend had lost her sense of taste and tested positive for COVID-19 that Lau researched and realised that loss of taste was a symptom for the disease. The lawyer suggested that at that time, losing sense of taste was not yet a well-known symptom of COVID-19.

However, District Judge Toh Han Li said the court was relying on Laus dry cough symptom, rather than his sense of taste.

Sandhu also asked the court to consider that Lau was relatively young and did not appreciate the gravity of his actions. Lau had assisted the investigating officer by disclosing the details of his movement at a time when there was no TraceTogether app in place, the lawyer said. Lau would be separated from his wife, who is based in Singapore, upon his conviction as he would have to return to Malaysia.

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Emergencies dont take vacations. They dont even take off nights and weekends.

But no matter when emergencies strike, the compassionate actions of American Red Cross of Western New York volunteers, blood donors and community partners help ensure that families and individuals never face crises alone.

The Red Cross mission wouldnt be possible without these community heroes, and we are proud to honor their dedication in March during our annual Red Cross Month celebration.

Alongside the generosity of Cayuga County residents, our more than 2,100 volunteers provided around-the-clock support to our neighbors in need in fiscal year 2021, including:

 Responding to nearly 900 local disasters  the majority of which are home fires  and providing emergency assistance to nearly 1,500 individuals. The support of our volunteer workforce is critical, as large-scale disasters like hurricanes, floods and wildfires grow in frequency each year.

 122,487 units of lifesaving blood collected. The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone is in need of lifesaving blood and the only resource for patients in need are volunteer donors like you.

 3,487 case services in response to 2,170 requests to support members of the military, veterans and their families within the region. Red Cross volunteers provide 24/7 global support to military families  including many who have experienced multiple deployments over the past decade.

 And thousands of Red Cross-trained individuals stand ready across our region every day to deliver CPR, first aid and other lifesaving skills during an emergency.

On behalf of those we serve, we thank everyone who makes our lifesaving work possible in Cayuga County, throughout the 27 counties we represent, the country and around the world.

You can join in their commitment during our Red Cross Month celebration by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets, become a Red Cross volunteer or take a class to learn lifesaving skills like CPR and first aid. With a donation on March 23, youll also be part of our annual Giving Day campaign (redcross.org/givingday) to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

Meg Rossman is regional communications manager for the American Red Cross Western New York Region. For more information, call (315) 234-2200 or visit redcross.org.

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As a retired educator and school administrator, Bruce MacBain has long been committed to public service.

Now, he wants to continue that work in a different arena.

MacBain, of Auburn, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the newly drawn 126th Assembly District. The district includes the city of Auburn and towns of Brutus, Cato, Conquest, Mentz, Owasco, Sennett and Throop in Cayuga County. Towns in western and southern Onondaga County are also part of the district.

The Onondaga County Democratic Committee endorsed MacBain on Thursday. The Cayuga County Democratic Committee will meet this week to designate candidates.

If elected, one of MacBain's top priorities is education. He was an educator for 31 years and the longtime middle and high school principal in the Moravia school district.

MacBain told The Citizen that he thinks his educational background will help him represent his constituents.

"I tend to be drawn to issues that look to the future, and especially ones that create a brighter one for our children," he said.

Moravia is among the Cayuga County school districts that have dealt with state funding inequities over the years. While the state is working to fully fund the foundation aid formula, which determines the base aid for school districts, MacBain wants to ensure the schools receive their fair share.

He also hopes to address what he described as "new issues" affecting education, such as learning gaps, social-emotional learning and teacher burnout.

Aside from education, the environment is a high priority. He wants to ensure that there is clean drinking water for the communities he would represent in the state Legislature.

The region's access to water should also be viewed as a commodity, according to MacBain. He thinks it will be more valuable as watersheds dry up in other parts of the country.

Most of all, he wants to meet people. Now that he's retired, he has time to attend local government meetings or have conversations with business owners and farmers.

"I want to be visible in every town," he said.

He did address the end of his tenure at Moravia. He was placed on administrative leave for reasons that have never been disclosed. In July 2021, he agreed to retire in exchange for $382,000 and lifetime health insurance benefits. A confidentiality agreement was part of that deal.

Because of the confidentiality clause, MacBain could not provide any details about the circumstances surrounding his early retirement. However, he said he did not do anything illegal or immoral.

"I'm proud of my accomplishments and my career at Moravia," he added.

With his career in education behind him, he's now focused on his first run for elective office. If he wins the Democratic nomination, he will face Assemblyman John Lemondes, a LaFayette Republican.

MacBain is excited about the possibility of serving in the state Legislature for another reason. State and local governments in New York have received huge sums of federal dollars. The funding could improve infrastructure, help schools and municipalities still reeling from the pandemic.

"We need to take advantage of this opportunity," he said. "Let's make sure that (the 126th Assembly District) gets its share."

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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DANNEMORA  An off-duty New York state trooper was killed Sunday in a snowmobile crash in upstate Dannemora, state police said.

Joshua Gushlaw, 31, of Plattsburgh, lost control of the snowmobile, veering from trail and hitting several trees, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

State police responded to the crash around 10 p.m. Sunday. It happened about 3 miles from the Lyon Mountain trailhead.

Gushlaw joined the state police in March 2016. He was assigned to Troop B in Plattsburgh, state police said.

Dannemora is in the northeast corner of New York, about 55 miles south of Montreal.

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ALBANY  With the average American now devoting more than 25% of their television viewing time to streaming services, video production companies have developed a voracious appetite to create new films and television shows.

Champions of New York's film tax credit program  offering generous incentives to the production companies  say the state has become a hot venue for those programs and movies as a direct result of the subsidies provided to the industry.

Those supporters are now pressing state lawmakers to get behind Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal for a three-year extension to the $420 million annual film tax credit, contending New York needs to be competitive as other states try to lure the same players from the industry.

Since the state film tax credit was instituted in 2004, shows and films that have benefited from the program have been produced from one end of the state to the other, and there are indications the business will mushroom even more in the year ahead.

Robert Halmi, chief executive officer of Great Point Studios, said his company is spending tens of millions of dollars to build Niagara Studios in Buffalo and Lionsgate Studio in Yonkers, specifically because it is participating in the film tax credit program. "We are creating industry and opportunity where it doesn't exist," said Halmi, suggesting the industry is becoming a beacon of hope for some of the poorest communities in New York.

"Without the tax credits, none of this would happen," Halmi told lawmakers at a hearing on Hochul's proposed $216 billion state budget. "None of the films would come here. We wouldn't be making investments in New York at all. We'd do it in a state that has tax credits. History has proven that if you take the tax credits away the studios would all turn to rubble and no one shows up to your party."

The film tax credit provides a 25% credit for post production and qualified production costs within the state. There is an additional credit of up to 10% offered for labor costs in the upstate region.

But the program, which is overseen by Empire State Development, a public authority controlled by the governor, is not without critics. They argue it is far too generous and question why taxpayers are paying thousands of dollars to subsidize private investors.

Peter Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission, a government watchdog group, said the state should be "doing a much better job in promoting accountability" with the film tax credit program and other economic development initiatives

With all of its $10 billion bundle of incentives, the state needs to stay on top of whether the various programs are achieving their job creation goals and having the intended economic impacts -- if any, he said.

"The key question is: What number of jobs would not have happened if the film tax credit didn't exist," Orecki said.

Among critics argue who argue there are better ways to use state resources to improve the lives of a broad spectrum of New Yorkers than handing out film tax credits is John Kaehny, director of Reinvent Albany, an advocacy organization.

"There is no evidence the TV and film credit is a cost effective way of creating sustainable jobs," Kaehny said.

Reinvent Albany, at an earlier hearing, contended that with its business subsidies, the state needs "massive changes" to ethics laws to stop tax credits from being a "corruption risk" stemming from those benefiting from the program rewarding the politicians who support them with cash for their campaigns.

A report issued last October by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, found that film tax credit activity in New York in 2019 and 2020 found that the program "generated upward of $1 billion in tax collections."

Debbie Goedeke, who oversees a project called Film Albany for Albany County, noted shows such as "White House Plumbers" (HBO), "Pretty Little Liars," (HBO), "The Gilded Age," (HBO) and "Billions," (Showtime), have all had recent shoots in the Albany region.

For one series alone, "Gilded Age," those affiliated with the production work consumed 5,770 nights in temporary lodging, Goedeke said.

Goedeke drew a chuckle from Sen. Liz Krueger, chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee, when she noted that Albany managed to lure a Showtime production called "3 Women" because the city is "a perfect double for Fargo, N.D."

"It is not just the economic buzz," Goedeke concluded. "All of these productions added an esprit de corps to our communities, created a buzz and shone a light through a very dark COVID tunnel."

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At the February meeting of the Cayuga County Judicial and Public Safety Committee, Cayuga County Legislator Robert Shea introduced a resolution to urge our state lawmakers to further amend criminal justice reforms that were implemented in 2020. I fully support this resolution and appreciate Legislator Sheas efforts to make this a priority for not only our community, but the entire state of New York. Our elected leaders should continually evaluate our criminal justice system to ensure that the interests of public safety are met while protecting the rights of the accused. This can be a difficult balance that requires legislative changes to our laws from time to time.

In 2019 our state Legislature made significant changes to the bail laws of New York state. They also imposed new discovery mandates on our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. Both became effective in January 2020. The Legislature soon realized that these changes in the laws went too far and modifications were made and implemented in July 2020 that added additional crimes to the list of those that were eligible for bail. While I am thankful that the Legislature made these critical adjustments to their reform measures, they must do more and the time is now.

The Penal Law of the State of New York defines its purpose and proscribes conduct which unjustifiably threatens harm to individual or public interests, outlines sentences that may be imposed for convictions of offenses committed in violation of the law, and defines the difference between those that are serious and minor. The penal law also provides for an appropriate public response to particular offenses, including consideration of the consequences of the offense for the victim, including the victims family, and the community and seeks to insure the public safety by preventing the commission of offenses through the deterrent influence of the sentences authorized, the rehabilitation of those convicted, the promotion of their successful and productive reentry and reintegration into society, and their confinement when required in the interests of public protection."

The reforms implemented in 2020 essentially stripped the discretion of judges to set bail on those that are accused of most misdemeanor and numerous felony level crimes. Legislator Sheas resolution requests in part that the state Legislature restore a judges ability to set bail by considering all relevant factors, not just the risk of flight by the accused. As the law currently stands, our judges cannot set bail for most misdemeanors and numerous felonies, even if a risk of flight exists, and our law enforcement officers are forced in many cases to issue appearance tickets to accused offenders without having the ability to bring them before a judge.

Many of these accused offenders in our community and beyond are being released and rearrested numerous times. This is counter to the goals set forth by our penal law and counter to public safety. It is also dangerous and destructive in some cases to the very individuals that the reforms are designed to protect. For example, those that are struggling with addiction in many cases commit crimes to support their dangerous and deadly habit. These crimes often include petty offenses and misdemeanors that are not eligible for bail and often require the issuance of an appearance ticket upon arrest. With each crime committed to feed this addiction, the public is being put at risk, allowing someone in our community to be victimized, and in some cases, putting the offender at risk of confrontation with a potential victim. We are also keeping those that struggle from receiving life-saving rehabilitation and treatment in our custody facilities that can save their lives. This is not consistent with the purpose of the penal law and public safety.

While I feel strongly that we must further reform the reforms of 2020 to allow for judges to have discretion to set bail in many more cases than they can currently, I also feel just as strongly that no one should be confined in a jail setting due solely to the fact that they do not have the monetary resources to be released. There must be factors that warrant the incarceration related to public safety. If evidence suggests that an offender is likely to re-offend and put the public at risk, regardless of the level of crime, a judge should have discretion to set bail in the case and law enforcement officers should have the ability to bring the subject before the court.

There is more that we can and must do to fix these dangerous bail reforms. It is in the best interest of public safety and in many cases, for those that are accused. Our criminal justice system is complicated and every case is unique and different. No cookie cutter approach to bail will ever work. Each case must have an independent review and analysis by a judge that has the ability to set bail if it is in the best interest of public safety, and if not, to immediately release the accused. Thank you, Legislator Shea, for bringing your resolution forward and to the members of the Cayuga County Legislature for supporting it. I too urge Governor Hochul and our elected state leaders to work in a bipartisan manner to further amend these 2020 reforms in the interest of public safety. At the same time, I would welcome any of our elected leaders or community members to tour our jail facility to learn about the work being done to treat those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health challenges as well as our programming and rehabilitation efforts to ensure the successful reentry of those that are incarcerated.

Brian Schenck is the Cayuga County sheriff.

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Germany wants to continue using internal combustion engines beyond 2035 provided they can be operated using synthetic fuels.

The European Commission last year proposed a ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) from the middle of next decade or 2035, but German is opposed to the proposal. The automaking powerhouse nation wants to get rid of petrol vehicles but keep the ICE engines provided they can work on synthetic fuels, the country's transport minister said, AFP reported.

Speaking on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU transport ministers outside of Paris, Volker Wissing said, We want to allow combustion engines after 2035 only if they can be refueled exclusively by synthetic fuels." He added that there has to be technical solution to ensure that the ICE engines cannot be refueled using fossil fuels.

The meeting of the transport ministers looked at innovative ways to decarbonise road transport, among other issues. Wissing added that synthetic fuels, which can be used by current cars with little or no modification, will be able to considerably lower carbon emissions depending on how they are produced.

(Also read | Lamborghini plans to continue with ICE cars beyond 2030 despite EV push)

Besides supporting the idea of using synthetic fuels in ICE engines, Wissing also backed the French EU presidency that hybrid vehicles too can be useful in reducing carbon emissions. Today we don't have enough electric vehicles (EVs), we need to scale up their availability. So it's better that people use hybrid technology as an intermediary solution," he added.

Wissing further advised that government shouldn't rely on just one technology. We can't only bank on electric mobility or hydrogen for the future. We need to remain technology-agnostic," he added.

(Also read | Phasing out ICEs too soon may not be beneficial, says BMW CEO)

All these discussions follow the latest UN climate meeting last year, where more than two dozen countries and car companies pledged to work on ensuring that only zero emission vehicles are sold by 2040. However, major car manufacturing countries such as China, the US, Japan, France and Germany did not sign up. In fact, Germany particularly criticised the fact that synthetic fuels were left out.

(with inputs from AFP)

First Published Date:
Mercedes aims electric and hybrid electric cars to make up 50% of its sales by 2025, with all-electric cars expected to account for most of that.

Mercedes-Benz expects to have production facilities making exclusively electric vehicles by the second half of the decade, however, it will steer clear of building EV-only plants. The carmaker will instead keep its plants flexible in line with market demand.

The automaker foresees some of its production lines within factories switching fully to electric even sooner, the production chief Joerg Burzer said in an interview with Reuters. Building a whole new battery-electric vehicle factory takes time. We have taken another approach," he said. While Mercedes will certainly see production lines producing only electric vehicles in the next few years, it also expects to see whole factories switching to electric eventually.

(Also read | Mercedes-Benz pauses orders for E-Class in this country. Know why)

The automaker will begin production of its EQE model, that it revealed last September at the IAA Mobility show, later this year. The production will initially begin in its production facility in Bremen, Germany, followed by Beijing and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The model is an electric adaptation of the E-class with a maximum per charge range of 660 km.

The carmaker is betting big on this model to boost the sales of its EV units as it shifts its investments away from internal combustion vehicles and towards electric-only production platforms. "With the ramp-up of the EQE in Bremen and later in Beijing, we are coming into a segment where we can deliver at far higher volumes," Burzer said in the interview.

(Also read | This bygone Mercedes-Benz 300 was a laboratory on the go)

Currently, Mercedes' all existing models are being built in factories that also produce internal combustion engine vehicles, with batteries transported by rail from the main plant in Sindelfingen to plants in Germany and Hungary. Burzer said that going down the line, battery assembly and production could be brought nearer to car plants.

Last year, out of all new cars sold by the carmaker, just 2.3% were battery-electric vehicles. The figure rose to 11% when plug-in hybrids were included, which have both an engine and a battery. However, Mercedes now aims to boost this figure by ramping up production and investment on EV platforms. Mercedes aims electric and hybrid electric cars to make up 50% of its sales by 2025, with all-electric cars expected to account for most of that.

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A Kia EV6 electric car blew up in flames in the middle of a street in Budapest, Hungary after it met with an accident. The incident occurred when the driver was going through downtown Budapest and happened to hit an apparent concrete barrier that was in the lane, Insideevs reported.

Soon after the accident, there was a fire spark in the electric vehicle which lead to the blowing up of the front part of the car. Unfortunately, the driver was injured and was rushed to a hospital, the report said citing a source.

(Also watch | Dodge Hellcat catches fire while trying to perform burnout)

It couldn't be ascertained if the vehicle was a rear- or all-wheel drive EV6. The report stated that if it is an all-wheel drive model, then the impact of the crash in the front of the vehicle may have damaged the electrical conduits that the high voltage cables needed to power the front motor are run through. If it was a rear-wheel drive model, the risk of a frontal impact causing a fire would have been low as there is no second motor in such a case. However, these are only assumptions and the real reason of the fire isn't yet known.

A video of the burning Kia EV6 has emerged on YouTube where the electric car seems like a ball of fire, at least with the front portion totally covered in the flame. While the blaze does seem to be concentrated on the front of the EV, it isn't apparently coming from underneath the vehicle. It could mean that the battery of the EV was yet to catch fire or that only the front modules had been affected when the video was being shot.

The fire incident of Kia EV6 brings to fore the debate about electric vehicles being more prone to catching fire upon accidents. While some studies have stated that ICE engines are more liable to catch fire, EV batteries surely have the potential to spark up any fire, the report said, referring to the EV6 incident in Hungary.

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Vietnamese supermodel to transform cruise ship into ocean catwalk

The worlds latest liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered cruise ship, Costa Toscana, will be transformed into a sky-high ocean catwalk for J Spring Fashion Show 2022, on February 28.













Vietnamese supermodel Jessica Minh Anh is pictured on board of Costa Toscana, the worlds newest LNG-powered cruise ship. Photo Jessica Minh Anh

According to its producer, Vietnamese supermodel Jessica Minh Anh, the iconic production is against the cinematic backdrop of the Italian Riviera and will deliver a message of sustainability and style, while marking a historic milestone in both the fashion world and the cruise industry.



The high-profile event will welcome global media and exclusive VIPs on board Costa Toscana, a new age smart city at sea, before its inaugural cruise in Portofino, Italy.



A combination of haute couture, ready-to-wear, and swimwear collections from North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia will be premiered.



The red-carpet experience will feature the best in Italian art, architecture, culture, luxury and delicacies alongside the impressive catwalk.



This particular moment in history provides an opportunity for a sustainable 'restart' of our society. Costa Toscana aligns perfectly with my mission of highlighting sustainability in a visually attractive way," Minh Anh said.



"It runs on Liquefied Natural Gas, one of the most advanced technologies to reduce emissions right now. It represents a breakthrough in the travel industry. I am honoured to celebrate the resurgence of business and style on such a unique ship.



J Spring Fashion Show 2022 is Minh Anhs come-back catwalk event after the phenomenal success of Runway on the Runway at JFK international airport before the pandemic, where the supermodel turned entrepreneur promoted the globally sustainable supply chain.



This show will combine three of Minh Anhs famous catwalk series, namely Fashion x Sustainability, Catwalk-On-Water, and Sky-High, into one mind-blowing extravaganza. Previous editions took place atop the Eiffel Tower, Londons Tower Bridge, Grand Canyon Skywalk, Hoover Dam, Gemasolar Power Plant, and international cruise ships in Dubai, New York, Sydney, and Hong Kong.



Jessica Minh Anh is a pioneer in marrying fashion with sustainability, just like Costa Cruises in offering the most advanced sustainable ships, said Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises.



Costa has been the first in the world to operate LNG-powered ships, and focuses on value-driven, sustainable and inclusive tourism. As the travel industry is gradually recovering, it is very exciting for us to welcome Jessica on board, and have her launch such an important message in a creative way on our new flagship, Costa Toscana. We are also proud that this collaboration will happen in Italy and specifically the Ligurian Riviera."



Supermodel and entrepreneur Minh Anh is the producer behind some of the worlds most innovative Fashion x Sustainability projects.



She has continuously made history with shows atop famous architectural wonders including the Eiffel Tower, Londons Tower Bridge, and PETRONAS Twin Towers.



Most impressively, she broke the record with the worlds highest fashion show on the Grand Canyon Skywalk.


Press Release

February 22, 2022 Villar renews pitch for wetlands protection, conservation Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has rallied behind this year World Wetlands Celebration's call to take action for wetlands and appeal to invest financial, human and political capital to save wetlands from disappearing and to restore those that have been degraded. "In all candidness, this is no mean feat for a state like the Philippines to follow. With our country's archipelagic nature, we have an abundant number of wetlands that call for much-needed attention," said Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committed on Environment and Natural Resources. During the celebration in Las Pinas Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) on Feb. 22, Villar also noted that the United Nations encourages the annual celebration to raise public consciousness on wetlands, which are critically important ecosystems contributing to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and to economies. She thanked the LPPWP- Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and its partners, the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW), the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Philippine Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, for their active participation in this event. According to the senator, the 2016 Atlas of Philippine Inland Wetlands and Classified Caves has put the number at 314 inland wetlands and 2,487 river systems. Out of these, 314 wetlands are 221 lakes, 12 marshes and swamps, 9 peat lands, 39 water storage, and 31 ponds. However, she lamented that some people, even those in our government, do not fully recognize and appreciate the significance of wetlands. "And what is even worse is that there are even people within the DENR who should know the significance of wetlands, yet have chosen to be ignorant of it," stressed Villar. She specifically cited LPPWP which has always been endangered despite being established a critical habitat, declared a Wetland of International Importance and legislated a protected area under the Expanded NIPAS Act in 2018. She said LPPWP has been constantly exposed to the threat of being destroyed due to various reclamation projects in Paranaque and Cavite. She also took potshots at the DENR- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) for issuing Environmental Clearance Certificates to these reclamation projects. Villar recalled late last year, a painful experience of being barred by EMB to join in a discussion with the technical experts in the Paranaque reclamation project. "I was simply told that I am not an allowed participant in the meeting. What was so annoying in the incident is that the EMB personnel presiding over the meeting was ignorant of the existence of the LPPWP- PAMB, the body I represent for the meeting, even when LPPWP PAMB wasactually invited by EMB itself in that meeting," related Villar. "I am 'crushed' that EMB has plainly adopted the position of the proponent on this 'matter hook, line and sinker' and no further discussion and independent studies were made," she said. "This is just one of the sad realities we are confronted with in defending this piece of wetland and we have been through tougher times along the way," added the senator who has been involved in the conservation of the wetland park for two decades now. "Apart from the destructive effect to the wetland park, one of the issues I wish to point out to EMB is that the 286-hectare Paranaque reclamation project will obstruct the free flow of water coming from Paranaque River, which is connected to the Las Pinas River in my hometown," said Villar. She said this will trigger massive flooding in Las Pinas, Paranaque and nearby places in Cavite. "LPPWP is a showcase of biodiversity conservation in Metro Manila and we envision it to be the premiere learning environment for urban wetlands in the Philippines as well. We are doing our best also to make it a model of sustainable eco-tourism at its best, while ensuring that its natural ecological attributes are not compromised." Villar, muling nanawagan sa protection at conservation ng wetlands SUPORTADO ni Sen. Cynthia A. Villar ang panawagan sa pagdiriwang sa taon ito ng World Wetlands Celebration's na gumawa ng aksyon para sa wetlands at apela na mag-invest ng financial, human at political capital upang mapigil ang pagkawala ng wetlands at maibalik ang mga nasira. "In all candidness, this is no mean feat for a state like the Philippines to follow. With our country's archipelagic nature, we have an abundant number of wetlands that call for much-needed attention," ayon kay Villar, chairperson ng Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Sa selebrasyon sa Las Pinas Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) noong Feb. 22, iginiit ni Villar na taunang ipinagdiriwang ito ng United Nations para iangat ang public consciousness sa kahalagahan ng wetlands sa ecosystems dahil sa kontribusyon nito sa biodiversity, climate mitigation at adaptation, freshwater availability at sa ekonomiya. Pinasalamatan niya ang LPPWP- Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) at ang mga partner nito gaya ng Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW), Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) at ang Philippine Wild Bird Club of the Philippines sa kanilang aktibong paglahok sa pagdiriwang na ito. Sinabi ng senador na base sa 2016 Atlas of Philippine Inland Wetlands and Classified Caves, meron tayong 314 inland wetlands at 2,487 river systems. Sa 314 wetlands, may 221 lakes, 12 marshes at swamps, 9 peat lands, 39 water storage, at 31 ponds. Subalit dismayado si Villar na may mga tao kahit na yaong nasa gobyerno na hindi naiintindihan ang kahalagahan ng wetlands. "And what is even worse is that there are even people within the DENR who should know the significance of wetlands, yet have chosen to be ignorant of it," giit ni Villar. Partikular na tinukoy niya ang LPPWP na palagiang nanganganib sa kabila ng pagiging critical habitat, Wetland of International Importance at legislated na protected area sa ilalim ng Expanded NIPAS Act in A 2018. Ayon kay Villar, palaging may bantang masira ang LPPWP dahil sa mga reclamation project sa Paranaque at Cavite. Kinastigo rin niya ang DENR- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) sa pagbibigay ng Environmental Clearance Certificates sa mga reclamation projects. Ginunita ni Villar noong nakaraang taon ang masaklap niyang karanasan nang hindi payagang makasali sa talakayan ng technical experts sa Paranaque reclamation project. "I was simply told that I am not an allowed participant in the meeting. What was so annoying in the incident is that the EMB personnel presiding over the meeting was ignorant of the existence of the LPPWP- PAMB, the body I represent for the meeting, even when LPPWP PAMB was actually invited by EMB itself in that meeting," pahayag ni Villar. "I am 'crushed' that EMB has plainly adopted the position of the proponent on this 'matter hook, line and sinker' and no further discussion and independent studies were made," sabi pa niya. "This is just one of the sad realities we are confronted with in defending this piece of wetland and we have been through tougher times along the way," dagdag pa ng senador na nangunguna sa pagtataguyod sa wetland park conservation sa loob ng dalawang dekada. "Apart from the destructive effect to the wetland park, one of the issues I wish to point out to EMB is that the 286-hectare Paranaque reclamation project will obstruct the free flow of water coming from Paranaque River, which is connected to the Las Pinas River in my hometown," sabi pa ni Villar. Aniya, magdudulot ito ng matinding pagbaha sa Las Pinas, Paranaque at mga kalapit na lugar sa Cavite. "LPPWP is a showcase of biodiversity conservation in Metro Manila and we envision it to be the premiere learning environment for urban wetlands in the Philippines as well. We are doing our best also to make it a model of sustainable eco-tourism at its best, while ensuring that its natural ecological attributes are not compromised."
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Beijing Hyundais Chongqing factory is reportedly in production halt for months, a person inside Beijing Hyundai told a local media outlet.

Photo credit: Beijing Hyundai



The insider disclosed that the factory and most of its workers have been taking some downtime since December 2021. Beijing Hyundai responded that the company did not receive any internal documents about the said production suspension.

The Beijing Hyundai Chongqing factory was built in 2017 with a designed yearly production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. The factory holds the production tasks of the automakers REINA, ENCINO, LA FESTA, and ix25 models. The models are considered unpopular in the Chinese market, some with two-digit monthly sales results.

In fact, the Korean joint venture used to own five factories in China. Excluding the Beijing first factory sold to Li Auto, Beijing Hyundai still holds two factories in Beijing, one in Cangzhou and the aforementioned Chongqing factory.

Records show that the automakers current four factories have a total designed annual production capacity of 1.35 million vehicles. However, the Korean carmakers annual sales volume in China was only 385,000 vehicles in 2021, roughly 28.52% of its production capacity.

Notably, the sales decline is not particular for Hyundai Motors. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, in the first month of 2022, Korean branded passenger vehicle sales only accounted for 1.7% of the entire Chinese market.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Huawei denies rumor of automotive LiDAR contract manufacturing

A local media reported that Chinese LiDAR company RoboSense is developing a dedicated production line for manufacturing Huaweis automotive LiDAR. Huawei denied the report, saying it has its own factory.

Selected partners of Huawei intelligent automotive solutions; photo credit: Huawei

Porsche China expected to find solutions for auto chip supply shortage in H2

Jens Puttfarcken, President & CEO of Porsche China, said that chip supply shortage will continue to affect global automotive market, but Porsche China will try to maintain the sales level of last year and expects to find solutions for the shortage in the second half of this year.

China encourages developing sodium-ion battery

According to a planning issued by Chinas National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, development of diverse technology routes is encouraged, including sodium-ion battery and new kind of lithium-ion battery.

Hong Jing Drive secures investment from Saudi Aramco

On February 21st, Chinas commercial vehicle autonomous driving developer, Hong Jing Drive, announced that the company had received over one hundred million yuan of investment from Prosperity7.



ZF, Baidus JIDU to co-develop intelligent chassis

On February 22nd, Baidus JIDU and world-class chassis supplier, ZF, officially partnered up to help JIDU build its automotive robot.



Aiways to build intelligent connected mobility service with Quantum Trip

Chinas EV startup, Aiways, has inked a strategic cooperation agreement with a local mobility service provider, Quantum Trip, for future intelligent mobility development, the carmaker announced on February 22nd.



SAIC Motor, Tsingshan Industry step up cooperation

Chinese giant auto group SAIC Motor announced on Feb. 21 it has stepped up the collaboration with stainless steel producer Tsingshan Industry, for the sake of the joint ambition to boost the development of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry.



NIO said to start phone business

NIO is planning to make a foray into mobile phone segment, according to a user on Twitter-like Weibo. The project, which is said at the initial phase, is hiring and the workplace is in Shenzhen.



CALB gets 5 billion yuan of loans from banks

On Feb. 21, China Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd. (CALB) signed a cooperation agreement with several banks (the bank group), who agreed to issue 5 billion yuan ($790.551 million) worth of loans to the power battery maker, CALB announced via its WeChat account.

XPeng reported to set up new autonomous driving company for robotaxi service

Chinas uprising EV startup, XPeng, recently established an autonomous driving subsidiary, Guangzhou Pengxu Autonomous Driving Technology Co., Ltd., according to the corporate database Qichacha.



Beijing Hyundai Chongqing factory said to face downtime

Beijing Hyundais Chongqing factory is reportedly in production halt for months, a person inside Beijing Hyundai told a local media outlet.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas uprising EV startup, XPeng, recently established an autonomous driving subsidiary, Guangzhou Pengxu Autonomous Driving Technology Co., Ltd., according to the corporate database Qichacha.

Photo credit: XPeng



The new company is registered on February 14th, with Xia Heng, founder and president of XPeng as the companys legal representative. With a registered capital of RMB10 million and is wholly owned by XPeng. The new company is considered to be related robotaxi service.

In fact, XPeng has already expressed its desire for the autonomous driving field at the companys Q3 financial report conference in 2021. The chairman and CEO of XPeng, He Xiaopeng, said that the company plans to launch its own Robotaxi service in the second half of 2022, piloting in Guangzhou. The first batch of pilot operation vehicles will be powered by XPengs signature XPILOT 3.5 system and gradually work its way up to the 4.0 version.

XPeng expects its Robotaxi service fleet to complete an average of 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers of monthly testing mileage per vehicle, the CEO added.

Robotaxi service is not impractical for XPeng. As an intelligent EV manufacturer, XPengs existing L2 ADAS technologies are able to gather enough data for its Robotaxi algorithm iteration. The future Robotaxi algorithms can, in turn, help improve its current L2 mass-produced autonomous driving functions.

Moreover, as an independent carmaker, XPeng holds production lines, ADAS R&D abilities, and data accumulation, making autonomous driving a sustainable choice for the companys development.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On February 21st, Chinas commercial vehicle autonomous driving developer, Hong Jing Drive, announced that the company had received over one hundred million yuan of investment from Prosperity7.

Photo credit: Hong Jing Drive



The sole investor of the financing round, Prosperity7, is a venture capital fund of Saudi Aramco. The money will help Hong Jing Drive in product development, recruitment, and production capacity expansion.

According to the company, this marks the third investment round in less than one year, with over one hundred million yuan each time. Hong Jing Drive deemed the investments as a recognition of their development and abilities.

The company has been laying out in the L2 and L2+ ADAS field, as well as the L3+ autonomous driving field.

In the past year, Hong Jing Drive launched the worlds first L2.5 advanced intelligent pilot ADAS solution, based on a China-made AI chip and 8M ultra-high-resolution cameras. By December 2021, the company has produced roughly 100,000 sets of the said solution.

At the 2021 Auto Guangzhou, Hong Jing Drive and JAC Motor introduced a drive/park integrated intelligent pilot solution dedicated to fossil-fueled vehicles.

As to the autonomous driving aspect, Hong Jing Drive unveiled its L3 trunkline logistics dedicated digital intelligent heavy-duty truck, the HyperTruck One, at the Gasgoo China Commercial Vehicle Autonomous Driving Conference 2021. The truck adopts Hong Jing Drives self-developed full-stack autonomous driving software and algorithms, with upgradeable system architecture.

Additionally, Hong Jing Drive plans to cooperate with major automakers for improved L2.5 ADAS systems. The company aims to start the mass production process for the said systems in the second half of 2022. In the meantime, the companys HyperTuck One will also start scaled production and commercial operations within the year.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese giant auto group SAIC Motor announced on Feb. 21 it has stepped up the collaboration with stainless steel producer Tsingshan Industry, for the sake of the joint ambition to boost the development of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry.

SAIC Motor, Tsingshan Industry signing agreement; photo credit: SAIC Motor



The stronger partnership came after both parties inked a strategic cooperation agreement in November 2021. In early 2022, SAIC Motor led an industrial funding round of Ruipu Energy Co., Ltd. (REPT), a power battery manufacturer backed by Tsingshan Industry.

After deepening the cooperation, the duo will jointly advance the projects about such upstream resources as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and manganese, and coordinate the development of NEV battery technologies and relevant market applications, said the automaker.

SAIC Motor expects the upgraded cooperation to help it improve its deployment of NEV-related upstream materials, as the company is seeing blooming growth in NEV sales.

In 2021, SAIC Motor's NEV sales amounted to around 733,000 units, surging 128.9% year on year. Its monthly NEV sales topped 72,000 units in January 2022, jumping 25.5% over a year earlier.
The Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff is switching from a for-profit to a nonprofit charter school, which it hopes will contribute to the schools long-term sustainability and success.

We all believe [this change] will be for the continued success of the school, said head of school Ike Ozis. It was unanimously approved by the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools at its Jan. 10 meeting.

Arizona is one of the few states that allows for-profit charter schools. Ozis said there were about 25 in the state, of 600-700 total charter schools.

The Montessori School has operated four Flagstaff locations for preK through eighth grade students since 1995. As is typical in Montessori education, classrooms combine three grade levels and emphasize self-directed learning. The change in status will not affect the school's educational method.

The school decided to make the switch for long-term sustainability, Ozis said, a large part of which was the leadership structure. It was previously similar to a corporate board structure, which will now change to an independent school board composed of five parents.

We had to make a lot of decisions during COVID and I made those decisions with my administration team, so I think having a school board and having the nonprofit organizations structure helps schools with their long-term sustainability, Ozis said.

This board will eventually hold public meetings and manage policy-level decision-making, as with other nonprofit charter schools. A different leadership tier at the school level will manage the day-to-day operations.

Members of the new board are Andy Vaughn, owner of Doney Coffee; Dr. Anne Newland, North Country Healthcares CEO; Beya Thayer, the executive director of Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition; Kyler Kuehn, Lowell Observatorys deputy director for technology; and Sara Clancey, program director at NAUs Institute for Human Development.

When we created the school board, [we] really paid attention to the balance of having a healthy board, Ozis said. ....We really have a good, strong board who will open up possibilities to serve the community better.

The pandemic was a major factor in determining this change, because it showed the way Flagstaff Montessoris leadership hoped to approach future crises. Switching to a non-profit is not a choice that's easily reversible.

There were a lot of COVID-related opportunities and as we missed one after another, we started having conversationsdo we want to consider this, is it time to consider this? Ozis said.

The change does not mean the school is ineligible to receive COVID funding (for example, ESSERs I, II and III) it had previously missed due to the for-profit status.

I think COVID helped with this decision-making process, but we knew that those funding opportunities are gone," Ozis said. "...We thought about the future sustainability, so financial was just a small portion. Its more the governing body, the health of the organization of the school, so I think that was really the main [reason]. Usually when you have proper checks and balances in place, you can functionally support a nonprofit thats a better, healthier governing body.

The schools previous owner, Eric Alexander, will still own the school buildings but will be distancing himself from the schools operations

I really appreciate Erics support of this idea, Ozis said. ...He wants schools to be successful long term hes still invested in the school. His main motivation is not really profit, [its] probably providing great education to the community.

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Monday marks the 50th anniversary of former US president Richard Nixon's visit to China.

The importance of that epoch-making trip can never be exaggerated, as not only did it herald the normalization of relations between the two countries but it also played an indispensable role in shaping the generally positive trajectory for bilateral relations in the ensuing decades.

It was due to the leaders of the two countries taking the overall situation into consideration and their shared willingness to pursue common interests while overcoming differences that enabled them to end the estrangement of more than 22 years.

Of course, the United States was more confident in itself 50 years ago, when China's gross domestic product was merely 9 percent that of the US. Relations between the two countries have soured in recent years because China's GDP is now about 78 percent that of the US, which has sparked worries in Washington that with China on a rising trajectory and the US on one of relative decline  thanks to its own lack of foresight and errors of judgment  China may challenge the US' hegemony unless its rise is checked.

Yet China does not seek hegemony. Instead it upholds mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the touchstones for international relations, including its relations with the US. Instead of brooding on how to hobble China's development, strategists in Washington should demonstrate the same foresight and wisdom that their predecessors did and look at the bigger picture of the times.

Thawing the ice that has formed between the two countries today will benefit the whole world as the two can then dedicate themselves to resolving common challenges confronting the world rather than each other. The common interests of the two countries are much greater than they were 50 years ago  the trade volume, for instance, has expanded from less than $100 million in 1972 to more than $755 billion last year  but so too are the common responsibilities they shoulder.

China has no intention of overturning the postwar order the US has established and dominates. Instead, it advocates for its improvement and contributes to it by serving as a growth engine, poverty reducer and promoter of sustainable development.

Sino-US relations are clearly at a fork in the road. Reviewing the circumstances in which Nixon's visit took place and the outcomes would be conducive to relations proceeding in the right direction.

That Beijing announced on Monday countermeasures against two US companies involved in repeated arms sales to Taiwan, serves to show how far the US has strayed from the commitments it made 50 years ago. Those commitments point the way to amicable ties. Washington should not renege on them without carefully considering the consequences.




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 US 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 US 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.

Biden responded by signing an executive order for a halt to all US 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.

US 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 UN Security Council will meet publicly on Ukraine at 9 pm 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."

(Reuters)




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Auburn University College of Human Sciences Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will host its third annual Meet Me at the VIC, or Volunteer, Internship and Career, Fair which will convene regional nonprofits with Auburn University undergraduate students who seek to help support local, regional, and national nonprofit efforts. This fair will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at the Auburn University Alumni Center.

The first 50 students will receive a Get Out of Jail Free card from parking services, and there will be snacks, giveaways and class excuses for students who attend. Registration for the VIC is free and open to all students. Register here.

This program was made possible by the generosity of these sponsors: Community Foundation of East Alabama; Auburn University Outreach; Drummond Thorne Stukes Fund for Excellence in the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, a community service grant made possible by state senators Tom Whatley and Randy Price and state representative Joe Lovvorn; the United Way of Lee County Inc.; and Himmelwright, Huguley and Boles LLC.

The Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is an academic center in Auburn Universitys College of Human Sciences whose programs focus on financial wellness, philanthropy engagement and nonprofit studies. The Cary Center inspires its participants to discover their purpose through learning, giving and growing while empowering all generations to leave an enduring legacy. The Community and Collegiate division of the Cary Center provides capacity-building resources to nonprofits to include educational programming, professional development and networking.

For more information about the Cary Center and all its programs, click here or contact Brittany Branyon at brittanybranyon@auburn.edu or 334-844-3557.
Amtrak is using the Empire Builder route that rolls through Montana to debut new locomotives that it says are cleaner, faster and more fuel-efficient than their predecessors.

Engines 301 and 302, which are part of the westbound train from Chicago to Seattle, are among the first of 75 locomotives being delivered.

Amtrak and Siemens Mobility developed the ALC-42 locomotive series for heavier and longer trains traveling thousands of miles in a single trip, Amtrak said in a Feb. 8 news release. They are made in the United States and part of the Siemens Charger group of locomotives.

Amtrak is paying for the new locomotives and multiyear maintenance support with nearly $850 million set aside when the order was placed in 2019. The new engines will primarily replace the Amtrak P40 and P42 locomotives, some of which have been in service for more than 25 years, officials said.

Not every Empire Builder train traveling through Montana will have a Charger locomotive just yet, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said, adding there are now only four of the new engines operating. He said the Empire Builder now runs five days a week.

He said one of the locomotives has already encountered a pickup truck and picked up some cosmetic damage.

Magliari said the next Charger will pass through Montana on Wednesday.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in the news release from Amtrak that the 2,200-mile Empire Builder route helps connect Montanans and brings visitors from across the country to our great state.

Amtraks new locomotives will support Montana jobs, our tourism economy and folks along the Hi-Line who rely on Amtrak to access critical services, he said.

The locomotives are part of Amtraks sustainability initiative and are more environmentally-friendly than their 1990s predecessors, company officials said. They reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by more than 89% and particulate matter by 95%, while consuming less fuel than the locomotives being retired. They also reach a greater top speed, 125 mph.

Amtrak Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer George Hull in a Feb. 8 ceremony at Chicago Union Station said railroading contributes a small portion of emissions nationally, and they want to be the cleanest passenger railroad operating diesel trains in North America.

Were dedicated to continuously seeking new and innovative technologies that provide solutions to meet transportation needs while reducing health and climate impacts, he said in a news release.

He said Amtrak is working with Siemens to order more of these locomotives, particularly for the long-distance trains.

Michael Cahill, president of Rolling Stock, Siemens Mobility North America, said his company is a proud partner in these efforts.

We are looking forward to seeing these Chargers safely transport millions of Americans across the nation, whether it be seeking new adventures or connecting to economic opportunity, he said.

These locomotives are Buy America compliant and built at the Siemens Mobilitys rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento, California.

The locomotives will power trains used on these services: Auto Train (suburban Washington to suburban Orlando, Florida), California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco Bay), Capitol Limited (Washington to Chicago), Cardinal (New York to Chicago), City of New Orleans (Chicago to New Orleans), Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles) Crescent (New York to New Orleans), Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle/Portland), Lake Shore Limited (New York/Boston to Chicago), Palmetto (New York to Savannah, Georgia) Silver Star & Silver Meteor (New York to Miami), Southwest Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles), Sunset Limited (New Orleans to Los Angeles) and Texas Eagle (Chicago to San Antonio, Texas).

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The number of active COVID-19 cases in Montana fell by half over the past week, as the recent surge driven by the viruss omicron variant appears to be waning.

As of Tuesday, 3,125 Montanans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic first reached the state in March 2020, according to the Department of Public Health and Human Resources. Another 23 people were recently added to that total, 13 of whom died in January.

DPHHS reported 2,315 active cases across Montana on Tuesday, down 50% from 4,587 active cases a week earlier.

There were 212 active hospitalizations due to COVID-19, down from 266 a week before.

Newly reported positive cases have also been falling at steady clip. The seven-day average for new cases was at 533 on Tuesday, well under half of what it was two weeks ago. The average daily cases during the omicron-fueled surge peaked at 2,400 in late January, according to data provided by DPHHS.

That was the highest rate of daily infections reported in the state since the pandemic began.

Still, daily case totals are likely an undercount, as positive cases from at-home reports arent required to be reported to the state. The state health department asks residents to self-report those positive cases, and a form is available on their website.

The proportion of fully vaccinated people in Montana has remained stagnant since the end of January, holding steady at 54% of the eligible population as of Tuesday, according to DPHHS. Montanas vaccination rate ranks in the bottom third of the U.S.

While not guaranteeing total immunity from infection, vaccinations drastically lessen the likelihood of developing severe symptoms as a result of COVID-19. Since Dec. 18, 80% of COVID deaths were among unvaccinated people, according to a Feb. 11 report from DPHHS.

Since April 2021, unvaccinated patients accounted for 78% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations.

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In 2005, a Fremont County prosecutor charged a woman with felony child endangerment after finding her newborn baby tested positive for methamphetamine. She was the first person in Wyoming to be charged for endangering an unborn child with drugs.

The woman also tested positive for meth at the hospital after giving birth. The next day, she said, police took her child.

A judge dismissed Michelle Fousts case, court documents show, saying that her fetus was not a child in the eyes of the law. Because of that designation, her using meth while pregnant wouldnt qualify as child endangerment.

I owe a lot to that judge, Foust said.

Fousts case, Rep. Ember Oakley, R-Riverton said, has been used as a precedent to dismiss these kinds of cases across the state in the years since.

This legislative session, Oakley is sponsoring a bill aimed at closing the gap in the laws governing drug use around children. House Bill 85, if passed as written, would make using meth or other narcotics while pregnant a felony.

We know the dangers to a child of meth use, and abuse, Oakley said. Any time youre using meth while pregnant, its safe to assume youre endangering that child or what will become that child.

Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, has also brought a bill that would allow those who used controlled substances while pregnant to be charged with felony child abuse if the child is born with a bodily injury, disability or disfigurement.

Both bills passed their introductory votes Thursday. Hutchings bill will now go to the Senates labor and health committee, and Oakleys will have to make it past the House Judiciary Committee.

Kevin Taheri, an assistant district attorney in Natrona County, said that most cases like this are currently handled through the Department of Family Services. The department intervenes to care for the child, at least temporarily, and can connect the parent with treatment.

Oakley argued on the House floor on Thursday that if her bill passes, its likely that most of the cases prosecuted under the new charge would result in probation, rather than prison, for the parent.

Both she and Hutchings said that the criminal penalties imposed by their bills would increase accountability for parents. Having a criminal charge may motivate people to get treatment, Oakley said, like a carrot on a stick.

Obviously we dont want people to use meth while pregnant, Taheri said. A criminal offense could deter that.

Adding a felony penalty for using drugs while pregnant, Taheri said, would mean that people failing to complete court-ordered treatment programs could be subject to prison time.

Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, urged the House to vote no on the bill on Thursday. It could deter people from going to a hospital to give birth, Provenza said, which could be dangerous.

Women should be given the opportunity to go into treatment instead of prison, Foust said. Its no easier to quit when youre pregnant than when youre not pregnant. Having a life inside you is not a skill that keeps you sober.

The only remaining prison treatment center for women in the state, at the womens center in Lusk, may also not be staffed adequately to handle additional people needing treatment, Rep. Pat Sweeney, R-Casper, said Thursday.

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Editor's note: Valley Credit Union and The Billings Gazette are featuring 32 seniors throughout the 2021-2022 school year. We want to help students who are not typically eligible for scholarships and financial aid awarded to those attending a 4-year program. At the end of the year, Valley will award one $5,000 grant to a deserving student.

To be considered for the grant, students must show a clear career path for their future after high school in the form of an industry certification, technical associates degree, City College, trade school or apprenticeship. Students are nominated by a teacher, counselor, or principal from their high school.

Theodore Amos Cordova Garza

Billings West High School

What are your plans after high school?

To get a job in the trades, save up money to move out of my family's apartment. To become an independent adult, then buy a house where I can have a family of my own someday.

What is your favorite class in school & why?

My construction class. It is hands on, and I have learned so much from that class than anything else in school it feels like. I know how to frame, drywall, and roof a house. And I've already earned my OSHA-IO certification card.

Who inspires you and why?

My culinary teacher Mrs. Gay. She is a high school teacher with a second job and she has health problems. She is a hard worker and kind to everyone of her students. She can be mean when she has to.

What are some things you enjoy outside of school?

Brazilian ju-jitsu with my brother. Chilling at home in my room playing video games, listening to music and watching YouTube.

What would make you feel successful in your career/work after school?

Being able to plumb a house by myself. Getting my plumber's license. One day buying a house and it needs to be fixed up a little. That I can do all that work by myself, and not having to pay extra money for someone else to do the work.

If you win the $5,000 grant, how will you use the money to help you reach your goals?

To buy tools and equipment or more education, so I can excel in the plumbing industry or construction. I would like to become a jack of all trades.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things, what three things would you bring and why?

Spear, hammock and magnesium fire starter. The spear can be uses as a knife but also to get your food, like fish. The hammock to not sleep on the cold, hard ground. The magnesium fire starter to make fires to keep warm and cook my food.

Do you have personal motto or inspirational saying that motivates you that you would like to share?

I don't have an inspirational saying.

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Stormy weather that dropped a record amount of snow in Bismarck on Presidents Day persisted in southeastern North Dakota on Tuesday.

The storm total for the capital city on Monday was 3.2 inches, breaking the Feb. 21 record of 2.4 inches in 1962, according to the National Weather Service.

Other western snow totals posted by the weather service included 2.3 inches in Grassy Butte, 3 inches in Mandan and Glen Ullin, 5 inches in New England and 7 inches in Reeder. Totals to the south and southeast of Bismarck were far greater: 10.5 inches in Ashley, 11 in Fort Yates and 16 in Ellendale.

The state Driver's License Division office in Beulah opened late on Tuesday, and the state Motor Vehicle Division office in Ellendale closed.

Bismarck city crews were plowing residential areas Tuesday. People were asked to move parked vehicles off streets. City officials and the U.S. Postal Service reminded residents that it's the responsibility of property owners to clear snow from around mailboxes. Postal officials also appealed to residents to keep sidewalks and steps clear of snow and ice for letter carriers.

Travel remained difficult in southeastern North Dakota on Tuesday, with portions of several highways including Interstates 94 and 29 remaining closed much of the day. I-29 from Fargo to the South Dakota border was reopened midafternoon, along with state Highway 13 from the interstate to Wahpeton.

Westbound I-94 remained closed from Fargo to Valley City late in the afternoon, and eastbound I-94 was still closed from Jamestown to Fargo. The state Transportation Department said available truck parking was becoming limited in Jamestown, and officials urged truckers to stop at Bismarck or Steele until the eastbound lanes reopened.

The department also cautioned that some secondary roads might be blocked by snowdrifts. No travel was advised in much of the region. North Dakota State University in Fargo canceled classes and closed offices due to the conditions.

Whiteout conditions in the region on Monday led to the second 14-vehicle pileup on Interstate 94 in four days. A passenger vehicle and a semitrailer collided west of Mapleton, prompting a crash that ultimately involved six semis and eight passenger vehicles, according to the Highway Patrol. Six people were taken to a Fargo hospital with injuries.

On Friday, a 14-vehicle pileup just west of Valley City caused four injuries.

Frigid arctic air is forecast to blanket the state for the rest of the workweek. Temperatures in central and western North Dakota aren't expected to rise above zero until Wednesday afternoon. Overnight wind chills in the region are forecast to be in the minus 30s and minus 40s all week.

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One of North Dakota's top utility regulators has concerns about the state ethics panel's proposed rules for conflicts of interest.

The more Julie Fedorchak reads, the more confused she becomes, she said.

"'Significant financial interest' -- what's that? Who decides that?" said the chairwoman of the Public Service Commission. "I bet how I view what is significant to me might be very different to what's significant to somebody who wants to see me fail."

The Ethics Commission's draft rules cover disclosure of conflicts of interest and campaign donations for state officials and also members of boards such as the PSC and the governor-led Industrial Commission in "quasi-judicial" proceedings, which in the case of those two groups usually involve companies in the energy and utility industries.

"Does it create such that a reasonable person believes they can't act fairly?" Ethics Commission Executive Director Dave Thiele said. "And that doesn't mean that they have an actual bias or an actual conflict, it's just that somebody from the outside would say, 'You know what, I just don't think you can handle this fairly given the facts and the circumstances.'"

The five-member, voter-approved Ethics Commission meets Wednesday to hear public comments on the proposed rules, which have been drafted over several months. At least one more meeting is likely before final rules are adopted, according to Thiele.

Under discussion Wednesday will be such points as whether to set a threshold for disclosing campaign donations, how the disclosures might be done, and whether the Ethics Commission could be tabbed as a "neutral decisionmaker" for determining whether an official should recuse him- or herself from a decision, according to Thiele.

The rules also cover disclosure of conflicts of interest by state lawmakers and other officials under the ethics panel's purview, as well as outline how a "neutral decisionmaker" would handle conflicts of interest.

"I'm not saying that can't work, but is that better?" Fedorchak said. "I mean, I'm elected directly by the citizens of the state. A neutral decisionmaker isn't, so who is more responsive to the public? I get very concerned centralizing a bunch of power into third parties who are not elected by the public."

She and other observers have concerns about the rules' clarity, definitions and what effect the rules might have on potential candidates and donors.

A key supporter of the rules says they are a work in progress and important but complicated. One ethics expert says taking time with the rules now will prevent problems later on.

Whatever rules the panel ultimately adopts won't please everyone, according to Northern Plains Ethics Institute Director Dennis Cooley, who has helped write North Dakota State University's ethics policy and procedures. The institute promotes democratic participation in society.

"The person who's writing (the rules) has to satisfy two groups of folks who are never going to be happy: No. 1, the ones ... who think it's always too rigid or too strict, and then you have the other folks who think that these (rules) are too loose," Cooley said. "The idea is always to try to be as specific and as clear as possible so that you can have a standard that reasonable people will say, 'Yeah, that's OK.'"

'Honest and aboveboard'

The rules are mandated by a constitutional measure voters passed in 2018. One measure leader has said the push "was about changing a culture that has gotten out of hand."

The Ethics Commission has used other states' rules and laws and North Dakota's Code of Judicial Conduct as models for the rules, Thiele said.

Once final rules are adopted, it will largely be up to the public officials and boards to ensure they comply, he said.

"I think most boards and commissions can regulate themselves," he said. "I don't think we want to overly complicate this, as again, get it on the record, get the facts. Boards and commissions can all vote and determine whether or not recusal is appropriate and use their best judgment, and I think we can trust that for the most part their assessments will be pretty good, but people will always disagree and you're going to get that."

The only enforcement of the rules would be a complaint to the ethics panel, or an impacted party could appeal in court, he said.

Cooley said the rules should distinguish the types of conflicts of interest, ones trivial or significant.

The ultimate goal of such rules is to "do the business of the people and do it in a way that they can say, 'Yep, this is honest and aboveboard,'" he said.

"What you always want to do with these is find the conflicts of interest, identify what they are and then manage them," Cooley said.

The PSC and Industrial Commission each have their own ethics policies, which Thiele said are "both very well done."

He said elected officials also have done "an excellent job" of reporting what is required of campaign donations. That information is available to the public from the secretary of state online.

'Work in progress'

North Dakotans For Public Integrity Vice President Ellen Chaffee, who helped lead the 2018 measure campaign, said the commission has "been very responsive to input" on the rules, which she sees as "a work in progress."

Chaffee said the measure backers "never intend to be critical of anybody. We're just looking to make sure that the highest standards are first understood and then met."

She said the group in 2018 found the PSC's ethics policy "very good," and the group "had no concerns about the Public Service Commission's intentions or practices."

The PSC's policy encompasses state bribery laws and bans gifts, nepotism and direct financial interests in PSC-regulated companies, among its restrictions. The PSC self-regulates, according to agency attorney Jack Schuh.

But the Industrial Commission "didn't seem to be quite as attentive," with an appearance of a "relationship between campaign donations and decisions made at the Industrial Commission," according to Chaffee, who didn't elaborate.

The measure group is concerned about campaign contributions from such donors as an energy company's president, lobbyist, attorney or political group, she said.

"That's what I mean by work in progress. This is a very big deal. It's very complicated. We don't have a lot of experience with anything in this domain. We don't have a lot of expertise in the state, I don't think," Chaffee said.

Recusing and refusing

The Industrial Commission regulates aspects of the energy industry and oversees institutions such as the state-owned bank, mill and elevator. Its members -- the governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner -- have abstained from decisions when conflicts arise.

In one meeting in 2018, Gov. Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring separately abstained from votes on funding requests, according to meeting minutes.

Goehring disclosed he was an investor with a requester. Burgum abstained from voting on a project involving Kilbourne Group, where he had been a member of management.

The PSC regulates utilities such as natural gas and electricity companies and issues permits for energy infrastructure.

Schuh and Fedorchak said public service commissioners recuse themselves from decisions about once a year.

Fedorchak cited two instances -- one involving a natural gas plant that might have taken gas from where her family has mineral interests, and a future decision involving a carbon dioxide project for which she and her husband have signed an easement.

"You try your best to identify what kind of conflicts you might have, and if you feel like it's going to be an issue or create a bad perception, you just recuse yourself," Fedorchak said.

She also has turned down certain campaign donations, including one from an "individual who represents people in front of us on a regular basis," she said.

"I do that rarely, and I can only think of maybe a handful of folks where it's like they're actively in front of me, and that's just not an appearance that I think is worthwhile," Fedorchak said. "But I do that in a very reserved manner because that person has the right to be engaged in the political process, too, and by not taking that donation I'm restricting their ability to engage."

She has concerns of what unknowns surround the rules. Would candidates have to hire finance staff to suss out donors' business affiliations? Would the rules put up barriers for potential candidates or donors?

"What's ultimately decided, we'll follow it and do our best," Fedorchak said.

Chaffee said "the most important thing the Ethics Commission can do, in my mind, is educate all of us about what's right and wrong and how to do it."

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider an appeal of the yearslong lawsuit over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The decision Tuesday morning to deny the request to hear the case means that an ongoing environmental review of the pipeline will continue.

Dakota Access LLC, which is controlled by Texas-based Energy Transfer, had appealed a lower court ruling affirming the need for a more thorough environmental study of the line by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agency began the review in September 2020 and has extended the timeline several times, saying most recently that it expects to wrap up in November.

The Corps issued an easement for the line's Missouri River crossing in 2017, but a federal judge concluded in 2020 that prior environmental analysis of the line was inadequate and revoked the permit. The outcome of the new environmental review will help determine whether the Corps reissues the permit.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued over the pipeline more than five years ago, along with three other Sioux tribes. Tribal members have concerns that the line, which passes under the Missouri River just upstream from the Standing Rock Reservation, could break and that an oil spill would harm water supplies.

The litigation over the pipeline is over, but the fight continues," said Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, who has represented Standing Rock on the Dakota Access litigation since the tribe sued in 2016. "We call on the administration to close the pipeline until a full safety and environmental review is complete. DAPL never should have been authorized in the first place, and this administration is failing to address the persistent illegality of this pipeline.

Energy Transfer and the Corps have long maintained that the line is safe. The pipeline company declined to comment Tuesday, and the Corps did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment.

The various parties involved in the litigation disagreed over whether lower courts are split on issues surrounding the dispute. Disagreement among lower courts can prompt the Supreme Court to weigh in on an issue.

Lawyers for Dakota Access told the Supreme Court that letting the most recent ruling in the case stand "would establish a novel precedent of breathtaking scope that could delay or thwart any number of other national infrastructure projects." That ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in early 2021 affirmed the need for more environmental review.

Both the Corps and Standing Rock opposed the appeal. The Corps argued that the question over whether federal law obligates the agency to prepare a more thorough environmental study "will lack any substantial importance after the Corps in fact prepares one." Standing Rock said the appeal "presents no question that merits review by this Court."

The Supreme Court justices did not offer any rationale Tuesday for why they declined to take up the case. They field thousands of requests each year to consider appeals and typically select about 100 cases to hear.

The Corps is soon expected to release a draft of the pipeline's new environmental review and take public comments on the document. Standing Rock withdrew last month from formally participating in the review process, citing a lack of transparency surrounding oil spill emergency response plans.

The tribe posted a video to its social media pages earlier this month featuring Chairwoman Janet Alkire, who urged Standing Rock's supporters "to join our fight in opposing the Environmental Impact Statement." She said the study "failed when the Army Corps chose a proponent of the fossil fuel industry to conduct the EIS," referring to a contractor who is a member of the American Petroleum Institute. The tribe raised those concerns last year and called for the EIS process to start over. The Corps has not responded publicly to the tribe's concern.

The Dakota Access Pipeline has the capacity to transport up to 750,000 barrels of oil per day from the Bakken region of western North Dakota to Illinois. That amounts to about two-thirds of North Dakota's daily oil output.

The line has operated since 2017 and was the subject of large protests in south-central North Dakota amid its construction.

Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.

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These flags of the world are a nightmare for any Kobadoo player . Although not two flags of sovereign countries that are exactly the same, they might just differ slightly in colour shades. This is the case of Chad and Romania , where the blue tone of Chad's flag is a bit deeper. These similarities were the cause of an alleged dispute between the two countries in 2004. Moldova and Andorra share the same three colours, but they have a differentiating coat of arms in the center. Monaco and Indonesia have different tones of red and dimension ratios. The flag of Poland has the same horizontal stripes, but reversed. You have to be very observant to notice the difference between the flags of Ivory Coast and Ireland . These two former British colonies display the Union Jack and similar blue shades. Australia 's flag contains the Commonwealth Star and five more white stars, while New Zealand 's flag has only four red stars. It might be a bit easier to distinguish the
BY JON HARRIS

Feb. 21, 2022

Dunkirk has been waiting for a 'game-changer.' ImmunityBio says it can deliver

Let's wind the clock back, shall we?

It's Feb. 11, 2016. Some 600 people are crowded inside Dunkirk High School's auditorium. There, in this blue-collar city, they hear Gov. Andrew Cuomo promise a "game-changer"  plans for a state-funded, $200 million drug manufacturing plant leased to Buffalo biotech firm Athenex, which commits to hundreds of jobs in Dunkirk.

That was the plan.

Six years later, Athenex sold the lease to California-based ImmunityBio for $40 million without ever manufacturing a drug within the plant. Whether the state gets a return on its investment in Dunkirk now falls to ImmunityBio, a company that has received hundreds of millions of dollars in financing from its billionaire executive chairman to fuel the development of its cancer therapies and its Covid-19 vaccine.

"The speed at which we closed this transaction is the speed at which we intend to bring it live," CEO Rich Adcock told me, noting ImmunityBio completed the lease acquisition 45 days after it signed the agreement.

Now it's time to prove it.

First steps

To get started in Dunkirk, ImmunityBio promoted an existing manager at the plant to director of operations. In all, more than 50 Athenex employees joined ImmunityBio when the deal closed.

One of the next steps is moving manufacturing equipment from Los Angeles warehouses into the Dunkirk plant.

The company plans to produce its Covid-19 vaccine drug substance  which is then formulated with additional materials to produce a finished dosage  in the Dunkirk plant by the end of 2022.

Adcock thinks the Dunkirk plant  ImmunityBio's biggest manufacturing facility  could produce up to 1 billion doses a year.

Can they deliver?

ImmunityBio didn't just take over a turnkey manufacturing plant. It also assumed Athenex's hiring and investment obligations in Dunkirk.

That includes spending $1.5 billion in operational expenses over the next 10 years, as well as hiring 450 people for the Dunkirk plant within five years. Three hundred of those new hires must come in the first 2 1/2 years.

Adcock said he believes that, even if only the Covid-19 vaccine comes through the plant, the company can hit those targets.

"The numbers and the obligations didn't concern us," he said. "They're big numbers, but it's really all about bringing this in and having drugs approved, so that we can run them through there."

Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up:

THE LATEST, IN CONTEXT

What: A labor battle is brewing at Our Lady of Peace nursing home in Lewiston. More than 150 union workers, represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have been working without a contract since Dec. 31.

Tell me more: The union and nursing home owner, Ascension Living of St. Louis, Mo., are due to return to the bargaining table March 2. If no agreement is reached, union workers have authorized a one-day strike outside the Lewiston facility.

Why it matters: Union workers are calling on Ascension to raise wages to help recruit and retain staff. Nursing homes have struggled with staffing, which stretches existing employees thin and can make quality suffer. Our Lady of Peace has an overall rating of four out of five stars (above average), though its staffing levels get two out of five stars (below average), according to federal data.

ICYMI

Three reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Niagara Falls program aims to replenish supply of nursing assistants one class at a time: A grant-funded program just graduated its first five certified nursing assistants, seeking to put a dent in the health care staffing pinch while elevating employment opportunities for low-income residents.

2. SUNY schools embrace micro learning to boost education, job opportunities: Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week that SUNY campuses will expand opportunities for people to get short-term certification for specific, in-demand skills to help them land jobs or advance their careers.

3. M&T Bank, People's United Financial extend merger agreement until June: The two banks announced the $7.6 billion deal nearly a year ago, and their agreement was scheduled to expire on Monday.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email Business of Health Care reporter Jon Harris at jharris@buffnews.com.

Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com.

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Auburn University will soon launch a new Experience Auburn Travel Award program designed to help offset the cost of an on-campus visit for a select number of students in need.

The programamong several projects up for funding support as part of Auburns Feb. 23 Tiger Giving Dayis one of Auburns newest initiatives to further grow access to those from underrepresented areas of the state and nation.

We recognize that visiting campus is a key part of the college selection process, but that cost can be a prohibitive factor when it comes to visiting colleges for many students, said Joffery Gaymon, Auburns vice president for enrollment. Experience Auburn makes the visit experience a possibility for students with demonstrated outstanding academic experience and financial need.

The Office of Admissions will select several students who meet specific criteria and work with them to offset travel expenses, including transportation, lodging and meals while on campus. Eligible high school juniors and seniors will be invited for a personalized campus visit experience. Preference will be given to admitted seniors and students who are first in their families to pursue a four-year college education or who reside in a highly rural county.

In addition to the Experience Auburn Travel Award program, the university has implemented several other new offerings to further open the door of access. Among some recent admission modifications, any valedictorian or salutatorian from an accredited Alabama school with 50 or more graduates qualifies for admission.

This fall, Auburn also expanded its Auburn First dual-enrollment program, which allows for tuition waivers for those with demonstrated financial need. Auburn First students who earn at least six credit hours of approved Auburn coursework and maintain a 3.0 grade point average in those college classes by Aug. 15 of their senior year in high school qualify for automatic admission to the university.

Recently, Auburn likewise furthered its efforts to reach the best students in the state and beyond by joining the Common App system a powerful online college application platform that serves more than 3 million applicants, teachers, counselors and advisors throughout the nation and world. Since doing so, Auburn has received more than 31,000 applicants through the Common App tool.

As we focus on efforts of greater access to underserved areas, we are working hard to build connections and further grow our applicant numbers, Gaymon said.

Those interested in Auburn can learn more here about the university through its various virtual and on-campus visit opportunities.
When Emily Dickey of Lancaster was diagnosed with diabetes at age 5 in 2008, the scariest part for her parents was learning to monitor their daughter's blood sugar 24/7 and give her daily shots of insulin to keep her healthy.

Today at age 19, Emily fills her own insulin pump every three days, and her parents biggest fear is how shell be able to pay for her treatment in adulthood.

Over the past decade, Emily and other diabetes patients across the nation have seen the price of their essential treatment drug skyrocket from $35 a month to $300 to $600 per month on average, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Monday in Buffalo.

Emily and her parents, Edward and Ellen Dickey, joined Schumer at the State University of New York at Buffalos Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to promote a bill that would reduce "the outrageously high price of a monthly dose of insulin for diabetes patients, Schumer said.

Schumers Democratic colleague, U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act last week and Schumer pledged to call for a senate vote to approve it in March. The bill would cap the out-of-pocket cost for insulin at $35 per month for all Americans.

Insulin is a life-saver, but the cost has been rising up to 17% a year since 2012, and it keeps going up, Schumer said. Enough is enough. We need to take action so that people with diabetes dont have to make the impossible decision of putting food on the table or paying for insulin.

More than 23 million Americans have diabetes, including 1.7 million New Yorkers and 128,000 in Western New York alone. Many of these patients rely daily on insulin, a naturally occurring hormone that is absent in diabetics with life-threatening consequences.

Schumer on Monday held up a small vial representing 10 ml. of insulin.

This tiny bottle costs $600 a month for many patients, he said. The average cost to patients is $13,724 a year  It has gone through the roof. Why?

Schumer said studies estimate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans now ration their insulin by skipping doses, which is extremely dangerous. In New York, Black adults with diabetes are almost twice as likely to die than their white or Hispanic counterparts. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

Schumer and Dr. Steve Lipshultz, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Jacobs School, said there is no reason for manufacturers to vastly overcharge for insulin, which has been in use for over 100 years and is no longer subject to patents or research costs.

Lipshultz said that of 23 million people with diabetes, nearly 220,000 are children and adolescents. UBMD physicians treat more than 1,000 young people throughout Western New York at the Integrated Pediatric Diabetes Center run by the Jacobs School, UBMD and Oishei Childrens Hospital, he said.

Most of those children suffer from Type 1 diabetes  often called juvenile diabetes  caused by the pancreas failing to produce insulin, Lipshultz said.

For kids with Type 1 diabetes, if they cant get insulin, they die, he said. More than half of the children we treat come from low-income households, and two-thirds rely on Medicaid for their health care. At the same time, health care costs for patients with diabetes are now three times higher than for other patients.

"From 2002 to 2013, the price of insulin tripled, and out-of-pocket costs for patients doubled during the same period. Theres an additional burden for patients without insurance or who have high deductibles or high co-pays  and many of our children come from families fitting this description.

Lipshultz said a quarter of all diabetes patients say the cost of the drug is their greatest barrier to controlling their blood sugar levels, which can lead to loss of vision, loss of limbs or even loss of life.

Emilys father, Edward Dickey, said insulin cost less and it was easier to obtain better insurance coverage when Emily was first diagnosed. Now she needs three vials per month at higher cost and reduced coverage.

Early on, our cost for insulin was minimal, Ed Dickey said. Now we have a high-deductible plan, so at the beginning of the year, I write a check for her first three vials in January for $900.

The cost goes down once they meet the deductible.

The reality is, the cost is $900 for a one-month supply, he said.

With Emily now a freshman at UB, her parents fear that as an adult, shell face decisions about her own health and insurance that could hold her back. At the rate insulin costs are rising, her father said he worries she might have to go on disability in order to get her treatment covered.

Emily, whose family has been involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since her diagnosis, noted that insulin was discovered in 1923 by Canadian scientist Frederick Banting, who felt it was unethical to apply for a patent for such a life-saving drug and instead sold it to the University of Toronto for only $1.

In recent years, the cost of insulin has increased by only 50% for manufacturers, but for me it has gone up over 250%, she said.

I am very fortunate to have insurance, but I know several people who were able to cross the border into Canada to get their monthly insulin for $25, she added. This should be appalling to all Americans.

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COMPILED BY SHAWN CAMPBELL

Feb. 21, 2022

'Were really looking at how we can prioritize the safety of everyone who uses our streets'

Traffic accidents killed 80 Western New Yorkers in 2021, a 54% increase from two years earlier. Now, a statewide coalition of safety and transportation groups is fighting for legislation that they say would make New Yorks roads safer.

The package of seven bills, called the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, would grant municipalities greater control over speed limits, require prospective drivers to study additional safety topics and offer incentives to construct safe sidewalks and bike lanes, among other measures. Backers say the bills are needed to address the persistently high number of traffic-related injuries and deaths, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists.

Were really looking at how we can prioritize the safety of everyone who uses our streets, said State Sen. Tim Kennedy, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and sponsored three of the bills. Theres a real movement away from vehicles into both public transit and bike and pedestrian commuting  even in Western New York, he added.

 Caitlin Dewey

COVID-19 COVERAGE

What happens with mask wearing in schools after February break? The surge from the Omicron variant is over, and cases in schools are among the lowest they have been all year. Does that mean the mask mandate will be lifted next month? Read more

Pandemic Lessons: How can we push through the last few weeks of winter? We are close to the end of the Omicron variants surge through New York. That storm of December and January has become a drizzle now. But be sure of this: Spend enough time in it, and you can still get soaked. Read more

[More: Stay current with Covid-19 in WNY with The News' updated statistics]

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Lily Dale is added to National Register of Historic Places: The spiritualist community in Chautauqua County is one of the latest additions to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation will help the assembly as it seeks grants to preserve its historic community buildings, such as the assembly hall and auditorium, said Lily Dale Assembly member Shelley Takei. Read more

Orchard Park Central planning $114 million capital project: Every Orchard Park Central school would be enlarged under an ambitious $114 million proposal. Its the largest capital project proposed in Orchard Park since 2002, when voters turned down a nearly $90 million plan to build a new high school on Murphy Road and convert the existing high school into a second middle school. Read more

Tioga Downs owner says he was not aware of MWBE fraud: New York real estate magnate Jeffrey Gural told The Buffalo News on Sunday that he had "no idea" state investigators were looking into minority and woman-owned business fraud allegations by contractors he hired six years ago to convert his harness racing track into a full-fledged casino. Read more

West Seneca enacts term limits for supervisor, Council: The West Seneca Town Board has unanimously adopted a law enacting term limits, which was a hot-button issue in the run-up to the November election that saw voters flip control of the five-member board into Republican hands. Read more

WEATHER

Another mild day: Today will be partly to mostly cloudy with highs in the 40s, according to WIVB's forecast. Read more

BILLS

Is Cole Beasley important enough to bring back?: Bills GM Brandon Beane said he envisions Beasley will be back in 2022. The Bills, however, have some salary cap issues to take care of, and Beasley could end up somewhere else. In part two of a series on questions facing the Buffalo Bills in the offseason, Mark Gaughan examines: Is Beasley important enough to bring back for 2022? Read more

SABRES

Sabres can't overcome mistakes with Dahlin sidelined: Lance Lysowski looks at Dahlin's impact on the team plus other observations from Sunday night's 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Read more

WITH YOUR MORNING COFFEE

 Here's a sign that many people are still doing a decent amount of traveling during the pandemic: Airbnb's business in the Buffalo area has increased 76%, with more people visiting smaller cities, WBFOs Mike Desmond reports.

 Those passing through East Aurora over the weekend may have noticed some film crews and holiday decorations along Main Street. The village is once again providing scenery for a movie, this one titled Romance on Ice, WIVB reports.

 You dont have to wait for all of the snow to melt to begin prepping your plants. As Jackie Albarella explains in WGRZs 2 The Garden feature, you can give your seeds a head start through winter sowing.

 An Allentown business is helping dog owners make their pups birthdays special. WIVBs Angelica Morrison offers a look at Buffalo Barkery, a bakery that specializes in homemade treats and cakes for dogs.

Have thoughts on the Good Morning, Buffalo newsletter? Email feedback@buffnews.com.
Jude and Elaine Kawczynski live in a 1,786-square-foot home in South Buffalo. The do-it-yourselfers have spent the last decade fixing up the place, room by room. The house, which cost $89,900, has four bedrooms and 1 baths and was built in 1910.

They both grew up in Western New York. Elaine Kawczynski works in human resources for New York State. Jude Kawczynski is an interventional radiological technologist.

Here is how Jude Kawczynski described their home for The Buffalo News' Home of the Week feature. Additional photos can be found at the end:

My wife, Elaine, and I bought our home about 10 years ago. We wanted to live in the city but our target area of the Elmwood Village was out of our budget so we found a home in undervalued South Buffalo," he wrote in an email.

"Its in a nice neighborhood, in a good location ... still very close to the places we like to visit," he said, noting it's a quick ride to downtown, Canalside, Larkinville and Elmwood.

The house had good bones but needed a lot of updating. Over the course of 10 years we totally remodeled a room every year so far. We did the majority of the work ourselves  from demo work right down to the studs to repairing and refinishing the intricate hardwood floors.

In addition, I also built the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the living room complete with LED lighting and built the white pantry cabinets/shelves in the kitchen from scratch to re-create what was originally there.

I used a portion of reclaimed bowling alley for the countertop as a unique feature. We also created a lot of the artwork and decor in the house  including the subway station signs, the 'So. Buffalo' sign, the pressed and framed ferns  and repurposed my grandfathers work bench into an office desk. We truly love our home and look forward to continuing our labor of love," he wrote.

Love your home? Share it with us.

The Buffalo News is looking for other local homes and the stories behind them for the Home of the Week digital feature at BuffaloNews.com.

In the past, we have featured city homes, townhouses, a farmhouse, a cabin, a penthouse apartment and many others.

Heres what you need to do if youre interested in submitting your residence for Home of the Week: Tell us about your home in about 150 words, and email 10 high-resolution images (in JPEG form; horizontals preferred) to homeandstyle@buffnews.com.

Its OK to send the images split among several emails. Please include your name and the city or town where you live. A phone number is also helpful.

Those chosen for BuffaloNews.com will be contacted by Home and Style Editor Susan Martin. Single-family homes, condominiums, lofts and apartments are eligible.

We will contact those chosen to be featured. We will include your first and last names and the city or town in which you reside, but not your exact address.

For this digital feature, we will publish some or all of the photos you submitted.

Questions? Problems submitting photos? Please email Home & Style Editor Susan Martin at smartin@buffnews.com.

Below, more photos of the Kawczynski home in South Buffalo:

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Federal officials have pushed back on a request to loosen the home-confinement rules for an accused Capitol rioter now living in his parents' Williamsville home.

Thomas Sibick, charged in the attack on a police officer amid the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, has asked permission from a federal judge to be allowed to work on two property renovation projects during the day.

Accused Capitol rioter released from jail, placed on Williamsville house arrest Thomas Sibick must remain at his parents' Williamsville home under the watch of his father, Eugene Sibick, on "24-hours-a-day lock-down."

"This work may, or may not, be remunerated, but it will allow Mr. Sibick to participate in a worthwhile and mentally-healthy activity rather than stay at home all day," said his lawyer, Stephen F. Brennwald, in a filing in a Washington, D.C. federal court.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara A. Gardner and Tara Ravindra urged the judge to reject the request.

"The government remains concerned about the safety of the community," according to their court filing, adding that Sibick "has demonstrated a willingness to use violence to impede and obstruct the right and lawful function of government."

Jailed Capitol rioter from Amherst now says he loathes Trump: 'January 6th was a disgrace' An Amherst man charged in the attack on an officer amid the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol called his conduct "unequivocally an aberration" and that he was "consumed by the mob mentality."

Since his pre-trial release from a Washington jail in October, Sibick has had to remain at his parents' home under the watch of his father, Eugene M. Sibick, on "24-hours-a-day lock-down" except for court appearances, medical appointments and religious services with his parents once a week, according to a federal judge's order. He is permitted to be on the home's porch, patio, yard and driveway.

Sibick would like to accompany and assist a person who is renovating two separate properties, and the expected work hours would be from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. So he has asked to be released on a curfew on those days between 9:30 and 5 p.m. The person would be with Sibick at all times throughout the work days, Brennwald said in court papers.

Sibick also asked the court to direct the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services office in the Western District of New York to let him attend job interviews and, if hired, to engage in full-time employment.

"He is merely asking for permission to occupy his time by being productive, rather than by sitting around his parents home all day," Brennwald said.

Sibick can access internet capable devices, but the judge in October told him not to use social media  including Parler, Gab, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Twitter, SnapChat and TikTok  and not to watch any political news programs.

Lawyer: Amherst man charged in Capitol attack 'accidentally' ended up with beaten officer's badge and radio A video recording not yet shown to any court "seriously undercuts" the governments case that Michael Sibick intentionally assaulted and robbed a police officer of his police badge and radio amid the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., his defense lawyer said.

Since his release from custody on Oct. 26, Sibicks compliance has been "exemplary," Brennwald said.

But the government opposes what it called a step-down from home incarceration to a curfew.

"The government does not oppose the defendants request to be able to attend employment interviews upon showing satisfactory proof of an employment interview to his supervising pre-trial services agent, as long as he otherwise remains on home incarceration," Gardner and Ravindra said in their filing.

The federal prosecutors said the pre-trial services agency, which investigates and supervises persons charged with or convicted of federal crimes, opposes Sibick's request for a curfew to renovate properties.

"The government appreciates that the defendant has thus far been compliant with his conditions of release," according to the prosecutors. "However, the defendants compliance is expected.

Amherst man who 'eagerly and tenaciously' participated in Capitol attack now called 'scared' Prosecutors say Thomas Sibick "enthusiastically participated" in the violent mob attack at the Capitol and then bragged about it on social media.

"There has been no change in the defendants circumstances that decreases the danger he presents to the community," according to the prosecutors.

Sibick, 36, has been charged with intentionally assaulting and robbing on Jan. 6 then-D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone, who was dragged down Capitol steps into a mob of rioters, then shocked with a stun gun, beaten with flagpoles and stripped of his gear, according to prosecutors. Sibick has admitted to taking Fanone's badge and radio, burying the badge in his backyard and then lying about it, according to earlier court filings.

But Brennwald has contended that the contact between Sibick and the officer was very brief, and that because of the press of bodies and the movement of the officers body, Sibick could not have grabbed them intentionally, but did so accidentally as he was reaching toward the officer to pull him to safety. Prosecutors have scoffed at that assertion.

Sibick was indicted on 10 counts: obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; robbery; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; impeding ingress and egress in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

In a separate filing, Brennwald said Sibick intends to file a motion to dismiss the indictment.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has not ruled on Sibick's request to modify his home-confinement rules yet.

During the October hearing, when she released Sibick from custody, the judge said she found his criminal history "more troubling now than I did before, now that I have more detail about what underlie each of the issues."

Sibicks criminal history includes six prior arrests, at least five of which resulted in a conviction, according to prosecutors. His prior arrests include one for second-degree aggravated harassment in New York in 2010 and a conviction for failure to stop or respond for a police command in Utah in 2015. The Utah arrest included a charge, later dismissed, for carrying a concealed loaded firearm.

"It's true that the previous offenses were largely misdemeanors, but the record is not insignificant," Jackson said at the hearing. " There is a lot of conduct that the best that you could say about it is that it's irresponsible, and you could say worse things about it because it either frightened or truly endangered other people."

Brennwald did not address the prosecutors' concerns "about the safety of the community" in his reply to their court filing.

But he addressed Sibick's criminal history during the October hearing when he successfully argued for Sibick's pre-trial release.

"What I realized after talking to his parents quite a bit and looking at the record is Mr. Sibick was one person before 2016, in that area, and a different person after that," Brennwald said. "Now, I realize that there is this Jan. 6th incident that came in the middle just recently, but literally things changed for him after he came back from Utah."

"He came back, and then he started school when he came back in 2016 and he got his MBA by 2019. So he was actually a changed person in the sense that he decided that he had to settle down, buckle down, and go to school and get a degree, and he did. And so there were no criminal convictions from 2016, '17, '18, '19, '20 at all; no incidents.

"That's a huge change in his life. His parents saw a big change," Brennwald said. "He got his own place. He had a girlfriend. He got stable. And he got a job as a nursing home assistant administrator. He literally was on track to finally grow up. It took him a while, but he finally grew up."

Brennwald at the October hearing cited Sibick's mental health diagnosis in seeking his release from custody.

"He's not the same person who was there on Jan. 6th, deluded by claims of stolen elections and doing whatever, you know, angry, shouting and in a manic phase," he said. "I mean, he's just not that person anymore. And so the question is, does that make him less dangerous?

"So people have a hard time accepting medication's changes on a person's mind, but he's definitely a different person."

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The Buffalo Teachers Federation Council of Delegates vote of no confidence in Superintendent Kriner Cash is not the first time the union has clashed with the superintendent, but it sends a message that needs to be addressed. What can be done to make McKinley High and other Buffalo Public Schools safe spaces for students, staff and faculty?

The stabbing and shooting outside McKinley on Feb. 9 were not isolated incidents. BTF President Phil Rumore sent a letter to Cash and the School Board in December about violence at the school, alleging more than 40 incidents since September. Hed sent a similar message three years ago.

Cash insisted he takes the matter seriously and dismissed the BTFs vote as performative. While its surely possible the union could have responded less dramatically, its concern is legitimate. A stabbing and a shooting are dramatic, in themselves, as the districts response to the violence plainly demonstrated. It sent its entire student body home for several days of remote learning while it reset the school.

A 14-year-old was stabbed 10 times during the attack outside the school. He remains in Oishei Childrens Hospital in stable condition. A security guard shot in the leg was treated for his injuries and released. A 13-year-old was also treated for a graze wound to his arm.

It was a potentially lethal attack. Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested, charged with crimes that include attempted second-degree murder. Police believe it grew out of tensions between two groups of students.

The BTFs frustration stems partly from its history of raising the schools safety problems with administrators. After Feb. 9, not surprisingly, it decided to raise the temperature.

In its criticism of Cash, the union took care to note the efforts the superintendent has made to improve education in Buffalo. Thats among the reasons that its fair to believe Cash understands the need to act. Hes been a positive influence and a capable manager in the school district and good management demands an effort to figure out how the school got to the point of life-threatening violence and then take steps to be sure it doesnt recur.

Its tempting, and surely not irrelevant, to observe that this attack occurred as American society, in general, seems given to bad behavior, up to and including violence. Its evident in the misconduct of airline passengers and in rising murder rates in cities around the country. It shows up in school board meetings and made an appearance in the Jan. 6, 2021, putsch at the nations capital.

But schools, especially, have to be safe places. Parents entrust their children to educators, not just to teach them, but to supervise and care for them. However anyone interprets the Feb. 9 violence, it counted as a failure.

Any one of these events may trace to difference motivations and antecedents, but they all reflect a dispiriting erosion of good sense and self-control. Add in ready access to firearms and the stresses, ignorance and arrogance of youth and the outbreak at McKinley is surprising only in that the school district already knew trouble was brewing and didnt head it off.

In its resolution of no confidence, the BTF wrote that Cash knew about violence problems at our school for years and did not provide a safe working and learning environment. Specific complaints included doors that dont lock, a lack of working metal detectors, and insufficient security and hall aides.

Any or all of those problems could have contributed to this months violence. Other factors may also be involved. And while its fair to observe that no institution can guarantee 100% safety all day, every day, those deficiencies count as good places to begin making improvements.

Its also important for district leaders to review conditions in its other buildings to ensure that obvious gaps in safety are quickly closed. So, for that matter, should all school districts.

Only good fortune kept this shocking attack from tipping into tragedy. All around Western New York, school officials should see the episode as a warning flag that they ignore at risk of peril.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
The UK came second in the international rankings for womens representation on boards at FTSE 100 level. Photo: Getty

Nearly four in 10 UK FTSE 100 board positions are now held by women, a jump of 12.5% compared to a decade ago.

The government published the FTSE Women Leaders Review on Tuesday, which monitors womens representation in 24,000 positions on FTSE Boards and in the leadership teams of the UKs biggest companies.

It said the findings represent "a major sea-change" in attitudes towards getting women leaders to the top table of business in the UK, with FTSE 100's women representation at 39.1%, FTSE 250 at 38.6% and FTSE 350 at 37.6%

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: UK businesses have made enormous progress in recent years to ensure that everyone, whatever their background, can succeed on merit  and todays findings highlight this with more women at the top table of Britains biggest companies than ever before.

However, we should not rest on our laurels, and the FTSE Women Leaders Review will build on the success so far of our voluntary, business-led approach to increasing womens representation on boards and in leadership, without the need for mandatory quotas.

Overall, the UK came second in international rankings for board representation, behind France where gender representation on FTSE 100 is nearly 44%

Read more: Five steps for women to reduce money worries and rebuild resilience

The report highlighted areas where more work needs to be done to diversify boardrooms further.

Currently, only one in three leadership roles and around a quarter of all executive committee roles are held by women and there are still very few women at CEO level.

Men continue to dominate CEO positions across the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and FTSE 350. Photo: Getty

Moreover, many companies are yet to hit the target set in 2016 of having 33% of senior positions held by women, as laid out in the Hampton Alexander Review.

Minister for women and equalities, Liz Truss, said: "It is excellent to see the progress being made, but we know there is more to be done.

"This government is committed to levelling up all parts of our country, working to tackle inequality and promoting equality of opportunity, including at senior level, so everyone can thrive.

Story continues

"We will shortly put forward a range of measures to advance equality for women at work, increasing opportunity, and tackling the issues that are holding women back as we look to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential."

Read more: What is levelling up and what it means for where you live

The government has declined to introduce mandatory quotas for women in executive roles, as other European countries  including France, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany  have done.

Instead, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Energy recommends that the voluntary target for women's representation on FTSE 350 Boards and for leadership teams is increased to 40% by the end of 2025.

It also recommends all FTSE 350 boards have at least one women in the chair role, senior independent director role on the board, one woman in the CEO of finance director role before the end of 2025 and extending the scope of the review to include the 50 biggest private companies in the UK.

The government announced on Tuesday that KPMG and Lloyds Banking Group will be the corporate sponsors for FTSE Women Leaders Review in its next phase, providing important support to increase the number of women at the top of British business.

Denise Wilson, chief executive of the FTSE Women Leaders Review said that this would "embed the progress and hard-won gains of the last decade and take business further on the journey to gender balance in the boardroom and in leadership."

She added: We know there is much more work to do and no shortage of experienced, capable women, ambitious for themselves and their company across all sectors of business today. So while we continue to build on progress for women on boards, we need to firmly shift focus in this next phase to women in leadership roles at the top of the organisation.

Watch: Why are gas prices rising?
Britons leaving Ukraine after Russia sent troops into the east of the country are being given extra support, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced.

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.

All Brits should leave now via commercial routes while they are still available.

The safety and security of British nationals in Ukraine is our top priority. 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.  Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 22, 2022

We are bolstering our teams in the region to support British people as they leave and once they have crossed the border.

The Prime Ministers 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.

Wizz Air announced it will continue to operate flights connecting Luton Airport with Kiev and Lviv.

It runs three return flights per week on both routes.

A spokeswoman said: Wizz Air continues to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine.

Currently, we have not made any changes to our schedule and all of our flights to/from Ukraine continue to operate as normal.

All passengers with booked flights to and from Ukraine are advised to regularly check their mailboxes for further information about booked flights.

Story continues

Ryanair and Ukraine International Airlines also operate flights between the UK and Ukraine.

Neither airline has announced any changes to those schedules.

A number of airlines in other countries have suspended flights to and from Ukraine.

They include Air France, Germanys Lufthansa, Dutch carrier KLM, and Scandinavian company SAS.

Latvian airline airBaltic has halted its overnight flights to and from Ukraine.
A celebration of Black History Month and diversity on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus will take place during Africa Night from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, in Abbott Concert Hall in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building. The free event is open to the public.

The Black Student Union (BSU), Student Involvement and the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging offices sponsor the annual event.

The first 150 people to attend will receive a water bottle from Didomi, which produces reusable and resilient water bottles, and donates 50% of profits from every bottle to provide 10 years of water access to an African resident in need. The company was founded in Minnesota by Lamah Bility, a UWRF alum, and Anaa Jibicho.

During the evening, there will be a traditional African drum performance, live painting with music, sharing of spoken word, a dance performance and contemporary fashion show, said BSU President Ezekiel Olakunle.

African cuisine will be served. Due to COVID-19 precautions, masks must be worn in all university buildings.

It is a night full of great culture, Olakunle, a senior biology biomedical and health science major who is minoring in chemistry and psychology. We want to share that culture with the community and show some of the amazing things our students are doing.

Africa Night was held virtually last year due to the pandemic, with students able to pick up food before the virtual showcase events.

Its amazing to be back in person, said Olakunle, who graduates in May and plans to work for a year at Hennepin County Medical Center getting clinical experience before starting medical school in fall 2023. Africa Night is what made me fall in love with this school.

Olakunle, of St. Paul, said Africa Night solidified his feeling of community on campus.

Planning the event takes months but brings BSU members closer together as they plan and build on the success of past Africa Night events, Olakunle noted.

Africa Night is a bridge that brings people together from different backgrounds and cultures, Olakunle said. It brings people together to celebrate Africa and Black African history and culture. Just learning about other people, cultures and their struggles is central to creating understanding. It is a great way to connect.

Africa Night is part of the We Are Falcons Values Series, an effort that supports the campus values of academic excellence, innovation, being student-centered, global engagement, inclusiveness and engagement and how those values contribute to the larger UWRF community.

To learn more about Africa Night, email ezekiel.olakunle@my.uwrf.edu.

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Like numerous business in the Chippewa Valley and across the country, metal fabricator Process Metal Innovators (PMI) in Bloomer has struggled to find workers.

For us, the economy is going great, PMI president Chris Conard said. The biggest hurdle is finding enough labor.

PMI, which opened 24 years ago, currently has 175 workers over four shifts in their 130,000-square-foot facility. Five years ago, they had 110 workers. Conard said he is looking to hire 25 more to meet their needs. However, there are some drawbacks to Bloomer, such as a lack of affordable housing, enough daycare options, and the city isnt on a public transportation/bus line.

The company has taken steps to attract workers. For instance, they have created a ride-share program, with the driver receiving a gas card for picking up a fellow employee to bring to work. They do extensive exit interviews, as well as ask people who turn down a job offer, why they didnt accept a position. And, they have created an internship program with Bloomer High School, offering on-the-job training to students.

We have four graduating this spring that are coming on full-time, which is great, said PMI president Chris Conard.

Now, PWI is creating a program working alongside Chippewa Valley Technical College to create a classroom at their facility in the southeast corner of Bloomer. The classroom will be in a 20,000-square-foot building that will be constructed off-site and delivered this fall. Money from the American Rescue Plan act is paying for the new facility. The classroom setting can teach up to 30 students at a time how to work in a manufacturing center.

For us, this grant came at a perfect time, Conard said. With partnering with CVTC, well be able to have an excellent manufacturing training.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin toured PMI on Monday morning and heard updates on the plans for the new facility. At the end of the tour, she called it an incredible partnership, saying its an opportunity to increase workforce through apprenticeship. During the pandemic, Baldwin said, numerous people have chosen to re-skill and begin new careers.

PMI makes everything from casings for generators and fire extinguisher cabinets to firetruck components to door exteriors. During the tour, Baldwin got to use a machine to punch out the fire extinguisher frame.

Conard was thrilled to have Baldwin tour the plant and hear about the new partnership with CVTC.

Its wonderful to have anyone from the public sector come in, who drives policy, Conard said. Were excited to have her come in. Our people are proud of what we do, and its an honor for them to have her come in and see it.

Charlie Walker, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation executive director, noted that the last time Baldwin visited Chippewa County, it was to see innovation in dairy at a cheese plant.

This time were here to talk about employees and manufacturing, Walker said. And to be in the city of Bloomer is just an honor. And its always great to have a friend in Washington.

Baldwin addressed other ongoing issues she is working on in Congress. She touted the new, bipartisan infrastructure law that will lead to upgrading and replacing highways and bridges.

Weve neglected our infrastructure for so long, that things are crumbling, she said.

Baldwin also discussed her concerns with new measures in states like Georgia and Texas that are likely to restrict access to voting. She noted steps to eliminate voting drop boxes here in Wisconsin. She expressed optimism Congress will still be able to pass some time of voting rights legislation this year. She also expressed concerns about the increase in harassment of election officials.

We have a lot of challenges, she said.

Baldwin also praised the Biden administration for its handling of the standoff at the Ukraine-Russia border.

Ive been very impressed with President Bidens handling of this situation, Baldwin said. I think the tactic has been very wise to expose what they know, of exposing their excuses for invading.

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Nebraska and agriculture go hand-and-hand so when the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes those in the field, theyre honoring the backbone of the states economy, chamber officials said.

We, as a state, literally track nonfarm (and farm) employment, thats one of the key metrics that the (Nebraska) Department of Labor tracks, Chamber President Dawson Brunswick said. That just shows you how important and massive the ag economy is in Nebraska.

The chambers agribusiness committee has created an event to honor those in the ag field. The committee will do this again soon as it will host the Rural Recognition Banquet at 6 p.m. on March 22 at Ag Park, 822 15th St. Tickets cost $20 while complimentary tickets are available for all ag producers.

This years recipients are Adam Pieper as the Outstanding Area Farmer; Linda Egger, the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture; Dale Dicke, Outstanding Senior Farmer; and Central Confinement Service, LLC/Mid-Plains Industries, Outstanding Agribusiness Pioneer.

The chamber is currently working on the biographies for each recipient, Brunswick said.

This will be the first year that the banquet will be back in person since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Brunswick said the chamber is excited to honor the four recipients.

All four have made a huge contribution to the area, he said. All of them have been involved in agriculture for a long time. I think thats why the committee made the decision that they did on wanting to honor those four.

Chamber Events and Administrative Coordinator Jessica Caban said its important to honor those in the agribusiness community.

They deserve to be recognized for their hard work, she said.

The banquet will also recognize last years winners. Despite not hosting an event for them, a video was created last year to highlight the farmers achievements.

The 2021 recipients were BJ Barcel of Barcel Landscape Products, Agribusiness Pioneer; Dean Hanke, Ag Impact; Tim Mueller, Outstanding Area Farmer; Mark Jenny, Outstanding Senior Farmer; and Kelly Jackson, Outstanding Woman in Agriculture.

Jackson started in the ag field at the age of 4 by assisting her family rake in crops for their business, Daniels Produce. During the summers, Jackson helped with growing beans and tied-up tomatoes. She also worked at the Farmers Market and roadside stands, selling produce.

A third-generation rancher, Jenny co-owned his first land at 17-years-old. He and a friend went in on a 160-acre farm before buying out his business partner. Jenny had helped to tend to the farm, which ended up expanding to over 6,000 acres.

Hanke has given his time teaching the youth.

Beginning his teaching career in Iowa, Hanke relocated to Columbus to become Lakeviews first vocational ag instructor and Future Farmers of America adviser in 1969. During his tenure, the ag program raised from 35 students to 135. The program also had a total of two teachers, seven classes and a cooperative educational program with on-the-job training and young farmers program.

Barcel and his family have a long history in the Columbus area. The family is known to have sawdust in their veins, according to the videos. Barcels grandfather initially went into the lumber game as he operated a part-time sawmill while farming.

The final honoree, Mueller, has been a long time farmer in Columbus.

After a year in college, Mueller returned home to aid his brother in starting Mueller Sprinklers and working on his dads farm. As the elder Mueller was reaching retirement age, the younger Mueller assumed a bigger role in the operation, buying more land as time went on.

With everything thats happened since COVID, its one of those things that Im really glad we can do it, Brunswick said. Theyre definitely deserving of that in-person event.

For more information, visit thecolumbuspage.com/events/rural-recognition-banquet.

Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net.

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Canadian Regulator Reports Coinbase, Kraken CEOs' Crypto Custody Tweets

Brian Armstrong, Jesse Powell. Source: video screenshots.

The crypto fallout from Canadas so-called truckers protest is continuing to make its presence felt  with a financial regulator reporting the heads of the American crypto exchange giants Kraken and Coinbase to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian national police force, over their Twitter activity.

Regina Leader-Post reported that the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) had informed the police about tweets from the Kraken supremo Jesse Powell and the Coinbase boss Brian Armstrong. Both had hit out at the governments decision to use the anti-terrorist Emergencies Act to freeze protestors bank accounts and crypto addresses.

As previously reported, the Canadian governments move was made as part of an effort to starve the truckers convoy of access to international and domestic donations, as well as their own funds.

The CEO duo, during the protests, had called for the adoption of non-custodial wallets  while Armstrong even took the opportunity to remind his followers that Coinbase provided a self-custody solution.

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to lift the emergency measures in Ottawa, claiming that even though the blockades had now been cleared, the time had not yet come to lift the Emergencies Act.

The OSC was quoted as stating:

We are aware of [the tweets] and have shared [the information] with the RCMP and the relevant federal authorities.

The media outlet also noted that the RCMP has sent a list of cryptocurrency addresses associated with the convoy protests to crypto trading platforms, and had asked them to freeze and report any transactions related to them.

Both Kraken and Coinbase are registered with FINTRAC, the Canadian financial regulator that polices crypto. Both have registered as money-services businesses dealing in virtual currencies, the same media outlet noted, remarking that their registrations with the body were in place long before the emergency orders.

On Twitter, some commented that regulators could well take a dim view of the exchanges, particularly as they seek further regulatory approval.

John Paul Koning, an economics writer, opined:

I dont imagine this bodes well for the ongoing process of registering Kraken [and] Coinbase under Canadas new regulatory framework for crypto marketplaces.

But Nic Carter, Partner at Castle Island Ventures, smarted at the suggestion that Armstrongs comments had been reported to the police. He replied:

Brian Armstrong literally just said self custody is important. Canada appears determined to become Venezuela.

However, not all were keen to rush to Powell and Armstrongs side. Exchanges were told to freeze funds in certain addresses, and apparently went ahead and did so, argued one Redditor, showing that Powell was no hero.

The Redditor explained:

I actually think exchanges like Kraken are morally wrong for complying. At what point do you draw the line? [...] At what point does Kraken stand [up] for [its] values and say no, we will not comply to the state?

Another Redditor bristled at this suggestion, however, countering:

So are they supposed to stop serving Canadians? Or do you want them to have all their assets pilfered by the government and the exchange destroyed?

Elsewhere on Reddit, a user hit out at the OSC for its actions, claiming that Armstrong and Powell were simply straightforwardly telling users where the safest place for their assets is, adding:

That, [as] far as Im concerned, has nothing to do with instructing people on how to evade regulations. Its a simple fact.

____

Learn more:

- Canada Tests New Measures on Freezing Crypto Funds (UPDATED)

- Canada Asks Banks, Exchanges to Block Crypto Accounts Tied to Trucker Convoy Protests



- Canada Joins Lebanon and Turkey in 'Bitcoin's Marketing Team'

- Govt Response to Canada Protests Brings another Ex-Bitcoin Skeptic into Crypto Fold



- Canadian Tax Agency Launches Audit To Thwart Crypto Tax Evasion

- How Global Economy Might Affect Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Crypto in 2022
CHAMBERSBURG  A crash during a police pursuit left four Pennsylvania state troopers injured, authorities said.

The chase began in Chambersburg around 11:45 p.m. Monday when the troopers attempted to stop the driver of a vehicle after observing traffic violations, state police said in a news release. The driver failed to stop.

During the pursuit, two state police vehicles crashed at the intersection of Route 30 and Shatzer Orchard Road in Hamilton Township, state police said.

Two troopers were taken by ambulance to a hospital with moderate injuries and two others were flown by helicopter to a hospital with serious injuries, state police said.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle, identified as Shaun Naugle, 36, of Chambersburg, was taken into custody and charged with eluding, recklessly endangering another person as well as multiple traffic violations, state police said.
Through a variety of means, administrators at local school districts say they already provide parents with access to information on the courses their children take in school.

The concern is that the nationwide push to require educators to publicly post all course material online could have a chilling effect on the ability of teachers to deliver instruction.

It would send the sad and disheartening message that we dont trust teachers or their professional judgment, said Michael Gogoj, director of education for Carlisle Area School District. It is also logistically cumbersome to do so.

Our community and school district have always valued the educational process, he said. Teachers want to inspire and motivate students by providing them with rich and meaningful reading, tasks and activities.

The Associated Press has reported that curriculum transparency bills are cropping up in state legislatures across the country. Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina and West Virginia are among states considering versions of the legislation. Some Republican governors highlighted the issue in their 2022 state of the state speeches.

The online curriculum requirements are not just about what's being taught in schools. The push also is part of a broader national political strategy by Republicans ahead of this year's midterm elections centered on a "Parents' Bill of Rights." The proposed manifesto calls for access to classroom materials, certain entry privileges to school buildings, rights to academic, medical and safety records, and to school contracts, educational data collection strategies and more.

Pa. bill vetoed

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, vetoed House Bill 1332 in late December. That Republican-backed legislation would have required school districts to post a syllabus or written summery of each course, the state academic standards for each course and an internet link or title for every textbook used.

The bill, with Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) as the sponsor, advanced through the state House with a 110-89 vote, with only Republicans voting in favor of it. Midstate state representatives Greg Rothman, Dawn Keefer and Toren Ecker signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

The bill was unanimously opposed by Democrats.

"This curriculum transparency legislation would give parents easy access to research what their children will be taught in school," Lewis said in a news release in December. "They should be able to get online morning or night to have access to the curriculum plan, including textbooks, and that plan should be updated online each time it is revised."

Wolf offered a different view of the bill.

Under the guise of transparency, this legislation politicizes what is being taught in our public schools, Wolf said in a veto statement. The onerous requirements of this bill fall on educators who should be focused on critical issues such as addressing learning loss, managing the impacts of the pandemic on students, and working through staffing shortages.

Wolf called the requirements under House Bill 1332 duplicative and overly burdensome. State regulations adopted by the state Board of Education already require that public schools provide parents and guardians with course curriculum and instructional materials upon request, Wolf said. In addition, textbooks are adopted by school boards in meetings open to the public.

The state teacher's union was also opposed to the bill, worrying it could increase the workload for teachers.

"What we really need to focus on at this time in our history is getting students moved forward, closing those learning gaps from the pandemic," said Chris Lilienthal, with the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Regulations

The mandate on providing access goes beyond Pennsylvania. Under U.S. Code Title 20, parents have the right to inspect all instructional materials including teacher manuals and supplemental resources used in connection with any course, said David Christopher, superintendent of the Cumberland Valley School District.

Federal regulations also give parents the right to excuse their child from certain instruction in lieu of an alternate classroom activity, he said.

I find it really interesting we already have all these laws related to parental access, Christopher said. I just dont understand where is some of this is coming from. Its frustrating.

School districts nationwide are already grappling with a teacher shortage as fewer college students want to major in education. There is concern that heavy-handed public oversight, brought on by curriculum transparency legislation, could worsen the problem and add to the strain already felt by educators.

Whos going to want to do it? Christopher asked about being a teacher. We have to create a job that people want. That high quality people are interested in doing.

In Cumberland Valley, parents of middle school and high school students can log onto Schoology, a learning management platform where teachers can post course activities and assignments.

At the elementary level, we dont have a way to do that, Christopher said, adding that posting everything online would be a big lift for K-5 teachers because they teach lessons in every subject area. Besides, parents already have the ability to review the material the younger students bring home with their assignments.

Trust in the system

Providing parental access to curriculum material builds trust in the system at a time when there is misinformation circulating about the intentions of public education, Christopher said. There is this belief that the undertone of curriculum is focused on trying to use race as a class system to create a socialist society in the United States.

Instead, the goal of Cumberland Valley is to make sure its students have the skills they need to pursue a career and to be competitive with people from all over the world, he said.

The issue is not related to parents, Christopher said. The issue is posting material to a public site where anyone could scrutinize the lesson plan and then micromanage classroom instruction.

Its not that teachers have anything to hide, he said. Its just that teachers really dont need to be dealing with that level of scrutiny from people who have nothing to do with the district.

As the superintendent of the South Middleton School District, James Estep said he has no problem with posting curriculum content online.

I just question if theres a real value or need in making teachers post their day-to-day instructional plan, Estep said. If legislators want us to start posting lesson plans, I dont see thats going to go well.

Teaching fluctuations

For one thing, theres the challenge of trying to keep up with fluctuations across multiple class periods or course sections at a time when teachers are already busy.

We are dealing with children here, Estep said. Have you ever heard of the saying by Mike Tyson that everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face? Well, thats sort of how it is in teaching. You develop a lesson plan for day-to-day instruction, but whether you are able to stick exactly to that plan is dependent on student response. Based on their responses, you assess whether they are grasping the concept. If theyre not grasping it, then you re-calibrate your planning and maybe try a different activity.

If the push for transparency goes beyond just providing information on what the curriculum is and starts delving into how that content is delivered, thats a step too far, Estep said. I dont think its a wise move to micromanage how a teacher delivers content. On every teaching certificate in Pennsylvania, it doesnt say this certificate certifies you in the science of teaching. It certifies you in the art of teaching. The artfulness of knowing how to adapt, retool, recalibrate with original ideas. You dont want to stifle that.

In South Middleton, administrators and teachers have been working for years to align district curriculum to core state standards, Estep said. As we have updated curriculum, we have been loading it into a program called Rubicon Atlas that is accessible on the district website.

To access Rubicon Atlas, visit the district homepage at www.smsd.us and click on the curriculum button. Then select Board Approved Curriculum Maps on the pull-down menu. This links to a welcome page with a globe icon at the top. Click on the globe icon and the Browse button.

This pulls up a list of courses offered at all four school buildings. Each link to a course provides a list of concepts and a calendar of when that concept would be covered in class. Each link to a concept provides detail on specific content, vocabulary terms and skills taught in the course.

So far, updates have been completed in world languages, family and consumer science, math and English language arts. Staff and administrators are working to update and review social studies with a science curriculum review planned for 2022-23, Estep said.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Camp Hill resident Heather MacDonald announced her candidacy Monday for the redrawn 103rd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

McDonald, a Democrat, will seek to represent the redrawn 103rd district, which now includes Camp Hill, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, East Pennsboro Township, and a portion of the City of Harrisburg. The seat is currently held by state Rep. Patty Kim, a Democrat from Harrisburg.

MacDonald, 35, said she hopes to become not only the first Democrat to represent the West Shore communities that were recently added to the district, but also be the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to represent both shores of the Susquehanna River.

She ran for the Democratic nomination to challenge 87th district statehouse seat in 2020, losing in a three-person primary to Nicole Miller who eventually lost to Republican Greg Rothman.

I will be a strong voice in the Capitol building for a living wage and fair school funding, and I will fight to dismantle systems of racial oppression and provide equal protections for our LGBTQAI neighbors, MacDonald said in a news release. Harrisburg and the West Shore are ready for a youthful, dynamic candidate committed to profound and sustainable change.

MacDonald currently works in real estate. She is also involved in several central Pennsylvania community organizations, including the Central PA Blood Bank, the CWS Lancaster Immigration and Refugee Program, Speranza Animal Rescue, and the board of the Central Pennsylvania MLK Day of Service Committee.

I am dedicated to giving back to this community thats given so much to me, McDonald said. As someone who lived in poverty as a single mother, Ive experienced how a social safety net and a strong education system can help people transform their lives.

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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The tonal quality was so distinctive, the boy could have been standing in the room, but instead he was two flights down in the cellar of the workshop in Lower Allen Township.

Michael Smyser was on the witness stand, recalling that moment from 1872 when he became a true believer in the technical know-how of Daniel Drawbaugh, the Wizard of Eberlys Mill.

The inventor had invited Smyser to a demonstration of a forerunner of the modern telephone years before Alexander Graham Bell filed his official patent in 1876.

Drawbaugh started by having the boy sing the hymn, Dont you want to be a Christian while youre young? into the transmitter of the talking machine. Smyser could hear the lyrics clearly.

The Wizard then had the child count to five in a whisper. Again, the voice came out of the mechanism.

It was 1886 and Smyser was among the witnesses who testified on behalf of the Peoples Telephone Co. before the U.S. Circuit Court of the Southern District of New York.

Drawbaugh had sold the firm his rights to the talking machine for $5,000 in cash and an undisclosed amount of company stock. The American Bell Telephone Co. promptly sued, claiming that the Peoples Telephone Co. had violated Bells patent.

Numerous Cumberland County residents told the court they saw various models of telephones in Drawbaughs workshop going back as far as 1864. There was reason to believe the tinkerer had developed an acoustic telephone in 1866 that had a teacup as a transmitter and mustard can as a receiver.

None of this surprised the neighbors. Drawbaugh had a knack for invention going back to childhood. Born on July 14, 1827, he was from a long line of machinists and mechanics.

In his lifetime, Drawbaugh received about 70 patents for such devices as an automatic boiler feeder, a stave jointing machine, a steam injector, an automatic fire alarm, a coin sorter, a folding lunch box, a mowing machine and a paper bag folder. He designed a clock that ran off the Earths electrical current and a pneumatic stone drill that workers used in the construction of the Library of Congress.

But Drawbaugh lacked the marketing and business savvy to richly profit from any of his inventions, especially the talking machine which he regarded as more of a plaything or novelty. He kept no detailed notes on the development of the telephone. In the end, Drawbaugh lacked convincing proof.

On March 19, 1888, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 4-3 that Bell, not Drawbaugh, was the original inventor of the telephone. That decision removed the last significant challenge to the 1876 patent, clearing the way for Bell to develop a powerful monopoly. But county residents saw it differently. They thought that Drawbaugh was the victim of big business and fast-talking lawyers. There was even speculation that covert agents of Bell had stolen the design schematics from the Wizards workshop.

Poverty hounded Drawbaugh to the end of his days. Eventually, he closed his workshop and moved his operation to Camp Hill. On Nov. 13, 1911, Drawbaugh was hosting a group of reporters and local residents at his new workshop. The Wizard was excited to be close to perfecting his latest invention, a wireless burglar alarm. Just then, he suffered a stroke died a short time later.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Pennsylvania State Police PIO Trooper Megan Ammerman tweeted at 3:53 p.m. that three cows fell off a trailer near mile marker 50 on Interstate 81 near Carlisle Tuesday afternoon.

Police shut down I-81 in both directions in the area until troopers could get the cows "off the roadway in a fenced area."

Ammerman said some cows did have minor injuries.

I-81 reopened around 3 p.m.

Posted on Cumberlink at 3:45 p.m.:

Pennsylvania State Police PIO Trooper Megan Ammerman tweeted at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday that both lanes of Interstate 81 near mile marker 50 near Carlisle were closed due to loose cows on the highway.

Ammerman's tweet said police were on scene trying to get the cows off the highway "and back where they belong."

By 2:47 p.m., Ammerman tweeted that one cow remained on the loose, and at 3 p.m. Ammerman tweeted, "81 is now open. All cows accounted for."

No details about how the cows got loose were provided.

As of 3:37 p.m., PennDOT's traffic map still showed traffic delays in the Carlisle area.

Posted on Cumberlink.com at 2:45 p.m.

A pair of traffic incidents on Interstate 81 near Carlisle are causing traffic delays in and around Carlisle Tuesday afternoon.

PennDOT's traffic website 511pa.com shows stop-and-go traffic on Interstate 81 north between exits 45 and 52 as of 3 p.m. The site lists a pair of traffic incidents (one near mile marker 49 and one near mile marker 52) between those two mile markers with lane disruptions in place.

Traffic is also listed as heavy traffic and stop-and-go traffic on the Ritner Highway heading into Carlisle on High Street and Hanover Street and the Harrisburg Pike heading out of Carlisle.

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At the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show, the Pennsylvania State Grange presented an informative program on solar energy generation as it relates to farming. The panel presented thought-provoking insights on whether or not factory-scale production of solar energy can coexist with production farming.

Enhancing use of alternative energy is a positive goal for this General Assembly to pursue. Solar energy is a prime example of energy generation with less of a climate footprint. However, the Pennsylvania State Grange urges the General Assembly to develop a framework for this mass-produced alternative energy.

We believe that Pennsylvania should not pick winners and losers. Our state is blessed with multiple sources of energy. Increasing energy output from solar energy generation should not put people out of work who have jobs with fossil fuels and natural gas extraction as these industries are huge economic drivers in Pennsylvania and should also be encouraged. Legislators should not pick sides and suggest that there is only one energy solution worth pursuing. If the COVID pandemic taught us nothing else, it certainly reminded us to not put all our eggs in one basket. The food shortages during the last two years stand as a testimony to that!

Given growing interest by energy companies to harvest solar energy from farms, we urge the General Assembly to be out in front on this issue before the regulatory environment becomes a confusing and a conflicting minefield. The first question is who regulates large-scale solar energy development. Is it the Public Utility Commission? Is it the federal government? Is it local zoning? Should the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Environmental Protection have some say over approvals for these massive solar energy factories? Investors and farmers need clarity because regulatory uncertainty can doom a project.

The second question and possibly the most important is how to decide where to put these facilities. Currently it seems that energy companies prefer to develop farmland as this is usually flat or gentle sloping land that makes it more cost-effective.

The problem comes with the threat of the loss of productive farmland from what is in essence a solar energy factory. Pennsylvania is the nations leader in farmland protection and preservation. The Growing Greener Program and Farm Preservation in Pennsylvania has kept farmland safe from commercial or residential development for many years. These success stories must not be compromised by trading food security for energy security. The General Assembly will have to decide how we can have both.

The Pennsylvania State Grange suggests having energy companies document why reclaimed mine land or brownfields cannot be used instead of farmland. Secondly, we feel installations should not take farmland out of production unless another type of agriculture (grazing or specialty crops) can still take place. Lastly solar energy facilities should be installed in areas verified by conservation districts as not adding pollution to our streams.

A few other questions we feel also must be addressed are whether farm-generated solar energy can be shared with surrounding communities or be bypassed. Will there be indemnification for removing the solar installation if the energy company becomes insolvent?

During our panel discussion at the Farm Show, it was disclosed there are approximately 420 possible solar farm projects being proposed in Pennsylvania right now, which would take roughly 80,000 acres of land to construct. While solar energy has the potential to be an alternative energy generation, it is important to carefully consider how its use of solar facilities can hurt Pennsylvanias agricultural heritage.

Wayne Campbell is the president of the Pennsylvania State Grange.

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The event will be held in the St. Pauls Lutheran School gymnasium and commons room. The rummage sale will run from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and the chicken and dumpling dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The meal will include made-from-scratch chicken and dumplings, green beans, corn, roll and dessert for $10 per person.
Fifty years ago this week, he cried. Or maybe it was just the snow melting across his face. What happened that day on Amherst Street doesn't matter now. It mattered then.

Two weeks before the 1972 New Hampshire primary, the front-running candidate, Edmund S. Muskie, stood before the office of the Manchester Union Leader to respond to a letter to the editor, which charged that he laughed about the characterization of French-speakers -- an important constituency in the state -- as "Canucks." Though the NHL's Vancouver franchise today uses that term, it was regarded as a slur then, and the letter, planted by Richard M. Nixon's "dirty-tricks" team, provoked the Maine senator into an angry response that might have doomed his presidential candidacy and surely changed the trajectory of the Democrats' race to select a nominee to oppose Nixon's reelection bid.

Today, Muskie's campaign can be regarded as one of the most colossal busts in American history. Few political figures embarked on a presidential race with the assets, adviser talent and high hopes of the Muskie campaign, built on the senator's strong showing as Hubert H. Humphrey's running mate in 1968 and his bravura performance in a televised pre-election speech in which he lacerated Nixon before the 1970 midterm elections.

But the Muskie campaign, which fizzled out weeks after the "crying" incident, today stands as a symbol of the emergence of a new brand of American politics, where press expectations ruled, where the endorsement of traditional political power centers lost their influence, and where rank-and-file voters rather than party bosses held sway. Muskie, whose profile today is the very model of the old-style politician, was a transitional figure, trampled by the new folkways and new party procedures.

"Muskie was really one of the great American figures in the 20th century," says Joel Goldstein, a Saint Louis University legal scholar who is writing a Muskie biography. "He was a far better government servant than a presidential-primary contender. He had a deep understanding of American constitutional principles and was widely respected by his colleagues."

That was enough in 1952, when Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson won the Democratic nomination. It was not enough in 1972.

Muskie was a casualty of the change in the nominating system that emphasized primaries and caucuses and made it necessary to be a full-time candidate; he was, in short, the perfect smoke-filled room candidate of an era when national party leaders, union bosses and influential county chairs wielded extraordinary influence. Muskie was more interested in polishing the Clean Air Act in the back rooms of a Capitol Hill committee chamber than in mixing with actual voters in a New Hampshire grange hall. He also had a visceral aversion to campaign promises.

Muskie's failure grew out of his success in Maine, where, as a rare Democrat in a Republican state, he seldom faced party challenges, never had to deal with competing political factions and merely had to reassure the dominant GOP voter base that he would not break up the banks and destroy the country clubs.

"The real reason the campaign failed was the candidate," says the commentator Mark Shields, at the time a Muskie strategist and organizer. "He wasn't prepared for the land mines of the party. And he didn't enjoy the politics of politics. Bill Clinton enjoyed them. Barack Obama didn't, but got more out of it psychically than Muskie. Muskie would have made a far better president than a presidential candidate."

Plus, Muskie had a raging temper.

"Underneath this image of the grave moderate were ... two essential qualities not yet recognized by the public but more than casually troublesome to Muskie's staff," wrote the election chronicler Theodore H. White. "He had a tendency to emotional outburst; and an even graver disability -- a lawyer-like, ponderous way of dealing with all issues and even the most trivial decisions."

The brisk sound bite made its debut in the 1968 campaign. It was at the center of politics by 1972. Muskie did not do sound bites.

While there was deep disquiet in Muskie headquarters at 1725 K Street in northwest Washington, all that was masked by the high expectations for his candidacy -- as a Maine man positioned to cruise in New England, as a Polish-American likely to prevail in early primary states that, by pure chance, had sizable Polish populations, and with the legions of endorsements he won.

"Muskie had signed up just about every Democratic politician in the country whose name was well known by more than a hundred people," wrote the gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, "and it did him about as much good as a notarized endorsement from Martin Bormann."

Despite the tears, or the snow, Muskie did well in New Hampshire. He won that first primary in a field with Sen. George S. McGovern of South Dakota and the anti-communist, populist Mayor Sam Yorty of Los Angeles. No political powerhouse, Yorty had the backing of Union Leader publisher William Loeb, whose conservative newspaper published 71 stories, 38 photographs and 14 supporting editorials in favor of its chosen candidate.

Muskie took 46% of the vote, higher than any Democratic candidate who followed, with the exception of Al Gore (50% in 2000) and Bernie Sanders (60% in 2016). It was an impressive performance, outpolling McGovern's 37%.

And yet the press, which set 50% as Muskie's target, portrayed him as a loser, a theme his rivals swiftly adopted. "Even if he claims victory, as he will," McGovern said on election night, "it's not the sort of victory he imagined."

Thus, expectations became the leitmotif of American politics.

"I think when you come from a neighboring state, when you are running virtually unopposed, and when you are the frontrunner to begin with," Sen. Bob Dole, then the chair of the Republican National Committee, told me just before he died, "you could naturally be expected to get at least two-thirds of the vote."

He understood the peril. The distance between Hamburg, Iowa, and Hiawatha in Dole's Kansas is only 67 miles. Dole took 2.5% in the Iowa caucuses eight years after Muskie's 46% in neighboring New Hampshire.

As for Muskie, he finished behind Humphrey and Gov. George Wallace of Alabama the next week in Florida, and won Illinois with 63% the following week. Then he faded into presidential politics history.

David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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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.
Among the hundreds of bills the Virginia Senate will consider in the coming weeks is one promoted by Republican Del. Rob Bell of Albemarle. It undoes some changes made last year to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) that increased public access to the records contained in closed criminal investigations.

Bell reasonably asserts that keeping those records from being generally distributed and publicized will reduce the chance of opening old wounds for victims of crime and their families. He uses the high profile murders of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham and Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington to make his case.

Hospital orderly Jesse Matthew eventually pleaded guilty to abduction, sexual assault and murder in both killings in exchange for a life sentence with no chance for release. Before he agreed to that plea, Matthew had already been given a life term in the rape of a woman in Fairfax County.

Grahams mother, whose daughter was abducted in Charlottesville, testified in favor of Bells bill in a House of Delegates committee hearing. So did Harringtons mother and father. Matthew abducted their daughter from a rock concert at UVas John Paul Jones Arena. Matthews reign of terror destroyed lives and left women of the Charlottesville-Albemarle area fearing for their safety.

Sparing parents whose children die in grisly sexual assaults and murders makes sense. So does protecting rape survivors. Frankly, protecting all victims of crime from being retraumatized remains a fundamental goal of the justice system.

As a result of recent changes to VFOIA, families and victims of finalized criminal cases are [now] required to petition the court to protect the privacy Virginia law and practice have long accorded to criminal defendants, crime victims, witnesses, and their families, Charlottesville prosecutor Joseph Platania wrote to The Daily Progress in support of Bells legislation.

This, said Platania, is one reason the Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys supports Bells bill.

Nothing in this bill would limit existing discovery policies that permit robust access to the criminal file throughout the course of the litigation process, he wrote. Moreover, House Bill 734 enhances justice for criminal defendants by requiring compulsory disclosure of the criminal case file to those seeking post-adjudication relief or making claims of actual innocence.

Still, when House Bill 734 came to a vote of the entire House of Delegates, it passed 45-35 with only two Democrats support and one Democrat not voting. Albemarle Del. Sally Hudson, who experienced the Jesse Matthew horror, voted with the Republican majority. So did Del. Shelly Anne Simonds of Newport News.

Critics of Bells bill offered several reasons for their opposition. One objection was the fact that the new open records provision had only been in effect for seven months. It was, they said, too soon to tell if the ongoing existing safeguards against disclosure are insufficient. The new law did not overturn long-standing provisions that shield most records in ongoing cases. In closed cases, opponents continued, the public availability of closed case files did not include the release of crime scene photos or information that invades the personal privacy of victims.

Underlying this fight is if and how resealing closed case files benefits the police. This debate is a sad, but necessary discussion on the current state of affairs in Virginia and every other state. Michelle Evans of Virginia Beach used the freedom of information act to clear herself of a wrongful arrest for assault and battery and domestic violence. The police mistakenly arrested her and then falsified their records to cover up the mistake. Without the ability to get case records using the VFOIA, Evans believes the police cover-up never would have been discovered.

For too many people, police investigations and their resolution do not bring justice or closure. So while Bells bill deserves to become law, it should be amended to make sure it does what it is supposed to do. Letting police hide behind shield laws does nothing to protect the privacy of innocent victims and their families.
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.
Benton County officials have given the green light to an Alsea resident to collect signatures which could place the recall of two Alsea school board members on the ballot.

Max Hildebrand filed the paperwork with the county after voicing his dissatisfaction at the latest school board meeting, on Feb. 10, when he continued to feel unheard and misrepresented by the current administration, he said.

He is specifically targeting school board Chair Ron Koetz and Vice Chair Jeff Davis. On Friday, he was told he could start circulating his petition and gathering signatures.

This is something I thought long and hard on and decided that something needed to change with our school board, Hildebrand said in an interview with Mid-Valley Media. They represent Alsea, and they represent the community.

By making indoor masking optional in January, going against statewide guidelines set forth by the Oregon Health Authority, the district also acted contrary to its own policy, Hildebrand said. That policy states: The district will follow the rules and regulations of both the state and local health authorities, pertaining to communicable diseases.

In the petition, Hildebrand also states the board members have a duty to keep lines of communication open with the community and have ignored concerns raised by district employees and the public.

It is Jeff (Davis)s failed leadership as ASB Vice-Chairman that has led to the current crisis of levied fines, violations of law, civil liability and withholding of federal funds at Alsea school, he wrote in the petition. The same language is used in regard to Koetz.

After the district announced that it would return "local control" to the school board and ditch mandatory masking  a move only the state can make  officials at the state Department of Education said it would withhold federal funds designed to help school districts navigate the pandemic.

To get the recall before voters in May, Hildebrand must collect 76 signatures of registered voters living in the Alsea district. Alternatively, the board members may step down of their own volition within 10 days of the county receiving the petition.

On Saturday morning, Hildebrand began gathering signatures outside of the John Boys Mercantile store in Alsea, answering questions of prospective signees and reaching out to people who he knows feel the same way about the board members.

A recall committee of six community members has been working on getting enough signatures to send the petition back to the county. Their goal is to get to 100.

George Foster, a member of the recall committee and a former Alsea school board member, said he has met many people who want to sign the petition but are reluctant in fear that family members who work in the district could face retaliation.

Last week, three employees made public their formal complaints about Superintendent Marc Thielman and the school board creating a hostile environment that makes them anxious to speak their minds. Koetz is heading the investigation into the claims.

Theres a lot of threatening behavior, Foster said. The superintendent, board chair and vice chair are too closely aligned. Its time to hit the reset button.

The school board called a closed special session meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, followed by a public comment session. It is unclear what the topic of the special session is.

Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_.

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Putin orders troops to eastern Ukraine after formally recognizing two Moscow-backed separatist regions

Vladimir Putin Salwan Georges/Washington Post Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the nation through a recorded message, shown on a TV monitor at Victory Square in Severodonetsk.

MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces onto their territory for peacekeeping purposes, a dramatic escalation in a crisis that is threatening a full-scale war.

Putins action  in direct defiance of U.S. and European warnings  was swiftly condemned by Washington and Brussels, with top officials promising sanctions in response to the recognition of the self-declared republics. Secretary of State Antony Blinken decried the recognition as a clear attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

But amid reports of Russian military columns already appearing in the breakaway territories late Monday, the White House stopped short of announcing the full-fledged sanctions that President Joe Biden had said Russia would face in the event of an invasion.

For weeks, Putin has been holding the world on tenterhooks, with some 190,000 Russian personnel and enabling forces amassed around Ukraines borders, even as top Russian officials have denied plans to mount an offensive in Ukraine.

In a televised address to the Russian nation Monday, Putin dropped much of the pretense, recognizing the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republic, and demonstrating to the international community that feverish rounds of diplomacy had left the 69-year-old former KGB officer undeterred.

Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood, Putin said during a seething speech that delved into Soviet history to undermine the idea of Ukraine as an independent nation.

He dismissed Ukraine as a puppet state of the West and warned that the country could develop its own nuclear weapons, calling this a real threat that the West might help Kyiv achieve.

The level of threat for our country is becoming greater and greater, Putin said. Russia has every right to take countermeasures to enhance our security, and thats how we plan to act.

Putin authorized the Russian Defense Ministry to send forces into the self-declared separatist republics for peacekeeping purposes in official government decrees published by the state news agency RIA Novosti. Previously, the Kremlin denied putting Russian forces in the separatist enclaves, though their presence there has been well-documented by Ukrainian, European and American officials.

The agreement with the two breakaway territories signed by Putin also says Russia can have military bases there. Separatist leaders, however, do not control the entirety of the two Ukrainian regions, and it is unclear whether Russian troops would enter just the portions held by separatists or extend into the Ukrainian territories that Putin regards as part of the republics.

Since 2014, the Donbas region has been divided into separate territories: the Kyiv-controlled parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics. Russian-backed separatists claim all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as their territory, but they control about one-third of the region  about 6,500 square miles  along the border with Russia.

A senior Biden administration official characterized Putins speech as an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine.

This was a speech to the Russian people to justify a war, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for weeks has been urging the West to impose sanctions in response to the buildup of Russian forces and materiel around his country, but U.S. and many European officials have said the threat of sanctions should function as a deterrent to Putin and be triggered only after he invades Ukraine.

The senior Biden administration official said economic sanctions probably would be imposed Tuesday but did not characterize their scope.

The administration also announced a ban on U.S. trade with the breakaway regions.

Late Monday, the United Nations Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis, following a request by Kyiv citing Russias decision to recognize the separatist regions.

Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, formally requested the meeting in a letter that cited Russias recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent nations, as well as Moscows ongoing aggravation of the security situation around Ukraine and threat to international peace and security. The Washington Post obtained a copy of the letter.

The situation presents a precarious moment for the White House. For weeks, Biden and allied leaders have been warning Russia that an invasion would result in severe sanctions on the Russian financial sector and export controls that would hobble the Russian economy.

Now, they have to decide whether Putins decision to move Russian forces into the breakaway territory constitutes the sort of invasion that would trigger the full-fledged package of measures.

Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step, the senior administration official said in a call with reporters, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter. Russia has had forces in the Donbas region for the past eight years.

Dozens of evacuees from the separatist regions were glued to their cellphone screens Monday, watching an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council called by Putin to decide whether Russia would recognize the territories independence.

The evacuees in Taganrog Hotel, set up to accept the influx of people evacuating from the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, were convinced that Putin would accept the councils recommendation and recognize the regions.

Hopes were high that this would put an end to a life in a gray zone.

Were you listening to Putin? We were just now, and we are so happy that after eight years they are finally going to recognize us, a woman, who declined to give her name, said in the foyer of the hotel.

Why do you think no one is attacking Crimea? Because Putin made it part of Russia officially, she added.

Biden, who met with his national security team at the White House, held a flurry of calls with Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. They were unified in their condemnation of Putins action and discussed next steps in a coordinated response.

Putin has long waged a campaign of disinformation, falsely accusing Ukraine of genocide against the regions and claiming that Kyiv has mounted intensifying military attacks there. Putin has produced no evidence for his accusation.

In his lengthy address Monday, Putin advanced his controversial take on Ukraines history, decrying the collapse of the Soviet Union and dismissing Ukraine as a pseudo-state created by the Bolsheviks in the days of Soviet Premier Vladimir Lenin. Ukraine, he said, was a colony with puppets at its helm, where Russian speakers were oppressed.

You want decommunization? That completely works for us. We are prepared to show what real decommunization means for Ukraine, he said, appearing to suggest that he might seek to dismantle the country.

His speech, which lasted roughly an hour, expressed his long-held belief that Russia has been wronged by history and attacked by Western powers. He said Lenin and the Bolsheviks mistreated Russia by tearing away its historical territories and voiced a litany of grievances against Ukraine, which has been steadily moving toward the West for the last eight years.

He attacked NATOs expansion, saying Western countries wanted to hold Russia back and had never taken Moscows concerns into account.

NATO completely ignores our protests, he said, alluding to his demand for a guarantee that Ukraine never be allowed to join the transatlantic alliance. They spit on them and do whatever they want.

He warned that the West was using Ukraine as theater of potential warfare against Russia.

Putin threatened Ukrainians responsible for bringing democracy to the country, a statement all the more chilling amid reports that Moscow has compiled a hit list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to concentration camps following a military occupation. We know their names, he said, and we will find them and bring them to justice.

He finished by announcing a step that he said should have been done a long time ago  to decree Donetsk and Luhansk independent states. The move breaches a 2015 Minsk peace agreement that was supposed to restore the two separatist regions to Ukraines control, but that deal was vaguely worded and never fully implemented.

Russia fomented uprisings in those two areas after annexing Crimea in 2014 and following Ukraines Maidan revolution, which ousted a pro-Moscow leader and ushered in a Western-leaning government.

Putins decree drew immediate rebukes on both sides of the Atlantic. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called it a blatant violation of Russias international commitments.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed that Europe and its partners will react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine.

Putin, in his speech, dismissed the prospect of sanctions. Theyre again trying to blackmail us, again threatening us with sanctions, which by the way, they will bring against us anyway, he said. The goal is the same: to restrain the development of Russia.

All pretenses are gone, said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The mutual-assistance treaty Putin signed with the two regions now allows him to send Russian troops in without any pretenses of them being part of an indigenous grassroots separatist rebellion.

That in itself would be an act of war against Ukraine, said Rumer, a former U.S. national intelligence officer on Russia.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions are only partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists. If Russian troops pushed deeper into those parts of the regions held by Ukraine, the Ukrainian army would resist, Rumer said. It could get very bloody.
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PLDT, one of the Philippines' major telecommunications providers, has said it is to develop a 100MW data centre in Santa Rosa, in the Laguna province of the Philippines, which is situated southeast of Metro Manila. The purpose-built facility will be constructed through PLDTs ICT arm ePLDT.

PLDTs 11th data centre  to be named Vitro Sta. Rosa  will reportedly be the countrys largest data centre campus by far. It will be sited on a five-hectare plot. PLDT has said that the facility will be designed to be Tier III certified and Tier IV ready.

The company has suggested that the site will make an ideal location for availability zones and points-of-presence for hyperscalers.

As with pretty much all new data centres these days, a sustainability element has also come into play. The new facility will also be designed based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, and will use rainwater collection and renewable energy as well as reusing wastewater.

The timing of the development and the date on which the new facility will go live are as yet unclear.

We reported these plans in October last year, when PLDT said that the data centre  described at the time as the first hyperscaler data centre facility in the country  would have more capacity in one facility than all of the companys ten VITRO data centres combined.

A month earlier, however, we reported that PLDT was considering selling its data centres, with a potential value in the region of half a billion dollars. No further announcements have been made about this plan.
The State Bank of Pakistan approved MCB Bank to perform due diligence to acquire a majority stake in Telenor's financial operations in Pakistan.

Business Recorder reported the confirmation stemmed from a filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange this week.

The potential transaction will be for a 55% stake in Telenors financial arm in Telenor Microfinance Bank, reported Business Recorder.

Telenor announced in November last year it was reviewing potential buyers for the majority stake, the remainder is owned by Alipay owner Ant Group, and has held it since 2018.

The Chinese company said last year it would support the sale if MCB was successful.
Vietnam announced it will begin researching and developing 6G technology this year with ambitions to become a global leader in the digital world, earmarking cloud computing and digital platforms as beneficiaries to the future standard.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said it was time for the nation to get ahead of infrastructure development and gain a footing in cloud computing and digital platforms, reported Vietnam News.

The digital industry is estimated to grow at a pace of $136 billion a year with more than 64,000 companies established.

Nguyen said the governments objective is to become one of the worlds leading nations in digitisation and meet the demand for skilled workers. To do this, he stated the importance of cloud computing and digital platforms, which are the fastest-growing technology fields with an annual growth rate of 15% to 20% in the country.

The minister also noted the two fields will meet or even surpass telecommunication which he claimed has reached a saturation point.

The telecommunications sector must address long term issues such as rampant text messaging ads and calling before it is useful for a digital economy, said Nguyen.

Vietnam is aiming to become one of the top 30 nations in the world for advanced and robust digital infrastructure by 2025.

"In order to realise these targets, the telecommunication sector must start now to get ahead of the competition to develop 6G technologies and hardware as well as to build the country's 5G network," said Hung.

He rallied domestic companies to invest in the development of 5G and 6G pledging government support will be provided.
Open RAN firm Parallel Wireless is collaborating with Turk Telekom and Juniper Networks on a multivendor Open RAN initiative to deliver state-of-the-art broadband communications.

Turk Telekom is an early adopter of Open RAN technology, utilising a broad vendor ecosystem to build more flexible, efficient, and secure mobile networks to meet the demands of the 5G era. Deployments will occur across trial sites after completing tests in Turk Telekoms Innovation Centre, with the operator deploying Open RAN technology utilising the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC).

Turk Telekom has previously collaborated with Juniper Networks for the productization of the RIC - a critical part of Open RAN architecture - to automate networks, enable efficient resource utilisation, and provide an optimal customer experience.

Within the scope of this new initiative, Turk Telekom will utilise Parallel Wireless Open RAN software and Junipers state-of-the-art RIC. Parallel Wireless will provide an end-to-end Open RAN solution utilising Band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 radios and DU,CU software for 2G, 3G, and 4G and band 78 radios and DU,CU software for 5G. The first phase of the lab trial utilising the RIC for admission control over 4G has been completed with more phases to come.

Juniper Networks will be working alongside Turk Telekom and Parallel Wireless to provide its extensive RIC platform. Juniper will be deploying both the near-real-time (near-RT) and the non-real-time (non-RT) RIC and demonstrating the capabilities of various xApps/rApps. This will enable Turk Telekom to deliver differentiated services faster to their customers.

This Open RAN initiative will be trialled in both Turk Telekoms Innovation Centre and in field environments by:

Building a cloud-native, Open RAN world-class network solution based on a high-performance, distributed architecture.

Improving service agility and reducing overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with the introduction of RAN automation.

Providing a turnkey solution that optimizes high traffic capacity requirements.

Yusuf Kirac, CTO of Turk Telekom, said that the operator was taking active roles in drawing the roadmap for 5G. As a result of our cooperation with Juniper Networks for the RIC solution last year, we now export our new technology solutions globally. We have also established collaborations with global technology manufacturers. Within the scope of these collaborations, we continue our development, tests, and productization of Open RAN.

Constantine Polychronopoulos, VP, 5G and Telco Cloud at Juniper Networks, said: Junipers ability to provide an open SDK and network-based APIs facilitates seamless portability of x/rApps on its RIC in multivendor environments and underscores the potential for all operators.
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum Roulaison Distilling Co. partners Andrew Lohfeld and Patrick Hernandez hatched plans for their operation not on the high seas, but as friends in New York City catching up over drinks in 2013.

Working at New York Citys Kings County Distillery at the time, Lohfeld shared with Hernandez his dream of opening his own distillery to focus on producing a great craft rum. As a Louisiana native, Hernandez knew the perfect place to launch just such a plan, and the duo set out on a research and development trip to New Orleans.

I got great perspective on whiskey at Kings County, but as my experience in the spirits industry grew, I realized there was an untapped opportunity with rum, Lohfeld explains. There are all these great American whiskey brands and distilleries, which makes it a little hard to compete in that category. The rum segment was much easier to break into, and theres a better chance to make a real impact in the market.

The name  a combination of rouler, meaning to roll and saison, meaning season  honors the micro-distillerys terroir.

Roulaison is the French Creole word for the sugarcane harvest, Lohfeld explains. 'Rolling season technically refers to the rolling motion of the grinding wheels that are used to crush the sugarcane. The term is no longer really used in the modern lexicon for sugar production; we found it referenced in an old 1890s sugarcane planting guide.

The right place at the right time

Along with Florida, Louisianas hot and humid climate lends itself readily to sugarcane farming, one of just a few growing regions in America where the crop thrives. And, as sugar is the main ingredient in rum, the territory is a natural fit for a distillery site, an entrepreneurial idea thats quickly gaining popularity.

Ten years ago, there were only a few distilleries located in Louisiana, two of which made rum, Lohfeld says. Now were up to around 35 total.

With new distilleries popping up all across Florida and Louisiana, Lohfeld hopes to see the creation of a rum trail promotion to drive interest and tourism, similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or Louisvilles Urban Bourbon Trail.

The industry is so much stronger now than it was 10 years ago; I cant help but think about how much further it will come along in another decade, he ponders. I think were really just on the cusp of developing those necessary relationships with stakeholders, mill workers, farmers and marketing entities.

Producing a great product

Fresh sugarcane juice is hard to come by outside of major growing regions, leaving rum distilleries not based in Florida or Louisiana to rely on molasses as their only base ingredient. Due to its proximity to sugar mills, Roulaison is fortunate enough to use either fresh sugarcane juice or molasses, which is a concentrated form of sugarcane juice. From there, the basic distilling process is similar to that of other spirits.

You start off with your sugar source and then add water and yeast, but with rum, you dont have to convert the more complex starches in grains first like you do with bourbon or rye, so its one less step, Lohfeld describes. Rum can come off the still a bit higher as well, as high as nearly 190 proof, but ours is at around 155 to 160 proof.

Because rum has traditionally been imported into America as opposed to being produced domestically, regulation isnt as strictly controlled as it is with native spirits like whiskey.

Rum is like the Wild West of spirits, Lohfeld laughs. There are no rules about barreling or storage. In some countries, the distillate must spend at least a year aging in wood barrels to be called rum. But in America, rum doesnt have to be aged at all. You can drink it right off the still.

How to taste rum

Although the ingredients and process remain fairly consistent across the board, rum does allow opportunities for color customization and flavor development. Depending on the product, drinkers may pick up inherently sweet tasting notes of brown sugar, vanilla, coconut, cinnamon, tropical fruit and other essential flavors.

Rum has such a great diversity of styles around the world, Lohfeld says. Because there are so many different ways to make it, you can hit pretty much every spoke on the flavor wheel. Ive seen rums compared to whiskeys and brandies; however, you can tweak different aspects with rum to get flavors that you just cant achieve with other spirits.

When it comes down to the tasting, Lohfeld says the best way to drink rum is however you like it.

One of my favorite introductions to rum is to make a traditional daiquiri with it and see how it works in that kind of cocktail, he recommends.

Or, you can sip it straight like a whiskey, maybe add an ice cube. Bringing the proof down with a little water helps a good craft rum to really open up and release all those great aromatic compounds.
A prosecutor running for Henry/Houston County district attorney is challenging the incumbent over his low conviction rate.

In a Feb. 10 Houston County Republican forum at the Wiregrass Rehab Center, current District Attorney Pat Jones said his offices conviction rate was 78% for suspects accused of violence, including cases involving capital murder, murder, manslaughter, and assault.

His only opponent in the Republican primary, Russ Goodman, told reporters at a press conference he called on Tuesday that he believes Jones is skewing or mispresenting those statistics.

Goodman, an assistant district attorney for Coffee and Pike counties, said his campaign checked those statistics by contacting county clerk offices. His findings, which he provided reports for, seem to show that the percentage of convictions for violent cases tried by a jury was actually closer to 40%a stark contrast to his oppositions report.

All I want is the information that (voters are) using to make an informed decision is accurate and thats what were trying to do is just set the record straight, Goodman said while sitting inside a conference room inside the Maxwelle Building in Dothan.

He also found that the conviction rate for all cases tried by Jones office was approximately 49%.

Jones did not immediately return a call from the Dothan Eagle on Tuesday to clarify his earlier statements and provide a comment.

Goodman, a prosecutor for the last eight years, said that not every case is a slam dunk. Witnesses disappear before trial, victims dont always cooperate, and other extenuating circumstances can cause a prosecutor to lose a case.

But what weve got here, if you look at this overall, a 49% conviction rate is unacceptable regardless of whatever collateral things you have going on with whatever case, Goodman said.

With previous prosecution experience under Jones and retired Henry-Houston County DA Doug Valeska, Goodman said he believes the issue stems from the current leadership.

Weve got too many violent criminals that are walking out of the front door of that courthouse free people and the crime rate is up in Houston and Henry County, Goodman said. The only way to deter that is to let these violent criminals know that if they want to come to Houston or Henry County and go to trial, that more than likely theyre going to be convicted and theyre going to prison for a long time.

He added that, if elected, he would like to bring back experienced prosecutors who could help train the current staff.

The Republican primary elections will be held on May 24.

Sable Riley is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at sriley@dothaneagle.com or 334.712.7915. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com .
What most of us experienced when we woke up this morning was same as any weekday morning. Get up, make coffee, read the paper, have breakfast, prepare for the day.

Its Tuesday, so theres the get-the-kids-off-to-school routine, and its nearing the end of the month, so there are probably some bills due.

If youre a bit of a nerd, you might have noticed that the date, Feb. 22, 2022, can be written as a bunch of twos  2-22-22  a palindromic date thats unusual, remarkable, and, some might say, unlike any other day.

Some enterprising teachers may have gone to some length to incorporate the anomaly into a lesson plan; if so, theres even a web site, 22-2-22.com, to provide pointers and, of course, a gift shop.

From the Conspiracy Department, some folks have pointed out that today marks the Return of Pluto, when that particular planet reaches the position it purportedly held during the American Revolution. Theres talk that a Pluto Return is associated with the Fall of Rome. The implication seems to be that 2-22-22 is a harbinger of doom. Fear not; Pluto Return for the United States appears to have been Saturday, not today, so were good.

While todays numerical date or certain alignment of the planets may be no more impetus of calamity than, say, Y2K, there is one bit of truth in the hype  today is unlike any other day in that these hours that pass can never be reclaimed.

Today is one of a kind. Make the most of it.
According to statistics for Buy2Sell's Google Analytics in 2021, the platform recorded over half a million visits and 140,000 registered users.

In 2020, the platform reached about 400,000 visits and 56,000 registered users. In two years, it has recorded one million hits and more than 200,000 registered users.

According to Buy2Sell's importation data for the second semester of 2021, Buy2Sell Vietnam imported more than $22 million of goods through their global network of suppliers. These goods are destined for large local buyers using the platform. The most popular items are wine, nutritional food and cosmetics.

"We are in a growth phase. Our revenue stream provides Buy2Sell steady capital. Currently, we have received interesting offers from large investors. However, we are very humble right now in speaking about evaluation. Our focus is to deliver value, quality of service, brand influence in the community and efficiency. E-commerce is our primary goal," Harry Morant, Buy2Sell CEO, shared.

Buy2Sell Vietnam offers goods imported from a global network of suppliers. Photo by Buy2Sell

Buy2Sell was established in 2015 and belongs to the group LLHP PTE LTD, Singapore.

While most people use Google and other search engines to locate products, businesses did not have the same capabilities in the past. However, this is changing thanks to the increasing number of B2B eCommerce marketplace platforms. Now more than ever most businesses, large or small, heavily rely on B2B E-commerce marketplaces.

Vietnam stands to benefit as the B2B E-commerce market with the highest growth rate in Southeast Asia, reaching $13.2 billion in 2020, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43 percent by 2025. Buy2Sell plans to build a faster and more user-friendly platform and expand its sales, marketing, and technology teams to drive rapid growth.

More detail: https://buy2sell.vn/
Containers are seen at the Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, December 24, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

Foreign companies said they see great growth potential in Vietnam as it recovers from impacts of Covid-19 but more needs to be done to improve its business environment.

Speaking at the 2022 Vietnam Business Forum organized online in Hanoi Monday with South Korean, European and American business executives participating, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Kim Han-yong, acclaimed Vietnam for regaining its growth momentum despite the pandemic-related difficulties.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which came into effect this year, is set to make the country the trade center of Southeast Asia, he said.

But the implementation of RCEP commitments related to trade origins, certificates and taxes have yet to be streamlined and this needs to be done soon so that businesses could benefit from the trade pact, he said.

Alain Cany, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), said the quick pace of vaccination has helped the country gradually reopen, which has boosted the confidence of European businesses in Vietnam as seen in the Business Climate Indexs rise from 42 points to 61 in January.

But the government needs to use technology in administration to simplify procedures, lower costs and stimulate innovation, he said.

Vietnamese companies also need to take advantage of digital services in international trade, he added.

John Rockhold, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam), expressed confidence in the future of American businesses in the country.

The pandemic showed the importance of transportation and energy infrastructure in maintaining growth, and Vietnam has been focusing investment in this area by developing roads, ports, airports, and bridges, he said.

Rockhold called for making immigration procedures more flexible for air transport staff and streamlining customs.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the economic stimulus package of VND350 trillion, or over 4 percent of Vietnams GDP, would focus on dealing with the pandemic, creating jobs, reviving businesses, and investing in key projects.

Improving the business environment and administrative procedures is also on the agenda, he said.

The Vietnam Business Forum is an annual summit between the government and businesses, both local and foreign. This year it was hosted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and World Bank.
[February 22, 2022] Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Market to Expand at CAGR of 5.2% During Forecast Period, Observes TMR Study - Cloud PLM is gradually displacing on-premises systems due to the benefits of affordable setup and maintenance costs - In the automotive and transportation industry, customer demand for new items and features is rising, which is driving the adoption of PLM solutions in various firms ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global product lifecycle management (PLM) market is projected to cross valuation of US$ 91.9 Bn by 2030. The global market is likely to rise at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period from 2020 to 2030. The global market is expected to be driven by increasing need for product innovation, cost reductions, and productivity improvements. In addition, the global product lifecycle management market is predicted to grow due to the rising deployment of PLM solutions in various non-traditional end-use sectors such as retail and consumer products, as well as medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Food & beverage companies are using PLM to improve transparency and product innovation. PLM implementation in these organizations has been accelerated by strict compliance demands and an ever-increasing demand for quality products. PLM is beneficial to the food & beverages industry, as it provides critical information regarding the prospects of project success. Product lifecycle management aids in label and ingredient regulatory compliance requirements, which aids in product safety and uptake. In 2019, North America held the major share of the global product lifecycle management (PLM) market, with 36.9% market share. Due to substantial investments in multiple end-use segments of technologies to decrease product time-to-market and lower overall manufacturing costs, North America is a developed market with regard to the adoption of PLM solutions. With a projected CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period, Asia Pacific is likely to be the one of the rapidly expanding regions in the global market. Request a Report Sample at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4548 Key Findings of Market Report Cloud product lifecycle management software is gaining traction in a variety of end markets. The software is producing value-grab possibilities for businesses since it is simple to install and allows for real-time collaboration. As a result, PLM assists internal teams as well as supply chain partners in designing, developing, and manufacturing high-quality products for company's target consumers.

In addition to consumer products and retail, product lifecycle management (PLM) suppliers are pursuing possibilities in the defense & aerospace industry. End customers are increasing the demand for PLM software in the industry, as products are potentially complicated and interconnected. Firms are developing innovative PLM systems capable of simplifying the flow of information due to continual innovation in the aerospace & defense industry. Companies can improve their engagement with the extended supply chain and conduct concurrent development across cross-departmental teams with product lifecycle management.

PLM cloud-based solutions have allowed SMEs to retain their product design activities with minimal expenses. PLM suppliers have begun to offer a variety of cloud-based products, which has sped the adoption of cloud-based PLM software. In addition, cloud-based PLM solutions allow for the cost-effective incorporation of mobile devices and analytics.

Due to the increasing demand in companies, on-premise digital manufacturing software is expected to expand at a substantial pace of 7.3% during the forecast period. By conducting data management and process optimization during the product development cycle, this software increases the overall efficacy of manufacturing processes, propelling the global product lifecycle management (PLM) market.

Get PDF Brochure for More Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4548 Global Product Lifecycle Management [PLM] Market: Growth Drivers As consumers develop and manage data in native CAD formats and other neutral file formats, firms in the global product lifecycle management (PLM) market are increasing their efforts to address the problem of incompatible formats such as CAD files in PLM. In such situations, PDM can assist in the management of all CAD file formats.

Rising demand for product innovation, more productivity, and lower operating costs is propelling the global market. By providing numerous tools and approaches to remove redundancies, a PLM solution significantly improves the efficiency of a system. Get COVID-19 Analysis on "Product Lifecycle Management Market" at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=4548 Global Product Lifecycle Management [PLM] Market: Key Players Some of the key market players are IBM Corporation

Autodesk, Inc.

Hewlett-Packard Company

Dassault Systemes SE

Accenture PLC

Siemens AG Enquiry before Buying: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=EB&rep_id=4548 Global Product Lifecycle Management [PLM] Market: Segmentation Software On Premise

Cloud-based End Use Automotive & Transportation

Aerospace & Defense

Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment

Electronics & Semiconductor

Energy & Utilities

Consumer Products & Retail

Medical Devices & Pharmaceutical

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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/contact-center-solutions-market.html Intellectual Property Services Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/intellectual-property-services-market.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ Contact :

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The building at 3330 Garfield Street, Washington D.C., which will host Vietnam Embassy. Photo by Google Street View

Vietnam has completed negotiations to spend around $23.7 million from the national budget to purchase an embassy location in the U.S.

In a document to garner opinions from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had finished negotiations to purchase the headquarters for the Vietnam Embassy in the U.S., located at 3330 Garfield Street, Washington D.C., as well as homes for its employees in the U.S.

The purchased headquarters used to belong to the Belgium Embassy in the U.S. As a legal procedure, the property would return to the ownership of the U.S. Department of State, which would allow the Vietnamese foreign ministry to rent it for a dollar over 99 years.

The signing of the contract to finalize the deal is expected to conclude within 2022.

Back in August 2019, the government had approved the investment project at $27.3 million from the national budget.

In August last year, the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam signed an agreement with the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment to lease a land lot to build a new embassy for $1.2 billion.

It will be located on 3.2-hectares in Cau Giay District and leased for 99 years.
Singapore Airlines to resume regular flights to Da Nang next month

Singapore Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore November 16, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Caroline Chia

Singapore Airlines has become the first international carrier to announce resumption of commercial flights to Da Nang City from March 27 after nearly two years of suspension.

Singapores flag carrier is now selling air tickets for the service, the citys news portal reported.

There would be one daily return flight on the route and the carrier would increase the frequency based on market demand.

Before the pandemic, Singapore was one of the key tourism markets of Da Nang with a frequency of four direct flights per day. Around 12,000 Vietnamese live in Singapore.

Singapore resumed commercial flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from Jan. 13.

Da Nang, home to long, sandy beaches, is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. The city plans to fully reopen tourism and aviation from next month.
The United States reaffirmed its financial commitment to the Ukrainian people. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a U.S. sovereign loan guarantee to Ukraine of up to $1 billion to support its economic reform agenda and continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF. This offer  combined with the partnership between Ukraine, the IMF, other international financial institutions, the G7 and other bilateral donors  will bolster Ukraines economic stability, growth, and prosperity in the face of Russias aggression, said Secretary Blinken in a statement.

Between 2014 and 2016, the United States issued Ukraine three separate $1 billion dollar sovereign loan guarantees  which ensure the lenders will be repaid  after Russia began occupying the Crimean Peninsula. These loan guarantees played a critical role in helping Ukraine successfully stabilize its economy amid previous Russian aggression and implement a bold economic reform agenda underpinned by ambitious cooperation with the IMF, said Secretary Blinken.

The United States has provided over $2 billion in development assistance to Ukraine since 2014. The U.S. government has also worked to promote commercial participation by U.S. companies across the Ukrainian economy.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States intends to make available up to $3 billion to facilitate procurement of U.S. goods and services for projects in Ukraine, while the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation has a current investment portfolio in Ukraine of approximately $800 million across more than a dozen projects.

The United States, said Secretary Blinken, will continue to look for ways to support Ukraine and its people, against the clear and present danger of a Russian invasion.
The Nevada Tax Commission voted Friday to confirm that a new tax rate collected from gold mining companies would be limited to mid-2021 and onward  the period after legislators voted to impose the tax  rather than the full calendar year 2021.

During the public comment session, progressive advocates, including Christine Saunders, policy director at Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, expressed disappointment that the commission made changes upon the Nevada Mining Associations request from a meeting in January. Saunders said the commission should preserve what was voted on with bipartisan support and full view of the public, rather than to manipulate the language in the bill in the regulatory process.

We urge you to revert back to the initial draft presented by the tax department without the amendments, said Saunders, whose organization has been critical of mining operations, alleging that they are not paying enough taxes.

Chris Daly, a lobbyist with the Nevada State Education Association teachers union, agreed with Saunders by stating that the industry should support the earlier start date and fund the public schools that are facing an unprecedented crisis.

The confusion and debate over when the tax collection would start stemmed from differences in interpretations of AB495, a bill lawmakers passed last year as part of a compromise to send more money to education and respond to calls to raise taxes on the mining industry. The tax is projected to raise approximately $83.3 million in the 2022 fiscal year and $81 million in the 2023 fiscal year.

One section of the bill mentions retroactivity, while another section mentions the statute is only effective as of July 1.

Mining association president Tyre Gray argued that for a bill to be applied retroactively, clear legislative intent must be expressed in the bill and he did not believe that was the case for AB495.

I have not found any Nevada cases that have upheld the retroactive application of a new tax, he said.

Tax Commissioner Sharon Byram agreed with Gray and said it has been more than 15 days since the vote took place, and there is a due process concern that the taxpayer was not given notice ahead of time.

I find it unbelievable that our unanimous decision is being questioned when we have the full support of the plain language and of the Nevada Supreme Courts ruling on the matter directly to this situation, she said.

Byram disclosed that she is a member of the Nevada Mining Association and has been for most of the last 30 years, but that membership in the association did not influence her.

In light of the new commentary, the Tax Commission took a vote to see if commissioners have changed their stances since their previous meeting on Jan. 24. Except for Commission Chairman James Devolld and Commissioner Francine Lipman, the rest of the commissioners voted to confirm that the results from the prior meeting stand.

With the regulatory language established, the Department of Taxation will expedite the process of delivering forms and instructions so mining businesses can pay by April 1.

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ELKO  An Elko man who was accused of trying to hit a sheriffs patrol vehicle multiple times with a stolen pickup has been sentenced to prison after violating his parole.

Juan C. Sanchez, 27, had his probation revoked Feb. 7 by District Judge Mason Simons, after he was arrested in January on felony drug charges. Simons imposed sentences of 28 months in prison and one year in jail, to be served consecutively.

Sanchez was arrested in September 2020 on six counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

According to an Elko County Sheriffs report, a deputy responded to a domestic call at a residence on Nebraska Avenue and as he approached, he was notified the suspect had left the residence in a white pickup truck and was driving toward the patrol vehicle at a 69 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The deputy reported his red and blue lights were switched on when the truck attempted to ram the patrol vehicle, with the deputy avoiding a collision. The truck stopped, reversed in front of the patrol vehicle to get behind it, and tried to ram the back of the patrol vehicle.

The deputy said the truck tried to ram his vehicle two more times before driving east on Last Chance Road where the deputy followed in pursuit. After losing sight of it briefly, the deputy said the truck reappeared, driving at a high rate of speed west on Last Chance Road directly at the patrol vehicle.

I was ran off the road to avoid a head-on collision, the deputy wrote in the report. The vehicle, at a high rate of speed, almost struck a pedestrian and a horse at this location.

The Elko Police Department stopped Sanchez and arrested him.

Sanchezs father reported the truck as stolen, telling authorities his son pushed and tackled him to the ground, demanding the keys to his fathers truck.

Sanchez was also charged with domestic battery, robbery, conspiracy to commit grand larceny and possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.

In August 2018, Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit carry concealed explosive firearm or other dangerous weapon and was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail with credit for 24 days served.

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On Monday we watched as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed papers formally recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent. He then sent in what he called "peacekeeping" forces to support their position, although most of the rest of the world saw that as heavily armed Russian troops crossing the border into Ukraine, heightening the threat that has been hanging over the country for several weeks.

What sanctions could Russia face?

After these most recent actions by Moscow, we saw the price of oil rocket - some experts suggesting that it could reach as much as $100 a barrel - and the United States is coordinating with allies and will announce new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, US officials have said.

"The United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity," US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told reporters after a U.N. 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."

Biden administration officials said Putin's move did not trigger a broad package of sanctions that the United States and its allies have been working on if Russia invades Ukraine because Russia already had troops in the region. Instead the White House announced separate, less severe and more targeted sanctions, in response.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order that White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said would "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine," referring to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.

Psaki said additional measures would come on Tuesday. Those, according to another White House spokesperson, would be directed at Russia.

Reuters could not determine what sanctions or export controls might be announced on Tuesday, but the Biden administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring US financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, people familiar with the matter said over the weekend.

Potential further sanctions to be imposed on Russia

The measures aim to hurt the Russian economy by cutting the "correspondent" banking relationships between targeted Russian banks and US banks that enable international payments.

The United States will also wield its most powerful sanctioning tool against certain Russian individuals and companies by placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, effectively kicking them out of the US banking system, banning their trade with Americans and freezing their US assets, the same sources said.

The Biden administration plans to spare everyday Russians from the brunt of US export controls if Russia invades Ukraine, and focus on targeting industrial sectors, a White House official said in late January. Still, "key people" will also face "massive sanctions," White House national security official Peter Harrell said in a speech in Massachusetts.

Export control measures could also be announced as part of the package but would probably not have the same immediate impacts, and instead "degrade Russia's ability to have industrial production in a couple of key sectors."

Harrell did not detail the sectors, but other White House officials have mentioned aviation, maritime, robotics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and defense.
Biden signs executive order imposing economic sanctions on Donbas regions

President Putin's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent regions was a major provocation against Ukraine and one that may be used as pretext for a major invasion in the coming days and weeks. In response President Biden signed an exectutive order prohibiting trade with the two regions in the Donbas area of Ukraine.

The order states: "The United States will not hesitate to use its authorities to target those supporting efforts to undermine Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. This authority provides the United States with the flexibility to impose similar restrictions on any other regions of Ukraine as appropriate."
JINAN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Clad in traditional Chinese clothing, Ukrainian Yana Kvasha danced delightfully to classic Chinese New Year tunes along a village square with locals.

"Cities have their charms, but it is in this small mountain village that you experience the traditional Chinese culture," said the 25-year-old professional dancer. She spent this Spring Festival in Zhuquan Village in east China's Shandong Province.

"Zhuquan," literally meaning "bamboos and streams" in Chinese, is a picturesque village with a history of over 400 years. Today, it boasts traditional cultural experiences that have attracted tourists from home and abroad.

Kvasha has been in China for three years, and each year she picks a different spot to spend Chinese New Year. "My friends recommended Zhuquan Village to me to experience the new year in a rural village," she said.

A few years ago, it was rare for locals to see a foreigner in the village, but in recent years, foreign faces have become more common as tourism booms.

Kvasha was warmly greeted by locals when she arrived. On Chinese New Year's Eve, she even received dumplings from villagers, traditional food that families make together on New Year's Eve.

On Lichun, meaning the beginning of spring, the first solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, Kvasha took a bite of a radish slice with the Chinese character for "spring" cut out in the middle. This ritual, called "Yaochun," expresses the wish for everything to go smoothly.

She also experienced many other cultural activities such as the Chinese dragon and lion dances, but the most impressive performance to her was the traditional local wedding ceremony.

"The Chinese bride wore a red veil and the new couple had a tea ceremony to honor their parents," Kvasha recalled, adding that it was her first time watching a ceremony so closely.

The cultural experiences have made the village a tourism hotspot. It receives around 1.5 million visitors each year, while 80 percent of local households' incomes rely on tourism.

During the Spring Festival of 2016, the village invited African performers to their traditional temple fair, who presented African dance along with local folk dance and other traditional performances.

"That was my first time seeing foreigners and it was a wonderful combination of performances," recalled 71-year-old local villager Fan Guangxi. "I hope we can have great shows each year."

Fan said that the cultural activities have enriched their lives during the Chinese New Year.

"This is an unforgettable Spring Festival for me and I want to come next year," said Kvasha, adding that she wants to learn how to make dumplings so that she can do it with the local villagers on Chinese New Year's Eve.

Editor: GSY
BRUSSELS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A concert called "Chinese Memories" was held on Friday evening in the western Belgian city of Ghent to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

All musical pieces were composed by Belgian composer Johan Famaey but performed and sung in Chinese by Belgian artists. The elegant music blending Chinese and Western styles drew the audience into the poetic and dreamlike artistic conception of ancient Chinese poetry.

"This is how Chinese Memories should be understood: an ode to China," said Famaey, who had lived in east China's Qingdao City from 2005 to 2009.

"Chinese Memories is kind of a combination of what I find intriguing and the romantic era. Baroque music sounds very exotic to the Chinese people, so I had this idea of bringing things together," he said.

"The music is entirely original, but there are allusions to important composers of the past such as Bach, Schubert and Puccini. There are no cliches to represent the Chinese style, but rather traditional elements that give the music a unique feel," he explained.

The concert was led by renowned conductor Geert Baetens and featured Famaey himself who played the yangqin, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, backed by an orchestra and children's choir.

Editor: GSY
BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In China, the first of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar is called "Lichun," or the "Beginning of Spring," which falls in early February every year. It is seen as the start of a promising season full of hope.

For Jihaoyeqiu, a villager in the mountainous Sanhe Village in southwest China's Sichuan Province, his memories of spring 2018 are particularly vivid: his family welcomed a special guest, President Xi Jinping.

About a year before Jihaoyeqiu welcomed the president into his home, Xi participated in deliberations with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Sichuan during the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. During the deliberations, Xi told the deputies, "I have been to most of the country's 'contiguous impoverished areas' and will visit Lyuliang and Liangshan, where I have not yet been, as soon as possible."

True to his word, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, went to the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture during his inspection tour to Sichuan in February 2018.

Liangshan is home to China's largest ethnic Yi community. The prefecture had long struggled with grinding poverty due to rough terrain and a harsh natural environment as well as a lack of roads and amenities. Eleven of the prefecture's 17 county-level regions were key areas in the state's poverty alleviation campaign.

Xi went to the then impoverished Sanhe, a village 2,500 meters above sea level in the Liangshan prefecture.

Xi passed through a low courtyard gate and walked into Jihaoyeqiu's home. Before stepping over the threshold, he carefully read the poverty alleviation support card on the door of the house. He then took time to enquire how the family was getting along with their life and whether their children were attending school.

"I have always been concerned about the Yi people. I am very happy to be here and I am heartened to see that your lives are getting better," Xi said. Xi was happy to learn that villagers had increased their incomes by raising cattle and growing potatoes, peppers and walnuts.

Over the years, the Liangshan prefecture had undergone a massive anti-poverty campaign, building over 10,000 kilometers of rural roads, relocating 350,000 residents to government-funded housing, and helping 215 villages develop a collective economy. More than 11,000 officials were sent to villages to assist in local anti-poverty battles.

In Sanhe, especially thanks to improved rural transport, villagers have found a path to develop their domestic industries. Today, local agricultural products such as potatoes, peppers and walnuts are sold beyond their mountains, markedly increasing incomes.

Xi, as the commander-in-chief of China's anti-poverty fight, promised that "the CPC will do whatever it takes to honor its commitment to the people."

Last year, China announced victory in its pursuit to eradicate absolute poverty. The authorities have been since then placing more emphasis on a strategy to modernize the vast countryside, or the rural vitalization drive.

During this year's pre-Spring Festival trip to Shanxi Province, Xi noted that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Editor: WRX
The giant LED screen during the Lighting the Emblem performance at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Sunday. [Photo by FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY]

From showcasing the roaring current of the Yellow River to drawing a massive Chinese knot on ice, the giant LED screen that staged such scenes during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics wowed viewers at home and abroad.

Leyard Optoelectronic, the screen's producer, said the ground screen that served as a stage for the ceremonies was the largest of its kind in the world, measuring 10,552 square meters.

The screen's display resolution could reach 14,880 by 7,248 pixels and 50 frames per second, the company said, significantly higher than the 7,680 by 4,320 resolution of an 8K display, the mass market's cutting-edge display technology.

Ding Mingxiao, the ground screen project manager, told the China Association for Science and Technology that extremely rigorous standards, typically reserved for aerospace engineering, were applied in making the massive screen, ensuring its stability and performance.

The standards included quality control, independent appraisal, meticulous preparation and fail-safe design, Ding said. One example was the use of dual power systems for each of the ground screen's 42,208 panels.

When a panel operated correctly, the two systems each provided 50 percent of the power. However, if one power system failed, the other would provide 100 percent of the electricity.

The panels also had to be able to resist cold temperatures, water, scratches and heavy weights. The engineers even built a dedicated cloud system to monitor panel temperature, humidity, voltage and other parameters so that malfunctions could be pinpointed.

Jin Lei, another project manager, said the 42,208 panels looked like a giant jigsaw puzzle in the center of the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

"It was a sight to behold and we could barely contain our excitement," he said.

After the screen was completed, engineers spent four months calibrating the system before this month's opening ceremony to ensure nothing could jeopardize the event.

Wang Mengxue, one of the engineers involved in the maintenance of the ground screen, said the work was demanding and meticulous.

"The only thought in our mind was to shoulder our duty and make our country proud," she said. "We were honored to be part of the process, and this experience will be remembered fondly."

Editor: JYZ
The European Business Association (EBA) conducted an express survey of 53 executives of the association's member companies, during which 90% reported continuing to work as usual.

"According to the results of the express survey conducted by the association last night (on the eve of Russia's decision), about 90% of company executives reported that they continue to work as usual. Of these, about 70% of companies already have plans B for emergency situations. At the same time, 15% report readiness for relocation, but remain in Ukraine and continue to follow the course of events," the association said in a release on Tuesday.

"Only 3% of business leaders reported going abroad, another 11%  about the departure of their families, however, some did this at the request of the head offices of the companies," the EBA said.

"The self-possession and strength of our companies, which continue to work and believe in a better future for Ukraine, is extremely impressive. Responsible business has always been an active participant in important events in the country, takes care of its employees and their families, supports the army and society. Business believes in Ukraine! Therefore we hope that the state will also declare its support by preventing pressure on transparent business," the press service said, citing EBA Executive Director Anna Derevyanko.

The EBA offices in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro and Kharkiv also continue to operate as usual, the EBA added.
Ukraine demands to convene meeting of UN Security Council over Russia's actions in Donbas  Kuleba

Ukraine demands to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the actions of the Russia in Donbas, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Ukraine demands to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the illegal actions of Russia," Kuleba said on Twitter on Tuesday night.

He said the relevant appeal has already been submitted to the Security Council.
Ukraine initiates an emergency summit of the Normandy Four after Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR."

"An emergency convening of the Normandy Four summit has been initiated. I initiated the convening of a meeting of the UN Security Council, holding a special meeting of the OSCE," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement on the night of Monday, February 21.

Ukraine, according to him, also insists on the full-fledged work of the OSCE SMM to prevent provocations and further escalation,

From our partners, he said, "we expect clear and effective steps of support."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, promised to consider a possibility of increasing military assistance to Ukraine, the prime minister's office said.

"The Prime Minister said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian Government," the report said.

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."

The report also said 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."

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 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the coming days.

He told President Zelensky 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 [on Tuesday]."

The prime minister's office also said that Johnson had scheduled meetings of the COBRA emergency response committee on the situation around Ukraine for Tuesday morning.
At the initiative of Ukraine, which was supported by a number of countries, the UN Security Council will consider the situation around Ukraine after Russia recognizes the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, multiple diplomatic sources in the world organization said.

According to sources, the United States, Albania, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, France, the EU, and the United Kingdom spoke in favor of holding the meeting. It is scheduled for 04:00 Tuesday morning.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in a nightly video statement said that Russia's recognition of the so-called "L/DPR" is a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and called for the convening of an emergency summit of the Normandy Four.
Ukraine's permanent rep to UN: We demand from Russia to cancel decision on recognition of 'L/DPR,' immediate withdrawal of occupation troops from Donbas

Permanent Representative of Ukraine in the United Nations (UN), Serhiy Kyslytsya, speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday night, announced Ukraine's demand to cancel the decision of Russia regarding the recognition of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR."

"It remains up to Russia to abandon its long-lasting strategy against Ukraine and re-engage in fundamental principles of peaceful relations enshrined in the UN charter. We demand from Russia to cancel the decision on recognition and return to the table of negotiations. We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops in the territories of Ukraine. We demand immediate and complete, verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops," Kyslytsya said.

He also said that Ukraine calls on Russia to carefully re-read the statement of the UN Secretary General, where the decision of Russia on the recognition of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" are called violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, contrary to the UN Charter.
The recognition of the so-called "LPR" and "DPR" by Russia is the basis for further Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"By recognizing the so-called 'L/DPR,' Russia creates legal grounds for Russian armed aggression, while violating all bilateral and multilateral obligations, the UN Security Council Resolution on Ukraine dated February 17, 2015," Zelensky said at a joint meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He also said the Russian escalation around Ukraine is an unprecedented challenge for the world as a whole.
Canada prepares to impose economic sanctions for Russia's recognition of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic", Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

"Canada, along with its partners and allies, will respond firmly to this blatant disregard for international law. We are preparing to impose economic sanctions for these actions, separate from those prepared in response to any further Russian military invasion in Ukraine," Joly said in a statement, posted on her Twitter page on Tuesday.

She said that Canada remains steadfast in supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"Canada strongly condemns President Putin's recognition of the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territories. This is a clear violation of the Minsk agreements, the UN Charter and a serious threat to security and stability in the region," Joly said.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell, on behalf of the entire EU, issued a statement in which he called on Moscow to abandon the latest decisions.

The text of the statement was distributed in Brussels on Tuesday.

"The EU strongly condemns the decision by President Putin to recognise the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities and the ensuing decision to send Russian troops into these areas. This illegal act further undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and independence and is a severe breach of international law and international agreements, including the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, Paris Charter and Budapest Memorandum," the statement reads.

Borrell noted that, as a signatory of the Minsk agreements, Russia has "a clear and direct responsibility to work to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict in line with these principles."

"With the decision to recognise the non-government controlled region of eastern Ukraine as 'independent states', Russia is clearly violating the Minsk agreements, which stipulate the full return of these areas to the control of the Ukrainian government. Russia is therefore breaking 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. It is also violating UN Security Council Resolution 2202, which requires full implementation of the Minsk Agreements," the EU High Representative said.

In this regard, Borrell, on behalf of the EU, urged Russia, as a party to the conflict, to reverse the recognition, uphold its commitments, abide by international law and return to the discussions within the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group.

"We call on other States not to follow Russia's illegal decision to recognise this proclaimed independence," the statement reads.

He assured that the EU would respond to these latest violations as a matter of urgency with additional restrictive measures, including on all economic relations with the non-governmental controlled areas, as well as designations against individuals and entities responsible for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in coordination with their partners.

"We warn Russia against using the newly signed pacts with the self-proclaimed 'republics' as a pretext for taking further military steps against Ukraine. The EU stands ready to swiftly adopt more wide-ranging political and economic sanctions. The EU reiterates its unwavering support and commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its political and economic relations with Ukraine," Borrell finalized his statement.
NASA is launching a prototype instrument that could make it easier to monitor volcanic activity and air quality.

Perched aboard a CubeSat about 300 miles (480 kilometers) above Earth's surface, the "Nanosat Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System," or NACHOS, will use a compact hyperspectral imager to locate sources of trace gases in areas as small as 0.15 square miles (0.4 square kilometers) - about the size of the Mall of America in Minnesota. NACHOS is part of Northrop Grumman's 17th resupply mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

If successful, NACHOS will be the smallest, highest resolution space-based instrument dedicated to monitoring atmospheric trace gases like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide, paving the way for future Earth-observing systems that will not only help predict volcanic eruptions, but also monitor air quality around specific cities, neighborhoods, and even individual power plants.

"A dormant volcano just waking up may emit SO2 before there is any detectable seismic activity. That gives us a chance to identify a potentially erupting volcano before it actually blows," said Steve Love, a researcher and task lead with the Space and Remote Sensing Group at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Atmospheric trace gases from natural and human-made sources provide scientists with unique insights into a wide variety of Earth systems. For example, nitrogen dioxide, often produced by burning fossil fuels, negatively impacts human health and can serve as a tracer for carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change) that results from human activity.

"When we recognize that these gases are present and can localize their sources on a sub-kilometer scale, we have the opportunity to take action and minimize negative health outcomes," said Love.

But monitoring trace gases requires instruments sensitive enough to gather high-resolution data; traditionally, that's meant creating larger satellites equipped with a full suite of powerful sensors.

"There are excellent instruments in orbit gathering data on atmospheric trace gases, but they are expensive to produce and maintain. If we want to expand this scientific capability, we'll need a more cost-effective solution," said Love.

At just 13 pounds (6 kilograms) and 18 cubic inches (300 centimeters cubed), NACHOS is well qualified to become that solution. In addition to an ultra-compact hyperspectral imager capable of gathering high-resolution data, NACHOS also uses onboard processing algorithms, which reduce both the size of its data transmissions and the amount of time it takes to relay those transmissions back to Earth.

These algorithms run particularly well on small computers, giving NACHOS large amounts of computational power without increasing the instrument's size or weight.

"More power and less weight set NACHOS apart and make it an excellent candidate for future atmospheric trace gas missions," said Love.

NACHOS will remain aboard Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft until May 2022, when the spacecraft will unberth from the International Space Station and place NACHOS in low-Earth orbit before the cargo spacecraft reenters Earth's atmosphere. Love and his team will spend three months commissioning NACHOS before it begins its technology validation and science mission. He expects NACHOS to remain in orbit for about one year.

"That will give us enough time to verify our instrument design and gather enough test data to ensure our technology concept is feasible," said Love.

A second NACHOS instrument will head to low-Earth orbit in winter of 2022 as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Space Test Program.

The prototype is funded through the InVEST program in NASA's Earth Science Technology Office.



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that he had already sent President Volodymyr Zelensky a proposal to break off diplomatic relations with Russia.

"Tonight, I've signed a submission to the President of Ukraine with a proposal to break off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. I think, I always thought that this should have been done back in 2014. Unfortunately, this decision was not made then," Kuleba said at a briefing at the country's Embassy in Washington on Tuesday.
NATO condemns Moscow's decision to recognize the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" and Russia's further invasion of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"We condemn Moscow's decision to recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. We also condemn the further Russian incursion into Ukraine. Moscow has now moved from covert attempts to destabilise Ukraine, to overt military action. This is a serious escalation by Russia. And a flagrant violation of international law," Stoltenberg said at a briefing on the results of an extraordinary emergency meeting of the NATO-Ukraine commission.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he was interested in attracting Estonian investors to energy and infrastructure projects and the development of the IT sector.

"We [with the President of Estonia] agreed that an increase in the presence of business, investments in Ukraine will contribute to increasing the resilience of Ukraine. Interest in increasing them is bilateral. Therefore, I invite Estonian investors to take an active part in energy, infrastructure projects, as well as the development of the IT sphere in Ukraine," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with the President of Estonia for the media.

According to him, the heads of states separately discussed expanding cooperation in the digital sphere and attracting Estonian investors to Ukrainian funds.

"We also agreed to deepen our cooperation on cybersecurity issues," Zelensky said, noting that "there are many other promising areas."
KYIV. Feb 22 (Interfax-Ukraine)  More than 20 companies of the Ukrainian office market took part in the development of an update of the Kyiv's office real estate classification, including the criterion of compliance with international green certificates.

"The classification is advisory in nature. It is not building codes or national standards. This is what the market and tenants expect from future projects. It affects developers, who we recommend analyzing their projects in accordance with new criteria, for tenants who will be able to compare objects when choosing a location, and for an investor who will be able to evaluate projects for purchase," Managing Partner of CBRE Ukraine Radomir Tsurkan said at a press conference entitled "Presentation of Office Real Estate Classification. Version 2022" at Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, updating the classification was necessary, given the rapid growth of the market: the volume of office space in Kyiv at the beginning of 2022 is more than 2 million square meters. In addition, the requirements for office real estate on the part of tenants have changed.

The new classification has six categories: location, architectural features of buildings, parking, engineering systems, management and property, environmental efficiency.

According to URE Club partner Natalia Nesterenko, there are 46 criteria in the new classification, 11 of which are new. Among them is the environmental performance criterion, which provides for compliance with one of the international standards for assessing the environmental performance of buildings (BREEAM, LEED, WELL, etc.).

"In addition to the introduction of a new criterion "environmental efficiency," we left time for existing facilities to modernize, and for new ones to be properly designed. For class A from 2025 this is a mandatory criterion, for class B it is a recommendation," she told Interfax-Ukraine.

In addition, three criteria are mandatory for class A: transport infrastructure, management of the entire business center by one company, centralized ventilation, air conditioning and heating system.

The boundaries of the Central Business District (CBD) were also expanded. Thus, the new borders run along Bulvarno-Kudriavska, Zhylianska, Korolenkivska, Konovaltsa, Almazova, Parkova Road, Petrovska Alley.

"We moved away from the criterion that class A facilities can only be located in CBD. Instead, we divided the location criteria into three: proximity to the metro, developed social and commercial infrastructure, quality of transport interchange," Head of Analytics and Consulting at Cushman&Wakefield Marta Kostiuk said.

According to the expert, the updated classification can be a guideline for other cities and regions of Ukraine.

The updated classification will be published on March 1 on the URE Club website. About 20 companies took part in the development of the update.

The previous update of the classification of office real estate was developed in 2014 by market participants based on the platform of the European Business Association.
Iran's Raisi hopes Qatar gas forum will boost relations with Gulf countries

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday he hopes a trip to Qatar to attend a regional gas conference will boost political and trade relations with Gulf Arab countries.













Iran is one of the founders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).



Raisi arrived in Doha on the first visit by an Iranian president to Qatar in 11 years and as Gulf states closely watch indirect US-Iranian talks to salvage a 2015 nuclear pact.



"Iran is one of the founders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) because we are among the three most important gas producing and exporting countries," Raisi said before he left Tehran to attend the gas summit being held on Tuesday.



Raisi, on his third foreign trip since taking office, is due to meet with Qatar's emir, whose foreign minister has held talks in Washington and in Tehran in recent weeks on efforts to salvage the nuclear pact, which Washington had withdrawn from in 2018.



Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have urged global powers involved in the nuclear talks to also address Iran's missiles programme and network of regional proxies.



Qatar has good ties with Iran, with which it shares a giant gas field. Tehran supported Doha after Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies imposed a boycott on Qatar in mid-2017 in a dispute over its ties with Islamist groups and non-Arab Turkey and Iran.



The Gulf row was resolved early last year and Saudi Arabia, which is locked in several proxy conflicts with Iran, has been engaging directly with Tehran in a bid to contain tensions.
Last Straw: Pro-Life Groups File Complaints Seeking Charges & Closure of Shoddy Alabama Abortion Business After Illegal Dumping



A bloody cannula used in an abortion was found in an anonymous trash dump originating from the West Alabama Women's Center.



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

Feb. 22, 2022



BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 22, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- When Fr. Terry Gensemer and his wife returned to their Birmingham, Alabama, home one evening earlier this month, they discovered mysterious black trash bags left anonymously on their property. Curious, they inspected the contents of the bags and were shocked by their grisly discovery.



Inside were documents and bloody refuse from the West Alabama Women's Center, (WAWC), an abortion facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Included were suction abortion cannulas that contained blood. One had a bit of what appeared to be human tissue.



Documents included patient names, remittance receipts from credit cards used to pay for abortions, and ultrasound images of babies inside their mothers' wombs with the name of the abortion facility clearly printed at the top.



The items represented obvious violations of state and federal laws, including the illegal dumping of infectious medical waste and privacy violations under HIIPA.



Life Legal Defense Foundation was notified and has filed complaints on behalf of Fr. Gensemer, Director of the pro-life organization CEC for Life, and several other pro-life groups and individuals, including Operation Rescue.



The complaints against the WAWC went to the following governmental officials and agencies:

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall,



Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth,



Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

The West Alabama Women's Center has been fraught with problems and tragedy since it was purchased by the Yellowhammer Foundation in the spring of 2020. The same week the new management took over, April Lowery, died from internal injuries received during a botched abortion by Louis Payne. Soon after, Payne was forced to surrender his medical license.



Seven months after Lowery's death, another woman suffered similar life-threatening injuries during an abortion she barely survived. The woman, going under the pseudonym "Jane Stone," sued the WAWC and abortionist Tamer Middleton for her life-altering injuries and for ignoring her pleas for an ambulance as her condition deteriorated.



The WAWC hired abortionist Leah Torres as the facility's medical director soon after Stone's botched abortion. But Torres' temporary Alabama medical license was suspended by the Alabama Department of Public Health after it discovered she had committed fraud by repeatedly lying on her license application. Torres has since been granted a permanent medical license and has resumed abortions.



It was Torres that admitted to Department of Health inspectors last December that she was using rusty medical instruments and other unsanitary surgical supplies during abortions, and that clinic workers often did not change gloves or wash hands in accordance with CDC protocols. The WAWC was cited for nearly identical violations in 2020, as well.



"Alabama authorities can no longer turn a blind eye to this dangerous abortion facility and it's incompetent leadership. Shoddy conditions and practices there have already cost the life of one woman and maimed another," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Now their illegal dumping is endangering the public health. The West Alabama Women's Center must be closed before their shoddy practices result in more human tragedy."



Read the letter sent to Attorney General Steve Marshall containing all photos and copies of documents discovered in anonymous trash drop. (Redacted)



Read full statement with additional photos online.



Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.



SOURCE Operation Rescue



CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111;

Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034


America Not Only Country Where Social Media Censorship is Red-hot Issue

Media Advisory



Opportunity to interview in-person leading authority on social media and censorship in Middle East and North Africa







NEWS PROVIDED BY

SAT-7

Feb. 22, 2022



NASHVILLE, Feb. 22, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- Shady (pronounced Sha-dee) Francis  the Egypt-based digital director for media ministry SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org)  will give your audience an eye-opening glimpse into what it's like as a Christian to live online in one of the most restrictive areas of the world, where all speech and online behavior is closely monitored and controlled.



Formerly with Yahoo! in the Middle East, Shady will share with your audience:

How isolated Christian believers in the Middle East and North Africa  unable to worship openly  are using social media and digital platforms like Facebook and Telegram to "meet" with other believers online



How they're battling government censors and blockers  and often winning  in a tactical game of online "cat and mouse"



How journalists and bloggers across the region are intimidated, harassed and even imprisoned if they refuse to kowtow to government publishing "guidelines" and reporting requirements



How believers "self-censor" their public comments online so they don't incur the wrath of governments and authorities hostile toward Christians



How the coming "metaverse"  a fast-evolving virtual reality world online focusing on social connections  will revolutionize the way SAT-7 and others share the gospel and meet "in virtual reality" with people in places like Iran and Afghanistan seeking to know more about the Christian faith

To schedule an interview with Shady Francis, SAT-7's Arabic Digital Director & Strategist, contact:



Matti Stevenson mstevenson@inchristcommunications.com (719) 360-0586



Shady is available to do live, in-person, on-camera, radio, Microsoft Teams, phone, or taped interviews.



Launched in 1996, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org)  with its international headquarters in Cyprus  is a multimedia ministry that broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television and online programs in local languages to an estimated 25 million people in the Middle East and North Africa.



SOURCE SAT-7



CONTACT: Matti Stevenson, 719-360-0586, mstevenson@inchristcommunications.com


A draft opinion suggests the US Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalize abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report.
After congratulating Kuwaits new emir and inviting him to visit Egypt, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said any attempts to disrupt Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations, which he described as strong and special, were destined to fail, according to a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Shoukri began his three-day visit by meeting with Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the new emir of Kuwait, during which he delivered an invitation from President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to visit Egypt, and extended his congratulations to the new crown prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. He also met with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

During the discussions preparations for the joint ministerial committee which oversees bilateral cooperation and is scheduled to meet early next year were addressed, as well as the possibility of resuming flights between Egypt and Kuwait.

Shoukri said both countries were keen to resume direct flights. Air links were halted in August when Kuwait announced it was suspending flights to a number of countries, including Egypt, owing to concerns over the spread of Covid-19. The suspension of flights to high-risk countries came hours after Kuwait International Airport reopened following a five-month closure at the height of the pandemic.

The failure to reach a binding agreement on filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was also discussed, with Kuwait reasserting its support of Egyptian and Sudanese water security as part of Arab national security. In March, the Arab League affirmed that Egypts water security is an integral part of Arab national security, and vowed to support Egypts historic rights to Nile water.

Shoukri stressed Egypts full support for Kuwaiti stability and security in the face of regional challenges. Shoukri re-emphasised that the security of the Gulf is a red line and that it is important to continue political coordination with Kuwait on various levels in light of the destructive regional interference Arab countries are facing, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement issued during Shoukris visit.

Recent months have seen tensions between the two countries rise in the wake of reports of Egyptian workers being mistreated in Kuwait. One incident, captured on CCTV in Kuwait earlier this year, showed a Kuwaiti customer slapping an Egyptian cashier working at a supermarket. The footage, which included the customer being verbally abusive to the expatriate worker, sparked outrage on social media.

Following the incident Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram announced that the Kuwaiti citizen who slapped the Egyptian man had been arrested.

Last month Kuwait expressed strong condemnation of offensive remarks targeting Kuwait posted on social media by an Egyptian official in the Ministry of Manpower.

Kuwaits Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah issued a statement urging Cairo to take legal action against the official, and hours after Kuwait summoned the Egyptian ambassador the official was dismissed. The Ministry of Manpower subsequently issued a statement saying that it had taken legal measures against that official. The incident occurred days after a female Egyptian doctor was verbally and physically assaulted while performing her duties in a Kuwaiti hospital, leading to a flurry of social media posts criticising Egyptian authorities for their failure to take action to protect expatriate workers.

More than 600,000 Egyptians work in Kuwait, making them the second largest expat community in the country, and Kuwait ranks as the third largest Arab investor in Egypt.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 19 November, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Stoltenberg said this decision violated international agreements Moscow had signed on to.

"I condemn Russia's decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic'. 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," Stoltenberg said in a statement.

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The United States on Monday announced sanctions against rebel territories recognized by Russia in eastern Ukraine and warned that more is ready if necessary.

President Joe Biden will issue an executive order to "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

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 to wider Western sanctions ready to go "should Russia further invade Ukraine."

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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 a 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 the 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.

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Under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) system, Egypt has selected three private sector companies to establish, design, supply, and finance four strategic warehouses for supply commodities.

The three selected companies are Orascom Constructions PLC, Hassan Allam Holding, and Samcrete.

The warehouses will be established over an area of 10 acres with a storage capacity of 75,000 storage units for each warehouse at a total cost of EGP 3.2 billion, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced on Tuesday.

Maait expounded that his ministry has submitted the contracts of the assignment to the Internal Trade Development Authority as well as investors to review the draft before sending it to the Egyptian Council of State for legal review before signing them.

This action comes under Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis directives to expand partnerships with the private sector and raise its contribution to the countrys GDP. Accordingly, a number of contracts will be inked over the coming weeks under the PPP system and in collaboration with the concerned bodies, Maait explained.

These efforts aim to boost the sustainable and inclusive development in Egypt, improve the standard of living, uplift the quality of services extended to the citizens, increase economic growth rates, and create more jobs.

Other projects will be executed under the PPP system in the field of waste management to utilise waste in generating electricity, Maait said.

These projects are expected to be implemented in eight governorates and are being considered by the finance ministry in collaboration with the Ministries of Environment and Local Development, adding that each project will have a total capacity of 1000 tonnes per day as a first phase, he added.

The total investment cost of these projects amounts to EGP 7 billion, according to the minister.

Meanwhile, the finance ministry finalised the revision of the contracts related to establishing the second paveme for Damietta Por ar a cost of EGP 1 billion, according to Maait.

Additionally, four major international coalitions are expected to participate in a bid to establish Egypts second dry port in 10th of Ramadan City at cost of EGP 2 billion, and the contract will be signed with the winner in October 2022.

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Sudan has voiced its rejection of Ethiopias unilateral acts with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), including starting operations at the mega dam, saying they represent a fundamental breach of Ethiopias international legal commitments.

The Sudanese government said the unilateral filling of the GERD and the recent operation of one of its turbines for power generation are incompatible with the spirit of cooperation, Sudans official news agency SUNA cited Omar Kamel, spokesman for Sudans GERD negotiating team, as saying on Monday.

Kamel added that Ethiopias unilateral measures also violate the Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed between Addis Ababa, Cairo and Khartoum in 2015.

The DoP, signed in March 2015 by the three countries in Khartoum to settle the GERD crisis, granted Ethiopia the consent of the two downstream countries to construct the dam in return for a pledge from Ethiopia that the project would cause no harm to Sudan and Egypt.

The 10-principle DoP obliges the three countries to take all the necessary procedures to avoid causing significant damage them while utilising the Blue Nile.

On Sunday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated Ethiopians as the GERD's first turbine began generating power, a step that Egypt has also described in an official statement as a violation of the 2015 DoP.

This is good news for our continent and the downstream countries with whom we aspire to work, Ahmed said.

Kamel cited Ahmeds remarks, saying that Sudan believes that it is necessary and important for Ethiopia to take real steps that correspond to these remarks on the ground.

Egypt and Sudan have frequently highlighted the necessity that a legally-binding agreement is reached with Ethiopia on the filling and operation of the dam, a demand that Ethiopia has brushed away several times.

Egypt, which relies mainly on the Nile for its water needs, fears that the unilateral and quick filling and operation of the GERD would have a negative impact on the country's water supply. Meanwhile, Sudan is concerned about regulating water flows to safeguard its own dams.

However, Ethiopia implemented the first two phases of filling the mega dam on the Blue Nile over the past two years without the two countries consent.

In January, the upper stream country voiced plans to remove 17,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of forest around the GERD ahead of the third filling of the dams reservoir during the next rainy season in July.

Sudan reiterates its fixed stance on the GERD file regarding the necessity to reach a legal agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD, Kamel said, affirming that its stance is based on international law and the 2015 DoP.

The Sudanese government also welcomes Senegals taking over of the presidency of the African Union this year and calls for enhancing the role of the AU, the sponsor of the GERD negotiations, Kamel said.

This should come in a way that enables the parties [involved in the GERD dispute] to reach an agreement within a specific timeframe and ensures the change of the current negotiations methodology, the Sudanese statement added.

A presidential statement by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in September called for the three countries to reengage in AU-sponsored talks to reach a deal that would end their decade-long stalemate over the GERD.

The three countries have expressed willingness to resume their talks under the auspices over the AU, which collapsed in recent years and stopped last April after the latest round of talks in Kinshasa failed to achieve a consensus.

The two downstream countries have blamed the talks failure on Ethiopias intransigence.

Sudan affirms that its participation in all rounds of negotiations stems from its conviction that an agreement can be reached that takes into account the interests of the three parties, Kamel said.

The now-operating first turbine generates 375 megawatts, while the second turbine is also in preparation, the Ethiopian News Agency reported, adding that when the construction of the dam is complete, it will generate 5,250 megawatts of electricity.

The Ethiopian PM said on Sunday that "from now on, there will be nothing that will stop Ethiopia," according to AP.

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The preliminary studies on the first railway line between Egypt to Sudan have been completed, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport announced on Tuesday.

The first stage of the railway links Aswan to Abu Simbel in southern Egypt, at a length of 285 kilometres, and the second stage, which will reach Wadi Halfa in northern Sudan, is set to be 80 kilometres long.

Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir met on Tuesday with Hisham Abu-Zaid, Sudans acting transportation minister, to discuss the efforts of the two neighbours to cooperate in the transport sector.

El-Wazir stressed in the meeting the strength of the historical relations between the two brotherly countries, saying that the Egyptian transport ministry mobilises all of its potential to coordinate and cooperate with the Sudanese brothers in all transport sectors.

The new railway line between the two countries was first proposed in 2010 and was revived in 2018 to act as a platform for the export of Egyptian products to Sudan, Central Africa and the rest of the African continent.

Following the visit, a high-level transport coordination committee between Egypt and Sudan was formed to follow up on the building of the railway.

Egypt and Sudan established a joint railway committee in 2008 to promote railway connections between the two countries.

The two sides discussed on Tuesday the latest developments in constructing an interconnected station in Sudan, where the Egyptian National Railways Authority (NRA) has prepared a model showcasing how passengers and goods will be transported.

The two sides also reviewed a new contract for the maintenance and repair of four Sudanese railway locomotives, as per a request from the Sudanese side.

In the maritime field, the Sudanese expressed interest in cooperating with the Egyptian side in construction and maintenance works.

Concerning seaports, the Egyptian transport minister stressed that all the capabilities of Egypts ports and the maritime transport sector are ready to serve the Sudanese brothers.

The two sides also reviewed the proposed timetable for implementing the development work of the Nile Valley Authority for River Navigation and implementing urgent plans to develop the authority, rehabilitate the current river units, rehabilitate workers and support the authority with specialised technical cadres, with emphasis on fast-tracking the Wadi Halfa berth and the Aswan-Wadi Halfa shipping line.

They discussed the necessity of establishing two logistics zones in the ports of Qastal and Arqin on the Egyptian-Sudanese border to achieve a major qualitative leap in the movement of trade between the two sides.

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American University in Cairo

Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tahrir Campus, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077

Wed 2,7-8pm: The Gerhart Centre Webinar Series session discussing Business and Labor Rights in Global Supply Chains will feature Sanchita Saxena, executive director at the Institute for South Asia Studies at UC Berkeley.

The talk will argue that the very nature of global supply chains, which has led to a fragmentation of work, is directly at odds with good labor and human rights. The lecture will draw on lessons from one of the worst industrial disasters in history, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013. The talk will conclude by arguing that changes to the business model itself are necessary to make substantial gains in improving the conditions of workers in global supply chains. The link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300063339

French Cultural Institute

Madrasset Al-Huquq Al Frinseya St, Mounira, Tel 02 2791 5800

Media Library

Fri 25, 12pm: Come and discover the Monde en VF collection. A reading workshop to discover women and men who talk about the worlds. There is something for every taste; illustrated novels, thrillers, short stories, novels.

Italian Cultural Institute

Italy celebrated the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri in 2021. The Italian Institute continues to post videos in Arabic with translations from Dante Alighieris masterpiece The Divine Comedy to bring the Arab-speaking public closer to the work of the supreme poet. Videos are directed by Giabluca Barbadori, with the special participation of Ashraf Farouk, Amir Salaheddin, Sherine Hegazy, and Sara El-Mokadem.

ALEXANDRIA

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999

Auditorium

Thurs 24, 11am: Education and Communication in the Arab Region in the Field of Underwater Cultural Heritage seminar features a group of specialists from Alexandria University, UNESCO, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the American University in Cairo, The National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, and University of Exeter, United Kingdom. The seminar is held within the framework of the launch of the first open online educational programme in Arabic in the field of underwater cultural heritage:

https://unesco-cairo-uch.org/

(Personal attendance is in the context of precautionary measures to address the spread of the emerging Covid 19.

All attendees must wear a medical mask, maintain a safe distance, and provide proof of receiving the Corona vaccine).

BA Conference Centre

Thurs 24, 12-2pm: The Philosophical Arcade: Philosophy as a Tool for Living, a seminar features lecturer and Professor Emad Al-Adly, a researcher in Islamic philosophy.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 4:00PM

by Nathaniel R

New gay film to tell you about. Roadside Attractions will be releasing the Cold War romantic drama Firebirds, on April 29th in theaters. Inspired by a true story, it involves the forbidden gay romance of a soldier and a pilot fighter in Estonia during the 1970s. British actor Tom Prior (Kingsman: Secret Service, The Theory of Everything) plays the Russian soldier and Ukrainian actor Oleg Zagorodnii plays the pilot fighter. Though the cast is international and it's shot in English the director, Peeter Rebane, making his narrative feature debut, is from Estonia...

It's wonderful to note that at least one of the actors here is gay. Tom Prior, who is 32, is openly gay and cowrote the film with the director.

We're glad this story is being told. 1977 when the film is set is not all that long ago in the course of history. It's sometimes alarming to note how cavalier queer people in the US are about their civil rights since a) we haven't had them for very long and b) they can easily be taken away given the far-right makeup of the Supreme Court at this juncture in history! What's more there are many places around the world where homosexuality is still a criminal offense. We know -- relevant to this film of course -- that countries from the former Soviet Union are often danger zones for queer people as we've seen on the news and in brilliant contemporary films like Welcome to Chechnya and And Then We Danced.

Firebird has been popular at LGBTQ film festivals. Will it be treated as warmly by regular critics in release? We shall see.




Egypts new Mazut Hydrocracking Complex in Assiut has secured $1.5 billion in loans from local and international banks, writes Sherine Abdel-Razek

Six international banks agreed with the Ministry of Petroleum last week to extend a loan facility of $1.5 billion to cover the investments needed to complete the construction and operation of the new Mazut Hydrocracking Complex in Assiut.

According to Mohamed Badr, chair and CEO of the Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC) which was established in 2018 to build and operate the complex, the loan facility consists of two tranches.

The first, worth $772 million, will be given directly to the company by the international banks, and the second will be lent to the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr to be later extended to the company.

The list of the international banks includes Credit Agricole, HSBC, UniCredit Italia, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale France, and the Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP).

For the last two years, we have been using equity to finance construction and equipment purchases, and the loan will help in pumping fresh investments into a complex which is expected to save Egypt $1.5 billion worth of fuel imports each year, Badr said.

The overall value of investment in the complex is $2.9 billion.

It was in 2015 that the idea of the project emerged when it became clear that with the new gas discoveries being made and power stations shifting to natural gas instead of the heavy fuel oil Mazut, there was no longer any economic need for the Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC) to produce 2.8 million tons of Mazut a year.

The power stations used to use Mazut in generating electricity, but with most of them opting for less carbon-intensive fuel, the government was looking for a way to increase the value-added of the ASORC output, Badr said.

From there the idea of building a cracking complex that would change heavy and high-polluting Mazut into cleaner petroleum products emerged. The product mix of the new complex includes diesel Euro V, which is European-grade diesel that is less polluting, together with other in-demand fuel products like naphtha and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

In addition to taking advantage of its proximity to the ASORC which provides it with the feedstock, the location of the new complex was chosen with the idea of covering the demand of Upper Egypt for petroleum products in mind.

The production of the complex will be enough to cover most of the Upper Egyptian governorates demand for these products, Badr said.

He added that together with the output of the high-octane producing unit affiliated to the ASORC, which was inaugurated in December by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, demand in Upper Egypt for diesel and fuel oil will be totally covered, allowing the saving of $1.5 billion in imports annually.

The ten governorates of Upper Egypt consume 20 per cent of Egypts total consumption of petroleum products, Minster of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla said during the inauguration of the high-octane unit two months ago.

He noted that the projects total production of 800,000 tons annually of various types of high-octane products represents 13 per cent of Egypts total production and covers 100 per cent of Upper Egypts consumption.

Developing the two complexes is part of the governments wider plan to develop Upper Egypt, where the countrys poverty rates are highest.

Badr said that by the time it starts operations, the complex will provide 2,000 direct job opportunities to on-site engineers and workers, in addition to 9,000 indirect job opportunities to those involved in procurement, production, and distribution.

The ANOPC is owned by the National Service Projects Organisation, the Assiut Oil Refining Company, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, the South Valley Petroleum Holding Company, and the Nile Petroleum Marketing Company.

In 2018, it agreed with the French company TechnipFMC to provide front-end engineering and design on the project. Two years later, in July 2020 ANOPC made another agreement with Technip under which the latter would provide engineering, procurement, and construction services at the complex.

Work on the project started in November 2020 long before the signing of the foreign-financing agreement. It is continuing with a view to completing operations and construction by the end of 2023.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine earlier this week in support of areas in the east of the country and giving rise to immediate Western sanctions.

Diplomacy failed to stem the escalation of the Ukraine crisis earlier this week when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia does not recognise the eastern region of Donbas as part of Ukraine and ordering Russian troops over the border as part of what he called a peacekeeping mission.

As a result, Europe now faces the threat of a war between Russia and Ukraine, an international refugee crisis, and severe tensions in Moscows relations with the West.

It is a complex and dangerous situation that is still developing because it is about the recent past as well as the near future. Among its possible repercussions is the forced redrawing of the map of Europe.

All eyes will now be directed towards the repercussions of the Russian actions, and whether they are the first phase of a larger strategy.

The UK announced that the Russian invasion has begun after Putin ordered troops over the border, but EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell was less direct, commenting that I wouldnt say that its a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil.

EU foreign ministers met on Tuesday in Paris to decide what sanctions to impose over Russias move.

Clearly, that response will be in the form of sanctions, Borrell said, adding that the aim was not to impose the whole range of sanctions the EU has prepared but rather to address its recognition of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territories.

The apparent divergence between the UK and the EU will help Putin play down the significance of his action and whether or not it is a fully-fledged invasion.

In a speech on Monday night, Putin declared that Russia does not recognise the Donbas region as part of Ukraine.

I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republic, Putin said, referring to two pro-Russian parts of Ukraine that since 2014 have been engaged in a war with the Kyiv government.

In his speech, which included Putins version of Russias modern history, the Russian president was dismissive of modern-day Ukraine, saying that its creation as a sovereign state was a tragedy.

Arguing that there had never been a separate Ukraine until Soviet times, Putin blamed Soviet leaders such as Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin for the present situation. He also criticised the decision of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to take Crimea from Russia in 1954 and award it to Ukraine.

Putin painted todays Ukraine as a corrupt, barely functioning puppet of the United States that threatened Russias security.

He said that the West had deceived Russia repeatedly since the end of the Cold War and had expanded much more than what had been agreed after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

The Russian narrative says that in 1990-1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall Russia had been promised that NATO would not expand to the east, but the West did not honour its pledges.

However, the Western narrative is different, with US academic Mary Sarotte writing in her book Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of the Post-Cold War Stalemate about the post-Cold War order and how this has affected the current geopolitical environment, that Russia was not given a binding commitment by NATO not to expand eastward, though the idea was discussed by US and Russian officials.

Putins declaration to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk will end the Wests diplomatic efforts to prevent a possible military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the recognition of the republics was a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the charter of the UN.

There are now fears that the coming days may witness a bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine after Russias announcement that it was sending peacekeeping forces into Donetsk and Luhansk to protect them from Ukrainian attacks.

The Russian recognition of the two territories also effectively finishes the 2014-2015 Minsk Agreements that, although still unimplemented, have until now been seen as the best chance for a solution. The agreements call for a large degree of autonomy for the two regions inside Ukraine.

Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as Donbas, broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014 and proclaimed themselves as independent peoples republics.

Now that they have been recognised by Russia, this will create a new reality on the ground and make it difficult for Ukraine to apply for NATO membership as it does not control the whole of its territory.

Russia has recognised the independence of breakaway regions before, something which took place with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Georgian breakaway regions, after a short war with Georgia in 2008.

It has provided these regions with extensive budgetary support, extended Russian citizenship to their populations, and stationed thousands of troops in them.

In the case of Georgia, Russia used recognition of the breakaway regions to justify an open-ended military presence in a neighbouring and former Soviet republic with a view to thwarting Georgias aspirations to join NATO. The same considerations could apply to Ukraine.

But this could be only the first stage of Russias strategy, and a senior Russian MP has said he believes Russia intends to recognise separatist claims over the entirety of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Rebel forces currently control just over a third of the two regions in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. The rest is still under Ukrainian government control.

Leonid Kalashnikov, a Communist Party MP and head of the Russian Dumas regional affairs committee, told the RIA news agency he thought Moscow would recognise both eastern regions.

Recognition of the Luhansk Peoples Republic and the Donetsk Peoples Republic will be within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kalashnikov said, explaining that it would be decided in the coming days.

His statement opens the door to fears that Russia may try to expand the territory controlled by the rebels.

In response to the Russian moves, the US, UK, and EU declared sanctions against Russia this week.

The certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline cannot go ahead as a result of Russias actions, German Chanceller Olaf Scholz said. The pipeline between Russia and Germany was completed last September, but it is not yet operating.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russias decision to recognise the two territories in eastern Ukraine at an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, warning that the consequences would be dire across Ukraine, Europe, and worldwide.

She said that Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds and that Washington did not believe he will stop at that, according to the Reuters news agency.

Russias Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya argued for the need to defend Russian-backed separatist areas of Ukraine from what he called Ukrainian aggression.

Allowing a new bloodbath in Donbas is something we do not intend to do, he said.

The Kremlin said that Russia remains open to all diplomatic contacts over Ukraine and that Kyivs cutting ties with Moscow would worsen the situation. The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was considering breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia.

Ukraine has sent a letter to the Russian mission to the UN, which currently holds the chair of the Security Council, demanding another emergency meeting. The chair cannot stop a meeting from taking place and must hold it within 24 hours of a member state requesting it.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Zelensky during the second half of Putins speech, before calling Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, who had been trying to arrange a Biden-Putin summit.

Macron condemned the Kremlins move to recognise the two Ukrainian separatist regions as independent, urging the EU to agree on new sanctions against Moscow.

This is clearly a unilateral violation of Russias international commitments and a breach of Ukraines sovereignty, he said in a statement issued after chairing a meeting of Frances defence and security council.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would introduce immediate economic sanctions against Russia and warned that Putin was bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel said that the recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk Agreements.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun told the Security Council meeting on Ukraine that all parties must exercise restraint and avoid action that could escalate the situation.

While there is unity in the West about the need to respond to the Russian action, there may be disagreements regarding that response.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Tuesday that we should not hesitate to take whatever action we need to deter President Putin from undermining both NATO and Europe, and more importantly, our values.

His declaration came after reports that Washington and London might secretly arm resistance fighters in Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion, leading to a proxy war between Russia, the US, and the UK.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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In an inaugural ceremony attended by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday, Ethiopia launched electricity production through its mega-dam on the Blue Nile. Ahmed stressed that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was not meant to harm the downstream nations, Sudan and Egypt, in any way. Construction is still in progress, but according to official sources the project is over 83 per cent complete.

The launch is no surprise. The Ethiopian cabinet convened its first meeting on GERD this year. Shortly afterwards, the prime ministers office released a statement saying that it was time for Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to build peace, cooperation and coexistence, aiming at development without harming one another. The statement stressed that the management and utilisation of Nile waters can be developed in a rational and equitable manner that benefits all countries in its basin.

Only one of the 375 megawatt (MW) turbines went into operation on Sunday. A previous official announcement had said that two 375 MW turbines would go into operation simultaneously, delivering 350 MW to the national power grid. The second turbine has not been mentioned since Sunday. According to the governments declared plans, the eventual target generation capacity is 6,000 MW. This puts the single generator that went into operation so far into clearer perspective. It reduces the chances of a rapid rise in the countrys overall power production and, hence, the prospect of quick and extensive improvement in the peoples economic and living standards. This is something the government urgently needs to show in order to rebuild its eroding political capital at a time when it is beleaguered by several intractable crises. It seems Sundays high-profile power launch was calculated to accomplish symbolically what could not be done tangibly.

In late January, the government lifted the state of emergency that had been in effect since November 2021 when the Tigray conflict erupted. An extraordinary cabinet session had been held to discuss ending the state of emergency and the resultant decision was sent to parliament for approval. The purpose of this move was to project the impression that the threat posed by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) had passed. A new military operation the TPLF in the Afar region at the end of January put paid to that impression and recalled the Tigray Defence Forces offensives of June and December 2021, during which the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) sustained severe losses.

On 7 January, Ahmed called for a national reconciliation, announcing the release of several high profile political prisoners, and launched a national dialogue in order to pave the way for a lasting solution to Ethiopias problems in a peaceful, non-violent way. Three of the countrys main opposition parties boycotted the preparatory sessions for the dialogue, casting a shadow over its prospects for success. Hopes for the dialogue dimmed further when the Prosperity Party, which Abiy Ahmed heads, decided to exclude the TPLF and the Oromo Liberation Army, a breakaway faction from the Oromo Liberation Front. The absence of these two major opposition groups will effectively void the reconciliation drive of substance, limiting dialogue to the government and a token opposition that agreed to participate in the general elections held in 2021, after being delayed several times because of the Tigray conflict.

At the end of December 2021, the Somali Region in eastern Ethiopia announced that 3.4 million people were in urgent need of humanitarian relief due to the severe draught which by now has already displaced large numbers of people into the regional capital, Jijiga. Prime Minister Ahmed visited the region to assess the situation and show the central governments support for the Somali Regional President Mustafa Mohamed Omar, who is one of Ahmeds most important allies. The worsening humanitarian and economic situation has increased political tensions in the region and stirred mounting criticism of the performance of Omars regional government. In February, the regional chapter of the Prosperity Party split into two factions, one still supporting Omar, the other now opposing him. Soon afterwards, other opposition forces, such as the Ogaden National Liberation Front and the Congress for the Somali Cause notched up the pressure they had been exerting on the government.

Abiy Ahmeds policy shift towards Somaliland, to the north of the Ethiopian Somali Region, threatens to aggravate the crisis in the Somali Region. Following a visit by Somaliland President Musa Bibi Abdi to Addis Ababa in January, Ethiopia appointed its first ambassador to Hargeisa, thereby raising its level of diplomatic representation with Somaliland. Although the Somalian government of Mogadishu has been relatively silent on the matter because of the strained relationship with Addis Ababa, it nevertheless lifted the terrorist designation it had given the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in 2017. With avenues open for support, the ONLF stands to gain a more prominent role in the Somali Region, which will inherently come at the expense of Ahmed and his allies in the second largest Ethiopian national region.

Against the backdrop of developments in the Tigray and Somali regions, the government turned once again to GERD as a means to boost its popularity. But developments on the ground cast doubts on the success of this strategy. The recurrent bouts of violence targeting Amhara groups in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region have displaced more than 20,000 people from refugee camps and rural areas towards the regional capital, Assosa.

Under such turbulent conditions, the government clearly needs more concrete solutions. It will take more than fanfare over GERD or token political gestures to restore stability. The government will eventually have to make some essential and genuine concessions, however costly for the Prosperity Party.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Egypts wheat import bill will likely be inflated on the back of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

As tensions continue to rise between Russia and Ukraine, observers are anticipating the economic fallout from a possible war in the region since Russia, Ukraine, and Romania combined produce one third of the worlds wheat.

This is particularly important for Egypt, the worlds largest wheat importer.

The expected economic fallout from the tensions in Ukraine will likely lead to an increase in the price of wheat around the world, said Nader Noureddin, a professor of water and land resources in Cairo.

Noureddin said that Egypt imports 90 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine. In 2021, it imported ten million tons from the two countries out of the 13 million tons of wheat it imported that year.

While there are alternative sources such as France, Australia, the US, Canada and Argentina, the cost of wheat from them is much higher.

Egypts reliance on Russian and Ukrainian wheat is due to two main factors, according to Noureddin. First, wheat from the two countries costs ten per cent less than global prices, and second, they are closer to Egypt with shipments taking only ten days to reach Egyptian shores.

In comparison, shipments coming from the US take 24 days, and they take 28 days from Argentina.

Egypt began bidding on wheat from France at a global auction in December, buying just over 300,000 tons that will be delivered in March, according to the General Authority for Supply Commodities.

As well as adding to transportation costs, the Russia-Ukraine crisis could also raise the price of oil worldwide, meaning a hike in the cost of food production in general since energy constitutes 33 per cent of the cost of agricultural production, according to Noureddin.

A former adviser to the minister of supply, Noureddin said that the cost of shipping around the world is rising not only because of the price of fuel but also because of the higher cost of insuring goods, especially any that pass near Ukraine.

He expects the Egyptian government to have to pay an additional LE1 billion in extra costs to import wheat, yellow corn, and cooking oil if the Ukraine crisis continues.

Egypt is the largest importer of wheat in the world, the fourth-largest importer of corn, and the fifth-largest importer of cooking oil, Noureddin said. It relies for 90 per cent of its annual needs on the same sources  Russia and Ukraine.

The government has been preparing for the possible additional costs, and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli announced some days ago that the price of subsidised bread was being reviewed, with a possible slight adjustment being made.

The price of bread in Egypt has not been adjusted since 1988, and at the time the cost for the state was five piastres a loaf, Madbouli said. Today, the cost of subsidised bread is 65 piastres a loaf, and this means there must be a slight adjustment.

Some 71 million of Egypts 100 million population buy subsidised bread using the smart-card ration system.

A day after Madboulis comments, Minister of Supply Ali Meseilhi said that Egypt expects to reduce government imports of wheat in 2022 to 3.5 million tons, compared to 5.5 million tons in 2021.

This is used to produce between 250 and 270 million loaves of subsidised bread a day, he said.

Last year, Egypt imported a total of 13 million tons of wheat, divided between municipal bakeries producing subsidised bread and the private sector producing macaroni, desserts, and other bakeries producing unsubsidised bread.

Government wheat imports in 2021 amounted to 5.5 million tons, Moseilhi told a news conference on 15 February, compared to 3.5 million tons grown locally. The reduction in imports this year has been supplemented by an increase in local production supplied by Egypts farmers.

Noureddin said that Egypt had silos that can store between 3.5 and four million tons of wheat, about one third of domestic consumption, which means it has a strategic stock of four to five months of wheat that can be stretched to cover six months.

Alongside the review of the price of subsidised bread, currently costing consumers five piastres a loaf, the Ministry of Supply has also taken other measures to rationalise wheat consumption.

These include digitising the system for receiving wheat from farmers in order better to monitor the amounts received and the better monitoring of deliveries to silos, mills, and bakeries and of bread production and distribution via smart-cards.

The database of the 70 million people who receive subsidised bread is being overhauled in order to remove any who do not qualify for the subsidies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The UK is looking forward to COP27, which Egypt will host in November, and is optimistic about the event at the global and continental level, said British ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley.

Bayleys statement was in response to Ahram Onlines question about how the UK views the anticipated event and the potential the country has for successfully implementing its sustainable development goals (SDGs) strategy.

Bayley made the comments at an event at the British University in Egypt (BUE) held on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt.

The MoU aims to achieve constant mutual exchange of knowledge, the development of innovative sustainable strategies, the rehabilitation of young people, and the development of an entrepreneurial culture in Egypt.

The two partners are seeking support to conduct research activities and initiatives as well as strengthen Egypts rapidly expanding role in supporting climate sustainability policies, which is perfectly embodied in Egypts hosting of the upcoming COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Bayley also noted that Egypt has been exerting great efforts on the governmental and non-governmental levels to achieve the SDGs, especially in regards to the climate action.

It is a global opportunity for Egypt to show its capabilities and potentials, especially in the renewable energy sector. Egypt is really a superpower in this regard, the ambassador expounded.

During the event, the BUEs president Mohamed Loutfy noted that the BUE is the first Arab university to sign this agreement, which involves the implementation of various policies and projects that should aid the university in upholding its social and environmental responsibilities.

The BUE has always worked towards being a frontrunner when it comes to taking proper climate action, reducing the range of trade barriers through economic integration, supporting women, youth, and minorities nationwide, as well as implementing programmes that enable the creation of a more socially and environmentally conscious generation of young students and graduates, he added.

Meanwhile, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt Alessandro Fracassetti said that this MoU will help redouble the UNDPs efforts to create new and better opportunities for Egypts young women and men.

Our cooperation with the BUE is based on the main principle that lies at the heart of the 2030 Agenda: To leave no one behind. We will focus on lifelong learning, community development initiatives and policy dialogue for a more inclusive and sustainable future. Policy dialogue will give a further boost to important research topics such as local economic development, digital transformation, social and governance issues, Fracassetti explained.

For her part, Sarah El-Khishin, assistant professor of economics at the BUE said that a group of around 20 created (Hayah Karima) working group with a shared mandate of making the university more engaged in supporting the community, Egypts national agenda (Egypts Vision 2030) and the global SDGs.

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The United States and Egypt on Monday launched a joint working group to prepare for the U.N. climate change summit being held in Egypt in November, a U.S. envoy said.

John Kerry, President Biden's special envoy for climate, said the group is focused on the U.N.'s COP27 conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. He said Egypt, which is chairing the summit, has already begun its preparations and set ambitious goals.

Kerry said other world tensions, including the ongoing Ukraine crisis, "will not change the reality of what is happening every day with respect to our climate,'' and called the issue an "international threat for all of us.''

He said the climate issue is not about politics.

"There is no ideology in this. This is not anything to do with some of the issues'' of concern for the U.S. administration, Kerry said at a news conference in the capital of Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Neither official took questions from reporters.

Kerry, who also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, was referring to conflicts in the Middle East.

Shoukry said they discussed priorities and goals of the Egyptian-chaired COP27, including making funds available to developing counties to implement the Paris 2015 agreement on climate change. He did not further elaborate.

"The test ahead of us is not just a political and diplomatic challenge to tame mother nature - it is a test pitting human nature against itself,'' he said.

In the news briefing, Kerry said they aim to implement all promises made in last year's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. In the 2021 summit, almost 200 nations accepted a compromise deal, which outside experts said showed progress, but not success.

That deal didn't achieve any of the three U.N. goals: Pledges that would cut world carbon dioxide emissions by about half, $100 billion in yearly climate aid from rich countries to poor ones, with half that money going to help the developing world adapt to the harms of a warming world.

"Our goal this year, in addition to fulfilling all promises made in Glasgow, is to include more countries to the 1.5 degree-efforts,'' he said.

Keeping global warming from going beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) was the most ambitious goal in the 2015 Paris accord. The planet has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial times.

Also on Monday, the Council of Europe warned in a statement that a lack of at-scale funding for "resilient and just energy transitions'' in developing countries is an obstacle for green and sustainable development.

The European Union urged rich countries to meet the collective commitment to mobilize $100 billion per year in 2022 as financial aid to poor countries, according to the statement.

Kerry also said the U.S. was working with Egypt on its own transition to a clean energy future.

In June, Kerry announced an increase in U.S. funding to help Egypt convert to solar energy and move away from fossil fuels, a major source of energy in the country of over 100 million people.

In recent years, El-Sissi's government has taken steps to convert to renewables, seizing the advantage of the country's optimal solar and wind conditions for energy harvesting.

Kerry addresses the world from AUC

In a speech on Monday afternoon at the American University in Cairo (AUC), Kerry said that there are eight months till COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh that are full of promise and challenge, and that it is imperative to do everything to give life to the many commitments of COP26 in Glasgow.

You are preparing to host delegates and stakeholders from around the world for what is, with no exaggeration, a continuation of one of the most important conversations in the history of human beings, he said in Cairo, adding that it is particularly fitting to gather in Egypt, which is known as the mother of the world.

Recounting the contributions of ancient Egyptians to the world, Kerry said that Egypt  as the host of COP27 in November  can help the world take the next critical steps to saving civilisations.

Kerry stressed in his speech the importance of building on what was achieved in Glasgow COP26.

Almost 200 nations came together and took unprecedented steps in the cause of the climate battle. They resolved to pursue efforts to limit the earths warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius  and agreed that would require reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 45 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050," he said.

With a 1.5-degree temperature rise, we may lose much of the worlds coral reefs, small fisheries, and crustaceans, including here in the Red Sea, home to some of the worlds richest marine biodiversity. With a 2-degree temperature rise, we risk losing all coral reefs and collapse of the entire ocean ecosystem. At 1.5 degrees, our staple crops  corn, rice, and wheat  will be unpredictable and unstable, especially in places like the Nile River delta and sub-Saharan Africa, Kerry warned.

Kerry praised the decisions of private sector companies worldwide, saying that Glasgow produced unprecedented private sector commitments to action, recounting a few examples of what global companies are currently doing.

Speaking about the transition to a green economy, Kerry said that it cannot be achieved without meaningful progress in securing more direct climate finance, including for adaptation, or without aligning trillions of dollars for both mitigation and adaptation through stronger national policies.

Seventeen of the worlds 20 most climate vulnerable countries can be found on this continent, he said about Africa and the need for climate finance, adding that rising temperatures and less predictable rainfall have already changed growing and planting seasons on the continent.

Egypt gets 95 percent of its water from the Nile, and experts warn of a nationwide freshwater shortage by 2025, Kerry said.

Roads, bridges, and ports can only spur economic growth and reduce poverty next year if they are built to survive the storms of tomorrow, he said, adding that in Africa, with the worlds fastest growing populations and fastest growing economies, adaptation creates jobs and saves lives.

Together this year developed countries must make every effort to fulfil our collective goal to mobilise $100 billion annually to help developing countries reduce emissions and confront the impacts of climate change, Kerry announced.

We stand ready to work with all parties and the Egyptian COP presidency to ensure that the Glasgow Sharm El-Sheikh Work Program on the Global Goal on Adaptation will accelerate effective action, he added.

* This story has been edited by Ahram Online

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday morning to discuss enhancing the cooperative relations binding the two countries with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber.

Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber received President El-Sisi upon his arrival in the Gulf country.

The two leaders will address mutual security, economic, and development concerns, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is also expected to arrive in Kuwait in an official visit on Tuesday, the Kuwaiti official news agency KUNA reported, with the three leaders expected to hold a trilateral summit.

On Sunday, El-Sisi held a meeting with Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim in Cairo after the conclusion of the 32nd Conference of Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union and fourth Arabic Parliament Conference.

Al-Ghanim conveyed the greetings of the Kuwaiti emir to El-Sisi and expressed Kuwaits appreciation of the firm historic relations gathering the two countries.

He also stressed to El-Sisi Kuwaits keenness to enhance consultations with Egypt on various issues in light of the pivotal role played by Egypt in the region as a main pillar for security and stability in the Arab world.

Egypt and Kuwait have shared warm relations at all levels, including in the political and diplomatic fields, for decades.

Kuwait has maintained firm support for Egypts water rights in the dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Last December, Egypt and Kuwait marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in a celebration that was held in the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo.

In a message delivered on his behalf at the event, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that bilateral relations between the two countries were and will remain a unique model on all levels.

Since 1961, Egypt and Kuwait have signed 105 agreements, including the 1995 agreement on forming a joint committee to enhance cooperation between the two sides and promote their strategic partnership, Kuwaits Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah said in a virtual speech during the ceremony.

Trade exchange between the two countries stood at $364 million in 2020, while the Kuwaiti public sectors investments in Egypt amounted to $5.4 billion and the Kuwaiti private sectors investments exceeded $10 billion, according to Al-Sabah.

Meanwhile, more than 500,000 Egyptians work in Kuwait.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has stressed Egypts keenness on the stability and security of Kuwait and all Gulf countries in the face of domestic and regional challenges, and that the security of these countries is part of Egypts own national security.

El-Sisi made the remarks in a meeting on Tuesday with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber as part of his official visit to Kuwait, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

This is the first visit by El-Sisi to Kuwait after Sheikh Nawaf took office in September 2020.

During the meeting, the Kuwaiti emir hailed Egypts role in enhancing Arab joint work in facing the current crises and challenges in the region.

The emir hailed Egypts efforts in this regard as an example to be followed in preserving stability and advancing the economic, development, and social situations in the Arab world.

Sheikh Nawaf also praised Egypts support for Kuwait on all levels and the contributions made by the Egyptian community in Kuwait in construction and development efforts in various fields.

More than 500,000 Egyptians currently work in Kuwait.

El-Sisi and Sheikh Nawaf also discussed a number of regional and Arab issues of mutual concern as well as ongoing efforts to counter terrorism and extremist thought and spread the culture of tolerance and moderation in the region.

The two leaders agreed to continue coordination on various challenges facing the region in a way that meets the aspirations of the regions people for a peaceful and stable life.

They also discussed the two countries efforts to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in light of the upcoming Egyptian-Kuwaiti joint committee meeting in Cairo as well as the meeting of the joint consular committee.

In January, Egypt expressed aspirations to host the 13th session of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti meeting this year, chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Egypt and Kuwait signed an agreement to form their joint committee in 1995 as part of dozens of agreements signed by the two countries to enhance their partnership in all fields.

The two countries held the 12th session of the joint meeting in December 2018, where they signed many cooperation protocols in different fields, including security, sports, manpower, culture, and education.

Sisi meets with Kuwaiti crown prince

During his Tuesday visit, El-Sisi also met with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, where he affirmed Egypts keenness to boost cooperation with Kuwait on all levels.

El-Sisi also called for continued coordination with Kuwait on the developments in the Middle East, affirming that the Egyptian-Kuwaiti coordination represents a mainstay for achieving regional stability and a major pillar of Egyptian policy priorities.

The president is also met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, according to the Kuwaiti state's news agency KUNA.

Egypt and Kuwait have shared warm relations on all levels for decades.

Kuwait has maintained firm support for Egypts water rights in the dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Last December, Egypt and Kuwait marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in a celebration that was held at the Kuwaiti embassy in Cairo.

In a message delivered on his behalf at the event, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that bilateral relations between the two countries have been and will remain a unique model on all levels.

Since 1961, Egypt and Kuwait have signed 105 agreements to enhance cooperation and promote their strategic partnership, Kuwaits Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah said in a virtual speech during the celebration.

Trade exchange between the two countries stood at $364 million in 2020, while the Kuwaiti public sectors investments in Egypt amounted to $5.4 billion and the Kuwaiti private sectors investments exceeded $10 billion, according to the Kuwaiti foreign minister.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday discussed with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled El-Hamad El-Sabahon ways to boost the bilateral economic relations, the Egyptian presidency said.

In a meeting at El-Sisis residence at Bayan Palace in Kuwait, the Egyptian president and the Kuwaiti premier agreed that the joint Egyptian-Kuwaiti committee will focus on ways to boost cooperation in the field of investment and economy in its upcoming meeting, to be held soon.

In January, Egypt expressed interest to host the 13th session of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti meeting this year, chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Egypt and Kuwait signed an agreement to form their joint committee in 1995 as part of dozens of agreements signed by the two countries to enhance their partnership in all fields.

The two countries held the 12th session of the joint meeting in December 2018, where they signed many cooperation protocols in different fields, including security, sports, manpower, culture, and education.

Since 1961, Egypt and Kuwait have signed 105 agreements to enhance cooperation and promote their strategic partnership, Kuwaits Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah said in a virtual speech during the celebration.

Trade exchange between the two countries stood at $364 million in 2020, while the Kuwaiti public sectors investments in Egypt amounted to $5.4 billion and the Kuwaiti private sectors investments exceeded $10 billion, according to the Kuwaiti foreign minister.

Earlier Tuesday, El-Sisi met with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber as well as Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber

This is the first visit by El-Sisi to Kuwait after Sheikh Nawaf took office in September 2020.

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Egypts Ministry of Health and Population reported 2,003 new coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak began in February 2020 to 471,460.

The ministry also recorded 54 coronavirus-related fatalities, bringing the total tally of deaths to 23,806.

The daily report added that the total number of recoveries increased to 402,121 after 1,239 patients were discharged from hospitals nationwide in the past 24 hours.

Egypt has been witnessing a steady decline in the daily number of coronavirus infections in the past two weeks after a sharp increase in the past month.

On Sunday, Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the spokesperson for the ministry, told local media that Egypt has started holding meetings to draw up executive plans to begin producing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the next few months.

Egypt  along with five other African nations  was chosen by the WHO to receive the technology needed to produce mRNA vaccines according to an announcement made by the UN organisation in Brussels during the African Union-European Union Summit on Friday.

Egypt, through the state-run Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), is already producing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine as part of an agreement with the Chinese pharmaceutical that provides the African country with the needed raw materials.

In mid-November 2021, Egypt also announced the start of clinical trials for its own, home-made coronavirus vaccine, COVI-VAX, a step officials said would take six to nine months.

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By Trend

Some 36,191 Azerbaijani citizens visited Turkey in January 2022, which is 1.4 times more than in January 2021, Turkic.World reports with reference to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Trend reports.

The share of Azerbaijani citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in January 2022 reached 2.82 percent.

Around 470,618 Azerbaijani citizens visited Turkey in 2021, which is 98.74 percent more than in 2020.

The share of Azerbaijani citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in 2021 reached 1.90 percent.

Some 30.04 million tourists visited Turkey in 2021, which is 88.08 percent more than in 2020.
EgyptAir announced on Tuesday the resumption of direct flights between Cairo and Bangkok  Thailands capital  starting June after a hiatus brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision comes within the framework of EgyptAir resuming air traffic to many destinations that had been halted due to the repercussions of the pandemic, the Egyptian flag carrier said in a statement.

The announcement to resume flights to Bangkok also comes in light of decisions made by a number of countries to resume air traffic and open their borders to international tourism, EgyptAir added.

EgyptAir will operate three weekly flights starting June to Bangkok - on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays - using the Airbus A330-300 plane, which has a capacity of 301 passengers and is supplied with flatbed seats, the company said.

Clients willing to book direct flights between Cairo and Bangkok can visit EgyptAirs website (egyptair.com) or EgyptAirs call centre at 1717 or the companys offices and ticketing agents worldwide.

Egypt has been a destination for Thai tourists over the past few years with 20,000 Thais visiting the country in 2019, according to Thailands Ambassador to Egypt Puttaporn Ewtoksan.

Meanwhile, 20,000 Egyptian tourists visited Thailand in the same year, also according to Ewtoksan.

In February, Thailand resumed its quarantine-free travel programme ending a month-long suspension to curtail the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

As per the programme, Thailand allows vaccinated travellers to enter the country on the condition that they undergo COVID-19 tests on the first and fifth days of arrival and isolate in a hotel until the results are released.

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The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) launched on Monday the second round of dialogue with civil society organisations under the theme implementing the National Strategy for Human Rights.

The second round of dialogue included 20 civil society organisations in light of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis launching of the National Strategy for Human Rights and declaration of 2022 as the Year of Civil Society'.

The participating organisations included the Union Against Harmful Practices towards Women and Children, the Egyptian Forum for Development, the Human Rights Dialogue, and Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality.

During a two-hour Zoom meeting, which was headed by the President of the NCHR Moushira Khattab with the participation members of the council, the participating NGOs presented their activities and vision for the implementation of the National Strategy for Human Rights.

Khattab stated that the meeting revealed the richness of the diversity and interdependence of activities, as well as the enthusiasm of NGOs, especially those led by young people, to participate in the implementation of the strategy.

The meeting covered a number of issues, such as the challenges posed by the increasing population; climate change; the concept of international peace and security changes; the importance of achieving peace in the Mediterranean region; controlling irregular migration; and implementing the Document on Human Fraternity, which was signed in the UAE in 2019 by Al-Azhar grand imam and the Pope Francis.

Khattab has recently held a series of separate meetings at the headquarters of the NCHR with the ambassador of the European Union and his assistants; the ambassadors of Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and the US; the resident coordinator of the UN; and a representative of the Red Cross, where she praised their enthusiasm to support Egypts efforts in implementing the National Human Rights Strategy.

El-Sisi urged civil society organisations to cooperate with state institutions to spread human rights awareness and to contribute to achieving the aspirations of the Egyptian people.

Also, during his speech at the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the World Youth Forum that was held in Sharm El-Sheikh at the start of the year, El-Sisi directed the forums management and concerned institutions to establish a dialogue platform between the state, youths, and local as well as international civil society organisations to help in the implementation of the strategy.

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The five-story building that housed Samir Mansour's bookstore on its ground floor was reduced to rubble during the 11-day war between Israel and the Palestinian territory's Hamas rulers in May. The 100,000 books at the shop became piles of torn papers mired in ash and dust.

"I was devastated when the shop was destroyed and our friends and loved ones have boosted my morale. But today I was born again, today is a new birthday for me," he said.

Opened in 2000 on a busy Gaza City block near three universities, Mansour's bookstore was popular with students and general readers alike. What made it special was that Mansour could acquire any book on demand if it was unavailable in Gaza's few libraries.

Gaza has been under a tight Israel-Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized control in 2007, and importing specialized goods can be especially challenging.

With the help of generous donations, the store reopened in a nearby building, this time with more space and a larger, diverse inventory.

Mansour says donations came mostly from British activists who launched worldwide fundraising campaigns and secured a book collection larger than the one that was destroyed.

"Our British brothers and people have compensated us with 150,000 books,'' Mansour said.

Beams from spotlights in the ceiling gave a glossy look to the books that stood on premium wood shelving. The three-story bookstore showcases children's books, novels by local, Arab, and international authors, and business and programming guides, among other entries. In total, the new store has a collection of 400,000 books.

"Destruction didn't hurt us. Instead, it made us strong," Mansour said as dozens of people crowded the entrance of the store during the opening ceremony.

For Yara Eid, who was born the same year the store opened, the bookstore has provided a glimpse of life beyond Gaza. The blockade makes it extremely difficult for Gazans to travel abroad.

"Samir Mansour Bookstore means a lot to me,'' said Eid, who said she plans to study for a master's degree in Britain. "Without this bookstore, I would not have known life outside Gaza because we are under a blockade.

In this file photo taken on May 22, 2021 Samir Mansour, Palestinian owner of the eponymous bookstore and publishing house which had the largest collection of English literature, poses on the rubble of the bookshop after it was destroyed by Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City. AFP

"As a child,'' she added, "my imagination was built from these books, which gave me hope that there is another life, not only wars and bloodshed.''
European Union leaders on Monday denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the independence of Ukraine's separatist regions and warned the bloc will react with sanctions.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements," EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel each tweeted.

"The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness, and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine," they said.

In a joint statement, von der Leyen and Michel said: "The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act."

Just before Putin signed the decrees recognizing the two pro-Russian rebel-held parts of Ukraine and signing them on to a "mutual assistance" pact with Russia, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that sanctions would ensue.

Borrell said he would "put the sanctions on the table" for EU foreign ministers to decide whether to adopt them if Putin went ahead.

The EU has also warned it will impose unprecedented sanctions on Moscow if it invades Ukraine after it deployed an estimated 150,000 soldiers to the border.

Von der Leyen early Monday told Germany's ARD broadcaster that "if Vladimir Putin starts a war, we will respond with the most powerful lever we have: Economic and financial sanctions because the economy is Russia's weak point".

She said: "Financial sanctions would mean that Russia would be virtually cut off from international financial markets."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised two Moscow-backed rebel regions of Ukraine as independent, in a move that could set off a potentially catastrophic war with Kyiv's Western-backed government.

In an often angry 65-minute televised national address, Putin railed against Russia's ex-Soviet neighbour Ukraine as a failed state and "puppet" of the West, repeatedly suggesting that it is essentially part of Russia.

He accused 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 recognise the independence" of the two regions.

Immediately after the speech, state television showed him signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin.

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.

EU 'will react with sanctions'

Russia could now move in troops at the request of separatist officials, or to protect hundreds of thousands of residents who have been granted Russian passports, justifying an intervention as a defence of its citizens.

Ukraine would then either have to accept the loss of a huge chunk of territory, or face an armed conflict against its vastly more powerful neighbour.

The move drew immediate condemnation from the West, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling it "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of the Ukraine".

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel promised the bloc "will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also condemned Putin's move, saying it violates international agreements signed by Moscow.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to US President Joe Biden before convening an urgent security council meeting aimed at forging a response to Russia's recognition.

Both Putin and Zelensky had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the previous hours.

The sudden and decisive move by Moscow overshadowed last-ditch diplomatic attempts to ease weeks of tensions over fears Russia has been planning an all-out invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.

European leaders have been urging Putin to hold a summit with Biden, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Putin he would meet his US counterpart on Thursday in Geneva.

Putin told his 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 are warning that Russia is planning to invade its pro-Western neighbour after massing more than 150,000 troops on its borders, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Ukraine on Monday requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the threat, citing security assurances it received in return for giving up its nuclear arsenal in 1994.

Announcing the request on Twitter, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba cited article six of the Budapest memorandum, the landmark 1994 deal also signed by Russia, the United States and Britain.

The tensions have 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.

Ukrainian officials said two soldiers and a civilian died in the shelling of frontline villages Monday.

In one of the most potentially dangerous, Moscow claimed -- to furious Kyiv denials -- that its forces had intercepted and killed five Ukrainian saboteurs who infiltrated Russian territory, and accused Ukraine of shelling a border post.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said there was no sign of Russian forces withdrawing from the border and Moscow-backed rebels continued to shell Ukrainian positions.

In recent weeks, according to US intelligence, Moscow has massed an invasion force of troops, tanks, missile batteries and warships around Ukraine's borders in Belarus, Russia, Crimea and the Black Sea.

Biden has said that US intelligence believes that Putin has made a decision to invade Ukraine and that commanders are readying units to attack within days.

Western powers threatened a crippling sanctions package if Russia invades but it was unclear how far they would go if Russia stopped with the recognition of the separatists.

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Moscow said Tuesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was still ready for talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine's two separatist regions.

"Even during the most difficult moments... we say: we are ready for negotiations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in remarks aired on YouTube.

"We are always in favour of diplomacy," she told the Soloviev Live YouTube show.

She spoke after Putin recognised the independence of the former Soviet state's separatist-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions paving the way for the deployment of a potential invasion force.

Lavrov had said on Monday that he was set to meet with Blinken on Thursday in Geneva to address soaring tensions over Ukraine.

Moscow's move triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union.

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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.

Putin's 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 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.''

UNSC emergency meeting on Ukraine Monday

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.''

His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said.

Ukrainian President Zelensky speaking to the nation on Monday evening

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 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 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.

Afterwards, 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.

At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions' independence. One slipped up and said he favoured 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 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 recognize (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbours 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, 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 the 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.

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 armoured 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.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists.

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Russian government urged other nations to follow it and recognize east Ukraines separatist republics, a day after Moscows recognition.

"Russia calls on other states to follow its example," Moscow's foreign ministry said in a statement. It added that Moscow's recognition of the rebels -- condemned by the West -- was "not easy, but the only possible step."

President Vladimir Putin recognized separatists and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as "peacekeepers".

The decision was "dictated primarily by humanitarian considerations" and "intended to serve as a guarantee for a peaceful life" in the Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics, the Russian foreign minister said.

This came as other NATO members denounced the decision and warned Moscow of the upcoming sanctions that the European Union would impose, to counter the Russian move.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi slammed the Russian move and described it as an unacceptable violation of Ukraines sovereignty, on Tuesday morning.

"We consider the decision unacceptable", said Erdogan, who is currently in Senegal, "We invite the parties concerned to act with common sense and comply with the international law", he added.

"This is an unacceptable violation of Ukraine's democratic sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Draghi, who said the EU was already defining "measures and sanctions against Russia".

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi

Unlike most other NATO members Turkey and Italy enjoy good relations with Moscow.

Italy has historically relatively friendly ties with Putin, backed by strong, long-standing investments by Italian corporations in Russia, but since the installation of Mario Draghi as prime minister in February 2021, Draghi has stressed Italy's commitments to the EU and NATO.

While Turkey has enjoyed burgeoning trade and defence ties with Moscow, Ankara purchased Russian S-400 missile system in defiance of criticism from the West.

**This story was edited by Ahram Online

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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 Ukraine 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 Russia, a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow, but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europe's reliance on Russian energy supplies.

The West insisted Putin's bold moves in Ukraine violated countless international 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 Ukraine 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.

Russia 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 the 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 Kyiv 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 international 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 U.S.-backed nations levy stringent economic sanctions on Russia.

Hopes are dwindling that a major conflict can be averted. Putin's directive came hours after he recognized 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 U.S.-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 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.

Those on a saddle between Russia and the West were in an uncomfortable position.

NATO-member Turkey, which has close relations with 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 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.

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From Chechnya to Syria, via Ukraine, the Russia of Vladimir Putin has been involved in a string of wars since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

After months of soaring tensions, on Monday Putin ordered his troops to deploy in Ukraine's self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, hours after recognising their independence.

The scope and the calendar for the deployment are still unclear, but the decisions have fuelled fears of a major escalation in Ukraine.

Russia has massed more than 150,000 soldiers along Ukraine's border, according to Washington and Kyiv, and up to 190,000 including separatists.

Two Wars In Chechnya

In late 1994, after tolerating the Caucasus republic's de-facto independence for three years, Moscow sends in troops to bring Chechnya to heel.

But they meet fierce resistance and are withdrawn in 1996.

They are sent back in again in October 1999 under prime minister Vladimir Putin, who will soon be elected president.

Their mission is an "anti-terrorist operation", in response to deadly attacks in Russia blamed by Moscow on Chechens and an attack by its separatists on neighbouring Daghestan.

In February 2000, the Russian army retakes the Chechen capital Grozny, razing it to the ground with artillery and airstrikes.

The guerrilla movement continues. In 2009 the Kremlin brings an end to its operation, after two wars in which tens of thousands died on both sides.

Lightning Russia-Georgia War

In August 2008, Russia and Georgia go to war for five days over South Ossetia, a small separatist Georgian region.

In the night of August 7 to 8, the Georgian army launches a deadly offensive to retake control of South Ossetia, of which it had lost control since the crumbling of the Soviet Union and war in the early 1990s.

Russia immediately riposts, sending its troops into Georgian territory and quickly inflicting a resounding defeat on the ex-Soviet republic.

The lightning conflict claims several hundred lives.

The Kremlin then recognises the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another separatist province, and has since maintained a strong military presence there. The West denounces a de-facto occupation.

Conflict In Ukraine

In 2014, after the pro-European Union revolution in Ukraine which forces out the Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych, Russia retaliates by annexing the Crimea peninsula.

The annexation is not recognised by the international community.

A separatist uprising then emerges in Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine on the border with Russia. They declared independence, unleashing an intense armed conflict with Kyiv.

Kyiv and the West say Russia instigated the eastern uprising and poured arms and troops across the border to bolster them.

Moscow denies the accusations while acknowledging the presence of Russian "volunteers".

The conflict has largely abated since 2015 and is the signature of the Minsk peace agreements.

But, since late 2021, Russia has stepped up military manoeuvres, by air, land and sea, around Ukrainian territory, stationing more than 150,000 soldiers on its border, according to Western estimates.

On Monday, Putin recognises the independence of the two secessionist republics and orders his troops to deploy there.

The conflict in Ukraine has left more than 14,000 dead since 2014.

Intervention In Syria

Russia deploys its military in war-torn Syria in 2015 in support of the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia's intervention, especially with its airpower, changes the course of the conflict in Assad's favour.

It allows the Damascus regime to clock up decisive victories, seizing back territory that had been lost to rebels and jihadists.

Moscow has two military bases in Syria: the aerodrome in Hmeimim in the northwest and the naval port of Tartus, further south.

More than 63,000 Russian military personnel have deployed to Syria, Moscow says.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has held several meetings on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held in Doha, Qatar, on February 21.

Wind power plants construction

During the meeting with Nebras Power CEO Khalid Mohammed Jolo, they discussed the issues of cooperation on the construction of 100 MW wind power plants in Azerbaijans liberated Lachin and Kalbajar regions.

The parties also discussed the possibilities of cooperation on the construction of a gas turbine with a capacity of up to 550 MW in these territories.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on renewable energy projects envisaged on the liberated territories and plans related to the realization of wind energy potential in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

They noted that the joint plans with Nebras Power create opportunities for bilateral energy cooperation development and attracting investments in the energy sector.

Southern Gas Corridor

The minister also held a meeting with the GECF Secretary-General Mohamed Hamel. During the meeting, they have discussed the current trends in the global gas market, as well as the current state and possible cooperation opportunities between Azerbaijan and GECF.

Parviz Shahbazov stated that Azerbaijan has implemented one of the largest projects of the 21st century- the Southern Gas Corridor.

Azerbaijan entered the European market by means of this corridor and won the trust of consumers, he said.

Touching upon the possible expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor, the minister spoke about necessary steps in this regard and Azerbaijans gas reserves.

He noted that nearly 160 billion cubic meters of gas were produced from the Shah Deniz field so far, which is the main source of this corridor, adding that the reserves of this field are more than 1 trillion cubic meters.

Taking into account the proven and projected reserves, there are great opportunities for the development of Azerbaijan as a gas country. Our country is ready to continue its efforts to ensure regional and global energy security, as well as to continue cooperation and dialogue with the forum, he said.

In turn, the secretary-general stated that natural gas will play a crucial role in the process of energy transition in the coming decades.

Natural gas provides solutions to issues related to energy poverty, energy security and the environment, he said.

In this regard, he emphasized the importance of cooperation in providing support to the gas sector.

He also noted the role of Azerbaijan in the sustainability of gas supply, adding that Azerbaijan is one of the important participants of the forum.

Mohamed Hamel also highly appreciated the Azerbaijani president's contribution to the process of establishing the OPEC+ format.

Earlier it was reported that Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov will attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) ministerial meeting and the 6th Summit of the GECF heads of state and government, both of which will take place in Doha on February 21-22.

It should be noted that Parviz Shahbazov arrived in Qatar at the invitation of Qatar's State Minister for Energy Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.
President Vladimir Putin's announcement that Russia is recognizing two eastern Ukrainian breakaway regions and ordering troops to the area has left analysts guessing over whether the Kremlin is preparing an even deeper incursion.

Commentators are divided over Russia's future strategy for Ukraine, with some believing a large-scale invasion is still on the cards while others expect Putin to stick with the new status quo, at least for now.

In an incandescent address that the French presidency said was marked by "paranoia", Putin doubted Ukraine's right to statehood, mocked the legitimacy of the government and even accused Kyiv of seeking to arm itself with a nuclear bomb.

In the historic speech, he did not go beyond recognition of the two regions. But he issued a chilling warning that the Ukrainian government would bear "full responsibility" for any ensuing bloodletting.

AFP takes a look at the possible future scenarios Russia could be mulling for Ukraine:

Full Invasion

The UK and US have repeatedly over the last weeks cited intelligence as indicating that Russia is planning a full invasion of Ukraine, up to a bid to take the capital Kyiv.

The US has removed its diplomats from the entire country and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that with his speech Putin was "establishing the pretext for a full-scale offensive."

Russia has over the last weeks massed some 150,000 troops close to the border with Ukraine, a major effort that some analysts doubt Putin made merely to recognise two regions already controlled by pro-Moscow separatists.

"This is the first step in what will likely be a large-scale Russian military operation to impose regime change," said Michael Kofman, director of Russia Studies at the US-based Center for Naval Analyses, who has repeatedly predicted a large-scale Russian invasion.

Further Incursion

But even if Moscow decided an operation to take Kyiv was too risky politically and militarily, it could still opt for a potentially still bloody confrontation with a more limited incursion.

The breakaway so-called Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DNR and LNR) do not control the full area of the administrative regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraine but claim jurisdiction over them.

Russia could use its forces to seek to oust the Ukrainian government from these areas, and it remains a critical question within what geographic boundaries Putin has recognised the DNR and LNR.

The Kremlin could be tempted to push forces north towards the city of Mariupol and then seek to connect with the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014 but only connected to Russia via a bridge.

"My best guess is that Putin will stop at the current line of control and try to hold things there, in order to avoid escalation," said Sam Greene, professor in Russian politics at King's College London.

"But he'll leave open the possibility of pushing further, in order to keep the pressure on."

New Status Quo

Russian state-controlled media have already celebrated the recognition of the two regions as a victory for Moscow while Putin has in the last weeks succeeded in driving his concerns for security to the top of the West's agenda.

His over one hour long speech felt to some like the concluding point of the current escalation, and Russia will still be hit by new sanctions and face the suspension of the Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany.

While Putin ordered Russia's military to act as peacekeepers in the two regions, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said there was no need to send troops to eastern Ukraine for now.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledged that what had happened so far was not a "fully-fledged" invasion.

Russia's messaging on within what geographical limits it is recognising the two regions has been mixed, with pro-government lawmakers giving different opinions over whether it should be restricted to just the existing DNR and LNR.

Dmitry Trenin, the director of the Moscow Carnegie Center, wrote in the immediate aftermath of Putin's speech: "Russia-Ukraine: no major war. Instead, stabilisation of frontline for now."

But he accepted Moscow was "crossing an important line" by declaring the regions independent while at the same time making a de-facto withdrawal of recognition from the Kyiv government.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry said it has decided to evacuate Russian diplomatic personnel from Ukraine, pointing at threats it has received.

The ministry said Tuesday Russian diplomats in Ukraine have received multiple threats, adding that they will be evacuated ``in the nearest time.''

The move follows Russia's recognition of Ukraine's rebel regions and the Russian parliament's vote to grant President Vladimir Putin a permission to use military force in Ukraine.

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Egypts Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla discussed on Tuesday with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Shulginov a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was agreed upon and will be signed soon to promote natural gas as a fuel in the transportation sector and enhance cooperation between both countries in this regard.

The two sides discussed cooperation in the field of converting cars to run on natural gas and the possibility of exchanging experiences in this field through scientific and technical cooperation, capacity building and technology transfer, according to a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

During their meeting on the sidelines of the sixth Gas Exporting Countries Forum that is being held in Doha, the two ministers indicated the two countries' constant keenness to enhance joint cooperation.

The Russian minister affirmed his support for Egypt in hosting COP27. He also expressed his country's interest in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) and its desire to hold subsequent meetings to discuss the forum's developments and how to coordinate cooperation between the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and EMGF.

The EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF), a Cairo-based international organisation that aims to establish a regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean and enhance trade relations among member states.

The meeting, which was also attended by Mohamed Hamel, Secretary-General of GECF, presented initiatives that can be put forward during COP 27 summit, with possible workshops to be conducted by GECF members, with topics such as energy transition put on the table.

This comes in light of Egypt's expansion in natural gas and amid the country's energy transition ambitions, which the Russian side expressed its interest in, the statement further elaborated.

Egypt plans to shift energy dependence to cleaner resources, including natural gas after achieving its self-sufficient in natural gas in 2018. Egypt has planned to use its position on Europes doorstep to become a major supplier of LNG to the continent.

Egypt is also working on a host of projects to preserve the environment by making use of the countrys plentiful natural gas production. The boom in the North African countrys gas production has been supported by huge gas discoveries and production in the Mediterranean.

Last week, Egypt signed an agreement with Italys Landi Renzo to locally manufacture car components to run on natural gas

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The cooperation includes a new project for producing a number of fresh theatrical shows, as well as discovering and training new talents.

This comes as part of UMS initiative, under Managing Director Hassan Abdallah, to boost Egyptian theatre, which started with Ashraf Abdel-Bakys show Kenz El-Donia starring a number of special needs talents.

Sobhy, who set a record in building theatres in Egypt with five theatre halls, is currently presenting his latest comedy musical Nogoum El-Dohr at Sonbol City theatre on Cairo-Alexandria Road.

The 1970 graduate of the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts launched his fruitful career in 1968, performing in over 40 theatre shows, 22 films and 25 TV series, with many being among the most popular Arab classics.

With Al-Karnak (1975) and Hona Al-Qahera (1985) being among his most notable films, Sobhy was the maker of 'Enta Horr', 'Al-Joker', 'El-Hamagy', 'El-Hamagy', 'Takhareef', 'Weghet Nazar' and other significant shows. Sobhy garnered a huge fan-base through his few but influential series, including Sonbol and Yawmeyat Wanis, which aired between 1994 and 2013 with a total of about 300 episodes.

The chairman of Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth, Sobhy recently celebrated his 50-year career by paying tribute to over 100 artists in an event titled '50 Sana Fann' (50 years of art).

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Ethiopia has started operating the first two turbines of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), built on the Blue Nile, without prior coordination with either Sudan or Egypt.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the two turbines were in operation on Sunday, adding that they would alleviate the countrys energy shortages and that Ethiopia would soon be in a position to export clean energy to its neighbours, and possibly to Europe should the west help build further dams.

Hours after Ahmeds announcement, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo said the unilateral move, like the unilateral fillings of the GERD reservoir during the last two summers, placed Ethiopia in violation of the 2015 Declaration of Principles. Similarly, Sudan said it considered the move a fundamental breach of Ethiopias international legal commitments.

Both Khartoum and Cairo say the Declaration of Principles, signed by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, the now ousted Sudanese president Omar Bashir, and late Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Khartoum in March 2015, stipulate that no action on the operation or filling of the dam can be taken without first securing a legally binding agreement with downstream countries.

Despite countless attempts at mediation, the negotiations that followed the signing of the Declaration of Principles failed to produce such an agreement.

Technically speaking, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia should be preparing to resume negotiations to get a deal done, as stipulated by the UN Security Council statement adopted in September last year which called for a legal binding agreement within a reasonable timeframe, said a concerned Egyptian official. Yet instead of working to resume negotiations and finalise a deal Ethiopia opted to act unilaterally, thus courting political confrontation.

Cairo was not blindsided by the Ethiopian move. It had been widely trailed. Nor was Egypt surprised by the timing. That Ethiopia should chose to act just as Senegalese President Macky Sall, the new chair of the African Union (AU), was getting ready to try to bring the three parties to the table, was predictable.

When Sall was in Cairo late last month he said that he wished to see a restart to negotiations. He received Egypts support, despite profound skepticism over the intentions of Ethiopia, said the official.

For Cairo, he continued, it is clear that Ethiopia intends to keep wasting time while it is moves on with its plans without any consideration for downstream countries. Abiy Ahmed does not want a deal. He negotiated one in 2019 and when the deal was ready for signing he ordered his delegation home from Washington.

In 2019, a deal was expected to be signed in Washington following intensive negotiations, but Ethiopia backed out at the last moment. Since then, Egypt, with the help of France and the US, twice managed to table disagreements over GERD for the attention of the UN Security Council which requested the AU to mediate. Two successive chairs of the AU, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), subsequently failed to secure a deal, despite Western support.

The new chair, Senegal, was expected to continue work on a reconciliatory document prepared by the DRC, with direct US support, and had consulted with the concerned parties. Egypt and Sudan, according to diplomatic sources, had agreed in principle to work with the document, while Ethiopias position remained ambiguous.

Nor has the AU been able to reach an agreement with Ethiopia on the composition of the panel of experts that is supposed to review the sharing of information on the filling and operation of GERD, and develop a conflict resolution mechanism. Ethiopia has similarly stonewalled over allowing the EU and US observers to intervene to facilitate negotiations.

Ethiopia is playing a risky game, continuing to shrug off the concerns of Egypt and Sudan, said the Egyptian official.

Abiy Ahmed, he continued, is banking on Sudan being too immersed in political turmoil to worry about picking up GERD negotiations ahead of the next rainy season, and on the rest of the international community being too distracted by the crisis over Russia and Ukraine.

Clearly, for now, the worlds attention is elsewhere. But Abiy Ahmed is mistaken if he thinks Egypt will not defend its basic water rights, said the official.

Egypt gets most of its already inadequate water supply from the Blue Nile, prompting Cairo to send urgent messages on the unilateral operation of GERDs first two turbines to concerned capitals.

The core of Egypts message, says the official, is that by failing to pressure Ethiopia to work on reaching a fair and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of GERD, the world is pushing the dispute into uncharted territory.

On Monday the Egyptian permanent mission to the UN handed over a letter from Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati to the current President of the UN Security Council, Russian Permanent Representative Vassily Nebeniza. In it Abdel-Ati reminded the Security Council that it had requested the three concerned countries should engage in constructive negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement within a reasonable time frame. Ethiopias inistent unilateralism, the letter added, is opposed to the cause of constructive negotiations. The letter was presented under the item of Peace and Security in Africa.

The situation in the east of Africa is already tense, with political confrontations in Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti, and internal and cross border conflicts across the region. The absence of an agreement on GERD will serve only to exacerbate these tensions.

While the operation of the two turbines may not cause immediate harm to Egypt or Sudan, the official added, there is no guarantee that Ethiopia will not engage in further unilateral moves that will be harmful.

We are also deeply concerned over the safety of the dam given that Ethiopia has refused to answer questions that Egypt and Sudan have raised over its construction, he explained.

Amany Al-Tawil, head of the African Affairs Unit at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, says there is no doubt about the political message Ethiopia is sending by unilaterally operating the two turbines, and it is extremely negative.

What Ethiopia is saying is that it is unwilling to work in good faith with downstream countries to reach an agreement.

The situation, according to the Egyptian official, may be even worse, with prime minister Ahmed contemplating further projects on the River Nile.

What seems clear is that a major political confrontation is looming over GERD which will only be deflected if the prime minister of Ethiopia adopts a different approach  ie, one that is not based on going in circles and wasting time, argued the official. Unfortunately, the chances of such a shift happening are tiny.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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On Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that six African countries  Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia  had been chosen to produce mRNA vaccines after receiving the technology from the WHOs global mRNA vaccine hub. The mRNA technology, which is used in manufacturing Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, provokes an immune response by delivering genetic molecules containing the code for key parts of the pathogen into human cells.

It will not take long to start manufacturing... We have already the facilities, and only need visits from experts and researchers in order to complete the rest of the procedures, said Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, referring to Egypts mRNA vaccines production.

Abdel-Ghaffar revealed meetings had already been held to develop an executive plan to turn Egypt into a regional centre for vaccine manufacture.

The WHO said it would work with the six countries chosen to develop a training and support roadmap so they can start producing vaccines as soon as possible. Training will begin in March.

The move will allow Africa to make its own jabs to fight the Covid-19 and other diseases, and as a consequence be less reliant on non-African manufacturers.

The global mRNA technology transfer hub was established in 2021 to support manufacturers in low-and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines, ensuring that they have all the necessary operating procedures and know-how to manufacture mRNA vaccines at scale and according to international standards, according to the WHO. In June 2021, the WHO selected a South African consortium to run the global hub serving low-and middle-income countries.

We are confident this hub will empower African scientists and companies, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen said during the European Union (EU)-African Union (AU) Summit in the Belgian capital on Friday. This is not only about production of Covid-19 vaccines, she added, but will expand manufacturing capacity for other vaccines and products such as insulin and cancer medicines.

Currently, only one per cent of vaccines used in Africa are produced on the continent.

More than 80 per cent of the population of Africa has yet to receive a single dose. Much of this inequity has been driven by the fact that globally, vaccine production is concentrated in a few mostly high-income countries, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday on the sidelines of an EU-AU Summit in Brussels.

Egypt was selected because it has a solid legislative structure, the Drug Authority Law and the Clinical Research Law, a cadre of researchers and experts, state-owned and non-state-owned factories needed for production, and a transport infrastructure capable of ensuring the delivery of vaccines across the continent, said Abdel-Ghaffar.

He also noted that Egypt already has been producing the Sinovac vaccine since June 2021, following an agreement signed in April 2021 between VACSERA and Chinas Sinovac biopharmaceutical company. The vaccine was granted an emergency use licence by the Egyptian Drug Authority in August 2021.

Under the agreement, Sinovac provides VACSERA with technical assistance and training for VACSERA employees.

Egypt, which has enough vaccine stocks to inoculate 53 million citizens, began exporting locally produced Sinovac/VACSERA Covid-19 vaccine this week. On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority received an Egyptian-Chinese gift of 500,000 doses of the Egyptian-made vaccine for the Gaza Strip.

The shipment followed a presidential directive to support brotherly countries, said Abdel-Ghaffar, who added that China will supply the raw materials for 500 million to be manufactured in Egypt.

Egypt has already fully vaccinated 30 million citizens, and an additional 39 million have received their first dose.

Amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, Egypt is currently reporting around 2,000 infections daily, and according to Abdel-Ghaffar the numbers are expected to recede by the end of this month.

Egypt began selling Mercks Covid-19 drug Molnupiravir  which received emergency use authorisation by the drug regulator in January  at government-affiliated pharmacies at a price of LE630 per package. The drug is also available at Health Ministry-affiliated hospitals free of charge.

Last week, Egypt also made Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kits available to the public at pharmacies for first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The cabinet is seeking to rationalise the bread subsidy system, halt infringements on agricultural land, and reform rental laws.

A detailed report on the governments socio-economic programme between 2018 and 2021 has been submitted to both chambers of parliament, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said on Monday.

Egypt Kicks Off, the governments three year programme, won a vote of confidence in parliament in July 2018. The report into its results itemises the ways the government has acted to contain the fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its impact on low-income citizens, and how the three-year economic reform programme between 2016 and 2019 helped Egypt ride out the ensuing economic storm. Egypt was one of the few countries to achieve positive economic growth in 2020 and 2021.

The report also notes an increased focus on the health sector, saying that budget priorities were modified to help the health sector absorb the pandemics shock in terms of buying and manufacturing vaccines and rehabilitating hospitals and medical clinics.

According to the report, the success of the 2016-2019 economic reforms prompted the government to implement a national programme of further structural reforms in April 2021.

This additional three-year programme does not aim to add more financial burden on Egyptian citizens, but seeks to help the Egyptian economy become more productive and competitive by creating a friendly climate for private businesses and investments, and improving the performance of public institutions through digitising their operations, says the report.

It cites Prime Minister Madbouli as saying that after three years of implementing the Egypt Kicks Off programme Egypt has attained the confidence of international economic institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

The two organisations agreed that not only did the Egyptian economy show great resilience in the face of coronavirus shock, but was able to achieve higher rates of economic growth, says the report.

The report is divided into six chapters, each tackling a national strategic objective: achieving sustainable economic growth; improving the governments performance; upgrading production systems and operations; raising the standard of living for citizens; combatting the fall-out from the pandemic, and safeguarding national security against foreign threats.

The government, according to Madbouli, is currently preparing to face three serious challenges. They are old and inherited problems: protecting agricultural land from illegal infringements; rationalising bread subsidies, and amending the landlord-tenant relationship law, said the prime minister.

Following a meeting with provincial governors on 17 February, Madbouli said that despite government attempts to contain infringements on agricultural land, local councils have reported that the practice remains rampant.

The government, he continued, will spare no effort in reversing this phenomenon which poses a grave threat to the food security of future generations of Egyptians.

Any new infringements, Madbouli announced, will be immediately razed, and violators will be barred from accessing subsidies, including on fertilizers, bread and other food supplies.

Madbouli said he had also instructed the Justice Ministry to draft a law criminalising building on agricultural land, and penalising contractors. It makes no sense, he pointed out, for the government to spend billions reclaiming desert land for cultivation while criminals continue to infringe on fertile agricultural land in the Nile delta.

Over the last four decades it is estimated that Egypt has lost 500,000 feddans of its most fertile agricultural land to construction, and LE50 billion is needed to reclaim them, said Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad.

Madbouli also announced that, following a cabinet meeting on 16 February discussing the subject, the bread subsidy system will be reviewed. He pointed out that ration card holders can purchase a loaf of subsidised bread for five piastres, a price that has remain unchanged for 30 years. The Ministry of Supply is currently studying the best way to rationalise the subsidies, and a new system  likely to include gradual increases in the price of a loaf  will be announced soon.

On securing a more balanced relationship between tenants and landlords, Madbouli said the government is coordinating with the House of Representatives and the Senate in a bid to draft a new law. This is one of the complex problems we inherited from previous governments and we need to solve it. Rents cannot remain unchanged for 50 years, he said.

Cabinet Spokesperson Saad revealed that a joint parliamentary-government committee has begun meeting to amend the existing landlord-tenant relationship law.

When this law was passed in 1969 it effectively froze rents, said Saad. Even after it was amended, first in 1977, and then again in 1981, the results were nominal increases in rent, which since 1981 have remained unchanged.

On Monday, the House of Representatives approved a government-drafted law aimed at liberalising rents of non-residential units. The draft law will give tenants of non-residential units a five-year grace period from the date of its promulgation to adjust, after which rents will increase five-fold. For the following four years, they will then be increased by 15 per annum.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Safeya Mounir sounds out tourism experts on whether Egypts tourist industry will be affected by the crisis between Russia and Ukraine

As tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine, so too do concerns over a possible war and its impact on many aspects of the global economy, not least tourism. Already the skirmishes in Ukraine are having an impact on Egypts tourism industry.

According to Ali Okda, CEO of Meeting Point Egypt, a tourism company focusing on the Russian market, tourism from both Russia and Ukraine is down to a quarter of what it was before the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

If a war breaks out, there will be no tourism at all, he commented, adding that tourist planes will not take off from Ukraine, its airspace will be closed to civil aviation, and insurance companies will not insure planes coming from either Ukraine or Russia.

He said that the fallout of a war on tourism to Egypt would be largely limited to these two countries, however, with Omicron remaining the leading cause of low tourist rates from Europe.

However, the latter were likely to rise again soon. Hotel reservations in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada in March are up 30 per cent from February. Europe has begun to open up, and some EU countries have begun to allow in unvaccinated persons.

Even so, Ukraine is a main exporter of tourists to Egypt. According to the Ukraine State Agency for Tourism Development, Ukrainian citizens took 14.7 million tourist trips abroad in 2021. The top two destinations were Turkey, which received 28 per cent of Ukrainian tourists, and Egypt which received 21 per cent.

Mustafa Khalil, a member of the Egyptian-Russian Business Council, said that the tourist markets from both Russia and Ukraine had been affected by the tensions. However, he feared a worse situation could arise if economic sanctions are imposed on Russia after the Ukraine crisis passes, with these likely to sharply reduce Russian tourism.

Egypts tourist numbers are down 40 per cent from October and November levels, he said, though this was largely due to the new variant of Covid-19. Most Europeans are not convinced that war is imminent, Khalil said, pointing to the tourist bookings Europeans have made for March.

He added that while tourism from Russia was still less than it was before Russia suspended flights to Egypt following the downing of the Russian passenger plane over Sinai in 2015, the quality of it was better.

The economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have reduced the numbers of Russian tourists able to come to Egypt, meaning that only those able to spend more were coming.

Director of the Savoy Hotels chain Rami Rizqallah said that the skirmishes in Ukraine had had a significant effect. More than 20,000 Russian tourists per week had earlier come to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, but the rate has now dropped to 10,000, he said.

More than 700,000 Russians visited Egypt last year, Russian Ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko told the Sputnik news agency earlier in February.

The same destinations have lately been receiving 6,000 to 8,000 tourists per week from Ukraine. Before the skirmishes, there had been 40,000.

Rizqallah added that Ukraine had been a prime tourist market for Egypt before the Russians returned last summer when direct and charter flights from Russia to the Red Sea resorts resumed after a six-year hiatus.

Russia and Ukraine are among the top sources of tourists to Egypt, and they were among the few markets that started to boom again once the Covid-19 pandemic had begun to subside.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Former foreign minister Nabil Fahmis Egypts Diplomacy in War, Peace and Transition, recently published in Arabic by Dar El-Shorouk, is particularly important and enlightening in view of the sensitive posts Fahmi held during equally sensitive times. He served as Egypts ambassador in Washington, our most important embassy abroad, during a period of heightened tensions between Egypt and the US under president George W Bush and, through September 11, until 2008 just before Obama came to power; he also served as foreign minister when all Western countries aligned themselves against the will of the Egyptian people who had risen up to overthrow the Muslim Brotherhood. In both eras, Fahmi applied approaches he had learned from the diplomatic school of his father, Ismail Fahmi, who had served as Anwar Al-Sadats foreign minister. Essentially, his initiatives were grounded in awareness of Egypts pivotal importance in the region and internationally.

In his book, which is both a history and a memoir, Fahmi recounts how he was shown a copy of the speech that Bush was going to deliver during his visit to Sharm El-Sheikh in 2008. He immediately called the White House to caution that if this was what Bush planned to say when he came to Egypt, it would be better if he did not come at all. Fahmi then informed president Hosni Mubarak of the action he had taken. Mubarak praised the diplomat for his quick thinking which resulted in important changes to the address that Bush delivered at Sharm El-Sheikh.

Five years later, following the 30 June 2013 Revolution, Nabil Fahmi, foreign minister at the time, was informed that the Americans planned to call for a special session of the UN Security Council to discuss the latest development in Egypt and that this could result in resolutions disadvantageous to the country. He then contacted US Secretary of State John Kerry to ascertain whether the information was correct. Kerry denied that it was and said that France was behind the move. However, the former French foreign minister Laurent Fabius refuted Kerrys claim and countered that, in fact, it was the US and Britain that were pushing for a Security Council resolution. At that point, Fahmi decided to take the most practical step. Rather than wasting time on determining whether or not Kerry was telling the truth, he contacted Moscow and Beijing, ensuring their veto if the situation came to that point.

Such insights are a rare find in history books which is one reason why Fahmis work is so valuable.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The recent tensions between Russia and Ukraine with the prospect of war looming dangerously over the continent of Europe for the first time in decades highlight the importance of some fundamental notions in international relations.

Russia has gathered its military forces on the border with Ukraine, effectively threatening a further invasion of the country after the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the secession of the eastern provinces. The intense military standoff, heated diplomatic exchange and repeated contacts between Russia, Ukraine and major Western actors, including the US, France and Germany, continues, as on 21 February Russia recognised the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraines Donbass. In this context important questions and lessons still arise concerning the legitimacy of such actions and the international order.

The world order is based on the fundamental Westphalian notion of state sovereignty that sees the existence of states as independent actors on the international level and sets out matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. Thus, the principle of state sovereignty has two essential aspects, one territorial and the other political.

Concerning the territorial dimension of state sovereignty, all actions undermining the territorial integrity of a state are to be condemned. These include casus belli, i.e. a threat of war, itself illegal under international law, and external interference in the territory or affairs of another nation.

One such case was the casus belli issued by Turkey against Greece in 1995 after Greece decided to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, as it has the right to do according to international law. Another is the casus belli of Russia against Ukraine, if the latter moves on with its intention to join the NATO alliance.

Issuing threats of war against other states is a dangerous practice that could lead to an era of chaos and turmoil. Examples of external interference in other states include Turkeys previous meddling in Egypts internal affairs, its unlawful and destabilising presence in Libya and Syria, and its use of foreign mercenaries as proxy actors in theatres of war.

Concerning the political dimension of state sovereignty, external pressure on the internal politics of states often disrupts the international order. The Western states in particular should cease their often-misguided rhetoric and instrumentalisation of abstract principles like human rights or democracy in order to put pressure on other states and should focus instead on the respect for state sovereignty as an inalienable national right.

External interference in national affairs should be avoided as a general guiding principle of inter-state relations. Relevant examples here include the criticism of Egypt with respect to its anti-terrorist campaigns and the criticism of Greece with respect to its protection of its sea borders. States should develop their own paths of political evolution with no external interference, no matter what the supposedly benevolent intentions of the external actors might be.

Chief Editor of the Al-Ahram Weekly Ezzat Ibrahim rightly highlighted this principle in relation to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine by quoting words from major US analyst George Kennan in his seminal article America and the Russian Future that originally appeared in the US journal Foreign Affairs in 1951 concerning Western perceptions of the former Soviet Union.

Give them time; let them be Russians; let them work out their internal problems in their own manner, Kennan wrote. The ways by which people advance towards dignity and enlightenment in government are things that constitute the deepest and most intimate processes of national life. There is nothing less understandable to foreigners, nothing in which foreign influence can do less good.

* The writer is a lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens in Greece.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has said that the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is transforming Azerbaijan into a reliable supplier of energy resources both in the region and in Europe.

He made the remarks speaking at the meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Qatar on February 21.

"Given the requirements of both energy security and environmental safety, the Southern Gas Corridor is now considered one of the most promising priorities in the energy supply of more countries, and there is great interest in its development," he said.

Shahbazov noted that currently, Europe accounts for the major part of the country's daily gas exports, since nearly 27 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas is delivered to European consumers per day.

The minister added that since commissioning, 14.8 billion cubic meters of gas have been exported to Turkey via TANAP and 9.4 billion cubic meters to Europe via TAP.

Shahbazov also briefed on Azerbaijans great potential to meet the domestic gas demand and to supply its partners with natural gas for the long term.

Moreover, he noted that combating climate change is important, but so is the cost of energy and security of supply.

"Despite the volatility of quotes, natural gas will still be a suitable source for reliable power generation as well as for balancing power systems," he said.

Stressing that natural gas is a bridge to the goal of climate neutrality, the energy minister emphasized the importance of supporting this type of energy for price stability.

It should be noted that GECF will hold its 6th summit of heads of state and government on February 22. Azerbaijan has been an observer at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum since 2015.

It should be noted that Parviz Shahbazov arrived in Qatar at the invitation of Qatar's State Minister for Energy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, to attend the GECF ministerial meeting and the 6th summit of heads of state and government.
Proposals for a new European security architecture should be on the table in any serious talks to solve the Ukraine crisis, writes Hussein Haridy

The unexpected has happened. For the past few weeks the world has been hoping that the path of diplomacy would solve the Ukraine crisis and would bear fruit despite the military buildup along the Russian-Ukraine border and the growing military assistance from the NATO countries to the Ukrainian military.

One important objective behind the diplomatic efforts has been to avoid escalating the situation in Ukraine to an all-out war pitting Russian forces against the Ukrainian military.

However, the world was caught by surprise on 19 February when Russian President Vladimir Putin presided from a command centre in the Kremlin over the test launch of three ballistic and cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The Russian president was accompanied by President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.

The ballistic-missile tests were meant to show the strength of the Russian triad system. One was sea-launched, another air-launched, and the third land-based. The sea-based weapon tested is known as the Zircon and is capable of avoiding naval defences. It is expected to be operational before the end of 2022.

By test-launching these three ballistic missiles, Moscow wants to dissuade the US and NATO from further escalating the situation in Ukraine, in addition to exerting more pressure on the Biden administration to heed Russian warnings concerning the need to respect Russias red lines, as conveyed in writing last December, foremost among them guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO.

It was also no coincidence that the tests were programmed to take place on the same day that US Vice-President Kamala Harris was scheduled to address the Munich Security Conference in Germany. In her remarks there on 19 February, Harris accused Russia of spreading disinformation, lies and propaganda, describing Russias actions as part of the playbook of Russian aggression.

These were the same accusations that US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had levelled at Moscow on 17 and 18 February, the latter before a second session of the UN Security Council dealing with the crisis in the Ukraine in less than a month. The first time was on 31 January.

The Russian tests took place in the context of heightened tensions between the US and Russia, with the Biden administration, fully supported by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, expecting an imminent Russian invasion next week, meaning the week starting on 21 February.

On 18 February, Biden told reporters that as of this moment I am convinced that he [Putin] has made the decision [to invade Ukraine]. He added that according to intelligence information, the Russian offensive would target Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.

In the meantime, Biden said that Blinken would meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on 24 February in Europe, making it clear that the meeting would be cancelled if the invasion of Ukraine took place. A White House official told the New York Times on 19 February that Bidens remarks were based on the assessment of the intelligence community.

Travelling to Munich to participate in the Munich Security Conference on 19 February, Johnson echoed the same message that Biden had delivered one day earlier. The allies need to speak with one voice to stress to President Putin the high price he will pay for any Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said.

It is worth noting that both US and British officials have contradicted Russian announcements of troop withdrawals along the Ukrainian border after military exercises. These announcements were made by the Russian Ministry of Defence on 15 and 17 February.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss penned an article in the UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph, in which she wrote that the West should not feel secure when Russia pretends that some of its forces are going back to their barracks and claiming that Russian reinforcements have not stopped coming. In a rare communique, chief of intelligence at the UK Ministry of Defence

Jim Hockenhull said that the Russians were sending in reinforcements.

A senior US official talking to reporters on 16 February denied that the Russians had begun withdrawing some of their forces, stressing that we know now that this is not true.

In the same vein, speaking before a meeting of NATO defence ministers on 16 February Stoltenberg brought up the question of the withdrawal of Russian military units and emphatically denied that Russian forces had started a pullback. He added that in fact, [Russia] appears to be adding to its forces.

What was surprising in his remarks, however, contradicting later statements by Biden, Harris, and Johnson, was Stoltenbergs belief that Putin wants to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

While the US and Britain are hardening their positions vis-a-vis Moscow, at least in public, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in an interview with the UK Financial Times said on 17 February that the Russian president can choose to make Russia a destabilising power which could mean a permanent strategy of tension over the long term, or he can choose to become the actor, the partner, in a new security and stability order in Europe.

Le Drian outlined a three-step approach to defusing the Ukraine crisis, namely, a verified withdrawal of Russian forces deployed on the Ukrainian border, the resumption of talks on the Minsk Accords with the aim of ending the war between Moscow-backed separatists and Kyiv in the Donbas region of Ukraine, and a new European security framework.

It is interesting and encouraging to note that the same idea of a common European security architecture, most importantly including Russia, was voiced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz during his visit to Moscow when he met Putin early in the week.

Judging from US and British reactions to Russian attempts to defuse the tensions surrounding the situation in Ukraine, it seems that the US and Britain are not interested, for now, in supporting the emergence of a new European security order. In his interview with the Financial Times, Le Drian said that there are no more rules governing European security and stability because arms-control pacts covering everything from intermediate-range nuclear missiles to transparency on military force movements have become nearly obsolete or irrelevant.

What the German chancellor said in Moscow and what the French foreign minister talked about concerning a new European security architecture should be on the table in any serious talks to solve the Ukraine crisis. It goes without saying that such talks would necessitate a substantial drawdown of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine, on the one hand, and stopping NATOs growing military assistance to Ukraine, on the other.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis should be the first step to new security arrangements in Europe that would ensure the security of the continent and stability for all. It would greatly help if Anglo-American diplomacy were more cooperative in this respect.

It is also noteworthy in this regard that the statement on Russia and Ukraine released by the foreign ministers of the G7 group of countries and the high representative for foreign affairs of the European Union on 19 February reiterated their commitment to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the current crisis and urged Russia to take up the offer of dialogue through the US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue and the NATO-Russia Council.

The statement also commended the Renewed OSCE European Security Dialogue proposed by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

* The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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It is hoped that wisdom will prevail, and French President Emmanuel Macrons last-ditch attempt at diplomacy will bring to an end the most dangerous confrontation between the United States and Russia since the end of the Cold War nearly 30 years ago.

Both the White House and the Kremlin have announced that, through French mediation, US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have agreed in principle to hold a summit to settle differences over Russias intentions towards neighbouring Ukraine. Such a summit would follow a scheduled meeting between US and Russian foreign ministers today, 24 February. According to US and French officials, both meetings on the ministerial and presidential levels have been predicated on Russia refraining from invading Ukraine, something Biden, speaking on Friday, had predicted might happen in the coming week, in the coming days.

Russia has firmly and repeatedly denied any intention to invade Ukraine, accusing the US and its European allies of spreading fake news in order to impose sanctions on Moscow and hinder its plans for economic development, restoring its deserved status in a multi-polar world, together with close allies such as China and a few other rising nations. Russian ridicule of repeated US and European warnings that the invasion of Ukraine was imminent gained more credibility after an earlier date of that alleged Russian attack leaked to American and European media, 16 February, passed unnoticed. The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry asked Western capitals to inform her in advance of the upcoming expected date for the Russian invasion of Ukraine so that she could plan her holidays.

The US intelligence information confirming that Russia was ready to invade the neighbouring nation, once part of the former Soviet Union, has puzzled experts and observers. Some said Washington rarely share detailed intelligence because that might endanger its sources, but in the case of Russian intentions towards Ukraine, together with satellite images of Russian military preparations, the leak is one way, US officials believe, to deter Putin and help cement a united European front against Moscow.

It is no secret that major US allies, namely Germany, Italy, and France, are not necessarily as vehement about a possible major war on European territories, thousands of miles away from the US East Coast. Russia is, and will remain, a neighbour, and Russian gas exports to key European countries are indispensable. Indeed, the US can pressure its allies to provide alternatives to Russian gas exports to Europe, but that would be a temporary measure and will not last.

Setting aside all kinds of fast developments on the ground in and around Ukraine, what is obvious is that the real reason behind the current, sudden escalation is a desire by Russia, and its close allies, to agree on a new world order. For Russia, in particular, this order cannot be based on the arrangements reached after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991. Putin, a senior intelligence officer at the Soviet Unions KGB at that time, has openly stated that those arrangements were unfair to Russia, and dealt with Moscow as the defeated side in a Cold War that had lasted for nearly 50 years. He added that the United States and its NATO allies have even violated those arrangements when they expanded the military alliance to include not just former European members of the Eastern European bloc, such as Romania and Poland, but even former Soviet republics bordering Russia, the latest being Ukraine.

The Russian president, now in office for 22 years and seen as a key world player, had made it clear that he would not allow Ukraine to become a member of NATO, because that would mean that the US-led alliance would place weapons on its territory, increasing the chances of a doomsday scenario of a military confrontation between Russia and the United States.

Referring to Russian intentions towards Ukraine and its growing alliance with China at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, the EUs High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Joseph Borell, warned that 30 years after the end of the Cold War, we are facing a determined effort to redefine the multilateral order.

The prospects of a war in Europe and a confrontation between the US and Russia, even if limited to harsh and unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow as Biden has made clear, would certainly negatively affect the whole world, the Middle East included. Both the United States and Russia have integral interests in the region, and a fallout between the two superpowers would bring to a standstill, if not further deterioration, all the hotspots that await diplomatic efforts such as Iran, the oil-rich Gulf region, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Palestine-Israel conflict.

In statements on Sunday, US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken said, We believe President Putin has made the decision (to invade Ukraine,) but until the tanks are actually rolling and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward.

Lets hope the French-mediated summit will achieve that goal.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Egypt has a major role to play on the African continent, both economically and in deepening its cultural and other connections, writes Ahmad Abdel-Tawwab Sharaf Eldin

Egypts affiliation with its African surroundings goes beyond the traditional geographical and historical dimensions, as this affiliation has been a major component of Egyptian identity throughout the ages. It is a pivotal element in shaping the cultural features of the Egyptian personality, an identity that was formed from a mixture of the Arabic language and Islamic, Coptic, Mediterranean, and African backgrounds.

Egypt has never been cut off from the African continent during the various periods of its history. However, the last few years have been characterised by an increase in its activity there, not only in the Nile Basin region, but also in the heart of the continent through the African Union (AU), which Egypt has chaired since February 2019. Egypts presidential diplomacy has also brought about a renaissance in African relations.

Egyptian support for human development efforts in the various countries of the African continent has become ever more evident and reflects Egypts awareness of its African identity. This has taken place through the dispatching of thousands of Egyptian experts, the reception of thousands of African citizens for training in Egypt, and the diversity of fields and interests of the Technical Fund for Cooperation with Africa of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The latter has worked on judicial cooperation, police cooperation, educational programmes, medical aid, food aid, and courses for African diplomats.

Egypt is working in parallel to deepen relations with the African continent through various agreements and projects and the implementation of many infrastructure and logistics programmes in the heart of the continent. The national carrier EgyptAir has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Ghanaian national airline with joint investment that will provide services to more than 80 countries around the world, for example.

To avoid the high economic price incurred by countries due to restrictions on border relations and the movement of people across borders, as well as to encourage projects in the field of water resources and irrigation, Cairo is working on the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Tanzania. The Arab Contractors Company is also implementing projects in 23 African countries through a huge investment package estimated at $1.5 billion, and there is also an electrical interconnection project between Africa and Europe being sponsored by Egypt.

Egypt has signed 19 military agreements with African countries, underlining the fact that Cairo is distinguished by the presence of a large number of African military personnel who receive training at the Nasser Academy in the capital every year. Egyptian diplomatic initiatives over the last two years reflect Egypts openness to Africa within the framework of the intensification of parallel plans on several levels.

On the educational level, Egypt is opening the door to giving more scholarships and offering various grants in its universities and institutes to African students. There are currently more than 10,000 African students on government scholarships in Egypt, in addition to others studying at their own expense.

Economically, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will create sustainable opportunities and open the door to mutual benefits between Egypt and the African countries. Cairo is also an active member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). This is the largest economic grouping on the African continent and allows for the exchange of goods and services without customs duties or administrative obstacles.

Diplomatic initiatives on the continent over the past two years have paralleled what happened in previous decades since Cairo established major assets in Africa during the rule of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser and the fruits of these continued to be reaped during the subsequent rule of former presidents Al-Sadat and Mubarak.

There are now more and more opportunities in Africa after decades of comparative retreat. These include economic cooperation and the exchange of experiences and actions to protect water security.

Cairo should pay more attention to shifting cooperation from the hierarchical level led by diplomatic summits to intensifying the Egyptian role in social, cultural, and media areas in order to achieve a sustainable presence in Africa. The media should play more of a role in encouraging businessmen to exploit opportunities for cooperation and introduce Egyptian products to African markets. Especially in the light of the US and Russian rush to work on the continent, this would make Egypt a centre for cooperation by these powers with Africa in order to achieve mutual benefits.

Among the aspects of Egypts AU presidency has been the launch of the operational phase of the African Free Trade Zone, the signing of 13 memoranda of understanding and agreements worth $3 billion in the activities of the Africa Forum, and the doubling of the activities of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development in Africa.

The intensity of these developments in Egyptian-African relations has shown that Egypts moves are not based on Egyptian strategic interests alone, but instead are based on a broader and deeper framework intended to fight negative perceptions as a new starting point in relations towards the continent. This breakthrough has been based on deepening the countrys African identity, advancing integration among the countries of the continent, erasing any negative or exclusionary images of African Arabs, and providing direct connections to building a common awareness of the continents issues and challenges.

Many efforts have been made to bring together Egyptian and African young people, including the Africa Summer School that will prepare young leaders from Egypt and Africa and change any persisting stereotypes. It will help to introduce African institutions and cultures in Egypt and promote effective communication between the peoples of the continent.

The vision and objectives of the Africa School are based on three levels: Egypts Vision 2030 at the national level; Africas Agenda 2063 at the continental level; and the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals at the international level. These make the School a pioneering experiment in the framework of cultural exchange and the deepening of identity between Egypt and the African countries.

Africa today is not the Africa of yesterday. Our circumstances, situations, problems, and challenges have many similarities and common concerns. The peoples of the African continent are looking for peace and a decent life. Africans are ready to open their doors to cooperation and to a fair division of legitimate gains between them and investors from outside.

Africa is a continent that is able to absorb huge investments. Our roots in the African continent are deep, and our history with it is an honourable one. Egypt has a great role to play in the heart of Africa. Our task now should be to return to these roots and to play the role that we used to play throughout our ancient, mediaeval, and modern history of helping and supporting the countries of the African continent as much as we can.

We have visions and experiences that can add to this continent, which is what Egypt seeks in helping to make its development a tangible reality.

* The writer is a professor in the English Department at Menoufiya University.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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David Tresilian attended Marseilles exhibition that reconstructs the background and afterlife of French novelist Gustave Flauberts North African novel Salammbo, and read the 12th-century Iraqi physician Abdel-Latif al-Baghdadis account of his visit to Egypt

Many people will be familiar with Flauberts letters from Egypt, the record of a trip the French novelist made to Alexandria, Cairo, and beyond in 1849. But how many will be familiar with a similar trip he made a decade later to Tunisia, this time to research one of the strangest novels to have appeared in French in the 19th century and one out of step with almost everything else its author wrote?

The result of Flauberts Tunisian trip, his ancient Carthaginian novel Salammbo, has long been a puzzle for literary historians. Why did Flaubert, otherwise known for his exacting portrayals of French provincial life, invest so much time and effort in writing a novel about a mercenary revolt in ancient Carthage, the ruins of which are in todays Tunisia, even going as far as to make an extended visit to them as part of his research?

Even allowing for some personal fascination on Flauberts part that caused him to devote so many hours to a sword-and-sandals epic about ancient North Africa, there also remains the question of why the novel was so popular with 19th-century audiences. Whereas Flauberts more respectable novels  the ones that are widely read today  did not have a wide appeal on their initial publication, Salammbo was a great popular success.

Help is at hand for those whose curiosity is piqued by such questions in a new exhibition on the background and afterlife of Flauberts novel. First shown at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in the northern French city of Rouen and now at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM) in the southern port city of Marseilles, the exhibition, entitled Salammbo, Fureur! Passion! Elephants!, has been organised in cooperation with the Tunisian Institut national du patrimoine, the Tunisian national heritage organisation.

It heads to the Bardo Museum in Tunis for a further stint later this year and presents almost everything there is to know about Salammbo and its impact in the 19th century and beyond.

While the exhibition contains material that is likely to appeal to the most committed Flaubert fans such as pages from his notes for the novel as well as from his letters and manuscripts, Flauberts intentions make up only half the story. Almost as soon as it was published, Salammbo took on a life of its own, escaping from its authors grasp and swiftly spawning what today would be seen as desirable textual tie-ins, from paintings based on scenes from the novel to an opera version and illustrated editions.

Flaubert hated all that, insisting that his novel, though a work of the imagination, needed to be treated as a work of history and judged by its fidelity to ancient sources. Imagine his distress when images from it started to turn up on the backs of playing cards and in advertising, almost as if it were the kind of writing, replete with cheap emotion and escapist day-dreaming, that he always said he most despised.

However, perhaps Flaubert was not so very disappointed at the reception given to his new novel, his first since the publication of his most famous book Madame Bovary in 1856. The latter had been widely misunderstood, to Flauberts glee, since it only served to confirm his already low opinion of the French reading public, especially when the book was prosecuted for alleged obscenity.

Salammbo did not suffer that fate, and perhaps it was always chiefly meant to bamboozle his critics. For some the novel, though ostensibly about antiquity, might also have been an indictment of the false certainties of bourgeois France.

There had been a revolution in France in 1848 followed by a period of disorder that only ended with a coup detat in 1851. Flaubert may have thought of his novel, particularly in its moods of violence and tedium, as a way of commenting on the contemporary situation.

As co-curator of the exhibition Sylvain Amic explains in his foreword to the catalogue, it was after Flaubert had been acquitted of the charges against Madame Bovary that he hit on the need to get out of the modern world and write a novel set in the 3rd century BCE. Writing about contemporary life, Flaubert explained, was both tiring and disgusting, with an unfocused ennui, or boredom, being his usual reaction to the events of his time.

Few people will ever guess how sad one has had to be to resuscitate Carthage. Its the desert to which disgust with modern life has pushed me, Amic quotes Flaubert as saying, noting that these words were later quoted by the German critic Walter Benjamin in 1940, then fleeing the much more threatening political events of his time.

ORIENTAL IMAGES: The exhibition opens with background on the North Africa of Flauberts time and on what would then have been known about its ancient Carthaginian civilisation, destroyed by Roman forces at the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BCE.

Flaubert may at first have intended to write a novel set in the eastern Mediterranean, perhaps drawing on memories of his visit to the region in 1849. However, his attention soon turned westwards, eventually settling on the remains of Carthage located east of Tunis between the modern city and the coastal town of Sidi Bou Said.

Following a period spent in France reading everything he could find about ancient Carthage, he eventually made a visit to the citys remains in 1858, travelling via Philippeville, today Skikda, in neighbouring Algeria and stopping off at other destinations on the way. Very little would have been visible of either the ancient Carthaginian or the ancient Roman site that replaced it in Flauberts time, since excavation only started in earnest some decades later.

The exhibition conveys this background by looking at the ways in which the city had been imagined by earlier generations of Europeans as well as at some of the few surviving archaeological and other remains. Flaubert himself used the ancient Greek historian Polybiuss account of a mercenary revolt taking place in Carthage after the First Punic War between Carthage and Rome in the 3rd century BCE as the basis for his novel, even adopting the main characters in Polybiuss version together with many of the main events.

His readers are thus introduced to the Carthaginian generals Hamilcar Barca and Hanno, the mercenary leaders Spendius, a runaway slave, and Matho, a Libyan freedman, along with incidents such as the initial revolt, Hannos failure and Hamilcars recall, the siege of Carthage by the mercenaries, and their eventual gruesome defeat.

What he adds to this material is in the main Salammbo herself, the beautiful daughter of Hamilcar, and the love between Salammbo and the Libyan mercenary Matho, together with more fully worked out battle scenes and a famous scene of child sacrifice to the Carthaginian god Moloch described at length in the novels chapter 13. Much of this is contextualised in the accompanying catalogue, which explains some of Flauberts inclusions and omissions.

For Tunisian historian Leila Ladjimi Sebai, the introduction of Hamilcars daughter Salammbo in Flauberts novel, not mentioned by Polybius, and the focus on her as the main character should be seen within the context of powerful female figures in Carthaginian history systematically occluded in accounts coming out of Rome.

According to the citys traditional foundation story, Carthage was founded by a Phoenician princess, Elissa, from Tyre in todays Lebanon, in the 9th century BCE. In the guise of the Carthaginian princess Dido, she later fell in love with Aeneas, the hero of the Roman poet Virgils Aeneid, when he stopped in Carthage on his way to Italy to found the city of Rome after the defeat of Troy.

Elissa-Dido, Ladjimi Sebai says, should be seen as part of an eastern tradition of powerful female figures starting with the legendary Kubaba, queen of Sumer [in southern Iraq], and continuing to Cleopatra, without forgetting Medea, Athaliah, Salome, Zenobia, and other female figures of antiquity. It is little wonder, she says, that Virgil should have made Dido into a pathetic figure, seduced and then abandoned by a handsome stranger, since Aeneas represented the opposing masculine power of Rome.

Elsewhere in the catalogue, Tunisian archaeologist Ahmed Ferjaoui supplies more on the background to the Carthage of Flauberts time, noting that the accounts of child sacrifice by the ancient Carthaginians to their gods Moloch or Baal found in ancient Greek and Roman authors are almost certainly biased.

Flaubert makes much of this supposed feature of ancient Carthaginian religion in Salammbo, his gruesome descriptions sometimes being cited as evidence. Yet, as Ferjaoui comments, there is no archaeological evidence to support this interpretation of Carthaginian religion, and the modern consensus is that child sacrifice did not in fact take place.

The second section of the exhibition presents artefacts drawn from Salammbos considerable afterlife, from paintings and illustrations inspired by the novel to opera scores and, most recently, heavy metal-style cartoons. At first, the novel was seized on most by artists working within the traditions of 19th-century European orientalism, and a series of mostly French painters produced images drawn from it in typically overwrought style. Later, there were illustrated editions of Salammbo, including an 1887 edition from Paris publisher Quantin that contained influential renderings of various episodes and then a larger one in 1900 from Ferroud.

An operatic version of Salammbo received its premiere at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels in 1890 with music by the French composer Ernest Reyer and libretto by poet Camille du Locle. The exhibition contains some of the stage designs for the Brussels and later Paris productions as well as images of costumes by Eugene Lacoste. Rather like the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdis famous ancient Egyptian opera Aida, first staged some 20 years earlier at the Cairo Opera House in 1871, Reyers ancient Carthaginian opera is written in the European musical idiom of the time.

On the whole, wandering through the areas of the exhibition devoted to the novels afterlife in pictures, music, and film, it is hard to feel that it has given rise to much that is lasting, perhaps underlining the impression that in Salammbo Flaubert produced a kind of cuckoo in the nest. He spent some five years researching and writing it, much the same time he devoted to writing Madame Bovary or LEducation sentimentale, among the 19th-centurys most influential works of fiction. While the present exhibition goes a long way towards contextualising Flauberts North African novel, much of its mystery remains.

Salammbo: Fureur! Passion! Elephants! Du roman culte a lexposition, MUCEM, Marseilles, until 7 February

***

New York Universitys Library of Arabic Literature series of mediaeval and later works of Arabic literature in translation has been going from strength to strength, bringing neglected works to wider notice and in some cases making them available in reliable English translations for the first time.

A case in point is the kitab al-ifadah wa-l-itibar, the book of edification and admonition, translated as A Physician on the Nile by Tim Mackintosh-Smith and a record of a visit by Baghdad physician Abdel-Latif al-Baghdadi to Egypt in 1196 CE.

Al-Baghdadi, also listed as the author of 173 other books few of which survive, gives his impressions of Egypt under Ayyubid rule in his book and describes some of the countrys ancient monuments. He also describes a terrible famine and then a plague that hit Egypt during his visit, the stuff of nightmares, his translator comments.

Born in Baghdad in 1162 CE, not much is known about al-Baghdadis life aside from what Mackintosh-Smith provides in the useful introduction to his translation, which is complete with a facing and newly edited Arabic text. Al-Baghdadi, he says, was like so many keen young scholars of his time and always in search of patronage. It was this that drove him first to Damascus and then to Cairo.

While in the Egyptian capital, al-Baghdadi was taken under the wing of important patrons, apparently also hobnobbing with other intellectuals of the time including the Jewish thinker Maimonides, then living out his final years in Cairo. Mackintosh-Smith says that al-Baghdadi followed a busy schedule, giving Quran classes at the great mosque-academy of Al-Azhar, teaching medicine, and writing, as well as visiting the ancient Egyptian monuments that figure in his book on Egypt, among them the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx.

He does not seem to have been very successful in safeguarding his literary works for posterity, however, since, as his translator notes, his Egypt book, like many others, very nearly did not survive. There is only one manuscript of the work in existence, now housed in the UK, and if Mackintosh-Smith is to be believed, it is written in al-Baghdadis own hand.

The story of this manuscript is of interest in its own right as it reveals much of the vicissitudes that such material had to undergo before it reached modern audiences. It was acquired by Edward Pococke, first holder of Oxford Universitys professorship of Arabic, on a trip to Aleppo in Syria in 1636. Pococke made some attempts at translating it, and his son, also a professor of Arabic, eventually came up with a translation into Latin in 1691.

However, the work was never published, and non-Arabic-speaking readers, and, indeed, anyone not having access to the single manuscript, had to wait until 1800 when another Oxford professor, Thomas Hunt, produced an edition of the Arabic text with a facing Latin translation.

Readers of modern languages had to wait for the French orientalist Silvestre de Sacy to publish a translation into French, the Relation dEgypte par Abd-Allatif, medecin arabe de Bagdad, in 1810. This remained the standard modern translation of al-Baghdadis book until an English version appeared in London in 1965 entitled The Eastern Key. While this can scarcely compete with the scholarly qualities of de Sacys French version, it did have peculiarities of its own.

These are adverted to in Mackintosh-Smiths introduction, where he explains that John and Ivy Videan, al-Baghdadis English-language translators with Kamal Hafuth Zand, were spiritualists convinced that they were in communication with al-Baghdadi from beyond the grave. They thought that he was helping them to make his book better known to 20th-century English-speaking readers.

While it is not clear why the shade of al-Baghdadi should have cared so much for his literary posterity in English, rather than in Arabic, form, according to Mackintosh-Smith he was regarded by some as a universal master who leads and directs a band of workers on and around the earth. Reading the book today, and whatever its considerable interest, there does not seem to be material in it that would justify this description.

BAGHDAD TO CAIRO: The vicissitudes of the manuscript and its translation make an intriguing introduction to al-Baghdadis account of Egypt, however, and the book itself does not disappoint.

Among its most striking features is the special attention al-Baghdadi gives to Egypts pharaonic heritage, defending it from those who saw it as a source of potential riches  there were many treasure-hunters operating at the time  as well as from those who might have discounted its interest to later generations as merely the relics of a pagan civilisation.

Instead, al-Baghdadi emphasises what could be learned from the monuments of ancient Egypt, seeing them not as the prey of treasure-hunters or convenient repositories of stone for building, but as objects to be studied in their own right. This was partly because of the magnificence and ingenuity of their construction  there were many engineering lessons to be learned  and partly because of what they had to say about a now-disappeared but clearly once extensive and powerful civilisation.

Thus, of the Great Pyramids he says that when you meditate in depth upon them, you discover that noble intellects gave the Pyramids their all, that pure minds exhausted their every effort for their sake, and that enlightened souls outpoured their loftiest capabilities on their design.

Architectonic expertise brought them forth into the realm of reality to stand as exemplars that are the pinnacle of the possible. Because of this, they all but speak aloud of their builders, telling us what sort of folk they were, giving voice to their scientific attainments and their intellects and relating the stories of their lives and times.

He describes the dimensions and manner of construction of the Pyramids in detail, as well as the fate of those who go inside them. The Great Pyramid is full of bats that grow to the size of pigeons, he says, and, relating a visit he made inside it, he adds that I got about two-thirds of the way in, but I suffered a fit of vertigo, fell into a swoon, and only made it back out at my last gasp.

Al-Baghdadis grasp of ancient Egyptian history was limited by the fact that he did not have access to material that might have helped him, and while he quotes from Aristotle and some other classical writers, he does not seem to have known of the ancient Greek historian Herodotuss long description of ancient Egypt or the descriptions of it in other classical Greek and Roman writers.

Like all writers on ancient Egypt until the early 19th century when they were deciphered by the French Egyptologist Jean-Francois Champollion, al-Baghdadi also did not have access to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, meaning that for him, like for all visitors to Egypt until Champollions time, the monuments of ancient Egypt, though written over in all directions, were mute and their secrets unrevealed.

There are inscriptions on the stones written in the ancient characters that no one understands, he comments. In the entire land of Egypt, I have never found a single person who so much as claimed to have heard of anyone who knew how to read them.

But there was still much to be learned from the architecture and construction of the monuments, and they could speak to later generations in other ways. Mackintosh-Smith emphasises this point in his introduction, and he is surely right to say that one of the most striking features of al-Baghdadis 12th-century account of the ancient Egyptian monuments is their capacity to communicate over time in extra-verbal ways.

Of the Sphinx, for example, he comments that Old Father Dread, its name in Arabic, has a face that is handsomely, indeed admirably portrayed, with a touch of elegance and beauty about the features, as if a smile were playing across them. He notes the harmonious proportions of the Sphinxs face, adding that the wonder is how the sculptor was able to follow the rules of harmonious proportion in the figures features, given that they are so enormous.

There is an emphasis throughout on what al-Baghdadi describes as the harmony and proportion of ancient Egyptian architecture and sculpture, perhaps betraying his underlying Aristotelianism. While he admits he does not understand the meaning of the paintings and drawings he finds on ancient Egyptian temple walls, he is prepared to make a stab at them, indicating that they should be taken seriously as another civilisations attempts at rendering the divine.

The obvious implication is that these depictions were intended as an allegory for higher matters, nobler activities, and more elevated forms of being, he opines, describing what appear to have been depictions of daily life found in ancient Egyptian tombs. They are pointers to occult mysteries, he says, not executed as an idle pastime so much effort would not have been expended on producing them for merely decorative ends.

Meanwhile, every effort should be made to protect and preserve the remains of ancient Egyptian civilisation for future generations to learn from and enjoy, al-Baghdadi says, warning of the ignoramuses and imbeciles who have dug beneath temples in search of buried treasure and the despicable good-for-nothings who have damaged stonework in search of the lead and copper clamps used to hold the stones together.

When one contemplates the idols (statues  al-Baghdadi uses the Arabic word sanam / isnam) left behind by the ancient Egyptians in such vast numbers and of often such huge dimensions, the perfection of their figures, the precision of their forms, and the manner in which they imitate nature are all in truth cause enough for admiration, he comments.

But not only that, there is also the extraordinary technical prowess involved in making them, he says, all but out of reach among the artisans of his time. The greatest wonder [is] how the rule of nature and of true proportion have been strictly observed in execution in spite of [the statues] huge size.

Regarding the idols faces, their beauty and harmony of proportion are the utmost accomplishment man could achieve, and the perfect embellishment stone could receive. The only thing lacking in them is the portrayal of actual flesh and blood.

Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi, A Physician on the Nile, translated by Tim Mackintosh-Smith, New York: Library of Arabic Literature, 2021, pp256.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A hundred years after Britains unilateral declaration of Egyptian independence in February 1922, Tarek Osman reflects on how that nominal independence shaped Egypts liberal politics in the decades up until the end of the monarchy in 1952

Egypts independence from Britain in February 1922 was an awkward moment. Most politicians in Britain and Egypt correctly assessed that this nominal independence would neither satisfy the aspirations for real freedom that Egypts 1919 Revolution had stirred, nor secure for Britain its strategic interests in the country.

But since the energy that 1919 had given rise to was too great to ignore or contain, an alteration of the political equation in the country was needed.

In Britain, prime minister David Lloyd George and most of his government opposed giving any form of independence, nominal or real, to Egypt. In Egypt, neither the palace nor the leaders of the Wafd Party  the extremely popular political party that had emerged from the fervour of 1919  were excited about a move they considered to be devoid of substance.

The only reason this nominal independence became a reality was that Edmund Allenby, at the time Britains high commissioner in Egypt, decided it was the only solution to calm conditions in the country. Since Allenby had secured for himself a legendary reputation after defeating the Ottomans during the World War I, few politicians in London or the Middle East were willing to challenge him.

The awkwardness of the historical moment has since continued in historical records. Most historians pass 1922 gracefully by, invoking it as a consequence of 1919, but hardly considering it to be of particular importance.

Yet, 1922 was consequential. It lessened the intensity of demands for independence in Egypt, thereby channelling political energy towards internal ideological infighting. Two ideas quickly filled the air  Islamism, seeing Egypt as the most suitable inheritor of the Islamic caliphate that had fallen with the collapse of the Ottoman state  and nationalism, whose proponents looked forward to a state anchored on a purely Egyptian identity.

The latter gave rise to a fight over what constituted this Egyptian identity, and there were also two camps. The first saw Egyptianism as a continuation of the prevailing identity in the decades before 1919. This was a melange of what the ruling Mohamed Ali Dynasty, and the families that rotated in its orbit, had represented: Ottomanism, Turkishness, and co-existing forms of Islamism and Westernisation.

The other camp wanted a rupture with the past. In its view, 1919 had inaugurated a new path on which the Egyptian identity was to discard any association with Ottomanism and Turkishness and instead evolve into another melange  one that mixed ancient history (Pharaonism) with a desired future of an Egypt looking out across the Mediterranean and rapidly borrowing from the West.

The struggle between Islamism and nationalism unfolded gradually over the decades that followed. The struggle over Egyptian identity, however, was more intense at the time, because at heart it was between a ruling elite fighting to preserve the Egypt it had forged and an emerging social constituency  the upper echelons of Egypts professional classes and also increasingly large landowners  that wanted a serious say in the governing of the country, which meant forging an Egypt that represented them.

Amidst this struggle, the upper echelons of the middle classes wanted to deepen their power, and so the Wafd Party led by Saad Zaghloul Pasha, the dominant figure in the 1919 Revolution and later the unrivalled leader of the nationalist and secular wave, began to appeal to Egypts lower-middle classes and poor. Within a decade, political representation in the country had grown exponentially. However, the electoral laws were far from perfect, and they strongly favoured major landowners in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt. There were also strong indications that Saad Zaghloul was particularly enamoured of personal glory. Yet, irrespective of all of this, widening the political representation in Egypt was a colossal change in the countrys politics.

As a result, Egyptian public life became more inclusive in terms of class, gender, and geography. Hundreds of thousands of people from poorer and peasant backgrounds entered secondary education, the civil service, and various professions. Women also began to enter public life, and some played notable roles in journalism, academia, philanthropy, and of course theatre and cinema.

Modern healthcare, higher education, new irrigation technologies, and cultural and artistic production slowly but clearly began to spread beyond Cairo and Alexandria and the already developed parts of the Delta. Some argue that these developments were by-products of the economic and cultural advances that Egypt (and the entire Orient) had witnessed in the period after World War I. This is true, but 1922 facilitated them because independence meant having a constitution, and Egypts 1923 Constitution  the first modern political charter in the Arab world worthy of being so-called  was based on socio-economically inclusive principles.

Even foreign policy changed after 1922. After the four decades since the end of the khedive Ismails reign, during which Egypt was utterly inward-looking, the country began to think of its place in the world beyond its borders. The expansionism of Mohamed Ali, Ibrahim Pasha, and Ismail Pasha in the 19th century was by now distant history. Yet, Egypts political class at the time felt a sense of entitlement in  and often superiority to  the countrys geographical neighbourhood.

Egypt was a nominally independent country, and relative to the new states that were emerging at the time  Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Peninsula, the Hashemites in the Fertile Crescent, and a multi-sectarian country in Mount Lebanon and its valleys  Egypt was light years ahead in terms of historical depth, geographical solidity, social cohesiveness, and political and economic development.

In addition, many Egyptian politicians, including king Fouad, the Egyptian monarch at the time, recalled that almost all of these territories had at one point or another in the 19th century been under Egyptian control. Grandiosity often merged with hubris, and realpolitik also often set in. With fluctuations between the two, Egypt began to think about its relationship with what was then emerging as an Arab  rather than an Islamic or Ottoman  world.

Independence, even if nominal, the drafting of a comprehensive constitution, widening political representation, engaging the public about national identity, thinking about foreign relations  all these things forced Egypts political class at the time to confront the reality of the by then sovereign state that they were ruling. That reality included the fact that over 85 per cent of Egyptians in the mid-1920s were illiterate, that Egypt had one of the worlds most egregious levels of social inequality, and that in almost the entire country elitist despotism constituted the political order of the day.

It was not a coincidence that the two decades after 1922 witnessed waves of major demonstrations, acute protests, especially in the countryside, and several high-profile assassinations. Independence gave rise to aspirations as well as to unleashed anger.

Perhaps one can think of 1919 as the eruption that unravelled Egyptian socio-politics in the early 20th century. But it was the reckoning, the changes, and the responsibilities that came with independence in 1922 that really ushered in the dynamics that shaped Egypts liberal experiment in the three decades up until 1952 when monarchical Egypt fell and a new age began.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The Kremlin said Putin informed the leaders of France and Germany on Monday of his decision and then signed documents declaring the regions as no longer part of Ukraine. Putin, from a desk at the Kremlin, delivered a lengthy televised address to the Russian people, outlining his version of the history of national boundaries in Europe and the 1990s breakup of the Soviet Union. He contended that Ukraine was "never" a true nation but rather historically a part of Russia.

And Psaki said the White House was prepared to do more if Russia invades Ukraine. "We will also soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments," she said. "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."

Washington was immediately joined by the European Union in announcing sanctions, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel calling Putin's recognition of these separatist areas "a blatant violation of international law."

"We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. "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 (Donetsk People's Republic) and LNR (Luhansk People's Republic) regions of Ukraine. This EO (executive order) will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine."

The White House said Monday it will slap sanctions on the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized them as independent states. Putin's pronouncement adds to Western fears that Putin is imminently set to invade Ukraine.

As Putin spoke, the White House said President Joe Biden met with his national security team and was being regularly briefed on developments in Ukraine and the region. Putin has amassed 150,000 troops in Belarus to Ukraine's north and along Ukraine's eastern and southern borders. About 14,000 people have been killed in the flashpoint Donbas territory since 2014 in fighting between pro-Moscow separatists and Kyiv's forces, trench warfare battles that started after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have contended that Russia is staging false-flag operations in Donetsk and Luhansk to make it appear Ukrainian forces are an increasing threat. The West says Russia is attempting to justify grounds for an invasion to protect Russian sympathizers. Video footage has shown some residents of the region streaming in heavy traffic out of the territory in recent days, with Moscow saying the people are fleeing to safety in Russia.

Putin announced the independence for Luhansk and Donetsk, a position taken by no other country, after meeting with the Russian Security Council. Hours earlier, the separatist leaders of the regions made a video appeal for the independence declaration. The separatists want Russia to sign friendship treaties and give them military aid to protect them from what they contend is an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive.

The Russian parliament last week called on Putin to formally recognize the DNR and LNR, both of which declared independence from Ukraine in 2014. Putin said there was "no prospect" for peace to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, but Moscow has contended it has no plans to invade Ukraine, even as some 150,000 Russian troops are massed at Ukraine's border.

Biden agreed "in principle" late Sunday to meet with Putin to discuss the crisis face to face, as long as Russia does not first invade Ukraine. But Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told ABC's "Good Morning America" show on Monday, "All signs look like President Putin and the Russians are proceeding with a plan to execute a major military invasion of Ukraine."

"We have seen just in the last 24 hours further moves of Russian units to the border with no other good explanation other than they're getting into position to attack," Sullivan said. "We can't predict the exact time or day, but it certainly looks like the Russians are proceeding."

Shelling in the Donbas region has ramped up in recent days, with the U.S. and its allies saying they believe Russia is launching "false-flag" operations it is blaming on Kyiv. Kyiv says it does not intend to launch a full-scale attack on the region in eastern Ukraine. RIA, the Russian state news agency, said Russian military and border guards prevented a violation of the border by a sabotage and reconnaissance group from Ukraine and killed five fighters, while not sustaining any losses.

Whether a new Biden-Putin summit occurs is uncertain. Psaki, the White House press secretary, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would first hold talks this week in Europe. NATO countries, including the U.S, say they are willing to negotiate placement of missiles in Eastern Europe and military exercise in countries closest to Russia, but have refused to accept Putin's key demand to rule out NATO membership for Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

"We are always ready for diplomacy," Psaki said. "We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that there were not yet any concrete plans for a Biden-Putin meeting, but that such a meeting "is possible if the leaders consider it feasible.
Australia Monday reopened its borders to double vaccinated international tourists. They have been shut out since March 2020 under some of the worlds toughest COVID-19 measures.

Nine million foreign visitors used to head to Australia each year, but now the tourism industry is hoping that two years of disruption are coming to an end. More than 50 international flights were scheduled to land in Australia on Monday as its borders reopened.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country was "going from COVID cautious to COVID confident when it comes to travel." While many tourism businesses share his enthusiasm, some believe the recovery will be slow and that it will take time for overseas visitors to return in large numbers.


Chile's National Museum of Natural History said Monday it will return to Easter Island an enormous stone statue taken from the Rapa Nui people and brought to the mainland 150 years ago.

The monolith is one of hundreds, called Moai, carved by the Rapa Nui in honor of their ancestors and sometimes referred to as the Easter Island heads.

The statues are today the island's greatest tourist attraction, sculpted from basalt more than 1,000 years ago.

The one being returned, dubbed Moai Tau, is a 715-kg (1,500-pound) giant brought by the Chilean navy some 3,700 km (2,300 miles) across the Pacific in 1870. Eight years later, it was moved to the natural history museum to be displayed.

The Rapa Nui, for whom the Moai represent the spirits of their ancestors, have been asking for the statue's return for years -- as well as other cultural treasures taken from their island.
Experts blame the chaos on the haphazard quarantine guidelines that focused on streamlining the work of government workers while ordinary citizens are paying the price.

The government announced last month that it will change its way of dealing with the surge in Omicron cases, but the result has often been chaos. Patients who told to stay at home are being virtually abandoned because medical staff assigned to monitor them remotely are inundated with cases.

Self-quarantine and remote treatment for mild coronavirus patients, which started last week in response to an unprecedented surge in infections, got off to a bumpy start.

Home treatment is certainly necessary considering the explosion in cases, and it makes sense for patients with mild symptoms to recover at home.

Medical experts advised the government last November to come up with a long-term plan to deal with a surge in infections and implement it in stages. That would have enabled the medical system to accommodate a potential surge and give government workers the chance to prepare for remote monitoring of COVID patients.

Instead the new rules were implemented abruptly, and patients under 70 now have to treat themselves at home. As a result, some infected people with underlying diseases have been virtually abandoned.

Kim Woo-joo at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "The government is only isolating patients without providing proper care." And Jung Ki-suck at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital said, "The biggest problem is that COVID patients' right to treatment is not being guaranteed."

Another source of controversy is abandoning PCR tests for rapid antigen tests. Since early this month, the government only makes free PCR tests available for the elderly while everyone else has been told to use RAT tests at home. The aim was to prevent long lines for tests. Doctors say the government did the right thing to narrow the scope of free PCR tests, but more factors should have been considered.

Ma Sang-hyuk of the Korea Vaccine Society said, "RAT kits have poor accuracy so they should be used as supplementary means of diagnosis."

Some experts are clamoring for a harder lockdown. Jung said, "Lockdown measures should not be based on the number of infection cases, but the number of seriously ill patients and the capacity of the medical system."
Actor Park Bo-gum has completed his mandatory military service.

Park was effectively discharged from the military on Monday as he began his final military leave and is not required to return to his base under coronavirus guidelines.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the military now allows soldiers to wrap up their service without returning to their bases if they plan to take their personal leave immediately prior to being discharged.

Park joined the Navy's band as a piano player in August 2020 after going through a test and interview. He served in Changwon, Gyeongsang Province. He often cut his fellow soldiers' hair and even obtained a barber license last December.

Fans are eagerly awaiting his next move. Park's last project before enlisting was cable channel tvN's drama series "The Record of Youth."
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani MPs Sevil Mikayilova and Anatoly Rafailov have held a meeting in the Israeli parliament (Knesset) as part of their visit to the country, Trend reported on February 21.

The delegation arrived in Israel to take part in events commemorating the Khojaly tragedy, which were organized by the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association (AzIz) in collaboration with members of the Israel Inter-Parliamentary Group - Azerbaijan in the Knesset, the report added.

The Azerbaijani MPs informed their Israeli counterparts about the Khojaly massacre since the meeting took place on the eve of the Khojaly genocide commemoration day.

Members of the Knesset Elina Bardach-Yalova and Tatyana Mazarskaya expressed condolences for the Azerbaijani people on behalf of all MPs and all Jews.

The delegates discussed the potential and detailed plans for medical and healthcare collaboration between the two countries in a friendly atmosphere.

The Israeli delegation was led by the chairman of the Israel-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary commission, Elina Bardach-Yalova.

As a part of their visit to Israel, the Azerbaijani MPs conducted a meeting with the Israeli delegations at the Ashkelon citys mayor house. Ashkelon mayor Tomer Glam and vice mayor Sophia Beilina also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, chairman of the Ashkelon branch of the "AzIz" Israel-Azerbaijan International Association Ilya Moskovich briefed the guests about the associations activities, as well as the future plans.

The sides discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of tourism and culture, student exchange.

Then a meeting was held with immigrants from Azerbaijan living in Ashkelon and nearby cities.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan and Israel's cooperation is founded not only on economic partnership but also on traditional historical and cultural roots, as well as mutual respect and trust. Furthermore, Israel was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan's state independence and establish diplomatic relations.

Furthermore, during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Israel was among the first countries to express support for Azerbaijan's just position and territorial integrity. Azerbaijan expressed its willingness to involve Israel in the restoration of the country's newly liberated territories in January 2021. As a result, Israel will construct a buffalo farm in Azerbaijan's liberated Zangilan region.

Azerbaijan established its first Trade and Tourism Representative Office in Israel last year.

In the first 11 months of 2021, the two countries' trade turnover totaled $818.3 million.
In a televised address Zelenskyy said he was still pursuing diplomatic ways out of the crisis and welcomed Turkey's willingness to participate in multilateral talks. But he said Ukraine would not cede any territory to Russia.

Ukraine accused Russia of wrecking peace talks on ending an 8-year-old conflict in eastern Ukraine and resisted Moscow's demands it scrap its ambition to join the NATO alliance.

One of Europe's worst security crises in decades is unfolding after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two areas of eastern Ukraine as independent. Both adjoin Russia and have been controlled by Russian-backed fighters since 2014.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he is conscripting reservists for a special period but ruled out a general mobilization after Russia announced it was moving troops into eastern Ukraine.

Addressing his country after a cross-party meeting in parliament, Zelenskyy announced a program of "economic patriotism" that included incentivizing local production and value added tax cuts on gasoline.

"There is no need for general mobilization today. We need to promptly replenish the Ukrainian army and other military formations," he said.

"As the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine, I issued a decree on the conscription of reservists during a special period," he said. "We must increase the readiness of the Ukrainian army for all possible changes in the operational situation," he said.

Zelenskyy has publicly criticized foreign embassies and Ukrainian businessmen for leaving Ukraine for security reasons, and he renewed his call for companies to stay put. "All of them must stay in Ukraine. Their enterprises are located on Ukrainian soil, which is protected by our military," he said.

Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of instigating the conflict in eastern Ukraine and sending troops and heavy weapons to prop up the separatists from 2014. Moscow had always denied doing so and demanded Kyiv hold direct talks with separatist leaders whose legitimacy Ukraine does not recognize.

"Yesterday the Russian Federation recognized the independence of quasi-entities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

"Today, it ratified the so-called agreements and gave permission to the president of Russia to use the armed forces abroad. That is in the Donbas. On the territory of Ukraine. 'We are not there' was replaced by the official 'we are still here.'"


KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2022 - 19:45 | All, Japan, World

Japan on Tuesday held an annual ceremony to press its claim over a group of islets controlled by South Korea but also appealed for a solution, amid protracted disputes between the two countries over wartime history and territory.

The ceremony in Matsue has been held every Feb. 22 since 2006 after the Shimane prefectural government designated the day as "Takeshima Day" in 2005, a century after a Cabinet decision was issued placing the islets in the Sea of Japan under the western prefecture's jurisdiction.

Hiroo Kotera, a Cabinet Office parliamentary vice minister representing the central government at the annual event, stressed that the islands are "an inherent territory of (Japan) in light of historical facts and international law."

"We will take a firm attitude to convey our country's position to the South Korean side and continue to deal with the situation tenaciously," Kotera said.

South Korea has stationed security personnel on the islets, which it refers to as Dokdo, since 1954 and taken effective control of them.

This year's ceremony, which was once again scaled down to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, saw 85 attendees, much less than around 500 in previous years.

The central government has dispatched a representative of Kotera's rank each year since 2013, but it has refrained from sending any Cabinet ministers apparently to avoid provoking South Korea.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry later Tuesday summoned Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a protest over Japan's annual ceremony.

Ministry spokesman Choi Young Sam said in a statement that the South Korean government "strongly protests against Japan's repetition of vain provocations over Dokdo and urges it to immediately abolish such an event."

Choi added that the Japanese government should stop making unjust claims and face history in a humble manner as the islets are part of South Korean territory historically and geographically according to international law.

The territorial row drew fresh attention last November after the chief of the South Korean police visited the islets in the first such landing by a serving police chief in about 12 years.

Shimane Gov. Tatsuya Maruyama at the ceremony criticized the move, saying it was "extremely regrettable" amid Japan's efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

In August last year, the Japanese government also lodged a protest with the South Korean government when it began livestreaming from the islets.

The islets cover a total land area of 0.2 square kilometer and lie northwest of Shimane Prefecture's coast. They consist of volcanic rock with little vegetation or drinking water but are located in rich fishing grounds.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2022 - 17:20 | World, All

New Zealand on Tuesday quietly marked the 11th anniversary of an earthquake that hit the South Island city of Christchurch in 2011, killing 185 people and injuring thousands.

Of the victims, 115 people were killed when the six-story Canterbury Television Building collapsed in the magnitude 6.3 temblor. Among them were 28 Japanese and others from Asian countries including China and Thailand who were studying English at a language school on the third floor.

Due to the ongoing outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant in New Zealand, no memorial service was held. Instead, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel on Tuesday morning laid a wreath at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial on the banks of the Avon River.

The names of the 185 victims of the disaster were read before a minute of silence was observed.

"Today is the 11th anniversary of the 22nd February 2011 earthquake that devastated so many lives and changed our city forever," Dalziel wrote in a post on social media.

"For too many, once the shaking had stopped, it was the day when the world stood still," she wrote. "Our hearts go out to all the bereaved families here and across the world."

Speaking to local broadcaster Television New Zealand, Dalziel recalled her trip to Tokyo and Toyama in 2020 to offer formal apologies to bereaved families. Among the Japanese victims, 12 were students from a school in the central Japan city.

"I had the privilege of going to Japan and repeating the apology that I made here in Christchurch to those families whose loved ones experienced what was an avoidable death," Dalziel said.

Expressing her disappointment that the community could not come together in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dalziel encouraged people to find a way to mark the anniversary.

Maan Alkaisi, who lost his wife Maysoon Abbas when the CTV building collapsed, told Kyodo News on Monday he would mark the day in his usual way, visiting his wife's burial place as well as the CTV building site and the earthquake memorial, with his three daughters.

"It was 20 seconds the earthquake lasted, but it changed all my life," Alkaisi said. He expressed his sadness at not being able to meet with the families of other victims to mark the occasion this year.

In Toyama, Japan, a gathering took place at the Toyama College of Foreign Languages to remember the 12 students who died in the collapsed CTV building.

Tetsuya Kirita, principal of the college, said he will not forget the tragedy of the students who studied in New Zealand, with their minds full of hopes and dreams.
By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2022 - 13:36 | Arts, All, Japan

Once an importer of "boys' love" media from Japan, Thailand has now brought the genre full circle with its growing range of dramas themed on romances between impossibly beautiful young men.

Known locally as "Y series" -- a reference to the Japanese term "yaoi" that refers to works featuring homoerotic relationships between male characters -- these homegrown dramas have been on the rise following the success of the 2016 Thai BL series "Sotus."

But it wasn't until the release of "2gether," a 13-episode series about two handsome college boys who go from being in a fake relationship to falling in love, that the flame for a boom in Japan was well and truly ignited.

The show, produced by Thai television production studio GMMTV Co., debuted in February 2020 and soon became a hit overseas due to the "stay-at-home" lifestyle brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

"One of the greatest draws (of the show) is that viewers can learn about a culture different to that of Japan, such as food and fashion," said a spokesperson for Contents Seven Co., a video licensing company that promptly acquired the Japanese distribution rights for "2gether."

While the Tokyo-based company had previously imported BL dramas from China and Taiwan, it decided to pick up its first Thai one when it saw potential in "2gether" even before it had aired. Through January, the series, which first streamed in Japan on Rakuten TV in July 2020, has been released on 13 domestic streaming platforms and aired on 10 TV stations.

Yui, a Japanese fan living in Bangkok, said she began watching Thai BL last May after hearing about its popularity in Japan. In no time, she was hooked.

"The first thing that attracted me to Thai BL was the beautiful faces of the actors. The more I watched, the more I found that the chemistry between the actors and their roles was so great that I was able to get emotionally involved," she said, adding that it also presented her with a perfect opportunity to learn the language.

Yui, who first moved to Thailand in 2012, recently collaborated with travel company H.I.S. Tours Co. to take fans on a virtual "pilgrimage" tour to locations in the Southeast Asian country where some scenes in "2gether" were set.

According to H.I.S. Tours, the online tour held on Feb. 11 attracted over 250 people, nearly 99 percent of them women, with those in their 40s and 50s making up over 76 percent of participants. The event was so well-received that plans for future Thai BL tours are already in the works.

"We came up with the idea for the tour as we felt many people would want to see the locations, even at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult to physically visit (Thailand)," a H.I.S. Tours spokesperson said.

Japanese television and publishing companies have also jumped on board the Thai BL train. After announcing a business partnership with GMMTV in November 2020, TV Asahi held exhibitions in Tokyo and other major cities across Japan in collaboration with the studio throughout last year.

Meanwhile, major Japanese publishing company Kadokawa Corp. has been acquiring the rights to translate original Thai novels through its local subsidiary Kadokawa Amarin Co., officially launching its foray into Thai BL with the release of the Japanese edition of "Manner of Death" in January 2021.

Set in a fictional rural town in northern Thailand, "Manner of Death" depicts a romance between a forensic pathologist and a suspect in a murder case, offering a refreshing change from campus-based, vanilla themes typically used in Thai BL.

A drama adaption premiered on WeTV, the international streaming platform of Chinese IT giant Tencent Holdings Ltd., in November 2020.

The novel's original author Sammon, a doctor by day, said it was "beyond (her) imagination" to be recognized in Japan, a country that produced the manga she grew up reading and from which she draws inspiration in her works.

"I really love Japanese culture, and now we can send something back for Japanese people to be able to know Thai people and Thai culture. I am very happy, and very appreciative as a Thai person," she said, naming Ayano Yamane and Kou Yoneda as among her favorite Japanese BL manga artists.

"Manner of Death" also became one of the first Thai BL novels to be serialized into a manga by Kadokawa in March 2021, with Sammon working on the character designs with artist Yukari Umemoto.

"My dream is to go to a bookstore and to find my work, a Japanese 'Manner of Death' or 'Grab a Bite' (another of her BL novels) there, and then I will be so happy," she said.

Thai government agencies are also pinning high hopes on a Thai drama sensation in Japan. Last April, the Thai Embassy in Japan held a "Thai Drama Festival" in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, hosting virtual meetings with famous Thai BL actors, among other cultural activities.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand, which started a project to promote Thai BL in Japan in September 2020, hopes the trend will encourage more Japanese people to visit the country after the pandemic is contained.

"There are many people who started to become interested in Thailand through Thai dramas, and we hope they will come and experience the culture and charm of Thai culture for themselves once travel becomes easier again," an official of the agency said.
Photo taken on Jan. 2, 2021 shows the light show at the Lujiazui area in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to deepen reform and opening-up and work for a market-oriented, law-based and international business environment to make the Chinese market a shared market for the world accessible to all, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson at a daily press briefing Tuesday.

According to media reports, in 2021, 61,000 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established in China, a 23.3 percent year-on-year increase, with the tertiary industry accounting for 91.2 percent.

Despite a surging pandemic driven by new flare-ups and the difficult recovery of the world economy, Wang noted China's economy witnessed continuous recovery and development. Achievements have been made concerning high-quality development, China's business environment has improved, and the attractiveness of its super-large market is demonstrable.

He added foreign-invested enterprises in China have expressed their readiness to expand investment.

"This is a vote of confidence in China's economy by foreign businesses, which has fully demonstrated that the continuous improvement of China's business environment has further enhanced the confidence of foreign enterprises in their investment and operation in China," said Wang.

China will stay committed to pursuing high-quality development, deepening reform and opening-up, and working for a market-oriented, law-based business environment up to international standards. China will make the Chinese market a shared market for all, and share China's development opportunities to contribute to global economic recovery, Wang added. 
KAMPALA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has assured coffee farmers and exporters that the country's prized cash crop will still be in high demand in the international market despite the country's pullout from an important coffee pact.

On Thursday, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, a national regulator of the coffee industry, announced that it had withdrawn from the International Coffee Agreement 2007 to protest what it called an unfair trading system in the international coffee market.

The agreement was created to strengthen the International Coffee Organization, an intergovernmental forum that brings together dozens of exporting and importing countries. However, the Ugandan coffee regulator protested the agreement, saying it has become incapable of addressing the challenges facing the country's coffee producers.

Uganda needs unconditional market access for exporting not only green beans but also processed coffee since selling value-added products can increase farmers' incomes. But some importing countries have imposed additional tariffs and restrictions on the import of value-added coffee. The authority called for removing the barriers in a withdrawal statement last week.

"There are no taxes on green beans. This encourages import of green beans which are re-exported to other countries. Uganda's government has repeatedly decried the lost opportunity in our export of raw coffee and thus appropriate negotiations are urgently required," it said.

Meanwhile, the regulator has promised that Uganda's coffee economy will not be disrupted by exiting the deal, saying that it "wishes to reassure all coffee farmers, producers, traders and everyone involved in the coffee value chain that Uganda's coffee is marketable, highly sought after and trade will continue uninterrupted."

Doreen Rweihangwe, the authority's director for quality and regulatory services, said that the pullout from the agreement will not affect Uganda's coffee exports since the country has preferential agreements with different countries, noting "the contracts will continue between buyer and seller."

"Our coffee will continue to move unhindered to the markets it has been going to," Rweihangwe said. 
A Yemeni malnourished child lies in the arms of his mother as he receives medical treatment at the malnutrition treating ward in Al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

SANAA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni children's malnutrition is unlikely to improve in the near future, as a United Nations food relief agency is forced to slash rations to millions of malnourished people in the war-torn country in order to feed those starving to death.

An official with the World Food Program (WFP) told media on Sunday that it has to cut rations to millions of people suffering inadequate food supplies due to funding shortage.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

Yemen's children are among the most vulnerable suffering from the country's civil war, which has crippled the economy and put millions of people at risk of starvation.

A Yemeni malnourished child lies on a bed as he receives medical treatment at the malnutrition treating ward in Al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)



A Yemeni malnourished child lies on a bed as he receives medical treatment at the malnutrition treating ward in Al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)



A Yemeni malnourished child lies on a bed as he receives medical treatment at the malnutrition treating ward in Al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)


BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a message of sympathy to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II over the latter's COVID-19 infection and wished her a speedy recovery.

In his message, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Britain relations, and stands ready to work with the British side to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level as an opportunity to push for new progress in bilateral ties. 
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Tuesday that there will be no lockdown in capital Phnom Penh or other locations again despite a daily surge in new COVID-19 cases.

The kingdom logged 598 new cases on Tuesday, all confirmed to be the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and two new deaths, the health ministry said

The country has recorded 127,575 COVID-19 cases, with 121,125 recoveries and 3,022 deaths, it added.

"As the prime minister who has full authority to order the closure or opening, I will not implement any lockdown measures. Please make sure there is no chaos or panic buying at shops," he said in a speech during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant on the southwestern outskirts of Phnom Penh.

"We have no need to lock down the city or any locations because our people have been fully vaccinated, so infections do not lead to disease severity," he said.

The prime minister said he decided to impose a lockdown in Phnom Penh and its adjacent Ta Khmau city in April 2021 because, at that time, most of the population had not been vaccinated.

But now, the southeast Asian nation has achieved high vaccination rates and strong COVID-19 herd immunity, he said, adding that the kingdom has fully reopened since mid-November last year.

Cambodia has administered two required doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 13.8 million people, or 86.3 percent of its 16 million population, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Most of the vaccines used in the country's inoculation drive are China's Sinovac and Sinopharm. 
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks about the Commission's "European Chips Act" at the European Union (EU) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing "Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" & "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent states on Monday night.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders said Monday that the bloc will react with sanctions against those involved in Russia's recognition of eastern Ukraine's Lugansk and Donetsk regions as independent states.

In a press statement, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they condemn the decision by Russia to recognize the two regions as "independent entities."

"This step is a blatant violation of international law as well as of the Minsk agreements," said the statement. "The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act."

The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing "Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" & "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent states on Monday night.

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)

Last week, Russia's State Duma, the lower house of the country's parliament, gave the green light to a bill recognizing the Luhansk and Donetsk republics in east Ukraine's breakaway region of Donbass as independent and sovereign states.

Hours before the announcement of Russia's recognition of the two regions, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borell had warned of sanctions on Russia should it recognize the regions in eastern Ukraine.

"Certainly, if there is annexation there will be sanctions, and if there is recognition I will put the sanctions on the table and the ministers will decide," Borell said during a press conference after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels.

Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2021 shows the Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that the Declaration of Allied Interaction signed between Azerbaijan and Russia will be of great importance for the future of bilateral relations.

He made the remarks during the one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 22.

The declaration is quite broad. It has more than 40 paragraphs. It covers the most important areas of our interaction and, as I have already said, will be of great importance for the future of our bilateral relations, he said.

The president noted that the signing of the Declaration is a good illustration of how hard the two countries have worked in recent years and increased the potential for mutual cooperation.

In my opinion, this document will definitely be very positive for our countries, our relations, as well as regional security. We appreciate and are strengthening the friendly and good-neighborly relations between our countries, he said.

Bilateral relations

In general, the political relations between our countries have always been developing very positively in recent years. At present, these relations are reaching the highest level, he said.

Speaking about trade and economic ties, the president noted that the trade between the two counties has increased by 16 percent and exceeds $3 billion. He added that there are prospects for further growth this year as well, as evidenced by the January figures.

The president also mentioned that there are about 340 Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan and more than 140,000 children are studying there, as well as more than 15,000 citizens in Azerbaijan studying in Russian-language departments at universities.

In my opinion, this is a very important basis of our relations and future ties, because the Russian language has always united the countries of the former Soviet Union, and, of course, it will be very difficult to regulate the relations of future generations without speaking Russian, he said.

Russias role in stopping Karabakh war

Speaking about the post-war regional situation, the president stressed that Russia has played a very important role in stopping the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia and moving the conflict from a hot phase to a political and diplomatic one.

The trilateral statement signed with your active participation in November 2020 allowed us the opportunity to resolve this long-standing conflict, he said.

Aliyev noted that a new situation has emerged now, and todays geopolitical realities in the region have been accepted by the world community.

Russia plays a very important, and, I would say, the key role in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the opening of transport communications, and the creation of opportunities for normal neighborly relations. We appreciate this role very much, he said.

The president also expressed the hope that Armenia, like Azerbaijan, will fulfill all the provisions of the statement it signed in November 2020.

New stage in ties

In turn, Russias President Vladimir Putin underlined that the signing of the Declaration of Allied Interaction is a new stage in the development of bilateral relations.

Speaking about the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, he noted that there are already certain agreements in terms of ensuring the safety of all the people living there, the development of trade and economic relations, and the opening of transport communications.

I know that there are still disputes and issues to be worked out. However, for our part, we will do our best to ensure that this process goes on peacefully, develops peacefully and, of course, to the satisfaction of all the parties involved in this process, he said.

By the way, both the Russian Federation and, as far as I know, your other neighbors are interested in resolving these issues, including transport communications, because not only Azerbaijan and Armenia are interested in it - Russia, I repeat, and all your other neighbors are interested as well, he added.
RAMALLAH/GAZA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Monday warned Israel against maintaining its policies against the Palestinians in East Jerusalem and held it responsible for any possible future conflict between the two sides.

"The Palestinian citizens in East Jerusalem are subjected to the most horrific policies and practices of persecution, racism, and ethnic cleansing to displace them from their homes to replace them with settlers," Ishtaye said in a press statement issued after the weekly meeting of the Palestinian Authority cabinet held in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He added that the Palestinians, either in East Jerusalem or the West Bank and everywhere, "will not succumb to these policies and will resist them with all strength and determination."

Sheikh Jarrah, one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in East Jerusalem that includes most diplomatic consulates, has witnessed tensions since the beginning of last week.

Tensions have mounted as Israeli authorities threatened to expel several Palestinian families from their homes.

The Israeli authorities seek to demolish 22,000 homes, of which 250 were announced for demolition during the first half of this year, according to Palestinian officials.

Over the past few months, 34 residential, commercial and agricultural facilities in the city have been demolished by the Israeli authorities, according to Palestinian institutions operating in East Jerusalem.

During his meeting with 30 U.S. congress members on Monday, Ishtaye said Israel is politically responsible for its endless measures against the Palestinians, either by building settlements or expelling families from their homes.

Official Palestinian reports said that more than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in 151 settlements established on Palestinian lands in East Jerusalem and the West Bank since 1967.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to deal with the utmost seriousness with "the hostile-to-peace Israeli statements."

The call was made in a press statement in response to what Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a dialogue session at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday that the Palestinians will have an entity in the future but not a full-fledged state.

"In the end, we will find ourselves in a solution that depends on two entities, in which we respect Palestinian sovereignty and governance, while our security needs are respected," Gantz said.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said, "there is a need for serious and practical action to save the two-state solution, including the quick translation of Washington's words and positions into action, and fulfilling its commitments it made to the conflict and the Palestinian cause."

In Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement said in a press statement that Gantz's remarks about rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state "reveal the reality of Israel based on violating the Palestinian people's rights."

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in 2014 following deep disputes on Israeli settlements and establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled them ever since. 
JERUSALEM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel has "successfully" tested a new naval air defense system, the country's Defense Ministry announced in a statement Monday.

The "C-Dome," a sea-based version of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, was designed by Rafael Advanced Weapons Systems, a state-owned defense technology company, and is installed on a Sa'ar-6 corvette warship, according to the statement.

The C-Dome system intercepted "several advanced threats," including rockets, cruise missiles, and drones, in a series of live-fire tests, reads the statement, which did not elaborate on the time of the test.

"The systems that we are developing as part of Israel's multi-tier missile defense array enable us to operate against Iranian proxies in the region and defend against their weapon systems, which are constantly being upgraded," the statement quoted Defense Minister Benny Gantz as saying.

Gantz said that Israel would continue to "develop and upgrade" its capabilities, aiming to "maintain security superiority in the region."

The "successful" live-fire test, according to the ministry, was "an important milestone" that demonstrates the operational capability of the Israeli Navy to defend Israel against "current and evolving threats."

The system will be integrated into Israel's multi-layer defense strategy, which already includes Iron Dome, a system designed to intercept short-range rockets and missiles. 
A Chinese law enforcement vessel leaves the waters of Muang Mo of Laos upon completion of its mission, on Nov. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Wu Han)

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. 
ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least four Yemeni people were killed by a landmine blast in the country's northern oil-rich province of Marib on Monday, a military official told Xinhua.

"A landmine blast occurred in Sirwah district of the government-controlled province of Marib, killing at least four people in the area," the local military source said on condition of anonymity.

He clarified that the area witnessed bloody fighting between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthi militia during the past period.

All the killed people were family members and were heading to their agricultural farms in Marib, according to the official.

Daily explosions caused by landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) target Yemeni people in various areas of the Arab world's poorest country.

The Houthis are still launching sporadic military operations against Marib, in an attempt to control the whole strategic province that includes the country's largest oil and gas fields.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthis forced him into exile. 
Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows Furi-Lebu Railway Station of Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity. (Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity.

During a railway infrastructure-themed seminar on Monday here, participants, including officials and independent experts, discussed how Africa's first fully electrified trans-boundary railway contributed to regional integration and the betterment of communities along the way.

The 752-km transnational railway, as a flagship project in the Belt and Road cooperation, demonstrated the aspirations of African countries to spur continental free trade by augmenting intra-Africa infrastructure connectivity, said Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia's minister of transport and logistics.

"While building our prosperous Ethiopia, we will engrave in a cornerstone of our friendship and the unreserved support we receive from our sister country China in turning our dream of having a modern standard gauge rail line into reality," Moges told the high-level seminar.

The Addis Ababa-Djibouti electrified railway, also known as the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, contracted by China Rail Engineering Corporation (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is the first trans-boundary railway on the African continent.

Ethiopia's State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew stressed China's role in supporting African countries' development aspiration on win-win modalities.

The state minister, in particular, emphasized China's "willingness to engage in areas of cooperation that some development partners are reluctant, mainly in large infrastructure projects."

Zhao Zhiyuan, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia, also echoed Moges' comments, stressing that the Addis Ababa-Djibouti rail line is a lifeline to landlocked Ethiopia.

"The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, as a flagship project of China-Ethiopia cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has made important strides in all aspects since starting operation more than four years ago," the Chinese ambassador said.

The electrified railway has cut the transportation time for freight goods from more than three days to less than 20 hours and reduced the cost by at least one third.

Zhao said the railway has been a way of development, driving economic growth and industrialization, and serving as a lifeline of transportation for essential goods such as fertilizers, grain, cement, steel and anti-pandemic materials.

"The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway is a flagship project, and it is really unique in its kind in Africa, which brought three countries together in one platform to work together -- Ethiopia, Djibouti and China," said Tilahun Sarka, general manager of Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR).

The high-level seminar, themed "Significance of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway for the Horn of Africa," was co-hosted by the EDR and CREC-CCECC Joint Venture and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia.

The CREC-CCECC Joint Venture is a management contractor of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, which presently provides both passenger and freight services between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

According to figures from the joint venture, in 2021, the railway's monthly transport revenue exceeded 9 million and 10 million U.S. dollars in October and November respectively, the best result since 2018. The transport revenue in 2021 is 37.4 percent higher than in 2020.

The railway has also created numerous job opportunities for locals, with more than 4,000 locals employed so far, which accounts for over 90 percent of the total staff.

Participants at the high-level seminar further emphasized the crucial importance of the China-Africa cooperation under the BRI in terms of boosting infrastructure development across the continent.

On the growing list of African countries cooperating with China under the BRI framework, many countries have realized new deep seaports, thousands of kilometers of roads and railways that have transformed logistics across Africa, among other development projects. 

Representatives from China and Ethiopia pose for a group photo after attending a seminar themed "Significance of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway for the Horn of Africa" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 21, 2022. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows part of Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity. (Xinhua)

Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia's minister of transport and logistics, speaks during a seminar themed "Significance of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway for the Horn of Africa" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 21, 2022. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity. (Xinhua)

Representatives from China and Ethiopia participate in a ceremony during a seminar themed "Significance of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway for the Horn of Africa" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 21, 2022. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway has won acclaim for facilitating regional integration and prosperity. (Xinhua)
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a gathering to mark top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani's second martyrdom anniversary in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 3, 2022. (Iranian Presidential Website/Handout via Xinhua)

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.

An Iranian oil worker works on oil pipelines on the Kharg Island in the Gulf, southern Iran, on Feb. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

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. 
VIENTIANE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical personnel on Monday kicked off its COVID-19 testing service in three quarantined hotels in the Lao capital Vientiane for the Chinese nationals there waiting for flights headed for China.

In view of the complexity of the COVID-19 situation in Laos and responding to the needs in the joint prevention and control of COVID-19 between China and Laos, the nucleic acid testing team was dispatched to Vientiane on Feb. 7 on an assistance mission.

The team, from China's southwestern Yunnan province, includes six experts on medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine.

Its main tasks in Vientiane include providing on-site COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services, guiding the health monitoring and closed-loop transfer of Chinese air passengers in the seven days before their departure for China, and introducing China's successful experiences of epidemic prevention and control to the related authorities in Laos.

After arriving in Vientiane, the expert team has helped the Lao side in formulating a strategy on managing quarantine hotels and worked out COVID-19 testing service guidelines for the China-bound flights from Laos by Chinese carriers.

The Chinese experts have also provided emergency testing services at the Vientiane station and training center of the China-Laos Railway, contributing to the railway's safe and stable operation.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is among countries that are seeking an internationally binding agreement on managing the plastic pollution crisis, an official said Tuesday.

Makena Muchiri, permanent representative of Kenya to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said Nairobi continues to negotiate with other UNEP member states towards finding a lasting solution to the plastic menace.

"The negotiated global agreements are urgently needed to help protect the environment," Muchiri said at a briefing in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi ahead of the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA5) to be held in Nairobi from Feb. 28 to March 2.

Muchiri said that Kenya will also participate in deliberations that are aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

Macharia Kamau, principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that countries need to make additional commitments towards sustainable use of the environment.

Kamau noted that the current upsurge of weather-related events such as climate change, flooding and near extinction of natural resources calls for faster action.

He said that Kenya was strongly advocating for a clean and better environment and is currently prioritizing management of climate change at the United Nations Security Council.

Chris Kiptoo, principal secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that five heads of state and 2,000 delegates will be attending the three-day global environment summit.

Kiptoo said that a special session will also be held on March 3-4 during the conference to commemorate UNEP's 50th anniversary.

Sonja Leighton-Kone, UNEP's acting deputy executive director, said that scientists at the global environmental body rely on multilateral solutions that are aimed at saving the planet.

Leighton-Kone said that resolutions on circular economy, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss will be deliberated upon and agreed by the delegates.

This will be the first time that the UN environment assembly will be held physically since 2019 due to disruptions linked to COVID-19 pandemic. 
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday condemned a drone attack launched by Yemen's Houthi militia targeting Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Airport in the border city of Jazan, which caused injuries, the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Such attacks not only violate international law but also threaten peace and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region. Pakistan calls for immediate cessation of these attacks," the statement added.

"Pakistan reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity," said the statement.

A total of 16 people were injured in the attack launched by the Houthi militia, the Saudi-led coalition fighting a war in Yemen said Monday.

The intercepted drone caused the injuries, including three critical cases among travelers, according to a tweet by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. 
ABUJA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appealed to nations, international institutions, and private and public bodies to return the country's looted artifacts.

Buhari's appeal came after Saturday's return of two Benin bronzes pillaged by British troops.

The bronzes were repatriated from the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen, 125 years after they were taken out of the territory of present-day Nigeria.

These artifacts are among Africa's most important heritage objects, which colonizers and explorers stole from the once-mighty Benin Kingdom, now southwestern Nigeria, to Europe.

Buhari pledged that the government would vigorously pursue the repatriation of the Nigerian artifacts, urging other countries to take a cue from the institutions which recently returned the Benin bronzes.

"The government would ensure that they are put to good and proper use on their return in museums and other facilities in conjunction with the royal families and kingdoms that lost these artifacts," he said. 
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

MP Soltan Mammadov has said that Azerbaijan is ready to use all international platforms for establishing regional peace, Trend reported on February 22.

Mammadov made the remarks during a meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Yerevan.

There is no more conflict and Azerbaijan has created new realities in the region, which are supported by Europe I am glad that the international organizations stand for partnership and cooperation in the region. We are ready to use all international platforms to establish peace in the region, Mammadov stressed.

He added that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh conflict was resolved in accordance with international law and within Azerbaijan's internationally recognized borders and emphasizing the country's just position.

We don't want and never wanted war. We have been waiting for the peaceful settlement of the conflict for more than 30 years. We have always followed the UN resolutions, which clearly determine the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. We stand for peace, cooperation and friendship, Mammadov added.

The MP also touched upon Yerevan's baseless allegations on Armenia's "cultural heritage" in the Azerbaijani lands liberated from occupation following the 44-day war in 2020.

In response to an Armenian participants cultural heritage allegations, Mammadov stressed that Azerbaijan had been recognized as a multicultural country by the international community.

Many national minorities live in Azerbaijan. About 30,000 Armenian people live in Azerbaijan but there is not a single Azerbaijani in Armenia. As for cultural heritage, I would like to say that 64 out of 67 mosques in Karabakh region were razed to the ground. This is the fact, Mammadov stressed.

We have tried to involve UNESCO in monitoring and assessing the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in this region for 30 years, but this did not happen. Now we expect the international community to independently assess and inform the international community about the results, he added.

Commenting on the problem of Armenian detainees, the MP noted that all of them were handed over to Armenia.

I would like to bring to your attention that all detainees were returned to Armenia. After the end of the conflict, Azerbaijan announced its readiness to delimit and demarcate the border with Armenia. The restoration of communications between the two countries will bring peace and security to the region. As for the claims related to 'cultural heritage', Azerbaijan is open for international monitoring and evaluation, Mammadov stressed.

He recalled that about 4,000 Azerbaijanis went missing during the first Karabakh war (1988-1994) and Armenia had provided no information about their fate.

Furthermore, Azerbaijani MP Tahir Mirkishili, who is also attending the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Committees meeting in Yerevan, also underlined that the Karabakh conflict is over, and there are no more hostilities.

The conflict has been settled. We dont want conflict. We dont want to face either revanchism or threats. Azerbaijan is a strong state. We are ready to respond to any revanchist forces in the future. The conflict is in the past and we must look to the future. Now there are good opportunities for cooperation in the region, and we must use them. Using these opportunities, we must build a better future for our peoples, the MP underlined.

One such opportunity is the '3+3' format. This is a new format, which was announced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Using this format, we can achieve lasting peace and economic development in the region," Mirkishili added.

He stated that Azerbaijan is against the conflict, which caused tremendous regional problems.

"I was born in Karabakh. If you go there, you will see the state of my house. If you go to the liberated territories [which were liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war], youll see a lot of ruins there. If you go to Aghdam, youll see that it has turned into 'Hiroshima' of the Caucasus. During the first Karabakh war, we lost about 20,000 people. Nothing is known about the fate of about 4,000 people, he stressed.

The Azerbaijani MPs are visiting Yerevan to attend meetings of the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held on February 22.

They will express Azerbaijan's position on issues on the agenda of the meetings.

Protests continue in Yerevan outside the building where the Euronest meeting is being held. The protesters are dissatisfied with the fact that two Azerbaijani deputies arrived in Yerevan.
RABAT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Morocco has entered the "green zone" and the Omicron wave in the country is nearing its end, as the number of COVID-19 infections in the country continue to fall, Moroccan state news agency MAP reported on Monday.

"The rate of new infections has dropped by 52 percent, and viral circulation has further slowed across the country," Mouad Merabet, the coordinator of the Moroccan Center for Public Health Emergency Operations, was quoted by MAP as saying.

The declining trend was also observed in the number of admissions to intensive care and resuscitation, which reduced by 49.3 percent, and weekly deaths, which decreased by 40 percent, according to the official.

After two months of closure to contain the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Moroccan government reopened the borders for commercial flights into and out of the country on Feb. 7.

On Monday, Morocco's Health Ministry reported 190 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the caseload in the country to 1,159,157.

The number of people died of the pandemic rose to 15,916 on Monday, with 22 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours. 
RABAT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Israel inked an economic-trade cooperation agreement here on Monday, aiming at establishing industrial zones in Morocco, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and jointly hosting promotional events and business forums.

Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour signed the agreement with visiting Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Orna Barbivai, who led a delegation on a four-day working visit to Morocco starting Sunday, Morocco's official MAP news agency reported.

Both officials agreed to hold the first meeting of a joint committee established by the Economic and Commercial Cooperation Agreement, as well as to host a business forum, according to the report.

Industry 4.0, food, automotive, aerospace, textiles, water technology, renewable energy, outsourcing services, medical devices, and pharmaceutical industry are among the sectors identified by both sides as having high investment potential, according to the report.

Mezzour said that after more than a year of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Morocco and Israel have laid the groundwork for an innovative multi-dimensional partnership.

Orna Barbivai said Israeli industrialists and businessmen are ready to work with their Moroccan counterparts to foster their economic and commercial partnership.

The two countries signed a historic agreement for the establishment of full diplomatic relations in December 2020. 
NICOSIA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and the European Commission on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at managing an unchecked influx of unregulated migrants.

Under the agreement, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) will provide help to the Cypriot authorities to deal with a migration crisis.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson signed the MOU virtually on behalf of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, saying that the European Commission, along with Frontex and Europol, will intensify its support to Cyprus for the management of migration.

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris, who signed the MOU on behalf of the Cypriot government in Nicosia in the presence of European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, said that the ratio of asylum seekers has reached 4.6 percent of the Cypriot population following a dramatic increase of undocumented migrants this year. This ratio is below 1.0 percent for any other EU country.

The number of unregulated migrants, arriving mostly from Turkey through the northern part of Cyprus, increased by 48 percent in the last few months, according to data released by the Interior Ministry.

Nouris said that Frontex will help in the repatriation of undocumented migrants by making arrangements with the countries of origin and by paying the costs.

Noting that no EU member state under pressure will be left alone, Schinas said that the MOU aims at identifying and dealing with migration flows from Turkey, assisting in asylum procedures through funding and increasing the number of people returned to their countries of origin. 
NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hawaii is the lone remaining U.S. state sticking with indoor mask mandate as U.S. COVID-19 cases drop, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Hawaii, which has had the country's fewest cases per capita over the course of the pandemic, has seen its daily average of new cases plummet about 70 percent over the past two weeks, the report said.

"I am working with the Department of Health to determine when the time is right for Hawaii to lift the indoor mask mandate," Governor David Ige told a local TV news station.

"Hawaii ranks second (to the last) in the nation when it comes to COVID deaths, in part because of the indoor mask requirement and other measures that have proven successful in protecting our community from this potentially deadly virus," he added. 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican Party's response to U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address next week.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy made the announcement in a release on Tuesday morning.

Reynolds, who has served as governor of Iowa since May of 2017, tweeted that she's "very honored and grateful for this opportunity to speak to the American people."

Biden, a veteran Democrat, is scheduled to give his first State of the Union speech at prime time on March 1.

All 535 members of Congress have been invited to attend the event. They will have to wear masks the whole time and submit a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of the event.

U.S. presidents are required by the country's constitution to "give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."

Biden spoke to a joint session of Congress in April last year but the remarks were not considered a State of the Union address until the president's second calendar year in office. 
New Delhi:

Day after remaining unchanged, petrol and diesel prices witnessed a dip on Wednesday, February 5. According to the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates are Rs 72.98 per litre in Delhi, Rs 78.63 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 75.65 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 75.83 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai remained at Rs 66.04, Rs 69.22, Rs 68.41, and Rs 69.76 per litre, respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 74.69 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 66.30 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 72.89 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 65.31 a litre.

India is 84 per cent dependant on imports to meet its oil needs and any spike in global prices has a direct bearing on its economy. Not just imports but even domestic crude oilwhich forms the raw material for making petrol, diesel and other petroleum productsis priced according to international benchmarks. Middle East accounts for more than two-thirds of the countrys oil imports, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the top suppliers.

Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day?

The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on.

Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City?

The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city.

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New Delhi:

Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia once again turned tense on Tuesday after a group of people supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act reached the area, where hundreds of people are protesting against the controversial law. In videos, which are being circulated on social media, people can be seen proceeding towards the university and chanting slogans of desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro s****n ko (shoot traitors of the country).

'Desh Ka Gadaroon ko Goli Maaro Saalon ko' slogans back at #JamiaMilliaIslamia.

Various Hindu groups have reached there shouting #JaiShriRam and Modi Modi slogan.

People with guns who visited #ShaheenBagh and #Jamia were raising similar slogans#CAA_NRCProtests@BDUTT pic.twitter.com/2zfi3pzHfP  Laraib Neyazi YY (@LaraibNeyazi) February 4, 2020

Sources said the group of youth from Sonipat in Haryana carrying the Tricolour reached Jamia around 3.30 pm. They were raising objectionable slogans. As the police were deployed near the protest site, the group was stopped there. After a few minutes, the police detained all of them and sent to Kalkaji police station, said the sources.

Also Read | In Written Reply In Lok Sabha, Home Ministry Mentions Attack On News Nation Journalist In Shaheen Bagh

Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and Okhla underpass since December 15, when hundreds of women sat on a protest against the amended law.

The incident comes on a day when Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that incidents of violence, unlawful gathering, stone pelting, and damage to public and personal property were reported during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Delhi.

Rai also said the central government has received resolutions adopted by the legislative assemblies of certain states such as Rajasthan against the CAA and the Kerala government has also filed a suit in the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution.

Also Read | Fact Check: Did Irfan Pathan Visit Shaheen Bagh To Lead Anti-CAA Protest?

Rai said the Delhi Police has also informed that so far, 66 anti-CAA protests have been held in the national capital, 11 cases have been registered following the violence and 99 people have been arrested.

Rai also said the CAA has come into force from January 10, 2020.

'Citizenship' is a central subject under entry number 17 of List I- Union List under Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and the Parliament has legislative competence to enact laws for all central subjects under List I as provided under Article 246(1) of the Constitution, he said.
PM Modi also informed the Lok Sabha that the UP govt has agreed to give five acre land to Sunni Waqf Board as directed by the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya verdict. (Photo Credit: Lok Sabha TV/Twitter)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Ram Mandir Trust in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session on Wednesday. According to Prime Minister, the trust was named as Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The trust will autonomous in nature, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. We have readied a scheme for the development of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister said. While addressing the Lower House, Prime Minister said that the issue of Ram Mandir was close to his heart. The Prime Minister also said that the entire land has been handed over to the trust for the construction of the grand Ram temple as per the Ayodhya verdict of the Supreme Court. During the trust announcement, several BJP lawmakers chanted Jai Shri Ram in the Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister also informed the Lok Sabha that the Uttar Pradesh government has agreed to give five acre land to Sunni Waqf Board as directed by the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya verdict. The Prime Minister also touched upon the peace and maturity displayed by people of the country after the Ayodhya verdict was pronounced. After the verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue came out, the people of India displayed remarkable faith in democratic processes and procedures. "Together, let us all work in the direction of building a grand Ram Mandir," PM Modi concluding amid Jai Shri Ram chants in the Lok Sabha.

In it's November 9 verdict, the Supreme Court had directed that a trust should be formed within 3 months for the construction of temple at the site in Ayodhya. (File Photo)

A five-judge bench, headed by the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had in a unanimous verdict on November 9 decreed the entire 2.77 acre disputed land in favour of deity 'Ram Lalla' and also directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque in Ayodhya. The top court had directed that a trust should be formed within three months for the construction of temple at the site many Hindus believe Lord Ram was born and asked the Centre to grant representation in the trust to Nirmohi Akhara.

In its landmark verdict, the top court had quoted about ancient Hindu Vedic scriptures. The faith and belief of Hindus that the land in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid once stood is the birthplace of Lord Ram was based on scriptures and religious books, including 'Valmiki Ramayana' and 'Skanda Purana', and it "cannot be held to be groundless", the Supreme Court had said in its verdict pronounced on November 9.

'Shlokas' from religious texts, which were of much earlier period than 1528 when the Babri Masjid was supposed to have been constructed, were referred to by witnesses and placed as evidence before the Supreme Court by the Hindu parties to canvas their arguments that the site was indeed the birthplace of deity Lord Ram, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

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New Delhi:

President Ram Nath Kovind has rejected the mercy petition of Akshay Kumar Singh, one of the four convicts facing the gallows in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, Home Ministry officials said on Wednesday. Singh had filed the mercy petition before the president a few days ago. The president has already rejected the clemency petition of two other accused in the case Mukesh Singh and Vinay Kumar Sharma.

Meanwhile, the central government has moved the Supreme Court against the judgement of the Delhi High Court giving seven days to Nirbhaya gangrape convicts to exhaust legal options against their hanging. The high court had also ruled that the convicts can't be hanged separately. Interestingly, the Centre didn't even wait for the copy of the judgment. Along with the Centre, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has filed a Special Leave Petition against the judgment.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court, while pronouncing order on the Centre's plea challenging stay on execution of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, had said the prison rules do not state that if mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place.

"Delhi Prison Rules do not say that if mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place," said Justice Suresh Kait, who was hearing the case.

"Since upto the Supreme Court, their fate has been decided by a common judgment, I am of the opinion that death warrant of all convicts should be executed together and not separately," the court added.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait had on February 2 reserved order on the Centre's plea after holding special hearing on Saturday and Sunday. The Centre and the Delhi government has also challenged the trial court's January 31 order staying "till further orders" the execution of all the four convicts in the case -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31), who are lodged in Tihar Jail.

Trial court on January 17 issued black warrants for the second time

The trial court on January 17 issued black warrants for the second time for the execution of all the four convicts in the case. Earlier, on January 7, the court had fixed January 22 as the hanging date. On January 31 the court again stayed the execution as the counsel for three convicts -- Pawan, Vinay and Akshay -- urged it to adjourn the matter "sine die" saying their legal remedies were yet to be exhausted.

While the mercy pleas of Mukesh and Vinay have been rejected by the President, Pawan has not yet filed it. Akshay's mercy plea was filed on February 1 and is pending.

The Centre and Delhi government challenged the trial court's order staying the execution.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing them, had contended that it was a deliberate and calculated design of the convicts to "frustrate mandate of law" by getting their execution delayed and they were not entitled to any more time.

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New Delhi:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Vivad Se Vishwas Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill, which was introduced in the Union Budget speech, will focus on previous direct tax disputes. The Bill is aimed at addressing the tax terrorism issue, which has been a bone of contention amid the miniscule taxpaying community of the country. While announcing the scheme during the Union Budget 2020, Nirmala Sitharaman said that, those who avail this scheme after March 31, 2020, will have to pay some additional amount. The scheme will remain open till June 30, 2020." The new Bill is line of the Modi governments sustained efforts to minimise the tax disputes.

In the last budget, the Modi government had brought in 'Sabka Vishwas Scheme' to reduce litigation in indirect taxes. It had resulted in settling over 1.89 lakh cases and the government is estimated to have collected more than Rs 39,000 crore in taxes. At present, there are 4.83 lakh direct tax cases pending in various appellate forums -- Commissioner (Appeals), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), High Court and Supreme Court.

In a bid to simplify the taxation system in the country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a new tax regime for individual taxpayers. Sitharaman announced change in the income tax slabs revising income tax rates for earning up to Rs 15 lakh, while no tax will be applied on earnings up to Rs 5 lakh. The new slabs have significantly reduced the taxes for most of the brackets. Those earning Rs 5-7.5 lakh will now pay just 15 per cent, while those earning up to Rs 5 lakh in a year will pay no tax. If you are earning between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh and between Rs 12.5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, you will have to pay lesser tax than before.

The cut in income tax rates, which would help save about Rs 31,000 a year in tax for persons with annual income of up to Rs 17 lakh, was however conditioned on current exemptions and deductions including standard deduction for Rs 50,000 as well as the waiver earned on payment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh in tuition fee of children, and contribution towards insurance premium and provident fund, being given up.

In the last budget, the Modi government had brought in 'Sabka Vishwas Scheme' to reduce litigation in indirect taxes. (File Photo)

Sitharaman had presented the second budget of Modi 2.0 in Parliament on Saturday. The Budget, also the second for the Finance Minister, aims to revive the economy to pull it out of its worst slowdown in more than a decade. India is currently staring at an estimated 5 per cent growth rate- the slowest since 2009.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

In light of recent events between Russia and Ukraine, some social media users draw illogical parallels between the latest developments and the declaration on allied cooperation that will be signed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Moscow, the Baku-based news website Day.az has said.

It stressed that people should not ignore a number of Azerbaijan-related facts when forming unfounded theories.

Day.az emphasizes that Azerbaijan, as not only an active member but also the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has never made any agreements that would be directed against third countries.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan has been working hard for a long time to establish itself as a key economic and political hub in the region.

"Only the fact that the country is referred to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, according to various estimates, indicated that Azerbaijan is at the intersection of a huge number of different geopolitical interests, which sometimes do not match," the news website noted.

In such circumstances, "picking a side" is clearly not on the country's agenda, as it would significantly reduce Azerbaijan's attractiveness as a hub.

Azerbaijan always conducts its foreign policy in accordance with its national interests and establishes good neighborly relations with other countries on the basis of mutual benefit.

Relations between the country and Russia and Ukraine are developing in a spirit of genuine friendship, mutual respect, and trust.

As for the signing of the declaration on allied cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, it was reported that the document was being prepared since the middle of last year.

Furthermore, President Ilham Aliyev stated in his New Year's address to the nation that Russian-Azerbaijani relations will reach new heights. As a result, the signing of this declaration cannot be described as unexpected.

A similar document on allied relations, known as the Shusha Declaration, was signed last year in Shusha by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

So the signing and the declaration between Azerbaijan and Russia is a matter of purely bilateral relations between our friendly countries. Russian-Azerbaijani relations are developing in the logic of the regional concept, which Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin have defined and agreed upon for the long term, the website noted.

Day.az also underlined that in the process of reformatting the system of international relations, Russian-Azerbaijani strategic cooperation, as the key architects of the new geopolitical reality in the region, is of particular importance.

On February 21, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva arrived in Russia on an official visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The signing of the declaration of allied relations between the two countries is expected during the visit.

On February 21, Vladimir Putin recognized the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Lugansk People's Republic" and signed documents on friendship and mutual assistance with the so-called DPR and LPR.
Los Angeles:

Shift workers are at a significantly higher risk of sleep disorders and metabolic syndrome, which increases a person's risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, according to a review of studies led by an Indian origin researcher. The study, published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, noted that the risks increase even more for those who work irregular or rotating shifts. "The strength of our economy and safety of our society depend heavily on night shift workers," said Kshma Kulkarni, from Touro University in the US, and lead study author of the study.

"It is critical we address the health issues facing people in this line of work," Kulkarni said.

She said that shift workers are central to the travel, hospitality and e-commerce industries, as well as the 24-hour support needed from nurses, physicians and first-responders, like police and firefighters. One study found 9 per cent of night-shift nurses developed metabolic syndrome, compared to only 1.8 per cent of day shift nurses, the researchers said. Other studies have noted that risks gradually increase with accumulated years of shift work, they said.

Working nights disrupts individuals' circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock responsible for neural and hormonal signalling, according to the researchers. Once a person's circadian rhythm is desynchronised from their sleep/wake cycle, they will likely experience disturbances in hormonal levels, including increased cortisol, ghrelin and insulin, and decreased serotonin, among others, they explained.

Also Read: Practising Yoga May Boost Brain Chemical Levels, Prevent Depression: Study

The cascade of hormonal changes is what prompts the development of metabolic disorders, and causes people to develop multiple chronic conditions, the researchers said. Kulkarni recommends the first essential step for night shift workers is to establish consistent sleeping hours.

Employers can help by eliminating rotating shifts that disrupt sleep patterns even further, she said. They can also schedule shifts to start before midnight and last no more than 11 hours to help workers adjust, and stabilise their new circadian rhythm, according to Kulkarni.

Exposure to light promotes wakefulness in general, so researchers recommend night shift workers increase their light exposure prior to and throughout their shifts. Previous studies have shown shift workers are more likely to eat snacks higher in sugar and saturated fat while consuming less protein and vegetables, and more likely to skip meals.

Also Read: Nushrat Bharucha Recreates Chrissy Teigens Risque 2016 AMA Dress, Check Pics

Kulkarni recommends shift workers exercise at a similar time each day, at least 5 hours before they go to bed. They should incorporate aerobic exercise into their physical activity, as it has specifically been indicated to improve sleep quality. she said.

"It's true that getting enough sleep, eating right and exercising are critical to everyone's health," said Kulkarni. "However, the nature of shift work is so disorienting and discordant with those principles, we really need to help people in those jobs strategise ways to get what they need," she said.
Srinagar:

The six months of detention of the political leadership in Kashmir has been an "Orwellian nightmare", a tweet on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's Twitter handle said on Wednesday. Mehbooba's daughter Iltija Mufti has been operating her mother's Twitter account since September 20 following the detention of the former chief minister in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 provisions on August 5 last year. "Exactly 6 months ago, I watched helplessly as officers took my mother away. Days have turned into weeks & weeks into months. Yet, political leadership in Kashmir remains under illegal detention. It's been an Orwellian nightmare to be up against a government muzzling its own people," Iltija tweeted from her mother's handle.

She said the idea of India was under assault and staying quiet is criminal complicity. "Economic & psychological cost of this crisis has debilitated J&K. Yet nothing has changed. For many fellow Indians, this might be comeuppance for Kashmiris. But truth is that idea of India is under assault. And staying quiet is criminal complicity," she said.

Iltija vowed to continue speaking up as an "anguished" Kashmiri. "I'll continue fighting & speaking up as an anguished Kashmiri. And as a daughter, every day until my mother comes home. What makes India great is its diversity, values of equality & brotherhood. I draw strength in knowing that a mass movement has been ignited to protect these values," she added.

Mainstream politicians, activists and trade leaders were kept under preventive detention after August 5 last year when the Centre withdrew the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into union territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Since then many among them have been released on different occasions. Among the prominent leaders who are still under detention are NC leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

While Farooq Abdullah has been kept at his Gupkar house, his son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah has been detained at Hari Niwas. Mehbooba, who was initially lodged at Chesmashahi huts, has been shifted to a government building in the heart of Srinagar. The senior Abdullah was slapped with the stringent Public Safety Act on September 17 which was further renewed for a period of three months on December 16.

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New Delhi:

The stage is set for the biggest ever Defence Expo that will be held in Uttar Pradeshs capital city Lucknow. The DefExpo 2020 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly. This years exhibition will be focussed on showcasing India as a global defence manufacturing hub with special focus on PM Modis flagship Make in India programme. Over 1,000 national and international defence firms are participating in the mega exhibition. Defence manufacturing giants from the US, UK, France, Russia and South Korea will participate in DefExpo 2020. The Modi government along with the Uttar Pradesh administration are billing this as the most grand exhibition in terms of area, number of participants and revenue. This the first time that Lucknow is hosting the DefExpo.

The buzz is that around 200 MoUs will be signed during the DefExpo 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the exhibition at around 1:30 pm, which will be followed by live demonstration of weapon systems. According to the officials, over 39 ministers are participating at DefExpo, 20 seminars have been planned by defence industry panels. The live weapon demonstration will include T-90s. The magnificent flypast will see Sukhoi-30s, Tejas, Jaguar and Chinooks.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the DefExpo curtain raiser in Lucknow on Tuesday. (Photo credit: DefExpo/Twitter)

A day before the inauguration, addressing the media during the DefExpo curtain raiser on Tuesday, Union Defence Minister rajnath Singh said that, aim is to develop India as a defence manufacturing hub. By the end of this decade, I am confident that India will be among the top three economies of the world. India cannot remain an import dependent nation when it comes to defence.

The event will also be a chance for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to prove his mettle as an ace event manager. Before this, he was lauded by many for his organisational skills during the Kumbh event. At the curtain raiser, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister spoke extensively about the defence corridor. During the curtain raiser, Yogi Adityanath said that, says state will soon see two Indian made Dornier aircraft on passenger flights, a first for the HAL made aircraft. Flights from Lucknow to Varanasi, Agra. I hear that a lot of hard work has gone into getting civil aviation clearances for the Dorniers.

There will be a sizeable UP Pavilion at the DefExpo venue. Apart from displaying industrial prowess and potential for investment, the Adityanath government will also organise cultural programmes showcasing rich cultural heritage of the state.

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New Delhi:

Election Commission of India has barred Bharatiya Janata Party MP Parvesh Verma for holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, roadshows and interviews for 24 hours over his statement against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on a news channel. The ban on Verma, second in the last one week, came into force at 6 pm on Wednesday. This means, he will not be able to campaign for the February 8 Delhi assembly polls any further. Campaigning ends at 5 pm on Thursday.

"The Commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, bars Parvesh from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, roads shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media), etc. in connection with ongoing general election to the legislative assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020 for a period of 24 hours starting from 6 pm February 5, 2020," the poll panel said in a statement.

Earlier, Parvesh Verma was barred for four days for their controversial remarks. The West Delhi MP had said what happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi, warning that lakhs of anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh could enter homes to rape and kill women.

Parvesh Verma Barred For Second Time

Verma was barred from campaigning for 96 hours (four days) for his interview in which he made remarks on Shaheen Bagh and a statement on removing mosques at an election meeting in Vikas Puri on January 28.

In his reply, Verma said his remarks on Shaheen Bagh protesters were in response to a question in an interview and were misrepresented by the media. He also said his statement on removal of mosques was in context of removing illegal encroachments from government lands.

ALSO READ: EC Issues Notice To BJP MP Parvesh Verma For Calling Arvind Kejriwal 'Terrorist'

On January 25, BJP candidate from Model Town Kapil Mishra was barred from campaigning for 48 hours for inflammatory tweets. One of the tweets was removed by Twitter and an FIR was logded against on the directions of the EC.
New Delhi:

Paras Shah, a high-profile Indian banker in London was suspended after he was accused of stealing food from the office canteen. According to the reports, Shah was suspended after he stole food from the canteen at Citibank's European headquarters in Canary Wharf, London.

In Indian currency, Shah took home almost Rs 9.2 crore per year. According to Financial Times, Shah abruptly left his post last month as Citi's head of high-yield bond trading for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, after being accused of food theft.

Shah left his position last month as Citis head of high-yield bond trading for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Shah, a millionaire with an annual income of 1m a year including bonuses, deleted his Linkedin account post controversy.

Shah joined the Citigroup in 2017, after seven years of experience at HSBC.

Shahs job entailed matching buyers and sellers of junk bonds  debt from companies judged to be riskier borrowers. Shah was suspended days before the company was due to pay bonuses to its senior employees and give an increment to them, reported the FT.

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New Delhi:

Three terrorists were killed and a CRPF jawan died in a gunbattle in Shalteng area outside Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said. The encounter began after the militants opened fire on security forces, officials said. The security forces retaliated, killing the militants, they added.

This comes days after a security force jawan and four civilians were injured in a grenade attack by militants on CRPF personnel in Lal Chowk area of the city. Terrorists hurled a grenade on the CRPF personnel posted on duty near Pratap Park in busy Lal Chowk area of the city, a police official said. The CRPF jawan and the four civilians injured in the explosion were shifted to a hospital, he said.

The loud explosion caused panic among the people, especially those who had come to the weekly flea market, also known as Sunday market, the official said. Security forces have cordoned off the area, he added.

3 Terrorists killed on Jammu-Srinagar national highway

On Friday, three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle with police at a toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway here, officials said.

A group of three-four militants were intercepted at the Bann toll plaza, about 28 km from Jammu city, when they were trying to enter the Kashmir Valley on a truck.

Police suspect the terrorists might have infiltrated through the International Border in Kathua district to carry out an attack.

One of the terrorists was killed in the ensuing gunfight while the others managed to escape to the nearby forest area, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told news agency PTI. He said a policeman was injured in the incident.

He said the militants belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The truck driver and conductor were arrested, the DGP said.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed and the entire forest belt was cordoned off. After a gunbattle, two more terrorists were killed.

Choppers, drones and sniffer dogs have been inducted into joint operations to track down the fourth terrorist as a massive search operation rages up, they said.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed his government's achievements and hit out at the opposition in Lok Sabha on Thursday. Replying to a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress and the Left of inciting people while making it clear that the amended citizenship law will neither impact any Indian citizen nor harm minority interests. Defending the CAA, the prime minister said the Congress is having problems when "our govt is taking decisions on wishes of the country's founding fathers".

PM Modi also attacked the Congress for its politics in the last seven decades, saying the party's politics of last 70 years has been such that no Congress leader can be self-sufficient. Attacking the Congress, Modi said a person who was associated with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was made as chief minister.

Slamming former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah for their remarks on abrogation of Article 370, Modi said Kashmir's identity was buried on January 19, 1990, when Kashmiri Pandits started leaving the Valley due to militancy.

Elaborating on his government's achievements, the prime minister said the people of the country have seen his government's work between 2014 and 2019 and gave a bigger mandate in 2019.

15:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In There are no plans to recruit more private sector specialists as joint secretaries in central government departments: MoS Jitendra Singh informs the Rajya Sabha

15:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Last year 1.5 crore youths lost their jobs, PM was silent on it. PM distracting people from real issues by talking about Jawaharlal Nehru, Pakistan, Bangladesh: Rahul Gandhi

14:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Does a party that keeps talking about secularism not remember 1984 and the anti-Sikh violence. It was shameful. They did not make efforts to punish the guilty. A person who was associated with the violence has been rewarded as Chief Minister of a state by them: PM Modi attack Congress in Lok Sabha

14:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi once again says, nobody needs to be afraid of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"I want to clearly state- with the CAA coming, there will be no impact on any citizen of India, practising any faith."

14:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi quotes Jawaharlal Nehru's comment after signing the Nehru-Liaquat pact. "If law is not conducive to give citizenship to give Hindu and other minority refuges from Pakistan then we must change the law".

"Pandit Nehru himself was in favour of protecting minorities in Pakistan, I want to ask Congress, was Pandit Nehru communal?"

14:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Becoming PM is a nobel ambition. However, India was divided so someone could become prime minister: PM Modi

13:59 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Those who have been removed from office by the people of India are now doing the unthinkable. They see citizens on the basis of their faith. We are different. We see everyone as an Indian: PM Modi

13:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Some people are asking what was the rush to bring CAA. Some are accusing us of doing 'Hindu-Muslim' politics. This is the language Pakistan has been using for decades. Now those who support the 'tukde tukde gang' are talking the same language: PM Modi

13:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Former former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir made statements after we made the Article 370 move. One of them said 'it seems Kashmir made the wrong choice in 1947', another said 'there will an earthquake in Kashmir'. How can be these acceptable to anyone who believes in the Costitution: PM Modi

13:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Some people are saying Kashmir has lost its identity. I ask you who made Kashmir's identity only about bombs and guns? Can anyone forget that dark night of January? In reality, Kashmiri identity is closely linked with harmony: PM Modi

13:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Those who are talking about respect for the Constitution never even implemented it in Jammu and Kashmir for so many decades: PM Modi

13:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The people of India are seeing what is happening in the nation, that too ironically, in the name of saving the Constitution: PM Modi

13:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress is talking about Constitution everyday. Let me ask you: Who brought the Emergency? Who trampled over the Judiciary? Who has brought the most amendments to the Constitution? Who imposed Article 356 the most? Those who did the above need to get deeper knowledge of our Constitution: PM Modi

13:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi takes a shot at Rahul Gandhi's remark: "I will increase the number of Surya Namaskars I do. You have already made me gaali-proof, now I will make my back strong."

Addressing an election rally in Delhi on Wednesday, Gandhi had launched a scathing attack on Modi over the ongoing job crisis. "The PM wont be able to come out of his home. The youth will beat him up with sticks and make him understand that his country cant progress without providing jobs to youth."

13:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Stand up India, Start up India, Mudra- they are adding prosperity in the lives of many. It's great to see that many youth from smaller cities are part of it. Substantial number of the Mudra beneficiaries are women: PM Modi

13:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi says, our vision is- Greater investment. Better infrastructure. Increased value addition. Maximum job creation.

13:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We have kept the fiscal deficit in check. Price rise is also under check and there is macro-economic stability. We have taken steps to increase investor trust and strengthen the economy: PM Modi

13:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In There is only one unemployment we will not end, yours: PM Modi tells Opposition in Lok Sabha

13:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Some states are not allowing farmers to benefit from PM-Kisan Scheme due to sheer poltics. I appeal to them- let there be no politics in farmer welfare: PM Modi

13:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM-KISAN Samman Yojana is transforming the lives of many farmers. Several farmers have benefitted due to this. In this scheme there are no middlemen and no extra file-work: PM Modi

13:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The President talked about farmers and agriculture in his speech. We solved the long-standing issue of higher MSP. We also brought crop insurance and irrigation related schemes. We raised the budget for agriculture by 5 times: PM Modi

13:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Bodo Accord signed now is special because it has brought all stakeholders together and we are moving towards a more peaceful era: PM Modi

12:59 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In For years, distance was reason to ignore the Northeast region. They used to think 'Delhi is very far', now we have placed Delhi at their doorstep. Things have changed now. The region is now becoming a growth engine. Great work has been done in so many sectors. Ministers and officials are regularly visiting the region: PM Modi

12:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In the last 5 years, 37 crore people got bank accounts, 11 crore people got toilets in their homes, 13 crore people got gas connections and more than 2 crore people got their own homes: PM Modi in Lok Sabha

12:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We worked for the people in our first years and that is why people once again blessed us, so that we work even faster: PM Modi

12:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today the world has many expectations from us. It is essential that we show courage and work to overcome the challenges we are facing. India can no longer wait for problems to remain unsolved. And, rightfully so. That is why, our aim is: Speed and scale, Determination and decisiveness, Sensitivity and solutions: PM Modi in Lok Sabha

12:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi in Lok Sabha: "The people of India have not only changed the Sarkar. They want the Sarokar to be changed as well. If we had worked according to the old ways and thought processes: Article 370 would never have been history, Muslim women would have kept suffering due to Triple Talaq, Ram Janmabhoomi issue would have remained unsolved, Kartarpur Sahib corridor would not be a reality, There would be no India-Bangladesh land agreement."

12:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Honourable President has highlighted the vision for a New India. His address comes at a time when we enter the third decade of the century. Rashtrapati Ji's address instills a spirit of hope and it presents a roadmap for taking the nation ahead in the times to come: PM Modi

12:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha to PM, "Yeh to abhi trailer hai" on opposition raising 'Mahatma Gandhi amar rahe' slogans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Mahatma Gandhi may be trailer for you, he is life for us".

12:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi has started speaking in Lok Sabha.

10:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP MP Mahesh Poddar has given Short Duration Discussion Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'separatist movement in Jharkhand and adjoining states'.

10:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Trinamool Congress MP Santunu Sen has given Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha over 'concerns over proposed changes in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)'.

10:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'alleged arrest of a parent of a student at a college in Bidar, Karnataka'.

10:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to reply to debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address in Lok Sabha around 12 pm. He is also expected to address Rajya Sabha on the motion at around 5 pm today.

10:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Both the Houses of the Parliament will further discuss the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address and the Union Budget 2020 on Thursday.

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New Delhi:

ICAI CA May 2020 Registration Process has been started. All eligible and interested candidates need to visit the official website, i.e. icaiexam.icai.org to check the ICAI CA May 2020 detailed notification and then apply for the CA May 2020 accordingly. Earlier, ICAI released an official notification on January 1, 2020 stating that CA Intermediate IPC course examination (Old and New), Final Course Exam (Old and New), Part 1 and International Taxation  Assessment Test will be conducted from May 2,2020 to May 18, 2020.

ICAI CA May 2020 Application

The ICAI CA May 2020 application process has started online, and candidates need to visit the official website, i.e. icaiexam.icai.org to apply accordingly. In order to apply for the ICAI CA exam, candidates need to follow the below mentioned steps:

Also Read: ICAI CA Foundation, CA IPCC Result 2019 Released Today, Get Direct Link here

First, visit the official website of ICAI. i.e. icaiexam.icai.org

Then, click on the ICAI CA May 2020 Application link that is available on the homepage

After that, register for the CA May 2020 exam and proceed

Fill all the details and submit the application form

Candidates can also take a printout of the duly filled CA May 2020 application form for future reference.

Also Read: ICSI CS Foundation Programme Discontinued, To Be Replaced By CS Executive Entrance Test

It is to note that candidates must make sure to fill all the details in the application form carefully and crosscheck the application once before final submission process. The last date to pay the application of CA May 2020 exam is February 26, 2020. Candidates can click on the below mentioned direct link to check and download the ICAI CA 2020 Exam detailed Notification.

ICAI CA Official Notification Direct Link
New Delhi:

Days after stones were pelted at former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar's cavalcade, the convoy of the CPI leaders was attacked in Bihar's Supaul district on Wednesday evening. The 33-year-old leader escaped unhurt in the attack by a stone-pelting mob, though one of the vehicles in his convoy was damaged and its driver injured, Sudhir Kumar Porika, the SP of Special Task Force, who is holding the additional charge of Supaul, told PTI-Bhasha over the phone.

"The convoy has left for its next destination. Investigations are on to identify and nab the culprits," Porika said about the attack, which happens to be the second such incident in less than a week. Kumar is on a state-wide tour of Bihar campaigning against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NPR and NRC.

Earlier on February 1, his convoy was attacked in Saran district.

The 'Jan Gan Man Yatra', which began on January 30, had a rough start when Kumar was told by police in West Champaran district that permission for his first scheduled rally was withdrawn at the eleventh hour. Congress MLA Shakil Ahmad Khan, who has been accompanying the CPI leader since the commencement of the tour, blamed 'negligence on part of the police and the administration' for the incident.

"It is a small town. The spot where the attack took place is less than a kilometer from the collector's residence. Police personnel and officials of the district administration were deployed. Still the miscreants hurled stones, raised slogans and managed to flee taking advantage of the dark," Khan alleged.

"I have telephoned the Director General of Police seeking intervention from the highest level. Our yatra is to continue for the next few weeks. Already, we are on the move, having left Supaul for Saharsa where Kanhaiya's next rally is scheduled on Thursday. We hope the law and order machinery would rise to the occasion," the MLA added. He also claimed that two vehicles - a bus and a rath (open chariot-shaped car) were damaged in the attack - sharing images on WhatsApp, and alleged that 'the driver of the rath, Ejaz, has been seriously injured. A woman sitting next to the driving seat has also received bruises'. CPI state secretary Satya Narayan Singh issued a statement in Patna, strongly condemning the incident and demanding stern action against the culprits and guilty police officials.

ALSO READ: Make Aishe Ghosh Face Of The Fight In Bengal: Kanhaiya Kumar To Left Parties

The state-wide tour is being conducted under the banner of 'Joint Forum Against NPR/NRC/CAA'. It is scheduled to conclude with a rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna later this month.

With PTI Inputs

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Madagascar was hit by a cyclone and there has been heavy flooding and landslides. (Photo Credit: Twitter/Andry Rajoelina)

New Delhi:

Acknowledging Indias assistance during severe floods and landslides, President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for standing with and supporting the Malagasy people. Rajoelina took to Twitter to post, Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi and Defence Minister @rajnathsingh for standing with the Malagasy people and for your support during the time of heavy flooding in #Madagascar.

Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi and Defence Minister @rajnathsingh for standing with the Malagasy people and for your support during the time of heavy flooding in #Madagascar.  Andry Rajoelina (@SE_Rajoelina) February 4, 2020

India had earlier sent relief supplies to cyclone-hit Madagascar using its naval ship INS Airavat. India was the early responder to the natural disaster that hit the island nation.

Also Read: Cyclone Hits Madagascar, Killing 2 And Making 1,400 Homeless

INS Airavat delivers relief supplies to cyclone-hit #Madagascar. #SAGAR Policy at work - India as an early responder, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said in a tweet.

Madagascar was hit by a cyclone and there has been heavy flooding and landslides since last month, causing loss of lives and displacement of a number of people. According to reports, more than 92,000 people have been affected.

Also Read: 'Humans arrived in Madagascar 6,000 years earlier than thought'

According to a study, the combined effects of climate change and deforestation could decimate Madagascars eastern rainforest habitat by 2070, impacting thousands of plants, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians endemic to the island nation, according to a study.

Madagascara biodiversity hotspot where 80 to 90 per cent of animal and plant species are exclusive to the areahas been devasted by decades of deforestation and over-harvesting, according to the researchers from the City University of New York (CUNY) in the US.

(With PTI inputs)

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UN highly appreciates Vietnam's contribution to peacekeeping operations

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on February 21 thanked Vietnam for its strong support for UN peacekeeping operations, as well as its personnel contributions to the United Nations.









Vietnamese soldiers are willing to joinUN peacekeeping operations. (Photo: VNA)





According to Lacroix, Vietnam started sending troops to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in 2014 and it has since made positive contributions to this field.



The country first deployed a level 2 field hospital for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in October 2018. It has so far sent 75 troops to UN peacekeeping operations, ranking 62nd among UN member countries. It has planned to soon send troops to join the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan.



Currently, Vietnamese soldiers are on duty at the United Nations missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.



Vietnams level 2 field hospital in South Sudan has played an important role in the overall success of the UN mission in this African country, ensuring the health and medical conditions for its staff, especially during the raging COVID-19 pandemic, said Lacroix.



Besides giving medical examination and treatment, Vietnamese military doctors and nurses have also organized seminars on major issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence in the area.



Lacroix highly appreciated the professionalism, dedication, efforts and sacrifices of Vietnamese soldiers, and expressed his condolences to Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh, who died earlier this year while on duty at the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani parliament will adopt a statement in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Trend reports.

The agenda of the parliamentary session to be held on February 25 includes a draft decision of the Azerbaijani parliament on the statement in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

In general, the agenda covers 11 issues.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a public rally at Assams Boro dominated district Kokrakhar. The public meeting was attended by governor Jagdish Mukhi, state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and others. During his address, PM Modi said that all communities in Assam has won with the signing of Bodo peace accord. This was Modis first rally in Assam after the state witnessed massive protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Here are the top quotes from Assam Rally:

1. Today marks a new dawn, a new beginning and new inspirations for Assam as well as the entire Northeast,' says PM Narendra Modi.

2. All communities have won with signing of Bodo peace accord: PM Modi at rally in Assam's Kokrajhar

3. North East was under AFSPA for a long time but now Tripura and many parts of other states are free from it: PM Modi at rally to celebrate Bodo peace accord

4. I am here to assure all in Assam, that anti-Assam and anti-national mentality will not be tolerated and forgiven by country. Some powers are spreading rumours in Northeast that people from outside will come and settle here due to CAA. I want to assure that no such thing will happen: PM Modi

5. 'All-round development of the region has played a very big role in turning feelings of separation into feelings of attachment,' says PM Modi

Earlier, a festive atmosphere prevailed in Assams Kokrajhar as people geared up to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A large number of people from several organisations across various ethnic groups, including non-Bodos, assembled here to welcome the prime minister.

Cultural troupes from different communities will greet PM Modi with their performances before his address. A new dawn, fresh vigour and renewed hope in Assam! The Bodo Accord will help the youth fulfill their aspirations, Modi had tweeted on Thursday night.

The Bodo Accord was signed on January 27 by the government with four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and a civil society group, ending a three decade-long insurgency in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), now rechristened as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). PM Modi is scheduled to reach here by a helicopter from LGB Airport in Guwahati, where he will land from New Delhi around noon, officials said.

Also Read: 'Look Forward To Being In Assam', Tweets PM Modi Ahead Of His Visit To Northeast State

The security arrangements have been beefed up in and around Jangkhrithai field where PM Modi is scheduled to address the rally at 12.30 pm, officials said, adding that all vehicles have been stopped 1.5-km away from the venue. Over ten lakh people are expected to participate in the rally, they said.

ABSU leaders said that more than 10,000 of their volunteers have assembled in Kokrajhar to take part in the ceremony which it is calling Bijoy Utsav. Kokrajhar wears a fresh look as the administration took initiatives to clean the town and repair roads.

The state government has declared a local public holiday on Friday for four districts of BTAD - Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang - in view of the prime ministers visit. On Thursday evening, people had lit one lakh earthen lamps in the town and prayed for peace in the region and the ABSU and NDFB had also organised a bike rally on the occasion. A prayer was held at Bathou Thansali temple in Bagansali of the town.

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Donald Trump's Republican party has 53 seats while the Democrats have 47 in the US Senate (Photo Credit: Reuters File)

Washington:

The United States Senate on Wednesday acquitted President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstruction to Congress - giving him a major political and moral victory in an election year. The Republican-majority Senate voted 52-48 to acquit him of abuse of power and 53-47 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress, thus preventing the Democratic move to overthrow him, for which they required two-thirds of votes in the 100-member House. The ruling Republican party has 53 seats while the Democrats have 47.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, a bitter critic of Trump and who was the party's presidential nominee in 2012, voted against the president on the first charge, but followed the party line on the second article of impeachment. Rest of the members voted on party lines.

"The President is pleased to put this latest chapter of shameful behavior by the Democrats in the past, and looks forward to continuing his work on behalf of the American people in 2020 and beyond," the White House said soon thereafter.

Trump announced on Twitter that he will make a public statement Thursday noon from the White House "to discuss our Country's VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!"

The White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham slammed the Democrats.

"Today, the sham impeachment attempt concocted by Democrats ended in the full vindication and exoneration of President Donald J. Trump. As we have said all along, he is not guilty," she said.

"The Senate voted to reject the baseless articles of impeachment, and only the President's political opponents ? all Democrats, and one failed Republican presidential candidate ? voted for the manufactured impeachment articles," Grisham said.

Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale said, "The do-nothing Democrats know they can't beat him, so they had to impeach him. This terrible ordeal was always a campaign tactic to invalidate the 2016 votes of 63 million Americans and was a transparent effort to interfere with the 2020 election, only nine months away."

ALSO READ: Nancy Pelosi Tears Donald Trump's SOTU Copy In Half, Twitter Goes Crazy

Opposition Democratic party accused the Republican-dominated Senate of ignoring the facts, "the will of the American people and their duty to the Constitution".

Said Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, "Today, the President and Senate Republicans have normalized lawlessness and rejected the system of checks and balances of our Constitution."

"The President will boast that he has been acquitted. There can be no acquittal without a trial, and there is no trial without witnesses, documents and evidence," Pelosi said.

"By suppressing the evidence and rejecting the most basic elements of a fair judicial process, the Republican Senate made themselves willing accomplices to the President's cover-up," said the top Democratic leader.

ALSO READ: India And US Set To Seal Trade Deal During Donald Trumps India Visit

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer described it as a sad day for the republic.

"The United States Senate, acting as a court of impeachment under our Constitution, did not remove a president who abused his power and invited foreign interference in the upcoming election to benefit himself personally," he said.

"The bipartisan vote in favor of holding him accountable and preserving, protecting, and defending our Constitution against a clear, impeachable offense was, unfortunately, not enough to overcome a partisan firewall of senators who chose loyalty to President Trump over loyalty to their oaths," Hoyer said.

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New Delhi:

BJP attacked Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia after the CBI arrested his OSD over bribery allegations on late Thursday night. Targeting Sisodia, BJP MP Parevsh Verma said that, OSD is just a name, a face. Our Deputy Chief Minister is his maalik. All the money taken by him as bribe goes in Sisodias pocket. And it is this money with which biryani is being sent to the Shaheen Bagh protesters. The arrest comes a day before the Delhi Assembly Elections. It should be noted that Verma was banned again from campaigning in Delhi for 24 hours for calling Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a 'terrorist'. Last week, he was banned from campaigning for 96 hours for making hate speeches.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also echoed the sentiments. No OSD in a Deputy CMs office can accept bribes without the knowledge of his political boss... There have been several allegations of corruption on Kejriwal and Sisodia in the past too..., Malviya said on Twitter. BJPs Hari Nagar candidate Tajinder Singh Bagga said that he will demand the Election Commission to take action against Sisodia.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's OSD Gopal Krishna Madhav was arrested based on information provided by a middleman who allegedly collected bribes from transporters on his behalf, officials said on Friday. The probe agency arrested the officer and middleman Dheeraj Gupta on Thursday, two days before the Delhi elections. During the questioning, Gupta claimed that he was collecting Rs 2.26 lakh as bribe for Madhav, a Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Service officer in trade and tax department.

Sisodia, on his part, demanded strictest action against the erring official saying that the Aam Aadmi Party has zero tolerance policy against corruption. Just got to know that a GST inspector has been arrested while taking a bribe. This man was deployed as the OSD in my office. CBI must ensure strictest possible action against the him. I have myself been working against such corrupt officers and have exposed many in last five years, Sisodia said in tweet. Sisodia also said he has no issue over the timing of the arrest. I have no issues with the timing of arrest, whoever takes bribe should be caught immediately. We have zero tolerance for corruption, Sisodia was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, a day before the voting in Delhi Assembly Elections, the Shiv Sena on Friday heaped praises on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his government's "ideal" work in the last five years, and said the Centre should have replicated the 'Delhi model' of development in other states. The Sena said Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah should have felicitated Kejriwal for fulfilling the promises in Delhi, but instead of doing that senior BJP leaders and ministers are raking up the 'Hindu vs Muslim' issue in a bid to win the elections.
New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Tuesday launched a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party after the Crime Branch said that the Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Gujjar has confessed that he and his father are the members of AAP. Nadda said that the people of the country and Delhi today saw the real face of the Aam Aadmi Party. Earlier this evening, Rajesh Deo, DCP Crime Branch said that the department has found some photos from Kapil's phone that establish that he and his father joined AAP a year ago.

"We recovered the pictures from his phone during the course of the investigation. Kapil has confessed that he & his father joined AAP somewhere between January-February 2019," Deo said.

On February 1, Kapil Gujjar fired two rounds in the air at Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of the protest against the country's new citizenship law. Kapil chanted Jai Shree Ram and said, "hamare desh me aur kisi ki nahi chalegi, sirf Hindu ki chalegi (only Hindus shall have a say in our country, no one else)," as he was taken into custody by the Delhi Police.

"The accused fired in air near police barricades. He was overpowered by police personnel and taken into custody. Further investigation is on," Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) said.

The police said they are verifying his identity. According to eyewitnesses, the man shouted "Hindu Rashtra Zindabad" and fired two rounds.

The incident, which comes days after a local contractor armed with a gun had come to the site and asked the people to end the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, has triggered panic in the area.

A woman protestor, who didn't wish to be named, said the incident has created panic among them as well as children.

"Many women and children were inside the tent when the incident occurred. We rushed to the spot after hearing a gunshot. Everyone is scared. But we won't leave the spot, she said. Notwithstanding the unnerving incident, many people thronged the protest site to express solidarity with the protestors. Many of them sung the national anthem while others offered namaz there. The protestors also raised slogans against the Delhi Police.

Also Read: Shaheen Bagh Shooter Kapil Gujjar, His Father Are AAP Members: Delhi Crime Branch

Abu Ala Suhani, a publisher and resident of Shaheen Bagh said,"the man appeared to be in his 20s and fired two rounds. While he was being taken into custody, we heard a policeman asking him his name. The man said his name was Kapil Gujjar and he belongs to Dallupura village in Uttar Pradesh."

On Thursday, the youth had fired on anti-CAA protesters at Jamia Millia Islamia injuring a student in the presence of police personnel, triggering massive protest by the Jamia students against the police inaction.

Hundreds of people, including women and children, have been protesting since December 15 at Shaheen Bagh, which has attracted attention across the country among those opposing the CAA, but at the same time the agitation has been severely criticised by others, including the BJP Union ministers and leaders.
New Delhi:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of selling state enterprises and said that the prime minister can even sell the Taj Mahal. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Delhi's Jangpura, Gandhi said that the BJP talks about religion but no religion talks about violence. "They are selling everything might even sell Taj Mahal one day. In their religion, one Indian is speaking with another with much hatred. They do not understand religions. No religious scripture talks about killing anyone," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said that the BJP keeps talking about Pakistan but it was a Congress leader Tarvinder Marwah who went to the neighbouring country and shouted "Hindustan Zindabad" slogans without any security. "Show me one BJP leader or worker who has done the same. Be it the Aam Aadmi or the BJP, no one does the work but marketing. They take public's money and spend it on marketing and advertising," the Gandhi scion said.

Also Read | Will AAP's 'Mohalla Clinics' Work If Delhiites Fall Sick Outside City?: PM Modi At Dwarka Rally

The Congress MP from Wayanad cornered the Centre over the issue of growing unemployment in the country and slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not addressing the issue. "In an interview, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was asked how many jobs were created? She said, 'If I give you any number, Rahul Gandhi would go after me and say that I am lying'. FM is not ready to speak about job creation," he said.

"PM Narendra Modi said he will provide two crore jobs. What did he do for it, what did CM Arvind Kejriwal do to tackle unemployment," he added.
CAIRO: According to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt on Monday, China and Egypt have provided 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Palestine to aid in the fight against the pandemic.

According to reports, the vaccines were locally produced in Egypt through a partnership between Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and Sinovac, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, according to Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt's acting health and higher education minister, who attended a ceremony marking the donation at VACSERA's headquarters on Sunday.

"We congratulate the delivery of a batch of aid to our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip as a joint present from China and Egypt," Abdel-Ghaffar was quoted as saying in the statement.

Egypt has produced more than 30 million doses of the vaccine so far, with its safety and efficacy assured, he said, adding that Egypt has worked closely with China since the outbreak began.

"This batch of aid to Palestine is the first time Egypt has sent its locally made Covid-19 vaccinations outside of Egypt," he noted.

The Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, who was also present at the ceremony, described the joint donation as a "new and crucial step" in cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian governments to aid Palestinians in Gaza in fighting the pandemic and alleviating the humanitarian crisis there.

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Cyprus and the European Commission (EC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deal with an uncontrolled influx of unregistered migrants.

According to a source, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) will assist the Cypriot authorities in dealing with a migratory crisis under the terms of the agreement. Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, signed the MOU virtually on behalf of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, stating that the European Commission, along with Frontex and Europol, will step up their help for Cyprus' migration management.

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris, who inked the agreement on behalf of the Nicosia government in presence of European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, said that the number of asylum seekers has increased dramatically this year, reaching 4.6 percent of the Cypriot population. In every other EU country, this ratio is less than 1 percent.

According to data released by the Interior Ministry, the number of unregistered migrants entering largely from Turkey via the northern portion of Cyprus has increased by 48 percent in the last few months. Frontex will assist in the repatriation of unauthorised migrants, according to Nouris, by making agreements with the countries of origin and covering the costs.

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TRIPOLI, Libya  Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah has declared that general elections will be held in June.

In a televised speech, Dbeibah declared, "The plan to restore people's trust will put an end to all current (political) structures, particularly the Government of National Unity.""I will not tolerate turning over (office) to chaos; I will pass it over through elections. Elections are the only way to solve the problem "he stated.

According to sources, the House of Representatives recently agreed to designate former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as the new Prime Minister. Dbeibah has stated that he will remain in power until an elected administration is formed.

According to the country's elections authority, general elections in Libya were scheduled for December 24 last year but were postponed indefinitely owing to technical and legal concerns.

Yemen's Houthi militia drone attack on Saudi airport injures 16

WHO predicts that the Covid epidemic may be over by 2022

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Pakistan: Within weeks, China will reportedly supply 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan, bolstering the country's military capability to defend its airspace. According to the UK Financial Times, the first batch of combat aircraft is being tested in Chengdu, China, where its maker, Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, is based.

"Once Pakistan Air Force pilots and technicians have completed an introduction to the aircraft, they will be moved to Pakistan," a journalist working for a Chinese military publication reported. According to the report, senior officials in Islamabad stated the jets would be delivered before the end of the month. Images of a J-10C fighter plane with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) markings recently surfaced on social media and were widely shared by news sources.

The photographs, which were first shared on social media last week, show two J-10Cs performing test flights at an unidentified site, outfitted with China's domestically manufactured WS-10B Taihang turbofan engines. "If true, this could be the first time China has exported both the J-10 series fighter and the WS-10 series engine," experts said.

Chinese analysts have praised the recent defence cooperation between the two countries, stating that the action is significant for them in terms of improving Pakistan's fighting capabilities, marketing China's aviation equipment, and reacting to their regional security interests, as per reports.

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Sudan has dismissed Ethiopia's statement that the contentious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile river has begun generating energy, calling it a "unilateral step." In a statement, acting Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Daw Al-Bait Abdul-Rahman said, "Ethiopia's decision to unilaterally begin operation of the GERD represents a violation of the Declaration of Principles signed by the three parties."

"Before making the move, the Ethiopian side should have supplied enough information to the other parties, such as the volume of water expected to exit from behind the dam, so that the Sudanese reservoirs could absorb it and the required safeguards could be taken," he said.

According to reports, Abdul-Rahman stated that Ethiopia had never informed Sudan of the start of energy generation, and that "this has been done unilaterally, and hence it is an unacceptable move, regardless of its explanations." "Sudan's interest is a red line," the Minister said, emphasising the importance of all parties sitting down together to reach a unified perspective on the GERD file.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially opened the first power generation of the GERD, Africa's largest hydroelectric dam, on Sunday.

Sudan emphasises significance of a long-term solution to the Nile dam issue

UN completes first stage of negotiations in Sudan to resolve political crisis

Yemen's Houthi militia drone attack on Saudi airport injures 16
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The Nargis Fund has made public the results of its annual charity fair "Cold Hands, Warm Heart" held at Baku's Fountain Square.

All funds, that is 706,100 AZN raised during the fair were used to fund the treatment and surgeries of children who have applied for assistance from the Nargis Fund. Long-term treatment and operations for those children were funded by the fair's sponsors, philanthropists, the Nargis Fund management, fees, and the sale of houses at the fair.

Thanks to the charity fair, which ran from December 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022, the following children were treated and operated on with the help of the fund.

Rukhid Mekhraliyev (10 years old) - beta-thalassemia;

Teya Mammadova (9 years old) - beta-thalassemia;

Khagan Gubadov (11 years old) - lymphoblastic leukemia;

Emil Baghirov (3 years old) - beta thalassemia;

I.T. (the name is not disclosed at the request of the family) - kidney transplant;

Yusif Mammadov (7 years old) - Guillain-Barre syndrome;

Farman Gojayev (6 years old) - bone cancer;

Mehdi Samadli (2 years old) - beta-thalassemia.

The Nargis Fund thanked everyone who supported the children.

Ulviyya Mahmudova, the editor-in-chief of Nargis magazine, established the Nargis Fund in 2012, and it began operations in 2013. It was the beginning of a good tradition, the annual charity fair "Cold Hands, Warm Heart."

Since then, the Fund has organized and carried out a number of charitable projects, including providing financial assistance to needy families and children.
Thailand's Covid-19 alert level was elevated to the second highest tier on Monday, following an increase in the number of new infections connected to the spread of the Omicron strain.

According to sources, the Ministry of Public Health upped the Covid-19 alert level from 3 to 4, a category that includes laws prohibiting dining or drinking in restaurants and avoiding public gatherings.

Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron form, which already accounts for more than 90% of active cases, the ministry predicted that the number of new infections would continue to rise in the coming one or two weeks.

Thailand's Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 18,883 new cases and 32 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections and fatalities to more over 2.73 million and 22,656, respectively (CCSA).

The ministry recommended everyone, especially those over 60 and those with underlying conditions, to get booster doses as soon as possible. According to the CCSA, 71.1 percent of the country's almost 70 million people had been fully vaccinated as of Sunday, while 27.5 percent had received booster injections.

Pakistan to get J-10C combat jets from China

Australia reopens international borders after near 2 year

UK to scrap all remaining COVID-19 curbs this week
SANAA: According to the Riyadh-led coalition, at least 16 persons were injured in a drone attack carried out by Yemen's Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Airport in the border city of Jazan.

According to a tweet from the Saudi Press Agency, the intercepted drone caused the casualties, including three critical cases among travellers. As per reports, the coalition has promised to unleash a massive military campaign to prevent the Houthi militia's hostility.

On February 10, a similar attack on Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport injured 12 civilians of all nationalities.

In retaliation for the kingdom's increased airstrikes on its installations in Yemen, the Houthi militia has launched repeated drone and missile attacks against Saudi border areas and other locations. The majority of the attempts were thwarted before they could reach their intended targets, according to the coalition.

Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and drove President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government out of the capital Sanaa.

Fire in German apartment complex, three injured and 39 flats destroyed

India's blunt response to Russia-Ukraine conflict

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Kathmandu, February 22

The joint steering committee (JSC) consisting of energy secretaries of Nepal and India is convening its meeting in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The meeting that is taking place physically after more than two years will last for two days. Before the meeting of secretaries, joint secretaries also hold a meeting of their joint working group (JWG) that will forward its decisions to the JSC meeting.

Officials on the Nepali side say they have asked their Indian counterparts to discuss joint investment in hydropower projects in Nepal. Joint investment is also on the Indian agenda.

In particular, Nepal wants India to agree on the joint investment in an inter-country transmission line besides other hydropower projects. Likewise, it also wants the southern neighbour to be more clear on inter-country energy trade.

Observers have been looking at the meeting significantly as Nepal is expected to produce surplus energy in the monsoon from this year and it desperately needs international markets to sell it.
On February 8, 2022, a Malabar silk-cotton tree (commonly known as simal in Nepal) that was along the Prithvi Highway was cut down. On the tree was a nest of a griffon vulture, an endangered species. Pokhara Bird Society on January 4 had asked the Department of Roads to not cut down the tree as the griffon vulture had laid an egg there. No one listened to the organisation and the tree was brought down angering conservationists.

The reason for them getting angry was valid too. Out of the nine types of vultures found in the country, the griffon vulture is the most endangered. Expert says that they had found four places in the country where the griffon vulture had laid eggs. Government bodies and bird conservationists are still at odds over this.

The incident took place during a time when wildlife activists were criticising the death of a rhino that fell inside a ditch in Chitwan on January 23.

Over the past decade, Nepal has been trying to find the right environment-development balance, but due to haphazard planning of development projects, Nepal has not been able to find it. While conservation experts claim the country is trying to destroy nature, the other side has been calling these people anti-development. Due to not being able to find the right balance, a lot of development projects in the country are in limbo.

Crucial conflicts

A deceased rhino is being lifted from a ditch in Chitwan.

In some way, environmental activists are right. The rhino died in Chitwan due to the carelessness of the contractors and project managers. The committee formed to investigate the case in its report also blamed the District Forest Office and Chitwan National Park. In the report, the committee mentioned how the road was being built in an unsafe manner given how close it was to the national park.

This goes to show how many development projects in the country are carried out without due research on what damage it could do to the wildlife and the environment. And, that is what frustrates wildlife activists who say these incidents would not be a problem if the people responsible for the construction of these projects were sensitive and careful about this issue.

Recently, the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) and different hydropower development projects to be constructed in the area are at odds. The GCAP has been asking these projects not to start construction until they got its permission. It has also asked them for an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

But, the hydro projects have been stating all their initial work on the project has stopped because of the EIA. Bimal Gurung, the deputy manager of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, says it was impractical to ask for an EIA during the initial stage of the project.

Bigu rural municipality has also been speaking against the GCAP alleging it of halting the progress of different projects that will fall in its rural municipality.

Yudhisthira Khadka, the chair of the rural municipality, says that it was unconstitutional on the GCAPs part to halt the construction of these projects due to the EIA.

If we only think about the environment, we will never develop, says Khadka.

Another example is the exploitation of the Kamala river. Dhanusha police on February 14 took control of seven tippers and one excavator. After that, police found out that these tippers were deployed by the China Railway Engineering Group that was given the job of expanding the Kamala-Kanchanpur section of the East-West Highway.

Police say that the Chinese company does not have permission to extract anything from the river. But, the company argues that as it was building a road section along the river, it should be allowed to do so. Even the Department of Roads is siding with the Chinese team as it wants these roads completed as soon as possible.

Preparations are underway to install a fibre lotus in Kamalpokhari of Kathmandu.

The issue of environmental balance in development projects has also engulfed the Kathmandu valley. Despite the protest, the Kathmandu metropolitan city is preparing to inaugurate the renovated Kamalpokhari. Activists had criticised the way the KMC was killing the ecosystem of the pond by using concrete. Despite that, the project went ahead.

The KMC says it had consulted experts and heritage campaigners, but these people say that the plan to use concrete on the pond was made at the start and the KMC did not want to go off track and build the pond it wanted to after noise settled. As plans to build a fibre lotus in the middle of the pond is going ahead, water experts say the pond could no longer be called a wetland.

Another project that has been in limbo due to the conservation vs development debate is the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. Nepal Army, which is carrying out the project has asked the government to allow it to work in sections where the EIA is yet to be done.

Project head Bikash Pokharel says that the army has seen that it needs to acquire land in areas where the EIA has not been done and is asking the government to act fast if it wants to complete the project on time. He says the project cannot move forwards because the army cannot cut trees in areas where the EIA has not been done without the governments permission.

But, the Ministry of Forest and Environment is yet to agree with the army as it understands doing the EIA after work is done in the area is wrong. But, the army has been putting pressure on the government to move things swiftly.

Environment v development

Army cutting down a tree for the Kathmandu Terai fast track, one of the biggest development projects that are currently underway.

Not finding the right balance between conservation and development has led to multiple problems resulting in small to major development projects being incomplete.

Government officials themselves are at odds. A verbal argument took place at the Delegated Legislation and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly in early January. In the committee, then defence secretary Baburam Adhikari had shown his displeasure on how the Ministry of Forest and Environment had taken over nine months to give them permission to cut down trees. Supporting Adhikari, a joint-secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure told the committee that the forest ministry had taken a decade to give his ministry permission to cut down trees even though the ministry and government had a theoretical agreement.

In reply, the Department of Forests and Soil Conservations director-general Man Bahadur Khadka told them that being a national pride project would not exempt development projects from following rules and regulations. He even accused some leaders and ministers of giving permission without consulting them.

We cant allow anyone to cut more trees than what was agreed upon, Khadka said during the meeting.

Experts say that for development projects, there needs to be some destruction of nature. But, despite that, they say concerned bodies should focus on doing minimal destruction. They say that with policy mostly favouring destruction, conservation has taken a back seat. The tussle between different government bodies has not also helped, say experts.

Environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar says Nepal has a problem because it sees development only through the construction of roads and different development projects. Limiting the idea to this and forgetting social development is a major reason why development projects have not picked up in the country, he says.

Prosperity doesnt always mean money. We needed to understand that. We need to try and leave behind resources to the coming generation too so when working on megaprojects, we need to think about the future, says Tuladhar, adding it was time Nepal started to take environment and development hand in hand.

Infrastructure expert Surya Raj Acharya says Nepal should start assessing the pros and cons of these development projects rather than just objecting to them.

I think being against something is becoming trendy. We need to think and do our due research before taking a stance, he says.

Environment assessment mere formality

Nepal has rules regarding balancing development and demolishment. But over the years, these rules have become a mere formality.

According to the Environment Protection Act, all major development projects need to do their environmental impact assessment (EIA) and smaller ones need to do their initial environment examination (IEE). These reports should mention the impact of the project on the surrounding environment and what could be done to minimise it.

But, Acharya says these reports are just a formality, and hence development projects have caused major damages to the surrounding. Landslides and flash floods in various areas are a result of this.

Due to a poorly prepared report, over 1,000 extra trees were cut during the Narayanghat-Muglin road expansion. A similar case is repeating in the fast track as the army says it needs to cut down more trees.

Wrath of nature

Landslide debris is being removed from the Butwal-Palpa road section of Siddhartha Highway.

Even though suggestions are included in the reports, development projects do not go by them and do things they want to do. Most EIA reports say that all hydropower plants should release 10 per cent water during the winter seasons. But, not everyone follows this. A lot of these projects ask someone they know to prepare the EIA where they only add things the project is willing to do.

Tuladhar says the problem lies in not paying attention to the mistakes. He says if development projects cut down 1,000 trees, they shall plant 1,000 trees. But, in Nepal, they hardly do this. Even though some do an afforestation campaign, they hardly take care of these plants.

We cut down 1,200 trees during the ring road expansion, but did we plant trees to replace them?, says Tuladhar.

Development projects, to save face, have been stating they have not been able to plant trees because they cannot find land. They also say when they go to the Forest Ministry, it doesnt take their concern seriously.

A former member of the National Planning Commission, Krishna Prasad Oli, says that he is concerned with the dozer development that has taken place in the hills of Nepal. These roads have been paved without environmental assessment resulting in landslides in the area.

Yes, people benefit from the roads. But, we needed to look at the ripple effect and how it is wasting taxpayers money, says Oli.

Experts say development projects can only get better if Nepal starts implementing things written in the EIA. Tuladhar says it was time Nepal studied what other countries do and follow it.

We can learn good habits from these countries and work towards protecting the environment, he says.

Tuladhar says that Nepals hills and mountains are fragile because they are the youngest in the world. He says people need to understand this before planning development projects in these regions because they will have a ripple effect in the long run.
Kathmandu, February 22

Government stakeholders have agreed to allocate a certain quota reserved for Nepali migrant workers in every sale of IPO shares.

Officials say they want to encourage remittance earners to invest their money in the productive sector. Of late, the general attraction to IPO shares is consistently increasing among Nepalis.

Top financial officials of the country including National Planning Commission Vice-chairman Biswo Nath Poudel and Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari held a meeting and decided to allocate five per cent shares to migrant workers in respect of their hard work for the country. The Ministry of Finance has also expressed its content.

The government will prepare a standard operating procedure to regulate the reservation.

Meanwhile, the officials are meeting Nepal Stock Exchange CEO Krishna Bahadur Karki and Securities Board of Nepal Chairman Ramesh Kumar Hamal among others this afternoon to discuss the issue further.
Some brands and names are recognisable just by their jingle or the brand colour, and in recent years, some companies have been doing just that with their attractive hoarding boards that are everywhere. Among a few Nepali companies that have invested heavily in the advertisements, Ambe Group is unmissable. Behind this rigorous, almost aggressive, branding of Ambe on televisions to online portals in recent years is Shiwaj Neupane.

As the director of Ambe Group, a growing business conglomerate that is leading the construction material industry in Nepal, Neupane in his new leadership has made some cashable decisions that have profited already popular companies. The company greatly benefitted from its early marketing campaign that featured MaHa Jodi (Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya). But it had not invested in the marketing much after that. But then, I decided to invest in various handpicked mediums. The marketing continued during the Covid-19 situation too and it paid off well.

Just 31, the young leader certainly faced some ups and downs as his decisions would invite more doubts and a lot of struggle within the company. A lot of times, I would be questioned and doubted, but I saw opportunities and I invested in them. And, so far, they have all rewarded us well and even increased our revenue. Not just the revenue, we have seen a great change in the brand value and brand recognition among our customers.

Shiwaj Neupane, the son of Ambe Group founder Shovakar Hari Neupane, first started as a manager in the familys factory and made his way up as managing director of Jay Ambe Steels, the factory in Nepalgunj. Under the new leadership, the company has been embracing new ideas and a new way of working.

The turning point

But before the Ambe Group started changing its course, it was Shiwaj Neupane who first experienced the change in his life. After completing his undergraduate in 2014 from the US, he came to Nepal for a break. But, he then decided to stay here for good.

When I came here, I got the opportunity to join the company. But rather than staying in the city office, I worked in the Bhairahawa factory. I got to closely work with the people there and saw how the dynamics could change among people within the hierarchical chain. Managing the factory gave me that much-needed insight on how to handle the people and designate responsibilities for optimum results.

Director of Ambe Group Shiwaj Neupane. Photo: Aryan Dhimal

But after working here, I had a big decision to make. Either continue working here and take the company to new heights or go back to the US and build something from scratch. The US certainly would have given me independence and autonomy, but the opportunity I had here was on a much bigger scale. I was already in the deep water here, but I also saw that I could make a difference. So, I chose to stay here and work.

There were days I spent all my hours from dawn to dusk here at the office and even burnt the midnight oil. There were decisions to be made all day, every day. And my work kept me busy.

Apart from the credit for Ambes groups newfound market presence, the young leader in Shiwaj Neupane has left his mark in the Nepalgunj-based factory that functions directly under his management. I believe that when people are at their best, they can perform their best. So the factory has a routine cleaning mechanism and the staff quarters are all equipped with hot water for them to wash up. When they feel clean and fresh, their motivation level is different.

Apart from that, the leader also has shown that he is a visionary. The factory has adopted a wastewater management system. The factory outputs are not mixed in the water resources but rather recycled. I always had the thought to set up a separate plant, but for now, it has been limited to our factories.

Growing the company

What started as the trading business of electronics and garments in 1982, Ambe Group today has a yearly turnover of over Rs 35 billion (USD 300 million) and employs over 4,000 employees. The steel market alone generates over Rs 15 billion of revenue yearly.

Ambe Group started to diversify in 2004 with Ambe Cement. Since its first product, the company started seeing impressive market reception and a loyal customer base. Soon after, it ventured further into the market with Ambe Steels, in Bhairahawa, and rose to the top with the base it had already garnered. Over the years, it has also acquired up to 10 subsidiaries and expanded its market with a second factory, as Jay Ambe Steels in Nepalgunj.

And yet again, Shiwaj Neupane faced a lot of doubts for the completely unprecedented move. Nevertheless, he took the risk and gambled in setting up the new factory. The location itself was the first point of the doubt for everyone, but it is because of that location, the company today has a stronghold in the market.

The consistent market can be credited to two things, he says. First is the quality we have maintained in all their products regardless of the situation or demand. And second is our approach to connect with the end-users, our customers.

Changing times

Contrary to what people might think, Shiwaj Neupane says the construction market is pretty volatile in Nepal. The market is full of ups and downs. A simple change in the monetary value of the raw materials can topple the market drastically. Because we deal in tonnes, a change in one rupee, between the purchase of the raw materials to the point it reaches the market, can change the balance sheet.

Director of Ambe Group Shiwaj Neupane. Photo: Aryan Dhimal

But, this has not stopped the new-age businessman from stepping into the market. After the 2015 earthquake, seeing how the market changed, people thought that there was money in this market and joined in. The new companies overflooded the market with the supply and this hugely hampered the business of the others as well.

After 2015, there was a high demand, yet the company could not supply accordingly. This was when we went forward with the expansion project and made preparations to start the new company in Nepalgunj with a 1,000-tonne capacity. After this, we now hold a capacity to produce 1400-tonnes of steel a day and 400,000 tonnes a year, informs Shiwaj Neupane.

For Ambe Group, the market is pretty saturated in the western part of the country. The west covers almost 90 per cent of the revenue. The Terai belt is where the market has been focused. But in the last couple of years, we are slowly shifting our focus to the valley too. We rank in the top two of the Terai belt but we are not even in the top five within the valley and we intend to change that very soon.

But under Shiwaj Neupanes leadership, the group aims to claim the number one spot all over Nepal. He knows the same vision and marketing and advertising skills work in the upcoming days too.

After we have conquered the national market, the plan is to go global and set up a factory network in Singapore to expand.
BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, a CVS Health company (NYSE: CVS), today announced that the Louisiana Department of Health intends to award the company a new statewide Medicaid contract through the Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care Program.

Aetna Better Health has served Medicaid enrollees in Louisiana for more than seven years. Through the contract award, Aetna Better Health of Louisiana would continue to serve several Medicaid eligible populations, including those enrolled in the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Louisiana Medicaid expansion population (EXP) and Specialized Behavioral Health (SBH) programs.

"We appreciate that the state of Louisiana continues to have confidence in Aetna Better Health's commitment to better health outcomes for Louisianans," said Kelly Munson, President, Aetna Medicaid. "We look forward to furthering our delivery of personalized, holistic care - with a deep focus on population health and health equity to continue to increase positive impacts on our members' health and quality of life."

Aetna Better Health of Louisiana has been working to improve the health of Medicaid enrollees and their communities. The organization has reduced health care disparities and achieved the highest percentage of COVID-19 vaccinated enrollees among all Medicaid plans serving Louisiana, in collaboration with CVS Health and local community-based organizations. In addition, CVS Health has offered more than 45 Project Health events, providing more than 2,700 no-cost biometric screenings in the state with more scheduled.

Aetna Better Health of Louisiana has also continued to support the social care needs of underserved populations in the state. Since 2019, the organization has provided over $775,000 in funding to Louisiana community-based organizations, helping to fill needs such as food insecurity, maternal health and education. In addition, CVS Health is making a $25 million investment to help build 224 affordable housing units for families and seniors in Louisiana.

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"Our focus is on continuing to work closely with our state partners in Louisiana, helping them achieve their objectives for the Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care Program," said Richard Born, CEO Aetna Better Health of Louisiana. "We'll catalyze the efforts of the state and community partners and deliver innovative programs and services that support a healthy Louisiana."

Aetna Better Health serves over 150,000 enrollees across the state through the Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care Program. The new contract is anticipated to begin later this year, with the option of renewals, pending the completion of the state's protest period and contract negotiations.

About Aetna Medicaid

Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of the most medically vulnerable, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has particular expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve approximately 2.8 million people in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and approximately 300,000 dedicated colleagues including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health  whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system  and their personal health care  by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Learn more at www.cvshealth.com.

Media contact

Robert Joyce

joycer@aetna.com

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SOURCE CVS Health
ST. JULIANS, Malta, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BEQUANT, the digital asset prime brokerage and exchange, is pleased to announce that Kraken has been integrated on its prime brokerage platform, BEQUANT Pro, and added to the growing list of exchanges that BEQUANT offers to its clients.

BEQUANT logo

BEQUANT Pro will act as a broker, providing BEQUANT's clients access to the Kraken exchange. This is in addition to all of Pro's features including transfer management, cross-margining and leverage and access to another 12 major exchanges, including Binance, FTX, KuCoin, Bitfinex, OKX and BEQUANT Exchange.

Kraken is a US-based exchange and bank founded in 2011. It is available in 176 countries and lists 112 cryptocurrencies to trade.

BEQUANT Pro is a prime brokerage platform for institutional clients for a new digital asset class. Its 100+ institutional clients are offered direct market access to multiple trading venues, simplified KYC and compliance verification and an ability to create multi crypto and fiat accounts.

BEQUANT Pro users benefit from group-level reduced trading costs, up to 9x portfolio leverage, dedicated 24/7 customer support and an individual client manager, as well as OTC block trade execution and fiat-to-crypto trading.

George Zarya, Founder and CEO, BEQUANT, commented: "We are pleased to integrate Kraken and expand the BEQUANT Pro offering to our institutional client base."

"Kraken's market share is substantial and we hope that its offering will attract more and more professional traders to access it through our unique, marketing-leading prime brokerage platform."

About BEQUANT

BEQUANT is where traditional investing meets cryptocurrency - a one stop solution for professional digital asset investors and institutions.

Located and regulated in Malta, BEQUANT's breadth of products include prime brokerage, custody and fund administration, all enhanced by an institutional trading platform providing low-latency trading, liquidity and direct market access for investors.

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The BEQUANT team is composed of experts from institutional, retail and digital financial services with experience in banking, derivatives, electronic trading and prime brokerage.

 BEQUANT Pro Limited 2022

https://bequant.pro/

https://bequant.io/

Contact

Kez Duxbury

Head of PR

kez.duxbury@bequant.io

+44 (0)7833433128

Cision

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SOURCE BEQUANT
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Lev Landau was an Azerbaijan-born mathematician who made fundamental discoveries in theoretical physics.

He is one of the most famous students of Baku University in the world of science, one of the most authoritative physicists of the entire 20th century.

The Nobel Prize winner was born in Baku on January 22, 1908, in a family of an engineer and a doctor.

Landau graduated in 1920 at age 13 from the gymnasium.

He then entered Baku State University, where he studied in two departments at the same time: Physics and Mathematics, as well as Chemistry.

In 1929, the People's Commissariat of Education sponsored Lev Landau's internship in Europe, where he attended workshops led by the greatest physicists of the time. During this time, he also met Albert Einstein, Peter Kapitsa, and worked with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen.

He was appointed as head of the theoretical department at the Institute for Physical Problems of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in Moscow in 1937. He was a theoretical physics professor who taught at Kharkiv University and Moscow State University at the same time.

Scientific achievements

Landau's research spans the entire spectrum of theoretical physics, including fluid mechanics and quantum field theory.

His achievements include the independent discovery of the density matrix method, the quantum mechanical theory of diamagnetism, the theory of superfluidity, the theory of second-order phase transitions, the GinzburgLandau theory of superconductivity, and the theory of Fermi liquids.

Among his scientific accomplishments are the explanations of Landau damping in plasma physics, the Landau pole in quantum electrodynamics, the two-component theory of neutrinos, the explanation of flame instability (the Darrieus-Landau instability), and Landau's equations for S matrix singularities.

Landau was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1962 for developing a mathematical theory of superfluidity that accounts for the properties of liquid helium II at temperatures less than 2.17 K (270.98 C). Landau is a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (London), the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Academy of Sciences of the Netherlands.

In the scientific community, Landau is remembered not only as an outstanding physicist, but also the author of some famous quotes.

He discovered a very simple formula of happiness: science, love, and interpersonal communication.
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /CNW/ - Food Science Corp. ("CULT" or the "Company") (CSE: CULT) (OTC: CULTF) (FRA: LN0), an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on cellular agriculture that is advancing the development of novel technologies to provide a sustainable, environmental and ethical solution to the global factory farming and aquaculture crises, at the request of IIROC hereby confirms that CULT's management is not aware of any material, undisclosed corporate or financial developments and has no material change in its business or affairs that has not been publicly disclosed that would account for the recent change in volume or price. The Company will keep the market informed as either elected or required by IIROC.

CULT Food Science Corp. (CSE: CULT, OTC: CULTF, FRA: LN0) (CNW Group/CULT Food Science Corp.)

About CULT Food Science

CULT Food Science Corp. is an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on clean, lab-grown food that is advancing the development of novel technologies to provide a sustainable, environmental, and ethical solution to the global factory farming crisis. The first-of-its-kind in North America, CULT Food Science aims to provide individual investors with unprecedented exposure to the most innovative start-up, private or early-stage cultivated meat and cultured dairy companies around the world.

Additional information can be found by viewing the Company's website at www.cultfoodscience.com or its regulatory filings on www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

CULT FOOD SCIENCE CORP.

"Lejjy Gafour"

Lejjy Gafour, President

Web: www.CULTFoodScience.com

Twitter: @CULTFoodScience

Forward-Looking Information:

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. 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 include but are not limited to the following risks: those associated with marketing and sale of securities; the need for additional financing; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects; and the volatility of common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. For further information on risk, investors are advised to see the Company's MD&A and other disclosure filings with the regulators which are found at www.sedar.com.

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SOURCE CULT Food Science Corp.

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<span class="legendSpanClass">Patent Claims for Use of Amino Acid Compositions for Treating Irradiation-Induced Lung Complications Upheld</span>

NORWOOD, Mass., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrinsic Bioscience, LLC (EBS), a pioneering life science company, announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) upheld the claims in EBS' licensed European patent (EP2968241), which was the subject of an Opposition mounted by an undisclosed Opponent. EP2968241 is part of a substantial intellectual property portfolio that EBS licenses from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. EP2968241 is directed to using amino acid compositions for treating irradiation-induced lung complications. On July 29, 2019, an undisclosed Opponent filed an opposition to EP2968241 requesting revocation of the patent.

entrinsic bioscience

EBS' intellectual property portfolio can withstand the scrutiny of challenge even before the EPO.

A panel of the Opposition Division (OD) of the EPO met in Munich, Germany on October 13, 2021 and upheld the claims of EP2968241 as granted. The granted claims cover, inter alia, the use of a therapeutic composition comprising one or more selected free amino acids in a method of preventing and/or treating lung complications induced by radiation. In rejecting the opposition to the patent, the OD confirmed that the claims currently in force meet all of the requirements of the European Patent Convention.

EBS Chairman & CEO Stephen Gatto discussed the opposition: "We are very pleased with the outcomea total winthe Opposition Division upheld all of the original claims in the issued patent. This decision protects EBS' ability to commercialize its amino acid formulations designed to address radiation-induced pulmonary conditions. Our technology addresses a long sought unmet need by providing a therapy that prevents and/or treats radiation-induced complications that can lead to debilitating and fatal conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis. This is a multibillion-dollar market worldwide, of which Europe represents a large market share."

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Gatto explained that this win reinforces the strength of our entire global family of patents and patent applications in the lung irradiation-induced damage program and demonstrates that EBS' intellectual property portfolio can withstand the scrutiny of challenge even before the EPO, one of the most demanding patent offices in the world.

Gatto added that this decision demonstrates EBS's resolve to rigorously defend its intellectual property. "We have a strong IP team to combat these challenges and will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to win."

In addition to this capstone ruling by the EPO in Q4 of 2021, EBS's intellectual property position was greatly strengthened in 2021 by the issuance of US Patent Number 10,940,137 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office relating to our exclusively licensed technology in amino acid formulations for gastrointestinal indications.

About Entrinsic Bioscience

Entrinsic Bioscience (EBS) is a pioneering life science company that combines its proprietary IP platform and discovery engine to deliver patented next generation therapeutic compositions, functional ingredients, and product innovations designed to provide multiple consumer health and wellness benefits. Through proprietary bio-mapping and electrophysiology techniques, the EBS platform harnesses the body's natural processes to restore, protect, and enhance health and wellness.

Contact: Joe Del Regno, jdelregno@entrinsic.com

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SOURCE entrinsic bioscience
Food Lion

Omnichannel retailer helps provide three meals* for each of its 82,000 associates

Food Lion is donating three meals for a full day of nourishment on behalf of each of its 82,000 associates

The donation is being made in support of Supermarket Associate Day, which is part of a national effort to honor frontline grocery workers.

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.

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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




Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI) funding will help maintain regional connectivity and jobs

KELOWNA, BC, Feb. 22, 2022 /CNW/ - In a country as large as Canada, air connectivity is critical to the prosperity of all Canadians. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted regional air transportation ecosystems, affecting economies, communities and businesses across the country.

BC's regional airports get an economic boost (CNW Group/Pacific Economic Development Canada)

The Government of Canada's Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI), launched in March 2021, is fostering access to air transportation and supporting regional ecosystems.

Regional air ecosystem to benefit from funding

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced RATI funding of over $18.8 million in federal support for 11 airports and two air carriers in B.C.

Regional airports and carriers provide a vital service, providing commercial flight access, supporting critical supply chains and promoting economic growth. They connect patients to needed medical care and enable essential work travel. They provide important emergency services and cargo operations to supply businesses and frontline workers.

This funding will ensure airports and carriers can continue essential routine maintenance and facility operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will help maintain employment and restore growth in the region as we work to build back from the pandemic.

Regional air transportation is key to the economic development of communities and businesses across Canada. This investment shows the Government of Canada's commitment to supporting economic development across the country and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth for all.

Quote(s)

"Air transportation is essential to community well-being and regional economic development. Today's announcement will not only enhance airport safety and support our essential services but will also create jobs that British Columbians can rely on and bolster regional growth as we recover from the effects of the pandemic."

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- The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

"It is essential that different levels of government partner to stimulate the economy as we recover from COVID-19. The Kelowna International Airport plays a critical role in supporting economic development in Kelowna and the region."

- Mayor Basran, City of Kelowna

"Thank you to the federal government for providing funding to these regional airports and airlines in B.C. This funding is critical to maintain and rebuild connectivity throughout Canada."

- Monette Pasher, Interim President, Canadian Airports Council

"In my role as Airports Council International - North America Chair, I am working with my colleagues across North America as our industry recovers from COVID-19. Investments in aviation, such as the one being made by the federal government today, not only support the recovery of these airports and airlines, but also their surrounding communities."

- Sam Samaddar, Director, Kelowna International Airport

Projects being funded:

Legal Name City Funding Stikine Airport Society Dease Lake Airport Dease Lake $328,322 Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot Tofino / Long Beach Airport Tofino $328,322 City of Abbotsford Abbotsford International Airport Abbotsford $2,320,000 Kelowna International Airport Kelowna $3,261,330 Town of Smithers Smithers Regional Airport Smithers $505,616 City of Williams Lake Williams Lake Regional Airport Williams Lake $130,000 Pacific Coastal Airlines Limited Richmond $5,098,602 Central Mountain Air Ltd., 580741 British

Columbia Ltd. Smithers $5,000,000 The City of Castlegar West Kootenay Regional Airport Castlegar $524,200 The Corporation of the City of Cranbrook Canadian Rockies International Airport Cranbrook $609,584 Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Northern Rockies Regional Airport Fort Nelson $328,322 Cariboo Regional District Cariboo Regional Airport Anahim Lake $54,720 City of Quesnel Quesnel Regional Airport Quesnel $326,518 Total: $18,811,536

Quick facts

The Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI) has a national budget of $206 million.

The initiative supports regional air ecosystemswhich include regional air carriers and airports, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizationsin developing and implementing enhanced services for improved regional connectivity.

It is delivered by regional development agencies across Canada, including Pacific Economic Development Canada, the new regional development agency dedicated to British Columbia.

RATI complements measures implemented by Transport Canada.

Associated links

Stay connected

Follow PacifiCan on Twitter and LinkedIn

Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada

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URBANA, Ill., February 21, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Illinois American Waters Champaign County District recently placed first in the 15-County Water Supply Operator Associations water taste test competition. A water sample from the local Mattis Water Treatment Plant was the winning entry. Water samples were judged on taste, odor and clarity.

This is the third year in a row, and the fifth time overall, in which the local water team has earned this recognition. The team earned the award in 2005, 2006, 2019, and 2020 as well. The competition was not held in 2021 due to COVID-19. In 2005 and 2006, the team was also recognized with the National Best of the Best title.

As the regional winner, Illinois American Waters Champaign County District team will represent the region in the statewide taste test competition. The state competition will be held next month during the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Associations (AWWA) Conference, WATERCON 2022, in Springfield. The winner of the state competition will compete in AWWAs national Best of the Best water taste test held during AWWAs Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE22) in June. Water professionals across the county will gather at ACE22 where the best-tasting tap water in North America will be declared.

Brian Wiemers, senior manager of operations, said, "We are passionate about delivering safe drinking water; its what we do. We take great pride in the product we deliver to homes and businesses every day. Winning the regional taste test and the opportunity to compete on a state and, possible, national level is a testament to our teams commitment. Were proud to provide award-winning drinking water to our friends and neighbors."

To learn more about Illinois American Water visit www.illinoisamwater.com.

About Illinois American Water  Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER RANKED HIGHEST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH LARGE WATER UTILITIES IN THE MIDWEST FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

For J.D. Power 2021 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220221005462/en/

Contacts

Media: Karen Cotton, Sr. Manager External Communications, Karen.Cotton@amwater.com
By Trend

The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office has carried out an operation in Absheron, the Prosecutor General's Office said in response to Trends request.

The public will be additionally informed about its details after the operation.

Will be updated
Oxurion NV

THR-149  Positive results from Part A of the Phase 2 clinical trial assessing THR-149 for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) (KALAHARI), and first patient dosed in Part B evaluating THR-149 versus aflibercept for the second line treatment of DME for the 40-50% of patients that suboptimally respond to standard of care anti-VEGF therapy.

THR-687  First patient dosed in Part A of Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating THR-687 for the treatment of DME in treatment naive subjects (INTEGRAL), and enrollment completed post-closing.

Financing  Capital commitment entered into with Negma Group (Negma) pursuant to which Negma has committed to subscribe to up to EUR 30 million in mandatory convertible bonds to be issued in tranches and subject to certain conditions, and EUR 10 million convertible bond financing secured from Kreos Capital and Pontifax Ventures.

Cash position  Available cash of EUR 10 million (including investments) at the end of December 2021.

Leuven, BE, Boston, MA, US  February 22, 2022  08.00 AM CET  Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) (the Company or Oxurion), a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, with a clinical stage portfolio in vascular retinal disorders today announces its unaudited full year results for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2021, and provides an operational update and an outlook for the remainder of 2022.

The Company has two novel therapeutics in clinical development. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the 40-50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. THR-687 is a highly selective pan-RGD integrin antagonist that is being developed as a potential first line therapy for DME patients as well as potentially wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (ME-RVO).

Tom Graney, CFA, CEO of Oxurion, commented:

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During 2021, Oxurion made excellent progress by focusing our resources on the clinical development of THR-149 and THR-687, which if successfully developed together would serve a market exceeding USD 12 billion. In addition, we secured sources of capital to enable us to further invest behind both of our exciting programs.

Earlier this month we were pleased to report positive results from Part A of our Phase 2 trial of THR-149 in patients with DME. The Part A results included post-hoc analysis by a masked reading center revealing that by excluding two patients with certain abnormalities at baseline, a >9 letter gain in mean BCVA was achieved during Part A. This >9 letter gain was maintained for the remaining four months of the trial after the last THR-149 injection with no rescue treatment required. As a result, patients with these abnormalities will be excluded from Part B of the trial, which compares THR-149 to current standard of care aflibercept for the 40-50% of patients that suboptimally respond to anti-VEGF therapy and currently have limited treatment options. Part B of the KALAHARI trial is recruiting with these protocol amendments in place with topline data expected mid-2023.

We are also delighted that Part A of our Phase 2 DME trial of THR-687 is fully enrolled with results expected in the second quarter of this year. THR-687 has the potential to become a first line treatment for DME, and we are also planning to develop THR-687 for wet AMD and potentially ME-RVO assuming Part A of the DME trial is successful.

We look forward to reporting on our progress as we continue to deliver further value inflection points for both THR-149 and THR-687, including very important THR-687 Part A data in the near future.

2021 Highlights

Operational

Financial

Entered into a capital commitment with Negma pursuant to which Negma has committed to subscribe to up to EUR 30 million in mandatory convertible bonds to be issued in tranches and subject to certain conditions.

1,210 convertible bonds issued to Negma (representing an aggregate amount of EUR 3,025,000) of which 540 convertible bonds were converted into 775,334 shares at the end of December 2021.

Secured a EUR 10 million convertible bond financing from Kreos Capital and Pontifax Ventures.

Cash position (including investments) of EUR 10 million at the end of December 2021.

Post-closing events

Announcement at the Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2022 Conference that post-hoc analysis by the masked reading center from Part A of the KALAHARI trial revealed that by excluding two patients with certain abnormalities at baseline from Part A, a >9 letter gain in mean BCVA was achieved and maintained for the remaining four months of the trial after the last THR-149 injection with no rescue treatment required.

Protocol amendment approved to reflect the post-hoc analysis of the Part A data by excluding patients with these abnormalities at baseline from Part B of the KALAHARI trial.

Enrollment completed in Part A of the INTEGRAL trial for THR-687.





2022 outlook

THR -149 . Part B of the KALAHARI trial is ongoing, assessing three monthly injections of THR-149, compared to three monthly injections of aflibercept, up to Month 3. As from Month 3, the safety and efficacy of a switched fourth injection (THR-149 to aflibercept or aflibercept to THR-149) will be evaluated in about half of the subjects whereas in the other half of the subjects the durability of three monthly injections (THR-149 or aflibercept) will be assessed through a single sham injection until Month 6. Enrollment of approximately 108 patients in Part B in over 50 sites in several European countries and the U.S. will continue during 2022, with topline results expected in mid-2023.





THR-687. Topline data is expected from Part A of the INTEGRAL trial in the second quarter of this year. Assuming Part A is successful, the Company plans to immediately start Part B of the INTEGRAL trial with topline data expected in the second half of 2023. The Company is also planning to start an additional Phase 2 trial of THR-687 in wet AMD during 2022 if Part A is successful.





Details 2021 Full Year Financial Results (unaudited)

Total income amounted to EUR 1.1 million in 2021, compared to EUR 2.1 million in 2020.

Gross profit of EUR 0.5 million in 2021, compared to EUR 1.5 million in 2020.

R&D expenses in 2021 were EUR 20.7 million compared to EUR 22.1 million in 2020. R&D expenses were mainly related to clinical activities in THR-687 and THR-149. The 2020 figure included a milestone payment of EUR 2.0 million related to the development of THR-149. Government grants and income from recharge of costs are deducted from the research and development expenses.

Selling and marketing expenses of EUR 1.3 million in 2021, compared to EUR 3.3 million in 2020.

General and administrative expenses of EUR 7.2 million in 2021, compared to EUR 5.5 million in 2020.

In 2021, Oxurion made a loss for the year of EUR 29.6 million, compared to a loss for the year in 2020 of EUR 28.6 million resulting in negative diluted earnings per share of EUR 0.77 in 2021 versus EUR 0.75 in 2020.

The financial results included in this press release were prepared on the basis of continuation. On December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of EUR 10 million (including investments), compared with EUR 24.8 million (including investments) at December 31, 2020. In addition to available cash, the Company expects to meet its working capital requirements through a combination of debt and equity, including drawing future tranches from the Negma funding program described above, accessing the debt markets through Kreos/Pontifax and/or other debt providers, raising additional equity capital, and/or attracting potential non-dilutive funding, all of which is uncertain. Under the funding program with Negma described above, the Company will have access to up to EUR 27.5 million in the twelve-month period starting from this press release provided the Company can and does draw the maximum tranche on a monthly basis, which is subject to certain conditions that may not be met.

Considering the current available cash position, the budgets for 2022 and 2023, the funding possibilities potentially available to the Company from Negma and others, and the possibility the Company has to reduce its working capital requirements if necessary, the board of directors considers that it is appropriate for the Company to continue to account on the basis of continuation based on the information available on the date of this press release.

When approving the Companys 2020 annual report and its 2021 HY report, the board of directors considered that there was a material uncertainty with respect to the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. In the opinion of the board of directors, there continues to be a material uncertainty with respect to the Companys ability to continue as a going concern on the date of this press release. A more complete description of the Companys risks can be found in the latest PDF-version of the Companys presentation, which can be found here.

The financial results contained in this press release are unaudited. Audited financial results and the 2021 annual report for the period ending December 31, 2021, will be published on the Companys website by March 25, 2022.

Unaudited consolidated statement of profit and loss

In '000 euro (for the year ended 31 December) 2021 2020 Income 1.128 2.078 Sales 967 2.000 Income from royalties 161 78 Cost of sales -612 -550 Gross profit 516 1.528 Research and development expenses -20.696 -22.053 General and administrative expenses -7.150 -5.489 Selling expenses -1.274 -3.252 Other operating income 1.245 777 Other operating expense -9 -6 Impairment losses -1.127 -125 Operating result -28.495 -28.620 Finance income 171 468 Finance expense -1.268 -408 Result before income tax -29.592 -28.560 Taxes -3 0 Result of the year -29.595 -28.560 Attributable to: Equity holders of the company -29.158 -28.012 Non-controlling interest -437 -548 Result per share Basic earnings / loss (-) per share (euro) -0,77 -0,75 Diluted earnings / loss (-) per share (euro) -0,77 -0,75





In '000 euro (as at 31 December) 2021 2020 Result of the year -29.595 -28.560 Other comprehensive income: Remeasurement of defined benefit pension schemes 566 -297 Fair value gain/(loss) on investments designated as at FVTOCI -5 0 Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified to profit or loss 561 -297 Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations 122 -127 Other comprehensive income that will or may be reclassified to profit or loss 122 -127 Other comprehensive income, net of income tax 683 -424 Total comprehensive loss (-) / income for the year -28.912 -28.984 Attributable to: Equity holders of the company -28.475 -28.436 Non-controlling interest -437 -548

Unaudited consolidated statement of financial position

In '000 euro (as at 31 December) 2021 2020 ASSETS Property, plant and equipment 120 230 Right-of-use assets 252 1.069 Intangible assets 1.000 2.127 Other non-current assets 95 96 Non-current tax credit 4.000 3.708 Non-current assets 5.467 7.230 Inventories 60 85 Trade and other receivables 2.517 1.451 Current tax receivables 845 719 Investments 247 288 Cash and cash equivalents 9.740 24.511 Current assets 13.409 27.054 Total assets 18.876 34.284 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Share capital 46.029 44.913 Share premium 234 0 Other comprehensive income -356 -1.039 Other reserves -5.266 -6.133 Retained earnings -41.719 -12.561 Equity attributable to equity holders of the company -1.078 25.180 Non-controlling interest -30 -132 Total equity -1.108 25.048 Lease liabilities 44 447 Employee benefit liabilities 594 1.096 Convertible loans 8.433 0 Non-current liabilities 9.071 1.543 Trade payables 4.979 4.377 Lease liabilities 221 649 Convertible loans 3.401 0 Other short-term liabilities 2.312 2.667 Current liabilities 10.913 7.693 Total equity and liabilities 18.876 34.284

Unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows

In '000 euro (for the year ended 31 December) 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities Loss for the period -29.595 -28.560 Finance expense 896 408 Finance income -171 -468 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 77 194 Amortization and impairment of intangible assets 1.127 125 Amortization of right-of-use assets 600 916 Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment -344 -7 Fair value adjustments of financial instruments 372 0 (Reversal of) impairment losses on current assets 629 801 Increase / Decrease (-) in provisions 64 0 Equity settled share-based payment transactions 1.107 458 Increase (-) / Decrease in trade and other receivables and inventories -2.037 700 Increase / Decrease (-) in short-term liabilities 297 -1.646 Net cash flows generated / used (-) in operating activities -26.978 -27.079 Cash flows from investing activities Disposal of property, plant and equipment (following a sale) 394 35 Decrease / Increase (-) in investments 36 10.154 Interest received and similar income 9 -6 Purchase of property, plant and equipment -32 -119 Net cash flows generated / used (-) in investing activities 407 10.064 Cash flows from financing activities Principal paid on lease liabilities -599 -903 Proceeds from loans and borrowings 11.150 0 Other financial income / expense (-) -20 0 Interest paid on lease liabilities -3 -16 Proceeds from capital increases in subsidiaries from non-controlling interest 86 0 Proceeds from capital and share premium increases, gross amount 1.350 0 Paid interests and other bank charges -186 -12 Net cash flows used (-) / generated in financing activities 11.778 -931 Net change in cash and cash equivalents -14.793 -17.946 Net cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 24.511 42.492 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations 22 -35 Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 9.740 24.511

Unaudited consolidated statement of changes in equity

Share capital Share premium Other comprehensive income reserve Other reserves Retained earnings Attributable to equity holders of the company Non-controlling interest Total Balance as at 1 January 2020 100.644 0 -615 -12.122 -34.747 53.160 146 53.306 Total comprehensive income of the year Result of the year 0 0 0 0 -28.012 -28.012 -548 -28.560 Change to foreign currency translation difference 0 0 -127 0 0 -127 0 -127 Remeasurement of DBO 0 0 -297 0 0 -297 0 -297 Net change in fair value of investments 0 0 0 -2 0 -2 0 -2 Contributions by and distributions to owners Issue of ordinary shares 0 0 0 0 0 0 270 270 Capital decrease -55.731 0 0 5.533 50.198 0 0 0 Share-based payment transactions 0 0 0 458 0 458 0 458 Balance as at 31 December 2020 44.913 0 -1.039 -6.133 -12.561 25.180 -132 25.048





Share capital Share premium Other comprehensive income reserve Other reserves Retained earnings Attributable to equity holders of the company Non-controlling interest Total Balance as at 1 January 2021 44.913 0 -1.039 -6.133 -12.561 25.180 -132 25.048 Total comprehensive income of the year Result of the year 0 0 0 0 -29.158 -29.158 -437 -29.595 Change to foreign currency translation difference 0 0 122 0 0 122 0 122 Remeasurement of DBO 0 0 566 0 0 566 0 566 Net change in fair value of investments 0 0 -5 0 0 -5 0 -5 Total comprehensive income for the year 0 0 683 0 -29.158 -28.475 -437 -28.912 Contributions by and distributions to owners Issue of ordinary shares 1.116 234 0 213 0 1.563 0 1.563 Share-based payment transactions 0 0 0 1.107 0 1.107 0 1.107 Total contributions by and distributions to owners 1.116 234 0 1.320 0 2.670 0 2.670 Transactions with non-controlling interests 0 0 0 -453 0 -453 539 86 Balance as at 31 December 2021 46.029 234 -356 -5.266 -41.719 -1.078 -30 -1.108

About Oxurion

Oxurion (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) is a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, which are designed to better preserve vision in patients with retinal vascular disorders including diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of vision loss in diabetic patients worldwide as well as other conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (ME-RVO).

Oxurion is aiming to build a leading global franchise in the treatment of retinal vascular disorders based on the successful development of its two novel therapeutics. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the 40-50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. THR-687 is a highly selective pan-RGD integrin antagonist that is being developed as a potential first line therapy for DME patients as well as wet AMD and potentially ME-RVO. Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with corporate operations in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.oxurion.com.

Important information about forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Companys Annual Report and in the latest PDF-version of the Companys presentation; which can be found here. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of Oxurion in any jurisdiction. No securities of Oxurion may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.

For further information please contact:

Oxurion NV







Tom Graney

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +32 16 75 13 10

tom.graney@oxurion.com







Michael Dillen

Chief Business Officer

Tel: +32 479 783 583

michael.dillen@oxurion.com EU







MEDiSTRAVA Consulting

David Dible/Sylvie Berrebi/Frazer Hall

Tel: +44 203 928 6900

oxurion@medistrava.com







US

Westwicke, an ICR company

Christopher Brinzey

Tel: +1 617 835 9304

chris.brinzey@westwicke.com




Solar Alliance Energy Inc.

Project expands Solar Alliances utility customer base in the U.S Southeast

TORONTO and KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (Solar Alliance or the Company) (TSX-V: SOLR, OTCQB: SAENF) is pleased to announce it has signed a contract with Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), an independent agency of the City of Knoxville, for the design and installation of a 1 megawatt (MW) solar project in Knoxville, Tennessee. KUB provides electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber broadband services to more than 473,000 customers in Knoxville.



Solar Alliance will design, engineer, and install the 1-MW project, which is scheduled to begin construction in April 2022 and is targeted for completion in August 2022. The project builds on Solar Alliances expanding utility customer project base, following successful solar initiatives with utilities LG&E/KU, EPB, and AEC. It also builds on the companys support program for utilities which includes grant work, financial modeling, energy modeling, and EV charger deployment.

This large community solar project for KUB builds on our growing utility customer base and we are proud to support KUB in delivering the benefits of solar to Knoxville, said Solar Alliance CEO Myke Clark. Solar Alliance is a Knoxville-based leader in the commercial and utility solar sector and this project illustrates our commitment to our local community while building strong relationships with utilities. It also shows our growth as a company as we continue to aggressively grow our backlog of large projects. The potential for solar growth in Knoxville, Tennessee and the U.S. Southeast is massive, and we have become a market leader in this rapidly growing industry.

KUB previously announced that 20% of Knoxvilles electricity will be generated from solar energy, through participation in TVAs Green Invest program. In total, KUB will secure enough solar energy to power about 83,000 homes  a commitment that stands out on a national scale.

Story continues

We are so excited to bring Knoxville its first Community Solar site and are looking forward to partnering with Solar Alliance and the City of Knoxville to make it happen, KUB President & CEO Gabriel Bolas said. This is another way we support solar energy generation, and it also makes the benefits of solar power more accessible to our community members.

Solar Alliance and KUB also entered into an Operations and Maintenance Agreement (O&M Agreement) for the project. The initial term of the O&M Agreement is for one year. Upon mutual agreement of the parties, the term may be extended for up to four (4) additional one-year renewal terms.

About KUB (www.kub.org)

Knoxville Utilities Board was created by an amendment to the Knoxville City Charter in 1939. As an independent agency of the City of Knoxville, KUB provides electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber broadband services to more than 473,000 customers in Knoxville and parts of seven surrounding counties. KUB believes utility service should be so reliable that customers can take it for granted, and we work hard to maintain such reliability. However, our mission is about more than pipes and wires. It's about being good stewards of the environment and our communities resources and safeguarding those resources for generations to come. We are also committed to being good stewards of our ratepayers dollars and meeting the needs of our customers. We are grateful to be Knoxvilles hometown utility, and we look forward to continuing to help our community grow in the years to come.

Myke Clark, CEO



For more information:





Solar Alliance Sales

(865) 309-4674

info@solaralliance.com



Investor Relations

Myke Clark, CEO

416-848-7744

mclark@solaralliance.com





About Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (www.solaralliance.com)

Solar Alliance is an energy solutions provider focused on residential, commercial and industrial solar installations. The Company operates in Tennessee, Kentucky, North/South Carolina and Illinois and has an expanding pipeline of solar projects. Since it was founded in 2003, the Company has developed $1 billion of renewable energy projects that provide enough electricity to power 150,000 homes. Our passion is improving life through ingenuity, simplicity and freedom of choice. Solar Alliance reduces or eliminates customers' vulnerability to rising energy costs, offers an environmentally friendly source of electricity generation, and provides affordable, turnkey clean energy solutions.

Statements in this news release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, constitute Forward-looking statements. The words would, will, expected and estimated or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital, changes in economic conditions or financial markets, litigation, legislative or other judicial, regulatory and political competitive developments and technological or operational difficulties. Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

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."




Gulf International Bank - Saudi Arabia (GIB Saudi Arabia) has announced that it has closed a project finance facility worth SR400 million ($106.5 million) with the Saudi German Hospital Group for the construction of a 350-bed hospital in Jeddah.

Spread over a 65,000-sq-m area, the healthcare facility will mark the Saudi German Hospital Groups expansion of footprint across the kingdom.

The project is led by Humania Capital (the investment arm of the Bait Al Batterjee Group) in partnership with Middle East Healthcare Company.

The facility was fully underwritten by GIB Saudi Arabia and was closed in a two-bank financing deal between GIB and Bank Al Jazira. The project is already partially completed and expected to start operations in 2024.

"As a group, we remain committed to providing greater access to state-of-the-art healthcare for the people of Saudi Arabia. This hospital project is another step in that direction," remarked Subhi Abduljaleel Batterjee, Chairman of the SGH Group.

"This state-of-the-art hospital will address the untapped need for healthcare by offering a wide range of high-quality healthcare services needed by the market," he observed.

GIB Group CEO Abdulaziz Al Helaissi said: "We are pleased to provide financing for this landmark healthcare project and support the Saudi German Hospital Group in its expansion plan."

"Enhancing development in this strategic industry and backing private sector participation in the economy is a strategic pillar of the Kingdoms Vision 2030 and GIB continues to prioritise and play an important role in driving economic diversification and private sector growth," stated Al Helaissi.

Bank Al Jazira CEO and Managing Director Naif Abdulkareem said: "In line with the Kingdoms Vision 2030, we are strongly committed to playing a pivotal role in the Health Sector Transformation and will continue to support to achieve an improved health and healthcare services in cooperation with all public and private health sector bodies."

"In continuation of this strategic national objective, Bank Al Jazira has embarked upon identifying and supporting ample opportunities in such critical sectors. Financing of this leading, state-of-the-art hospital project in Jeddah with a top tier name, does reflect this strong commitment," stated Abdulkareem.

"As a continuing partner, we also wish the best to the esteemed Batterjee Group for all such future endeavours," he added.

Humania Capital President and Middle East Healthcare Company Vice Chairman Makarem Batterjee said its vision was to serve the entire kingdom which includes the major as well as smaller cities.

"We are delighted to have GIB Saudi Arabia and Bank Al Jazira as our project finance partners and look forward to their continuing role in our expansion," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
BEIRUT, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Syria supports the decision of its ally Russia to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Syrian state TV quoted 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 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. (Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Fredericksburg City Public Schools will lift its universal mask mandate for students effective March 1, division officials announced Friday.

The division will continue to strongly encourage masking and vaccination as part of its COVID-19 mitigation strategies, according to an announcement on the school systems website.

We have always followed state and federal law and will continue to do so, an announcement about the decision posted to the school systems website reads.

The announcement notes that Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 16 signed Senate Bill 739, requiring schools to lift mask mandates, into law.

Under a federal mandate, students will still need to wear masks on school buses and in Head Start programs.

Division employees must also continue masking under Virginia Department of Labor and Industry standards. These standards are under review per a Youngkin executive order.

Families are responsible for setting mask preferences, the divisions announcement reads. No student will be required to provide any reason and students will not suffer any consequence as a result of parental decision.

The announcement thanks families for continued cooperation with COVID-19 mitigation procedures.

In-person learning has been our goal since the beginning of school this year and it has taken all of us working together to create safe environments, it states.

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The blood drive will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Arlington High Schools old gym. All blood types are needed.

This blood drive will offer the opportunity for Power Red donations. A Power Red donation collects the red cells but returns most of the plasma and platelets to the donor. These donors must meet specific eligibility requirements and have type A Neg, B Neg, or O blood.
With the pandemic dying down, Cedar Bluffs Public Schools (CBPS) Career Academy returns, offering the process of helping students adjust to life after high school.

COVID threw wrenches into everything, but now we have the ability to bring some stuff back, said Kate Chrisman, Director of the Career Academy at CBPS.

CBPS started its Career Academy in 2021 with the goal of giving students hands-on experience in a variety of fields and internships that would best suit them for life after the diploma.

Our goal is to help focus a direction. Obviously I dont expect most kids in high school to know exactly what they want to do after high school, but giving them these experiences can often give them a direction. That makes their education more meaningful, Chrisman said.

The academy mostly focuses on internships and shadowing of businesses that students show interest in. Currently, students at CBPS are more focused on trade jobs.

This year specifically, many of our kids are interested in welding, so we are pushing that more. In internships its automotive technology, like being diesel mechanics and body work Chrisman said.

Over 16 local and regional businesses have partnered with CBPS and its Career Academy including Sid Dillions in Wahoo, Butler Ag and B&K Bodyshop LLC.

With many students being interested in experience in trade jobs, Chrisman said learning doesnt stop at the school.

While we say they are going straight into the workforce, it doesnt necessarily mean that they wont continue their education. It just means they found employment that will help and pay for that education, she said.

CBPS also plans to expand its Career Academy with new frontiers like education studies, health sciences and CDL certification with Chrisman explaining that the plan for the CDL implementation is to have students completely certified by the time they graduate.

While the academy encompasses 9-12 grades, the current seniors at the school have been a major focus for the school citing their lack of external experience because of the pandemic.

Obviously, we want success for every student. We want our kids to be happy in a career and be productive and contributing members of society. There is no replacement for experience. We teach these kids all day long, but at the end of their high school career its very important to show them skills outside of the classroom, Chrisman said.

The district was awarded the 2022 Magna Award from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) last week. CBPS was recognized for its commitment to equity as a Silver Award winner in the 28th annual Magna Awards program.

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Fremont Police officers were dispatched at about 12:37 a.m. Feb. 21 to a business in the 1600 block of East 23rd Street in reference to a disturbance.

Officers were advised that an individual had been removed from the business and was causing a disturbance outside the business.

Upon arrival, officers had contact with Tyler R. Eyth, 23, of Michigan who was responsible for causing the disturbance. He was arrested for disorderly conduct.

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The value of Bahrains exports of national origin increased by 93% to BD387 million ($1.018 billion) during January 2022, compared to BD200 million for the same month of the previous year, said the Information &eGovernment Authority (iGA).



The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 76% of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 24%, iGA said in its foreign trade report of January 2022 encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports.



Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD70 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, the US was second with BD69 million and the UAE third with BD30 million.



Unwrought aluminium alloys emerged as the top products exported during January 2022 with BD147 million, Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates alloyed was second with a value of BD42 million and aluminium wire not alloyed third with BD 20million.



The total value of re-exports increased by 3% to reach BD54 million during January 2022, compared to BD53 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 90% of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for the 10%. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first with BD18 million, and the United Arab Emirate second with BD12 million, and Singapore third with BD7 million.



Portable digital automatic data processing machines the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD4.1 million, and four-wheel drive cars came in second place with BD3.8 million, and part for other gas turbines came third with BD3 million.



The value of imports increased by 10%, reaching BD449 million during January 2022 compared to BD409 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 68% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 32%.



According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD73 million, Australia was second with BD40 million, and the United Arab Emirate was third with BD38 million.



Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value of BD34.64 million, while Aluminium oxide was second with BD34.61 million, and four-wheel drive cars third with BD12 million.



The trade balance, the difference between exports and imports, recorded a deficit totalling BD8 million during January 2022 compared to BD156 million for the same month of the previous year, an improvement of the trade balance by 95%, That is reflected positively in the value of the trade balance.  TradeArabia News Service
Altrusa International of Fremont is offering two scholarships, one for $700 and one for $500, for 2022 to the students at Fremont High School and Archbishop Bergan High School.

Students are encouraged to pick up the applications at the guidance counselors office or email Marian Brown at mnbrown@q.com to request an application.

Students are asked to return their completed application to the guidance counselors office or email mnbrown@q.com on or before Friday, March 25, 2022.

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In the class, instructor Lisa Hunke will guide participants in creating and editing presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. They will learn how to insert and modify clip art and spell check their presentations, as well techniques to format, edit and proof presentation text. In addition, they will be instructed on how to create a custom layout for their slides, apply background styles, and copy text and slides between multiple presentations. A discussion on the different options for printing presentation data to make organizing slide text easier will also take place.
Fremont Family Coalition (FFC) will now be accepting applications for bonuses for childcare workers in Dodge County.

The retention bonuses, as they are called, are available for up to $300 depending on the individuals status. These factors include part or full time designation, and amount of time employed at the same childcare center.

According to a recent press release from FFC, these offered retention bonus will provide support for Fremont essential workers, specifically, early childcare and education workers.

Many childcare providers have, at great personal and professional cost, managed to keep their doors open during the pandemic to support children and families in the community. Supporting the employees through a bonus is just a small way to say thank you, said Genna Faulkner, Early Childhood Community Coordinator at FFC.

Faulkner went on to highlight the role of these workers in the community and country.

Childcare providers are some of the most important workers in our economy. Without them parents cant go to work, and business would come to a grinding halt, Faulkner said. Lets say thank you to those providers in a tangible way and remind our community of the great asset we have here in Dodge County.

Faulkner continued saying bonuses and other support such as this help to better employee retention and communication while encouraging the feelings of value and respect in a workforce.

The application will be mailed to all licensed childcare providers in Dodge County.

An electronic version can be requested by emailing genna@fremontunitedway.org. The application is available in English and Spanish.

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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.

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Three years ago, Nida, a young Afghan entrepreneur, established a modern beauty parlor in Shahr-e Nau, an upscale neighborhood in Kabul.



Business steadily grew as she attracted a loyal clientele for beauty and hair treatments in the capital. And as profits rose, the salon expanded, eventually employing half a dozen beauticians and hair stylists.



Nida recalls coming to work with enthusiasm and taking pride in feeling she was providing a welcomed service for Afghan women.

But she closed her salon shortly after the Taliban swiftly seized Kabul in August, well aware that businesses like hers were being defaced with spray paint to cover posters of women models and brides used to attract customers. Some salon owners removed the pictures themselves or painted them over to avoid trouble with the new authorities.

After repeated closures, Nida recently obtained a trade license from the Taliban. But her clientele and peace of mind have disappeared.



"We women are terrified of the Taliban and worried about our future," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "Now, we often wait for just one customer to show up during an entire day."

Losing An 'Oasis'



In Kabul, beauty salon owners estimate that most shops have lost more than 90 percent of their business. High-end shops that used to rake in thousands of dollars a month now must live on a few hundred. Most have massively slashed prices for their services, yet fewer customers are showing up.



Nida describes her salon as an oasis where the staff often celebrated with those preparing for occasions such as weddings or engagements. Now, she says, "we are struggling to just put food on the table."



Fatima, a pseudonym given by a beauty parlor owner in the western city of Herat, agrees. Fatima closed her shop for a week after the Taliban takeover on August 15. But the thought of her family going hungry forced her to overcome her fear of the militants and she opened up shop again.



"I want the Taliban to let women work in all sectors and refrain from forcing them to sit at home," she told Radio Azadi. "We do not expect anything more."



Women have borne the brunt of the Taliban's restrictions. After seizing power, the militants restricted women's access to education and work and their general presence and role in society. Six months into Taliban rule, teenage girls have yet to return to school.



Women everywhere are either required or encouraged to wear the Islamic hijab. Female students returning to university are made to attend gender-segregated classes. At the same time, many women working for government departments have either been laid off or are receiving little pay. A male guardian must accompany women whenever they leave their homes. And those who demonstrate for greater rights have been arrested and, in some cases, disappeared.



Beauty parlors are a rare venue where women can socialize outside their homes. But Fatima says the Taliban takeover has wrecked her business. She says many of her clients fled Taliban rule and those remaining have lost jobs and livelihoods. Some women are so terrified of the Taliban that they do not want to risk going to the salon.

Fleeing Clients



An estimated 1.5 million Afghans have left their country since the Taliban seized power. A large majority of them were government workers and military officers who formed the backbone of the fallen pro-Western Afghan republic, and their departures have eroded the middle class. Many professionals, entrepreneurs, and those working for aid agencies also left in the chaotic weeks leading up to the final withdrawal of U.S. and Western forces on August 31.



Maryam, a young woman in Kabul, says fewer women she knows can now afford to visit salons. "The economic difficulties have a role in this, but people are mostly afraid [of the Taliban]," she said.

Radio Azadi attempted to reach the Taliban for comment. But Zabihullah Mujahid, the top Taliban spokesman, and his deputies Bilal Karimi and Ahmadullah Wasiq did not respond to repeated requests.



While the Taliban has not said anything about closing or regulating beauty salons, the Taliban's religious police have issued orders banning men from shaving their beards and trimming their hair in some parts of Afghanistan. Taliban officials say the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice now only advises Afghans on how best to follow Islamic injunctions, but does not enforce them as it did during the Taliban's first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to travel to Moscow this week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting set up prior to the most recent crisis in Ukraine.

Khan is set to arrive in Russia on February 23 and will travel with a high-level delegation for a two-day visit, the Southeast Asian nations Foreign Ministry said in a statement on February 22.

Pakistan and Russia enjoy friendly relations marked by mutual respect, trust and convergence of views on a range of international and regional issues," the statement said.

It said the two leaders will review the entire array of bilateral relations including energy cooperation" and other regional and global issues.

Among the issues the Foreign Ministry statement cited were Islamophobia and the situation in Afghanistan.

The visit comes as tensions flare between Moscow and the West over Putins decision to recognize the independence bids of Russia-backed separatists in two regions of eastern Ukraine and to send Russian troops there.

The statement did not mention the Ukraine crisis, but Khan has publicly opposed any military intervention, favoring diplomacy instead.

Khan told Newsweek Pakistan in an interview published on February 21 that "this visit was planned well before the emergence of the current phase of Ukrainian crisis....I received the invitation from President Putin much earlier."

Pakistan has attempted to maintain good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv in recent years.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
A man accused of adultery has been publicly whipped by the Taliban in Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan Province.

Several residents of provincial capital Tarin Kowt told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that the man was flogged in the city's central square on February 21 in the morning.

Tarin Kowt resident Noor Agha, who witnessed the public flogging, told Radio Azadi that the Taliban brought a man to the town square in a military vehicle.

They later announced the man's name and location over loudspeakers, saying they had arrested him in the Chora district for allegedly having extramarital sexual relations with a woman.



According to Agha, the Taliban said the "public punishment is meant as a lesson."

Sultan Muhammad, a 65-year-old eyewitness, told Radio Azadi about the humiliation of the victim.

"The accused was humiliated, and I do not think he would be able to live a dignified life like anyone else in society after this," Muhammad said.

Photos and videos obtained by Radio Azadi show hundreds of people attended the flogging.

Such public punishments were common during the Taliban's previous period in power from 1996 to 2001. But this is the first time since the militant group regained power in August that they meted out such a punishment in public.

No information was available about the fate of the woman allegedly involved in the case.
The United Nations children's agency will pay Afghan teachers a monthly stipend for at least two months, the organization said, as salaries remain unpaid for months amid an economic crisis in Afghanistan.

The payments of roughly $100 per month would be paid in the local currency to around 194,000 primary and secondary school teachers for January and February, and would be funded by the European Union, UNICEF said in a statement on February 20.

"Following months of uncertainty and hardship for many teachers, we are pleased to extend emergency support to public school teachers in Afghanistan who have spared no effort to keep children learning," said Mohamed Ayoya, the representative for UNICEF Afghanistan.

The country has been in economic crisis since the Taliban took over last August as foreign forces withdrew. Restrictions on the banking sector due to sanctions and a drop-off in development funding left the new administration struggling to pay many public sector salaries, including those of teachers.

The international community has been grappling with how to engage with the Taliban without formally recognizing its government and has made education for girls a key demand when speaking with the group, according to diplomats.

The Taliban-led government has been vague on its plans for girls' education with many still unable to attend secondary school in a large number of provinces. However, the group has said it is working on plans to allow girls to return to school and is opening universities this month with women attending.
Expect the Department of Defense to contract out much more of its information technology operations, the general in charge of department's IT operations said Tuesday in Colorado Springs.

When the Pentagon reviews any of its IT programs, the agency will be looking at whether "there is a commercial offering that is the best value; what makes sense from a value standpoint for every single program," Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, director of the Defense Information Systems Agency said during a keynote address delivered virtually during the Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium at The Broadmoor.

Skinner wants his agency to be able to get new technology up and running more quickly and be more user friendly than the multiple systems the Pentagon uses for everything from cybersecurity to logging onto department systems. That means means automating many mundane and repetitive IT tasks so they can happen in a matter of hours, or less, instead of weeks, he said.

The agency took a step toward Skinner's goal last month, when it awarded a $6.8 million contract to Booz Allen Hamilton to develop the first prototype for Thunderdome, an initiative to modernize the Pentagon's cybersecurity efforts to streamline how users access the department's system and make using cloud-based systems easier. The defense and information technology giant is expected to complete the prototype in six months.

The Pentagon has been trying to move some systems into the cloud for years, first awarding the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract in 2019 to Microsoft. Amazon Web Services protested the award, which was canceled last year and put back out to bid in November with invitations to Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Oracle with at least two awards expected but any of the bidders could get part of the deal.

In one example, Skinner said the Pentagon could save up to 80% by switching from a type of switch that allows multiple signals over one line to an internet-based system that can combine voice, data and video all on the same network. A significant part of the department's data and telecommunications happens over outdated systems because of the software and hardware the Pentagon uses, he said.

He called the process of logging onto Pentagon systems "soul-crushing" because cybersecurity protections slow the process, making it take "too long for our systems to be operable and ready to go" when users log in. Skinner wants that system automated to reduce the cost and make it faster and more friendly to the growing number of mobile devices military personnel are using.

"It's all about mobile capability. We are constantly looking at what government capabilities are needed  some are, but many are not. What is needed is to enable a more mobile force," Skinner said. "We were not ready two years ago when COVID hit but are in much better place now. But it still takes week to provision something (a new device) and that is too long."

Command and control systems  allowing commanders and their subordinates as well as civilian leaders to communicate during a battle or crisis  must be the top priority for his agency, Skinner said. But the Pentagon also must make data "the center of gravity  the foundation of everything else" the military does, by developing better ways of "finding the needle in the haystack" of massive amounts of data it collects.

The four-day conference focusing on cybersecurity concludes Thursday.
Siemens and Desert Technologies have launched a joint venture to develop and invest in solar and smart infrastructure in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The venture, Capton Energy, aims to build up a portfolio of investments in projects with an aggregate capacity of more than 1 gigawatts (GW).

It will support projects providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy in areas that need it most, it was announced at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Capton Energy has its headquarters in Dubai, the UAE, and is led by Umer Ahmad, who joined as chief executive and chief investment officer in January 2022. Ahmad is a well-known expert in the energy and infrastructure financing industry, bringing more than 21 years experience as an equity investor, lender and advisor in developed and emerging markets, having led businesses and teams in a number of high-profile organisations, such as Barclays, Deloitte, SNC-Lavalin and Equitix.

Siemens, through its financing arm Siemens Financial Services (SFS), and Saudi Arabia-based Desert Technologies are joint shareholders in Capton.

The company will primarily target investments in existing and greenfield solar power projects typically in a range of 20 to 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity. Capton will benefit from the partners ability to supply technology and expertise to facilitate the development of new solar facilities. The platform will also offer third party investors the opportunity to participate in the energy transition journey.

Solar power plays a critical part in the global energy transition, said Steffen Grosse, head of Equity Finance for SFS. The launch of Capton sets the stage to help drive the expansion of more sustainable and flexible energy systems across the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia and were looking forward to jointly building this platform alongside Desert Technologies.

Desert Technologies is a solar PV and smart infrastructure holding company, focused on manufacturing and sustainable investments Based in Jeddah, the company has completed more than 40 solar projects in 22 countries.

Solar power enables places without reliable energy networks to leapfrog the legacy infrastructure common in developed nations and benefit from sustainable, clean and affordable power, said Nour Mousa, the founder of Desert Technologies.

We are eager to work with Capton and Siemens to back projects and drive positive change in line with our ESG ideals. Such efforts to fully optimise the potential of the sun and technologies such as sustainable mini-grids and smart distributed energy systems will anchor our ideals and embody positive impact.

Smart infrastructure powered by the sun are the key to sustainable development, said Khaled Sharbatly, Group Chief Investment Officer of Desert Technologies and Captons Board Member.

Based on the integration of renewables, storage and digital technologies, they have the potential to change for good every aspect of our life, acting as enablers of new social and economic paradigms, from energy equality to clean transportation and electric mobility.

Demand for solar energy is surging in the Middle East, Africa and Asian nations with abundant sunshine. In the Middle East alone, total installed capacity for solar power generation more than quadrupled from 2016 to 2020, according to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Efforts to bring sustainable electricity supplies to rural areas through the use of off-grid and battery storage systems are helping to spur this growth, as more countries shift away from fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

Capton Energy is already advanced in assembling a pipeline of solar-themed investments and is in progressive discussions to launch the inaugural fund raising, said Ahmad.

With Siemens and Desert Technologies as strategic partners, and the exceptional team we are bringing together within Capton, we are confident that we have the complete toolkit to bring an optimum blend of development, investment and technological capabilities, so we can meet the growing needs for solar energy in our target markets. -- TradeArabia News Service
Girls Scout cookies faced supply shortages in February due to a lack of workers at Little Brownie Bakers, where the cookies are made.

But for some Girl Scouts, the shortages were a bonus because customers bought early and bought big.

Despite snow storms earlier this month that delayed some deliveries and a lack of production as staffing dwindled in the bakery for cookies such as Girl Scout S'mores, Trefoils and Adventurefuls, Girls Scouts of Colorado anticipated selling more cookies than last year. It's expected that 3.5 million packages of cookies will be ordered compared to the previous year's 3.2 million.

"So we already have access to more cookies this year than last year," said Hannah Gutkind, public relations manager for Girl Scouts of Colorado. "And the way we project those numbers is kind of taking what we sold last year and slightly increasing it for the next year."

Five trucks carrying 17,000 cases of the cookies were delayed because of a snowstorm earlier this month. But Gutkind said the shipments should arrive over the next couple weeks.

"So we set up more sites to replicate our initial delivery day to get the rest of those five trucks out and get those picked up by troops," Gutkind said.

Girl Scouts of Colorado warned troops about the potential supply shortages when it became clear in January that the bakery was falling behind. That's why scouts like Maddie Jensen, who is a part of a troop in Colorado Springs, ordered early.

"Everybody was aware of that shortage, really, before cookie season started," said Conni Jensen, Maddie's mom. "And Girl Scouts of Colorado was really trying to be proactive and keep everybody informed as to what's happening."

Cookie sales started Feb. 6 and end March 13.

Maddie Jensen anticipated selling 1,000 boxes of cookies this year, but her mom says she'll probably reach that goal faster than previous years because customers are buying larger quantities.

The bump in cookie sales wasn't the only benefit Maddie Jensen discovered while dealing with the supply shortage. She gained lessons in flexibility, leadership and sales.

"I just think it's so much fun to set such a big goal, and entrepreneurship for especially young girls is so important," Maddie said. "I feel like it shows that we're willing to work hard."
The Gulf Maharashtra Business Forum (GMBF) Globals most popular event Mahabiz aroused huge interest amongst the business community as it took place against the backdrop of India and UAE concluding the historic CEPA.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) outlines new avenues for investment aiming to increase bilateral trade from $60 billion to $100 billion in the next five years.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, highlighted how excellent relations between India and UAE has culminated in the CEPA agreement which is going to immensely benefit both the countries. Dr Al Zeyoudi appreciated the positive role being played by business support organisations like GMBF.

Mahabiz, on February 19 and 20 in Dubai, was attended by over 600 business owners/entrepreneurs/professionals from 11 countries. The Theme of Mahabiz 2022 was learn, unlearn and re learn. Nitin Gadkari, Cabinet Minister, Government of India and Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of JSW Group and chairman of World Steel Association participated virtually and Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of Hamriyah free zone, Sheikh Majid Rashid Al Mualla, Vishwajeet kadam, Minister of State, Government of Maharashtra, Dr Aman Puri consul General of India and Dr Sunil Manjrekar President GMBF Global took part.

All the speakers appreciated the role played by GMBF Global in promoting the business interest amongst India, UAE, GCC Countries and Africa. The presence of a large number of participants from the African region was a notable feature at Mahabiz 2022.

Special Souvenir Mahabiz Links and GMBF Global App were also launched during the inauguration. GMBF Global commemorated the Birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj one of the architects of India.

Keeping in mind the future of businesses post-pandemic, round table panel discussions were held on topics such as - Innovation in traditional business, Online marketplaces - The new way forward, Guidance by UAE business Veterans and Role of industry body and Associations and Untapped Africa.

Sadhguru founder of Isha Foundation made a virtual address to the conference and stressed on the important role business owners should play as a part of their social responsibility such as conservation and protection of soil. Brahmavihari Swamiji who is currently overseeing the project of first traditional temple in UAE being built in Abu Dhabi stressed the need for a proper mind set for successful and meaningful business growth.

On the second day, motivational speaker, Paresh Chugani, gave the practical tips for the attendees. The attendees actively participated in a specially designed speed networking which ensured a proper connect amongst the participants.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Rev. Promise Lee is a community activist and the senior pastor of Relevant Word Ministries in Colorado Springs.
Woodland Park City Council confirms new police chief, gets first look at 911 consolidation proposal
Star Alliance has been named Airline Alliance of the Year at the Air Transport Awards for the fourth

consecutive time.

The Air Transport Awards recognise excellence and innovation in various categories of the global aviation sector. A panel of aviation industry experts selected Star Alliance in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the future of air travel.

Winners were announced on February 10 at an award ceremony held in Ekali, Greece.

Accepting the accolade, Jeffrey Goh, CEO Star Alliance, commented: Star Alliance is truly honoured to be a repeat winner of the prestigious Air Transport Award. Continued recognition of this nature is testament to our innovative spirit and our shared commitment in improving the customer experience. This award encourages us as we collectively emerge from the deepest crisis our industry

has ever encountered.

Dr Kostas Iatrou, President of the Air Transport Awards, said: "This year we award Star Alliance as the Alliance of the Year for its unwavering commitment to make flight travel a truly customer friendly experience on all levels and phases by adopting innovation, sustainability and working to provide constantly improving digital easy-to-use services. Star Alliance members have once more proven their

commitment to well-being of their passengers by adopting the highest Diamond

Health Safety level in APEX Health Safety.

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 12,000 daily flights to almost 1,300 airports in 197 countries. -TradeArabia News Service
INDEPENDENCE  One person is dead and second has serious injuries after a pickup truck allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a car and a sheriffs patrol vehicle south of Hazleton early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Ronald Landals, 31, of Perry, according to the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office. His passenger, Erin Bernardion, 28, of Des Moines, was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City with serious injuries, according to deputies.

A preliminary report indicates a Chevrolet Silverado operated by Brian Goedken, 27, of Independence, was heading south on Jackson Avenue/U.S. Highway 150 around 2:34 a.m. when it crossed the center line and into the path of a Landals northbound Pontiac G5.

The Silverado struck the Pontiac head-on and then collided with a Sheriffs Office Ford Police Interceptor Utility driven by Deputy Mitchell Franck, 26, of Fairbank, who was behind the Pontiac, according to authorities.

Goedken and a passenger in his vehicle, 21-year-old Meadow Lynn of Independence, were transported to St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids with non-life-threatening injuries.

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In 2022, Iowa will mark the seventh anniversary of two of the states four mental health facilities closing.

Two leaders of Mitchell County law enforcement, Osage Police Chief Brian Wright and Sheriff Greg Beaver, believe the facility closures have resulted in is a decrease in patient care and an increased burden on local law enforcement.

We feel it every day, Wright said.

After shutting down facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant, then-governor Terry Branstad maintained in 2016 that the overall number of beds in Iowa did not decrease, but boots on the ground say they have witnessed a difference.

Before he left office, Gov. Branstad said to treat patients locally, how that would be best for these folks, Beaver said. Thats fine, but we dont have the resources to do it Ive got people here today who probably should be in a hospital.

According to Beaver, emergency mental healthcare teams that are available in larger cities are not accessible to small town Iowa.

So its law enforcement that goes (on mental health calls), he said. When you read about deaths in county jails across the state of Iowa, its because of mental health.

A 2016 Disability Rights Iowa study appears to back up Beavers claims. The report found that 87 percent of staff at county jails across Iowa indicated they were in need of more mental health resources.

In addition, those held in Mitchell County often move on to a state correctional facility. The Iowa Department of Corrections found that in 2016 around 57 percent of all inmates were subject to either serious or chronic mental illness, and Beaver believes state numbers mirror the local problem.

Former Mitchell County Attorney Mark Walk suggests the local figure is even higher, as many housed in the jail in Osage simply return home without what he considers appropriate psychiatric care.

Youre dealing with mental health more than youre dealing with anything, Walk told Beaver at a 2021 Mitchell County Board of Supervisors meeting. Its not crime, its mental health. All the inmates you have in there, 90 percent have mental health issues.

NAMI

Another voice rallying behind these claims is Peggy Huppert, the executive director of Iowas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

NAMI works a lot with law enforcement, because they get it. They have to deal with this on an ongoing basis, Huppert said of the burden on local sheriff and police departments. The problem was, when mental health facilities were closed, there were inadequate community-based services to take their place.

It definitely was a resource. If a private hospital wouldnt take patients, the state would. So, when they closed, that had a big impact. We are by far the lowest in the nation for state public beds said Huppert. According to NAMI, including the District of Columbia, Iowa ranks 51st in the ratio of state psychiatric beds to residents, down from 40th in 2014.

Wright and Beaver see this statistic as proof of what they claim to witness every day, that there is a direct correlation between the closures of state mental health facilities and the increased workload on local law enforcement.

The perfect storm

Huppert emphasizes mental illness is often directly related to substance abuse, such as methamphetamine. This further taxes the sheriff department's resources, according to Beaver.

Youve got a lot of people working each (drug) case, but we dont have the manpower, Wright added of the relocation of resources. He contends this is another side effect of placing too much of the psychiatric burden on the local police force.

As well, Beaver believes the comorbidity of mental health and substance abuse has increased the level of violent crime in Mitchell County.

Beavers ideal solution is for Iowa to reopen the facilities it closed a few years ago, or something else equivalent in scope. As well, he would extend month-long care to long-term: If we have someone weve been sitting with for 18 hours, the state says, here, sign this paper that you wont hurt yourself and sends them out the door.

Jason W. Selby is the community editor for the Mitchell Country Press News. He can be reached at 515-971-6217, or by email at jason.selby@globegazette.com.

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RALEIGH  Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said Monday that North Carolina public schools have become unsafe places because disruptive students arent being disciplined for their bad behavior.

The Greensboro Republican told a legislative committee that restoring order and discipline in classrooms is key to transforming the states K-12 education system. Robinson said some teachers have told him they feel unsafe due to the lack of discipline.

Teachers have got to stop going to school in fear for themselves, and the same thing is true for our students, Robinson told the House Committee on an Education System for North Carolinas Future. We see the chaos in the schools right now. Part of the reason is were no longer providing the discipline inside those walls that we need to.

Mondays presentation comes at a time when suspensions have dropped statewide and nationally over the past decade, even before the pandemic. Educators have looked to alternative forms of discipline while questioning whether the disproportionately high suspension rates of Black students may be due to racism.

But Robinson said school crime is a problem, and he pointed to the number of reports of students having weapons or a controlled substance. Robinson said removing the bad actors from classrooms and giving them to the proper authorities will allow teachers to focus on teaching.

The state of our school safety right now is abysmal, and I can tell you right now it aint got anything to do with my gun at home, Robinson said. Its got something to do with the way were administering these schools and taking care of bad actors within the schools.

James Ford, a State Board of Education member, argued more context is needed behind the crime and discipline statistics that Robinson presented to legislators. Both Ford and Robinson are Black. Robinson also serves on the state board.

Again, 96% of suspensions are for NON-CRIMINAL offenses, Ford tweeted Monday in response to Robinsons comments. But those who bear the brunt are Black and brown kids. Yes, lets have tough conversations.

Since being elected in 2020, Robinson has been vocal about keeping what he calls social theories out of public schools. That has included criticizing LGBTQ books in schools that he says have obscene content and speaking against what he calls political indoctrination of students by some teachers.

Robinson also opposed the states new social studies standards, saying that they promote Critical Race Theory. Supporters say the new standards will better represent the view of historically marginalized groups while Robinson says they paint an overly negative view of the nation.

Robinson charged Monday that social theories and political ideologies are allowing disruptive students to stay in school. He said students showing unacceptable behavior should be placed in online settings or alternative learning programs

The state school board needs to make plain that were not going to make excuses for you, Robinson said. Were not going to say that because you didnt get enough cookies last night at home or because XYZ problem exists that you can come to school and disrupt the class.

But Eric Davis, chairman of the state board, told the committee that when students experience trauma, anxiety or depression, it can be misinterpreted as unacceptable behavior. He said those students need professional care and support so their education isnt interrupted.

Robinson received a receptive response from lawmakers. The House Committee is expected to make recommendations for changes to public education in a year or two.

Robinson answered that he believes many parents will do the right thing if schools set standards of behavior and discipline.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP)  The sister of Wall Street fraudster Bernie Madoff and her husband were found dead in what investigators said was an apparent murder-suicide in Florida, according to news reports.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Sunday identified the couple as 87-year-old Sondra Wiener of Boynton Beach and her 90-year-old husband, Marvin. They were found unresponsive with gunshot wounds Thursday afternoon inside their residence.

Keep scrolling for a look at notable people who have died in 2022

"Detectives from the Violent Crimes Division arrived on scene to investigate further. After further investigation it appears to be a murder/suicide," the Sheriff's Office statement said.

Officials said the cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner's Office.

A woman who identified herself as the wife of son David Wiener asked for privacy "at this time of grief."

Contacted by phone, she said: "We are not making any comment at this time."

Madoff was infamously known for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme that wiped out people's fortunes and ruined charities. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to fraud and other charges and died while incarcerated at age 82 last year.

***
MOREHEAD CITY  As soon as word got out that a plane had likely crashed into the ocean off Carteret County  and word travels fast among people whose lives depend on watching the sea and the sky  more than a dozen fishermen untied their boats and headed out.

Back on land, in each of the dozen or so communities that make up the Down East region of Carteret County, cell phones were buzzing as people shared what they knew. On Facebook, neighbors pleaded: Pray. Please, pray.

The fishing boats crossed Core Sound, threaded Drum Inlet and went into the open sea, scanning the choppy surface for any sign of debris to which a survivor might cling. They were fighting rough seas and a ticking clock, with only a couple more hours of daylight.

They were looking for their boys.

Eight people  six of them local, four of them high school kids  on their way back from an annual youth duck-hunting excursion in neighboring Hyde County, were on the single-engine aircraft that disappeared from radar shortly after 2 p.m. just over a week ago.

By late last Monday, searchers had found the fuselage 55 feet down on the ocean floor.

****

Residents say the news that all had perished will test the resilience and prove the bonds in a place whose 300-year history has too often been shaped by disaster.

People here have been clobbered by at least six major hurricanes, including three in the past 20 years that have forced some to rebuild their homes or raise them up. Theyve lost fishermen in boating accidents and, in 1969, lost a crew of six at once when a tugboat went down in a storm.

The children that are left behind are learning hard lessons, said Karen Amspacher, a historian and community activist. The hard lesson theyre learning is loss, tragedy and strength. But theyre also learning that this crowd theyve grown up with is going to hang with them.

Residents are mostly descendants of German, Scots-Irish, French and English settlers who migrated down from northern colonies in the 1700s. Many can trace their lineage to people who built villages on Shackleford Banks or Cape Lookout and resettled in the safety of the marshlands at the turn of the 20th century after a series of hurricanes proved those outposts to be unsustainable.Over the ensuing decades, families intermarried and spread out, establishing the string of villages that occupy the picturesque, barely-above-sea-level land now traversed by U.S. 70, Harkers Island Road and N.C. 12, all of which run out near the waters edge.

Each community developed a distinct identity based on a predominant vocation: cabbage farming, boat building, hunting and fishing for oysters or shrimp.

Before roads and bridges connected the communities starting in the 1920s, moving between them required boats and small ferries. And traveling to and from Beaufort, the nearest Carteret County town, was a daylong effort.

Population estimates suggest that even now, fewer than 12,000 people are spread out across the Down East region, considered the southern Outer Banks, and many of those dont live there full time. Some who do now commute to Beaufort or Morehead City for jobs as teachers, nurses or service-industry workers, though they may still be identifiable by the telltale traces of brogue in their speech.

Alton Ballance, a native of Ocracoke who has written about the people of that island, says there is something about living in a remote place  even in the age of cell phones, internet and more or less reliable year-round ferry service  that instills in people a sense of independence from the outside world and interconnectedness among themselves.

Its an end-of-the road kind of place, Ballance said. The road begins and ends there. What grows up in a place like that is just a determined group of people who love that isolation.

In their isolation, said Dwight Burrus, who is 73 and grew up on Hatteras Island before it had a bridge, residents treat each other with a generosity that is harder to find in places where hardware and grocery stores on every corner mean never having to ask a neighbor for a spare boat part or a stick of butter.

In an isolated place, youre going to live with that neighbor for 70 years, Burrus said. Your neighbors are going to bury you, or youre going to bury them. So you learn to put up with each other. You learn that kindness and that goodness.

Burrus, who traveled the world in 50 years as a pilot, said remote communities used to lag 50 to 100 years behind more developed places, not just in amenities and conveniences but also in attitudes.

There are no resorts in the villages Down East or fastfood restaurants, and when a mans boat breaks down on the water, he can call another fisherman and expect to get towed back to shore. Once there, the relentless do-it-himselfer will hone his mechanical skills to make the necessary repairs.

That willingness to help neighbors and even strangers, Burrus said, is one reason why villages such as those Down East or on Ocracoke or Hatteras have drawn so many tourists and newcomers. At the same time, those who werent born and raised in the salt air and dont have people in the local graveyards are always regarded as outsiders.

These places are holding onto something, Burrus said. Thats why its so refreshing to people when they come. Theyre looking for something that has the values of 50 to 100 years ago.

****

For that matter, locals say, people from all across Carteret County have searched for ways to show their support for the grieving.

They have donated money to help pay for funerals, sent food for teachers at the schools, attended a candlelight vigil and have added ribbons of East Carteret High blue to everything that didnt move out of the way.

Zack Davis, who teaches welding at East Carteret, said that Down East, nearly everybody knew at least one of the adults on the plane, or one of the boys, or a relative or youth who grew up alongside them. Local schools are small, and students often are together from pre-kindergarten until graduation. Davis taught Noah Styron, 15, of Cedar Island, and hired him to work on his shrimp trawler in the summer.

If by some statistical anomaly someone didnt have a connection to anyone on the plane, Davis said, they probably could still relate to them.

Not only were they our boys, Davis said, but 20 years ago, that was us. We grew up doing the same things: hunting, fishing, being out on a boat hanging out with the buddies outdoors. Out here, as teenagers, these boys will get a boat long before they get a truck, and that boat is freedom. When theyre out on the water, theyre free.

The hunting trip the group was returning from is an annual tradition. Hunting is a longstanding tradition Down East; Babe Ruth and Franklin Delano Roosevelt both hunted in the area, and Amspacher said fathers teach their boys to hunt at a young age, sometimes with guns and decoys that have been passed down through families. Hunting helps fill the winter hours when fisheries are closed.

Its another way residents are rooted to the place, she said, spending time outside with their feet on the ground or their hands in the water.

She and Davis both believe those roots are what will help the people Down East absorb and survive this tragedy.
Marriott International, a global hospitality company, has announced its plans to further expand its portfolio across Asia Pacific (APAC), targeting to open its 1,000th property in the region in late 2022.



The company expects to open nearly 100 properties in the region this year, said Craig S Smith, Group President, International for Marriott International.



I am very pleased with our 2021 development results in Asia Pacific. We have worked closely with our owners throughout the last two years to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic, adapt quickly, and grow, Smith said.



Last year in Asia Pacific, we signed two new development deals a week on average, with deals signed in 13 different markets across the region. This year, we expect to continue to drive demand and growth which is a testament to our talented teams committed to operational excellence, and the relationships we have with the customers were privileged to serve and the developers, owners, franchisees and partners were honoured to do business with.



In line with the companys recent update around key trends shaping hospitality development, Asia Pacific sees similar trends poising Marriott to further grow in the region.



Luxury Demand Continues to Boom in Greater China

According to research by ILTM Asia Pacific, Greater Chinas affluent population contributes to half of Asia Pacifics total spending on airfare and lodging. Affluent travellers in Greater China continue to look for luxury travel in new and emerging destinations. Greater China remains an engine for the companys growth, as it accounts for more than half of the companys anticipated luxury openings in Asia Pacific in 2022. Ritz-Carlton Reserve anticipates expanding its highly curated portfolio in Greater China, debuting its first rare estate in the historic Jiuzhaigou valley later this year. Additional expected luxury openings in 2022 include JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau - Studio City.



Leisure demand paving the way for travel recovery



Research by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests that leisure travel demand has been booming at an accelerating rate. In 2022, as leisure demand continues to outpace business travel, Marriott is poised to strengthen its presence across several leisure destinations. In South Korea, the company expects to bring its JW Marriott brand to Jeju with the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in May 2022. The expected opening of W Sydney in late 2022 will mark the third W hotel in Australia.



With wellness and well-being remaining a continued priority for many travellers, the companys leading wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is expected to celebrate two new debuts in Yokohama and Cam Ranh in 2022.



Select service brands cement their position in Asia Pacific



Marriotts select service portfolio is driving momentum for growth, providing a wide-range of amenities and offerings across well-established brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, AC Hotels and Moxy Hotels. In Greater China, the openings of select service hotels will further expand consumers travel choices, bringing guests a diverse range of experiences in emerging Chinese destinations.



Four Points by Sheraton expects to continue its growth with five planned openings throughout the year, while Moxy Hotels anticipates continuing to share its playful spirit in destinations such as Suzhou and Xian.



Outside of Greater China, the company expects to debut its AC Hotels brand in Korea with AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam and in Australia with AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. In Japan, Fairfield by Marriott expects to continue to strengthen its presence with six new properties planned to open across Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo along Michi-no-Eki roadside stations aimed at revitalizing the countrys local sightseeing spots and well-hidden rural destinations.  TradeArabia News Service
CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.
The people of Kobani canton offer their condolences to the families of the martyr Hamza Ahmed, the fighter in the Syrian Democratic Forces in his hometown in the village of "Balak" south of Kobani at 10:00 (photos and videos are attached).

The sons of the components of the people of northeastern Syria agreed that language is identity and existence, highly appreciating the pioneering role of the 19th of July revolution in their cultural, cognitive and societal freedom, based on the exercise of their right to speak and learn their mother tongues. (photos and video attached).

A number of intellectuals and educators explained that insisting on learning in the mother tongue is a field of war, and that the diversity of peoples and their languages enriches human civilization, calling on the Kurds to preserve their language and culture. (photos and video attached).

The mothers of the martyrs in Kobani demanded the Kurdistan Democratic Party to hand over the bodies of the guerrilla fighters, martyred by the militants of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the Khalifan area of Basur (southern Kurdistan), treaties to continue supporting the Mothers of Peace and organizing events until the bodies of the martyrs are received. (photos and video attached).

Politics

Muthanna Abdul Karim, a member of the Council of the Future Syria Party in Tabqa, confirmed that the demands of the popular movement in As-Suwayda are a right and the Damascus government should listen to their demands, adding, "Today, after 11 years of the Syrian crisis, the crisis is still getting more complicated at all levels due to the Damascus government's adherence to a chauvinistic and dogmatic mentality." (photos and video attached).

Analyze

On International Mother Language Day, problems related to mother tongues are still increasing. The problem of the Kurds remains the main one. The Kurds in the four parts of Kurdistan have struggled for a long time for education in their mother tongue. Finally, with the September 19 revolution, the problem of education in the Kurdish language was solved in northern and eastern Syria. While in Rojhlat (Eastern Kurdistan) and Bakur (Northern Kurdistan), the policies of repression and denial have been continuing against the Kurdish language for nearly a hundred years. (Pictures attached).

Kurdistan

Writer and journalist Roshan Qassem asserts that no one can answer the question ; Where do the revenues of the Kurdistan region go, especially with regard to secret agreements related to the oil and gas sector, and the undeclared agreement with Turkey known as the Half-Century Agreement, and she explained that if the oil and gas file between the region and the federal government is not settled, things will go to escalation. (Pictures attached).

Commenting on Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's statements against the PKK, Hevi Seyed said that Turkey seeks to exterminate the Kurdish people by eliminating the PKK in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party. (photos and video attached).

woman

Women figures in north and east Syria affirmed that the international conspiracy directly targeted the democratic nation project put forward by leader Ocalan as achieving freedom for all the peoples of the Middle East. (photos and video attached).

ANHA
A Helena man who entered an Alford plea to a charge of raping a girl younger than 15 was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Judge Kathy Seeley sentenced Michael Anthony Gomez, 49, in late January to 40 years with 20 years suspended along with parole restrictions for seven years for a charge of felony sexual intercourse without consent.

He was also sentenced to one year in prison for a misdemeanor count of surreptitious visual observation or recordation and six months for a misdemeanor count of stalking, with both of these sentences set to run concurrent with his 20 year sentence. His Alford plea also applied to both of these charges.

He will also be subject to fines and restitution.

Gomez was additionally ordered to complete sex offender treatment while in prison. Upon release, he will be required to register as a tier 1 sex offender.

Gomez entered an Alford plea in November after more than a year of trial delays in the case. As part of his plea deal, two counts of felony sexual assault and a count of felony sexual abuse of children were dropped.

Under the Alford plea, which is treated like a guilty plea by the court, Gomez maintains his innocence but acknowledges that the evidence against him would likely lead to an unfavorable trial outcome.

Court documents state that Gomez repeatedly raped the victim for more than three years. The victim reportedly gave Lewis and Clark County sheriff's deputies multiple detailed accounts of different incidents, which authorities later corroborated with physical evidence located via a search warrant.

Child pornography was also allegedly found after a search warrant was executed on Gomez's phone.

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Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins stood with members of the Plymouth Congregational Church choir on Sunday, joining them in a rendition of Amen, just minutes after urging the congregation to use challenging moments to teach others and heal.

Collins, a Liberian refugee now serving his second term as mayor, was invited to the church service during Black History Month. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 0.6% of Helenas population is Black.

Were real excited to have him, the Rev. Charles Wei said. I was nervous about calling him and asking him to come to a little church like ours.

Collins spoke to nearly 60 members of the congregation about some of the comments made to him and his family by children and how they used the moments to build strength and to teach others.

Some stories are pretty hurtful, he said. But they are real.

He spoke of when his daughter was 5 and came home from school in tears, saying a white boy in her class said only white girls were good for boys to play with and they could not have a play date.

Collins said his wife told their daughter that she was special, got her the book God made me special and read it to her.

He said that when he became mayor, he got an email from an elementary school student who wanted to know where his name came from. Collins said he thought it might be from a Black child. When they finally met, he discovered the child was a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy.

The child again asked Collins where he got his name.

I said My dad gave me this name, Collins recalled.

The boy answered: My dad gave me my name. We are related. Can we take some selfies?

I was thinking of color, Collins said. The kid just wanted to know how I got my name.

We can learn a thing or two from kids, he said, recalling a second grader who told him not to worry about what others say to him.

You are my brother in Gods sight, Collins said.

He talked about visiting his sons classroom to talk to students and using different shades of paper to prove a point. He said the students said they preferred the paper that was a mix of dark and light shades instead of the paper that was all white or all black.

He said people can seize the moment to be educational and teachable.

I challenge you today to seize the moment and teach, he said.

Collins then joined the churchs choir in singing Amen.

Church members also sang "Lift every voice and sing," also known as "the Black national anthem."

Steve Michelson, church music director, said he had heard Collins sing in a performance of Roger Millers Big River at Grandstreet Theatre.

He has a fantastic voice, Michelson said, adding he asked Collins to sing Amen written by Jester Hairston for the 1963 Sidney Poitier movie Lilies of the Field.

Michelson liked Sundays performance by the mayor.

Hes such a compassionate person, he said.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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For more than two decades, the asbestos victims of Libby have waited.

During that time, they watched The W.R. Grace Co., longtime owners of the mine that poisoned many workers and their families and spewed so much toxic dust into the air that the entire town of Libby was endangered, declare bankruptcy.

And they waited.

They watched Grace executives win acquittals in a controversial criminal case in which much of the evidence against the company was ruled inadmissible.

And they waited.

They watched the court system wrangle over how to process their claims, waiting while the state of Montana set up a separate asbestos court to handle them. They watched the remaining defendants, including Graces industrial insurer, Maryland Casualty Company, attack the clinic and the doctor who have been caring for them, in an effort to reduce the number of claimants.

They watched Maryland Casualty try to attach itself to the Grace bankruptcy to avoid legal responsibility for the many workers and family members sicknesses and deaths. They watched court after court come to the conclusion that the insurer had a duty to warn the mine workers that they were being exposed to the deadly fibers, only to see more delay.

They mourned as their fellow victims died of asbestos-related disease with almost metronomic regularity, before the legal wrangling was done. Before justice could be sought, much less won.

And the survivors waited some more.

Now, the waiting is coming to an end.

Friday, in a bellwether case against Maryland Casualty, expected to have a huge impact on more than 800 additional cases stacked up behind it, a Great Falls jury awarded $36.5 million to former mine worker Ralph Hutt, who currently suffers grievously from asbestosis.

The jury awarded Hutt $6.5 million in compensatory damages, for the loss he is currently suffering  that of his health, and any quality of life in his retirement years. He is tethered to life-saving oxygen, so much so that he can barely walk to the bathroom and back to the living-room chair and oxygen tube that define his existence.

And it awarded $30 million in punitive damages.

***

For those two decades-plus, the fate of most of the Libby victims has been in the hands of attorneys at the McGarvey law firm in Kalispell.

Its been a long road, Allan McGarvey said, pointing out that some of the original plaintiffs were represented by his father, and that attorney Jon Heberling, who worked for a very long time on the matter, is now retired, and Im not so young any more myself.

After the asbestos court was formed in 2017, Judge Amy Eddy consolidated the Libby cases, and decided that some bellwether cases could go forward to see if some of the complex legal questions in the litigation could be resolved, or at least guided, by jury verdicts, setting parameters for later cases. The Hutt case was chosen.

By that time, the case had already been argued in bankruptcy court in Delaware. There, the court ruled that injunctions from Graces bankruptcy did not apply to Maryland Casualty.

Then, Judge Eddy ruled in a summary judgment motion that MCC's had a duty to warn the employees that was separate from Graces.

With trial set for January 2019, Maryland Casualty went to the Montana Supreme Court, seeking a writ to set aside her finding.

The justices of the Supreme Court unanimously and quite vociferously affirmed Eddys finding.

MCCs duty, and any resulting liability for breach thereof  arises based solely on MCCs own knowledge of conditions and circumstances in and about Grace facilities and operations, wholly independent of its  duty to Grace, Graces independent common-law duty to its workers, or any act or omission by either in breach thereof, wrote Justice Dirk Sandefur.

***

Those conditions and circumstances were hugely hazardous. The area in and around the mill where vermiculite ore was crushed was constantly blanketed in dust containing 40 to 80 percent asbestos. The workers were not told this; they were instead told the substance was just a nuisance dust that would not harm them.

Back in 1956, the state of Montana had inspected the mine and concluded that the dust in the air is of considerable toxicity, but those findings were shared only with mine management and never mentioned to workers.

At the same time, miners were subjected to an X-ray program which allowed the company to measure their exposure to asbestos. Actual symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest for 30 years or more  a fact that helped Grace, and Maryland Casualty, deal with the exposure issue.

A 37-page safety plan, written by the insurer after Grace began to hear from doctors and others about workers lung issues, did not include the word asbestos, referring only to the dust problem at the Grace mine.

Meanwhile, Maryland Casualty's attorney urged mine bosses to settle with any complaining workers rather than allowing a legal case to move forward in order to avoid exposing  all of the more damaging aspects of our situation.

***

Ralph Vern Hutt went to work at W.R. Grace in 1968. Hed already done a hitch in the Army, working as an artilleryman and a truck driver in Germany. He came from a family of loggers, and for a while he went to work logging near Libby. But then his Dad told him they were hiring at the vermiculite mine.

Like many who worked at the mine, his first job was at the dry mill, where they crushed ore containing vermiculite  which also contained a lot of asbestos. His boss handed us a broom and a snow shovel and put us to work sweeping.

Continuous job, dust, dust, dust, Hutt testified in a video deposition from his home in Roseburg, Oregon.

He added that his supervisor told him, You aint got to worry about the dust  its just like household dust. It wont hurt you.

Nobody wore a mask, Hutt said, because the masks got plugged up with dust too quickly.

Hutt only worked at Grace for about a year and a half.

It was long enough.

Nearly 30 years later, in the 90s, Hutt was logging near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, working high in the mountains, and he began having a hard time breathing at high altitudes.

When he got down from the mountainside, he would feel okay. But as soon as he got back to a higher altitude, hed be gasping for breath.

Finally, in 2002, he went to get his lungs tested. Doctors found he had thickening and scarring in his lungs, which was attributed to asbestosis.

Since then, its just gotten worse. Hutt testified that he would try mowing the grass, and couldnt. And when he lay down to sleep at night, hed get up gasping for air.

Now, Hutt depends on oxygen.

If I go to the bathroom, I can make it back to here (his living room chair), he testified. Ive got to set, put the air on, catch my breath.

Hutt said it feels like hes stuck underneath the water, or strangled.

Hutt, his breathing labored, said, You hear people all the time complaining about our government. At least the government told you what you were getting into when you signed up (for the Army). They told me  youre liable to die  if it has to be, you give your life for your country, and I signed the paper.

I never signed no paper with anyone else on the outside that said Id give my life for their company.  the only one I signed that paper for was the United States of America.

***

Hutts trial suffered more postponements, this time from COVID. After the Montana Supreme Court ruled in March 2020, he got a trial date of February 2021. But because of the pandemic, that date was vacated, and another set for September.

That too, was vacated, and the trial was set for February of 2022.

In September, McGarvey made a key strategic decision. He decided to bring in veteran Billings trial attorney Cliff Edwards to handle the courtroom work.

It was maybe the biggest challenge of my professional career, to parachute into this case, after all the years Allan (McGarvey) had spent on it, Edwards says.

There was so little time. Edwards spent much of October through January in Kalispell with McGarvey and his firm, getting up to speed, preparing for all aspects of the trial  jury selection, strategy to present witnesses and cross-examine the defense witnesses.

He and other team members went to Roseburg and took Hutts deposition. It made a huge impression on Edwards.

He and his partner Carol live in a modest trailer home. Theyre salt-of-the-earth people.

I realized when I went out and met him that there was a chance he might not even make it until February for the trial, Edwards said. He was having so much trouble breathing, even on the oxygen.

***

The jury was incredible, Edwards said. They were the most engaged, intent and patient group Ive ever had the privilege of presenting a case to in my near 48 years in Montana courtrooms. I told them in closing argument they epitomized the American/Montana system of justice.

For McGarvey, just getting in front of a jury was deeply gratifying.

Its a wonderful feeling to watch the judicial system work as its supposed to, he said.

In the end, the jury found that Maryland Casualty (now doing business as Zurich American Insurance Co.), breached the duty to warn that courts had established, and after finding for Hutt and awarding the compensatory damages, they asked for financial information to determine punitive damages, coming back with the $30 million figure.

Edwards said he called Hutt, and that big old logger started crying.

An email sent to attorneys for Maryland Casualty seeking comment on the verdict and any plans for appeal was not returned Monday.

***

For McGarvey, the work continues. He must be prepared to take more cases to trial.

Winning the bellwether case does not guarantee that MCC will be interested in settling the other cases. But it does give McGarvey a much improved chance of prevailing, and obtaining some measure of vindication for the victims of Libby.

Ralph Hutt is a hero, he said. He held out, and he took them to the mat, and he won.

For Edwards, getting a chance to represent Hutt and work with McGarvey was a great honor. He said the case confirms an important truth: The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but in the end justice is done.

Montana State News Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson contributed to this story.

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Generally, the secretary of agriculture position is considered to be a mild, sort of a milk toast kind of job.

Tom Vilsack may have been that his first time around in the Obama administration. But last week, anyone thinking that, and then hearing his thoughts about fertilizer and farm chemical price dynamics, got a rude awakening.

It was truly a Whoa! Did you hear that? type of moment when he was attending the convention of state agriculture directors.

Speaking to the group, he was asked about supply chain issues and high input prices, something farmers are dealing with daily with exceeding frustration. He first talked about expanding markets and using precision farming technologies to increase efficiency of fertilizer and chemical use. That was a totally expected answer that anyone could have foreseen.

Then BOOM!!! Vilsack said, We are asking it of the Justice Department ... are all of these price increases absolutely justified?"

Farmers, most of them aligned with the GOP and happy to gladhand with former Secretary Sonny Perdue, will probably line up a country mile to shake Vilsacks hand on that one.

In all likelihood what got his ire was a quote in the Wall Street Journal last week from Corteva CEO Chuck Magro, who was talking about supply chain issues, shortage of chemical products, and how his company would be financially impacted. Stockholders want to know that information, and his response was appropriate for the Wall Street reader.

After all, the comment was made to stock analysts and stockholders in a typical quarterly conference call about corporate earnings.

Magro said his company could handle any change of flow and raise prices to compensate, and then some. What would tickle an investors fancy would be a pain in the neck for a farmer, and apparently was a burr under the Vilsack saddle. Farmers dont need, and then some, said Vilsack, who added, shame on anybody to his trying to take advantage of the circumstances.

Vilsack confirmed later that the Department of Justice would be asking questions about price hikes and whether they are justified by the market, as opposed to and then some.

What does an investigation of that that type look like? Agriculture will be closely watching to find out and the Washington news corps that spends its time at 14th and Independence in USDA headquarters will be frequently calling the media staff of the Justice Department to ask, Hows that investigation going into higher prices for fertilizers and farm chemicals?

They will also be asking, Has the FBI interviewed Chuck Magro yet about how he quantifies, and then some? When will farmers know what companies were putting their thumb on the scale? What are penalties for price gouging? Are penalties imposed on corporations or corporate executives?

Yes, the farm reporters in Washington and throughout the Corn Belt will be quite busy working on this story and asking questions for a long time, and then some.

Stu Ellis is an observer of the Central Illinois agriculture scene. In addition to his weekly column, you can view his From The Farm and Harvest Heritage reports on WCIA 3 News.

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DECATUR  Police said they raided a Decatur home and caught a man in possession of eight pounds of cannabis and almost seven ounces of cocaine, the cocaine alone having a street value of some $19,000.

A sworn affidavit said the raid was carried out on the evening of Feb. 8 by members of the Decatur Police Street Crimes Unit and the police departments Emergency Response Team.

The affidavit described the 29-year-old man as fleeing to the basement of his home in the 1000 block of East Elmhurst Avenue where he was taken into custody following a violent struggle. One officer was hurt and required medical treatment, police said.

Officers seized two digital scales along with eight large bags and 37 smaller bags packed with cannabis.

Also located in the search, detectives located a copious amount of cocaine inside the kitchen air fryer, the affidavit said. "This bag (containing the cocaine) had a total weight of 190.8 grams (6.7 ounces)."

The affidavit quotes the man as admitting he sold cannabis but said he claimed the cocaine was for his own personal use. From my over 22 years of experience, I believe that due to the amount of cocaine along with the functional digital scales, this cocaine was destined for sale, said Detective Jeffrey Hockaday, who signed the affidavit.

The approximate street value of the cocaine would be $19,000. At the time the (dealer) was placed in custody, he had $5,780 in his possession.

The man was booked on two preliminary charges of drug dealing and the aggravated resistance of a police officer. Macon County Circuit Court records show he was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to a charge of dealing in cocaine.

A check of the Macon County Jail on Monday showed he remained held in custody with bail set at $200,000, meaning he must post a bond of $20,000 to be released.

All preliminary charges are subject to review by the state's attorneys office.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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German Film Festival to be held virtually in Southeast Asia

The 2022 German Film Festival will be held throughout Southeast Asia from February 18 to March 31 via online platform Goethe-On-Demand.













The 2022 German Film Festival will be held virtually throughout Southeast Asia.

The festival will feature 12 German-produced movies in different kinds such as documentary, crime, drama, history, romance and comedy: Fabian: Going to the dogs, Draw a Line, Dear Future Children, Bachmann and his class, Curveball, Freies Land, Enfant Terrible, The Cleaners, Schachnovelle, Measuring the World, Whiskey with Vodka, Okozid and Undine.



All films are available online across the entire region and have subtitles available in four national languages, including Indonesian, Thai, Burmese, and Vietnamese, plus English.



The organisation of the film festival via virtual form aims to ensure the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control while spreading the accessibility of films to audiences in rural areas.



Through the movies, audiences can learn more about the land and people of Germany as well as the development of the countrys cinema.
Bahrain has launched 24 key initiatives to develop the services of the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), including expansion of instant and electronic visas and issuance of electronic passports.

This was revealed at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The initiatives also include the King Fahd Causeway visa, the introduction of the trusted traveller system and a training visa, the introduction of a residence permit for foreign wives of Gulf nationals, the cancellation of arrival cards, the delivery of passports inside and outside Bahrain, and the reduction in price of the multi-entry visa, said a Bahrain News Agency report.

The decision follows the review of a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Interior. These initiatives are part of Bahrains Economic Recovery Plan and will contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the Kingdom and supporting development across economic, investment and service sectors, it said.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry Undersecretary for NPRA, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, hailed today the directives of Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, to grant entry visas and family residency permits to promote family stability of Bahrainis.

The decision allows the NPRA to issue entry visas and family residency permits to close relatives of the wives of Bahraini men or husbands of Bahraini women. According to the decision, the applicant should be Bahraini, the foreigners should be of good conduct and have valid health insurance in Bahrain throughout the stay period.

The Interior Ministry Undersecretary said that the decision includes the mechanisms to apply for the permit through the Visas and Residency Directorate by filling out a form and attaching it with documents to prove the relationship.
The Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA) is 809 words in 10 long and confusing sentences describing how Congress is meant to certify the election of a U.S. president. It needs amending.

The law was passed after the disputed 1876 election in which Republican Rutherford B. Hayes defeated Democrat Samuel J. Tilden by a single Electoral College vote and backroom deal. That year, three states, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, sent competing slates of electors to Congress, both major parties claiming to have won those states.

Close and contentious elections followed in 1880 and 1884, and Congress decided it needed to do something to formally establish procedures and keep the transfer of power orderly.

Clearly, its no longer working.

Now, Congress is working to clarify the law in two important ways.

First, the role of the vice president. Taken at face value, the ECA intends the vice president to simply open, count and announce the results of state elections. But the language is vague enough that, leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, enterprising interpretations were making the case that the vice president was meant to open and certify results only from those states he deemed legitimate.

That interpretation would essentially give a sitting vice president authority to choose the next president, which was obviously not the intent of Congress in 1887. The ambiguity must be removed.

Second, Congress should raise the barrier for challenging certification. Currently, it takes only a pair of elected officials, one from each house of Congress, to halt proceedings. Lawmakers are considering a higher number, up to one-third of Congress. And theyre considering establishing a list of valid grounds for bringing an objection. Hopefully, I read a tweet about a podcast about an article on BuzzFeed isnt one of them.

So far, it appears there are two groups working on separate bills. One is Democratic, and one is bipartisan, led by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

There is plenty of support on both sides of the aisle. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Dick Durbin of Illinois are leading the Democratic bill. Conservative commentator David French of National Review has voiced strong support among other conservatives.

Its important that we get this right to help prevent a rerun of last years debacle. As Rebecca Green, co-director of the election law program at William & Mary Law School, told ABC News, Theres enough focus now on the ambiguities of this statute that if it isnt Donald Trump in 2024, you could easily imagine a number of other actors taking a page from his playbook.

The election of 1876 was resolved by an agreement called the Compromise of 1877, which turned the White House into a bargaining piece. Democrats conceded the election to Hayes in return for the withdrawal of federal troops from Southern states, and the end of Reconstruction.

Congress should reform this law and affirm that America has progressed beyond the point where we use our highest elected office like a casino chip. The president is chosen by the will of the people, not political parley.

The Dallas Morning News

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BLOOMINGTON  A series of dramatic temperature changes are expected throughout Illinois starting Tuesday, bringing severe thunderstorms and potential snow later in the week.

"Were past the peak of winter at this point," said Lee Enterprises chief meteorologist Matt Holiner. "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 with a series of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to peak at about 63 degrees in Central Illinois by Tuesday afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms are a possibility for much of the region, producing damaging winds, small hail, and potential tornadoes, said Holiner. Rainfall totals could range from 1 to 1.5 inches before drying off Tuesday afternoon.

A cold front will soon follow as rainfall quiets down, with temperatures quickly dropping to the low 30s.

A brief dry period will be in place before precipitation picks up again either as snow, rain or a wintry mix of the two.

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 the state was hit with heavy snow last week, canceling about 500 flights in Chicago and creating a massive pileup involving 100 vehicles on Interstate 39 north of Bloomington. By the weekend, sunny skies brought people outdoors.

The new system is expected to cause wide temperature fluctuations across the state.

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."

Forecasts remained uncertain as of Monday afternoon, but depending how temperatures fall, Central Illinois residents could be looking at between 2 to 5 inches of snowfall starting Wednesday evening.

Those in the Carbondale area could see between 1 and 2 inches of snow, or 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.

"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.

Thomas Geyer, of the Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, contributed to this report.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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BRISTOL, Va.  The city School Board received its first look at the divisions proposed $47.8 million general fund spending plan for fiscal 2022-23 Monday, but much uncertainty remains.

That total amount is $2.68 million more than the current fiscal year budget, which ends July 1. It anticipates an additional $3.9 million in state funding, a $2.14 million decrease in federal funding and increased funding from the city.

All figures are tentative because it is based on the state budget submitted by former Gov. Ralph Northam, which is currently being debated in Richmond. The House and Senate have developed very different budget documents, so there is potential for much to change, Superintendent Keith Perrigan warned the School Board during its called meeting.

I expect we may get a decrease from the House, as it compares to the governors budget, but an increase compared to where we are currently, Perrigan said. When you see the Senate budget, it will be an increase to both  an increase in the amount were receiving this year, but also a slight increase from Gov. Northams budget.

The city school budget, as proposed, includes a recommended 10% pay increase for teachers, which represents about $1.7 million for all division employees. That would be the largest salary increase since 1998, with half of that included in Northams budget.

Weve made significant impact on our salary scales to make ourselves more competitive within our region, so this is a huge amount, Perrigan said. Gov. Northam recommended a 5% raise in each year of the biennium, but the budget includes more money in the first year of the biennium than in the second year. This gets money into the hands of our people faster, and it helps those folks who are getting close to retirement.

The House version of the budget reduces the raise to 4% for each of the two years and reduces at-risk, add-on funding, which Bristol receives due to its high student poverty levels, Perrigan said.

The Senate version keeps the raise the same and the at-risk, add-on funding the same, plus gives a $1,000 bonus. So were kind of cheering for the House in some areas and the Senate in some areas, Perrigan said after the meeting.

The increase is not just for teachers and administrators, Perrigan said.

We are doing some major revisions to our support staff scale, which is similar with a similar amount of raise, he said.

The Northam budget also includes a dramatic increase in the amount of local effort required to fund education, Perrigan said.

Bristol, Virginia allocated $6.78 million for the school system during the current fiscal year, but that would be below the maintenance of effort required by the state for the next fiscal year, which rises to $7.19 million. The school systems draft budget request seeks nearly $7.64 million from the city, which is about $500,000 above the minimum.

In required local effort, the state calculates what it costs to operate a school to minimum standards, which are the Standards of Quality, and the Department of Education puts that out annually. The state and locality have to split that funding of SOQs and use the local composite index to do that, Perrigan said.

The citys composite index is calculated using real property values, average gross income of residents and sales tax revenues collected. The citys composite index is 0.3058, which means the city is expected to pay for 30% of the cost of education with the state responsible for 70%.

The state this year recommends the city fund $7.2 million, and that is a significant increase from what has been required in years past, he said. In 2017 the local required effort was $4.7 million. Our appropriations from the city have not gone up much, but the amount above the required minimum has gone down drastically. Were just asking the city to maintain that $400,000 above [minimum] as a safety net. If your locality falls below the required local effort, then the School Board loses their state funding until that amount is made up.

About 38.4% of the city school systems general fund revenue is expected from unrestricted state monies, with another 12.5% in restricted state money. About 31.6% comes from the federal government, 15.9% from local government and 1.5% from other sources, according to the proposed budget.

Total spending for the upcoming fiscal year is expected to top $52.9 million, or about $4 million more than this year, barring major changes.

Perrigan expects to present the proposed budget to the City Council next month. The School Board is expected to approve it by the middle of March.

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RICHMOND  The Virginia House Appropriations Committees proposed biennium budget includes $2 billion in funding for school construction.

The funding is proposed under the School Construction Loan Rebate program, as established by House Bill 563, and designed to help repair aging and crumbling schools. The legislation was introduced and led by Deputy Majority Leader Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, according to a written statement.

The entire Southwest Virginia legislative delegation has worked on this with me and we are excited to see this progress, OQuinn said in a written statement. Our delegation has banded with our local school divisions as well as other legislators and school divisions from across the state to tackle this issue.

This year, we are finally moving the needle in a meaningful way that will actually solve the problem. I am very thankful that Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight and the Appropriations staff have worked to find a solution to Virginias crumbling schools. I am hopeful that this measure will be included in the Budget conference report.

For more than a decade, funding for school construction has solely been the responsibility of localities. School systems without sufficient funding and with no alternative have been unable to address construction needs in schools across Virginia.

A 2021 study shows about half of the school buildings in Virginia are 50 or more years old. Securing a state funding source to assist localities has been a focus for many lawmakers.

The loan program would change the states approach to school construction by serving as a competitive grant program based on local commitment, need and building conditions, according to the statement.

The catalyst for this was Del. OQuinn and others stressing the need for school modernization to replace older schools in the commonwealth, committee Chairman Del. Barry Knight said on the announcement. We have been thinking outside the box and are allowing localities to maintain control of their funding with help and guidance from the state. This represents a unique and innovative approach.

Tier 1 of the program would provide rebates for 30% of total principal and interest costs for up to $1 billion in school construction projects. Tier 2 would provide interest-free loans for up to $1 billion in school construction projects based on 2021 VPSA bond insurance rate, according to the statement.

Combined, that would provide enough support to finance 80 total new elementary school projects in 2022-2024.

In fiscal year 2022-23, the funding would include $291.7 million from the general fund and $250 million from state literary funds. In subsequent years, it would be funded by gaming tax revenues generated by new casinos in the state.

It would also allow divisions to borrow against Virginias AAA bond rating as opposed to the individual localitys bond ratings.

Both chambers will have to pass the School Construction Loan Rebate Program in order for it to take effect, but both chambers have signaled a willingness to act on school construction funding this session. If it is included in the budget conference report and approved by both chambers, the program would begin July 1.
Senate Democrats drew clear battle lines with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday over the state of Virginia's economy and the next two-year budget.

In a sometimes testy exchange with Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings, leaders of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee made clear they regard funding of essential public services as a higher budget priority than the governor's aggressive plan for cutting taxes.

Senate Finance Chair Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, told Cummings that she has gotten relatively few complaints over Virginia's tax burden since joining the Senate in 1992, but added, "I've gotten on a daily basis, every day for 30 years, stories from people, pleas from people for better services."

"I think that...is what we are going to find is a very different approach from the [Youngkin] administration," she said.

The budget that the Senate committee adopted on Sunday includes about $3 billion more in revenues than the spending plan approved by the House Appropriations Committee, which endorsed more than $5 billion in tax cuts Youngkin proposed to carry out promises in his election victory last fall.

The gap reflects a fundamentally different outlook on Virginia's economy, which Cummings said is lagging behind the nation and regional competitors, despite unprecedented growth in state revenues that produced an additional $1.25 billion last week for the General Assembly to use in the fiscal year that ends June 30.

"We are in phenomenal financial condition right now, so we can do a lot of great things...part of that is returning money to taxpayers," he said.

Cummings touched on many recurring themes from Youngkin's victorious campaign against former Gov. Terry McAuliffe last fall: revenues are strong because taxes are too high; the state is failing to create jobs and retain talent; the cost of government is rising faster than the state's economic growth can sustain.

"When we debate this topic, I think it would be better if we can have metrics we talk about that measure success," he said. "I know we have some very nice ratings and awards, which are important for us for marketing purposes, but I think we've got to look at real results."

"We're lagging the nation right now," he said, adding, "I hope this kind of work is not a political moment."

Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw erupted.

"Listening to you, you'd think we're the poorest, most bankrupt state in America and everything has gone to hell in a hand basket," Saslaw said.

The Democratic leader cited strong business growth in Northern Virginia and the results of a poll released on Monday by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University that showed a wide majority favoring increased spending on public services over tax cuts and rebates.

"The public doesn't agree with you at all, or most don't," Saslaw said.

The CNU survey found strong support for cutting the grocery tax. But when the pollsters cited the state's "historic budget surpluses" and asked respondents how the money should be spent, 38% chose "sending the surplus money back to Virginia citizens in the form of tax cuts or tax rebates," while 59% chose "spending the money on underfunded government services like education, public safety, and social services."

Cummings, who had retired last year after 40 years in banking and finance, urged committee members to put aside emotion and look at data. He said the data shows Virginia lagging in gross domestic product, failing to create jobs or recover those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, and becoming less competitive than rival southeastern states such as North Carolina, where he spent much of his career.

"I understand where you come from and I understand your anger," he told Saslaw, "but I do think this can be a fact-based conversation."

"The state is not growing jobs," he said. "It's not growing its economy."

Cummings cited federal labor statistics that showed the Richmond area recovering only 30% of the jobs it lost during the pandemic, followed by Virginia Beach at 45%, Northern Virginia at 60% and the rest of the state at 80%.

"That's surprising to me," responded Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City.

Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, asked Cummings for information about where job recovery is lagging, by the type of business as well as the region.

McClellan also challenged the administration's priorities, particularly for public education, which looms as a major battleground in the budget fight.

"What I hear in my district is a desperate cry to fully fund K-12," she said.

The Virginia Education Association echoed her concerns about using the flood of revenues to address longstanding needs, including gradually lifting the funding cap on school support positions that the state imposed more than a dozen years ago during the Great Recession.

"Our general take is, if not now, when?" said Chad Stewart, a VEA policy analyst.

Stewart said the Senate budget would increase spending on K-12 by $278 million over two years on top of the money that then-Gov. Ralph Northam proposed for public schools in the budget he proposed in December.

In contrast, he said the House spending plan would reduce K-12 spending in Northam's proposed budget by $638 million, much of it coming through cuts in proposed spending on school divisions with high concentrations of students living in poverty.

Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, focused on what he called underfunding of colleges and universities.

"We need to invest more in public education, higher education and transportation, not less," Edwards said.

Cummings responded, "Where are all of these higher education students going when they graduate? They're not staying here."

Asked by Edwards about Virginia's ranking by CNBC as the "best state for business" in 2019 and 2021, he answered, "That's not adding jobs."

Ultimately, Cummings said, "We have to be able to explain why we are not growing now .... Why is it we're lagging all these other states? Why are we lagging the national average in our ability to grow our economy?"

"I accept the challenge and I understand I upset people maybe with what I would say is the reporting of the inconvenient truth," he said.
Catawba County leaders denied requests for two residential projects in the Sherrills Ford area, a part of the county seeing increasing population growth.

Pinnacle Land Management asked for 35 acres off Raccoon Track Road, near Mollys Backbone Road, to be rezoned to allow a subdivision of 71 single-family homes to be built on the property.

The subdivision developer planned to extend water and sewer connections from Mollys Backbone Road. The developer also agreed to widen and pave Raccoon Track Road from Mollys Backbone Road to the entrance of the subdivision. The improvements were to meet North Carolina Department of Transportation standards, Catawba County Planning Director Chris Timberlake said.

The Catawba County Planning Board recommended the rezoning for approval, but the Catawba County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied the rezoning request Monday.

Commissioner Kitty Barnes said shes heard from citizens who are concerned about Raccoon Track Roads ability to handle the traffic from the subdivision. Ive had several people comment in regards to Raccoon Track and I do have reservations in regards to the road, she said. Im not sure we know that DOT would take it over.

Board Chairman Randy Isenhower, who made the motion to deny the rezoning, said he was concerned about traffic the subdivision would bring.

The property sits near two properties that were approved for planned development zoning, including Laurelbrook, which has 872 acres approved for 1,700 homes. The Sherrills Ford Small Area Plan recommends high density residential properties where water and sewer are available. The Raccoon Track property is included, Timberlake said.

Transportation and traffic also factored into the commissioners decision to reject changes to plans for a development at the intersection of Sherrills Ford Road and N.C. 150.

In 2020, the commissioners approved plans for Terrell Town Center. The property was earmarked for commercial, apartments and single-family homes development. The board approved the rezoning for several parcels northeast, northwest and southwest of the intersection of Sherrills Ford Road and N.C. 150, Timberlake said.

The original rezoning allowed up to 400 apartments, 59 houses and 141,000 square feet of commercial space in the property northeast of the intersection; 48 multi-family units and 76,000 square feet of commercial space northwest of the intersection; and 50 townhomes and 11,000 square feet of commercial space southwest of the intersection.

At Mondays meeting, the developers of Terrell Town Center asked to change those plans. Prestige Development shared plans to reduce the commercial space in the northeast area to 45,000 square feet and increase the homes in the southwestern area to 85 units to rent, some of which could be duplexes, Timberlake said.

The changes to the plans reduced the estimated traffic from the development by 3,300 daily trips, Timberlake said. The estimated decrease is largely because of the decrease in commercial space. The new plans the developer summited also included two outdoor lawn areas with space for food trucks and small vendor spaces.

The changes to the plans were recommended for approval by county staff and the Catawba County Planning Board, Timberlake said.

Several people spoke during the public hearing at Mondays board of commissioners meeting.

David Betsill, who lives near the proposed development, said he was concerned about the number of homes being built in the area and the impact it will have on traffic on N.C. 150.

The highway is scheduled to be widened to four lanes, but the project has been pushed off due to a lack of state funding. Betsill said he felt the development would cause more congestion than the road could handle.

Commissioner Austin Allran said the delays to the highway expansion also made the project a concern for him.

Chairman Isenhower said he had concerns about the project. He said the decrease in traffic estimates is good, but thought they were speculative and possibly underestimated the numbers.

Allran asked if the changes werent approved, if the homes in the southwest property would return to ownership rather than rental.

County Attorney Jodi Stewart reminded the board that their approval or denial cannot be based on whether properties will be rentals.

Commissioner Barnes said she sees the growth trend of rental over ownership. I also know that were not used to the idea of rental community, she said. Its certainly is something that a lot of areas are experiencing growth in and from what I have read, people in these rental communities stay in town homes or single family homes for three to five years. There is more stability than when we think of rental. Im kind of come to grips with that concept.

Commissioner Sherry Butler said she sees the market trend, as well.

Isenhower made the motion to deny. He, Barbara Beatty and Allran voted in favor of denying the requested changed. Barnes and Butler voted against the denial.

The development can still be built as previously approved.

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Masks are still optional at Newton-Conover City Schools, after a unanimous vote from the school board, and contact tracing for coronavirus exposure is no longer in place.

Changes to the states guidance for COVID-19 responses were also reviewed at Monday nights meeting.

The changes went into effect Monday. The district will no longer be contact tracing COVID-19 exposures. Students and staff members will not have to quarantine if exposed, unless they test positive. If someone tests positive or is symptomatic, they will still have to isolate for five days and wear a mask for five days after returning to school, Newton-Conover City Schools Assistant Superintendent Beth Penley said.

The end of contact tracing also signaled the end of the Test-to-Stay study by Duke University. We will still be offering PCR tests (rapid tests) on our campuses as we have supplies, Penley said.

School district employees will now have to use regular sick time if asked by their doctor to isolate or quarantine.

The contagious disease leave policy requires a public health order to either isolate or quarantine, Newton-Conover City Schools Director of Human Resources John Robinson said. Since public health is no longer doing that, our employees will no longer be able to access the contagious disease leave.

The district will retain the extra nursing staff that was being utilized for contact tracing. Extra nursing staff will be moved around to fill in gaps throughout the district.

For example, we still have an opening at the high school for a TA (teaching assistant) position, so we have one nurse extender that will be over there three days a week help fill that void, Penley said.

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A vehicle struck debris from the collapse of Hickorys City Walk arches shortly after they fell in the early hours of Friday.

A man was driving a Nissan car west on Main Avenue NE. He saw the arches collapse in front of him and had no reaction time to stop, according to a report from the Hickory Police Department.

The accident was reported 12 minutes after midnight on Feb. 18. The arches reportedly fell just after midnight according to a news release from the City of Hickory.

Maj. Reed Baer with the police department said no injuries were reported.

According to the report, the driver was traveling at 30 mph in a 2004 Nissan when he collided with the debris. The estimated damage to his vehicle was $7,000.

The two arches over the Rudy Wright Bridge collapsed early Friday morning with debris falling over onto the Main Avenue bridge.

The cause of the collapse has not been announced as of Monday. The erection of the arches was completed in July 2021.

The city of Hickory said Friday that contractor Neill Grading & Construction and engineering firm John Wood Group PLC are assessing the damage from the collapse. The debris from the arches wont be removed until the investigation is complete, the city said.

Once debris is removed, the N.C. Department of Transportation will again inspect N.C. Highway 127 to make sure it is safe. N.C. 127, which goes under the Main Avenue bridge, is currently open to traffic. Main Avenue NE, where the arches fell, is not state maintained, so NCDOT wont assess that road for damage, Communications Officer Marcus Thompson said.

While NCDOT was made aware of repairs to the arches when the arches were going up, NCDOT was not involved in any of the design or plans for the arches, Thompson said. It will not be involved in any investigations of the arches outside of damage to state-maintained roads, he said.

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Etihad Airways said it will launch a seasonal twice-per-week service to Crete, the largest island in Greece, starting June 15 while announcing new destinations for summer, along with the return of popular seasonal routes to Europe and the Indian Ocean.



The flights are set to be operated on an Airbus A320 aircraft and will connect Abu Dhabi to the main city of Heraklion.



Lying in the Aegean Sea, Crete offers travellers a rich tapestry of spectacular landscapes, cuisine and culture, with traditional villages and historic sites dating back thousands of years, such as the 4,000-year-old Palace of Knossos.



The airline will also return to Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar this summer. All four destinations are set to be operated from mid-June.



Etihad Airways is delighted to provide travellers with more choice for their summer vacations in 2022, said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo.



Crete is an ideal summer destination for travellers who are looking for a mix of beach and mountain adventures, and along with the hotspots of Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar, makes for a perfect addition to Etihads summer network.  TradeArabia News Service




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 by invading 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 NATO's 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.

***

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.

MOSCOW (AP)  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.

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.

Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: "I haven't said that the troops will go there right now." He added coyly that "it's impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action - it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground."

Biden scheduled an address for later Tuesday, but Germany made the first big move. It took steps to halt 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 Europe's reliance on Russian energy.

The rest of 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 Moscow's 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 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 on CNN. "An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway."

The Biden administration's 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 don't owe anyone anything. And we won't 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 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.

The Western rejection of Moscow's demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security, Putin said.

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.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
" " Johnny Ringo was involved with everybody from Jesse James to O.K. Corral veterans Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona. What nobody is sure of is how he died. HowStuffWorks

The Wild West looms large in the imagination of many Americans. Thanks to the popularity of Hollywood westerns like "Shane" and "High Noon," the figure of the mysterious, lone cowboy taking a stand in a lawless world has become cemented in U.S. culture.

Of course, reality was far more complicated  and gruesome  than these glossy silver screen portraits suggest. Cowboy exploits were brutal, bloody and rarely solo affairs. For every Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid, dozens of other less-widely remembered figures played vital roles in shaping the American West, for better or worse.

Among them was Johnny Ringo, an infamous outlaw cattle rancher whose death remains shrouded in myth and mystery to this day.

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Making of a Legend

John Peters Ringo was born May 3, 1850, in what would eventually become Greens Fork, Indiana. From the outset, Ringo seemed destined for an outlaw life; in addition to growing up on the frontier, Ringo was reportedly related to the notorious Younger brothers, some of the best-known bank robbers in the country led by Jesse James and his brother Frank.

Ringo's teenage years were marked by tragedy. When he was 14, his father, Martin Ringo, accidentally fired his rifle during a pit stop while the family was moving from Missouri to California. The blast entered just below Martin's right eye and exited the top of his head, killing him. His wife and children were forced to bury him along the roadside and move on. Ringo was traumatized from witnessing his father's death.

By the age of 14, Ringo had honed his skills with both the pistol and rifle and was quick on the draw. He lived with his mother, brother and three sisters in San Jose, California, until 1870, when he left for Mason County, Texas. There, he fell in with a group of (alleged) cattle rustlers, including ex-Texas Ranger Scott Cooley, a friendship that would kick-start Ringo's reputation as a gunman and a black hat. By then he had become one of the most shadowy gunslingers of the West.

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Hoodoo and its Aftermath

Mason County and its surrounding areas were largely colonized by both German and British-descended cattlemen. Tensions between the two groups were high, with each frequently accusing the other of livestock theft. Things came to a head in 1875, when two Anglo ranchers, including Tim Williamson, were pulled from jail and killed by several Germans in retaliation for stealing their cattle.

Cooley, who had been friends with Williamson, was enraged. Cooley swore vengeance on the German ranchers and ignited a bloody conflict that would become known as the Mason County, or "Hoodoo" War.

Cooley's first victim was John Worley, who he was suspected of killing  and scalping  Aug. 10, 1875. Ringo's part in the Mason County War was largely revenge-driven. He supported Cooley; what's more, he had formed friendships with the other members of Cooley's faction. When Moses Baird, a fellow Cooley supporter, was attacked and killed in September 1875, Ringo lead the counterattack. He shot two of the men involved in the murder  gambler James Cheyney and Dave Doole  in their homes. Ringo was briefly jailed, but escaped not long after.

For the next few years, Ringo bopped around Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, spending time in and out of jail and generally stirring up trouble. In 1881, his path took another fateful turn as it crossed with O.K. Corral veterans Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona. Ringo took an instant dislike to the men, and the three engaged in a showdown in the town streets that may have turned deadly had the local constable not intervened.

One year later, Ringo would be dead.

" " Johnny Ringo's body was found dead next to a tree just outside of Tombstone, Arizona, July 14, 1882 (seen here in 1881). He had a single gunshot wound to the head. Public Domain

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The Many Deaths of Johnny Ringo

Johnny Ringo's body was discovered July 14, 1882 just outside Tombstone, Arizona. His back was against a tree, a Colt.45 caliber revolver in his right hand. He had a single gunshot wound in his head.

How, exactly, Johnny Ringo died is a contentious matter. Ringo's death was officially ruled a suicide, though some believe that he was killed by either Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday or another rival bearing a grudge.

"The camps used to be more evenly divided," says Bob Boze Bell, an Arizona historian and artist. However, Bell sees a clear turning point where one theory gained traction above the rest: the release of 1993's hit western "Tombstone." In the film, Holliday (played by Val Kilmer) murders Ringo (played by Michael Biehn) in a poetic bit of revenge. "In the drama sense, you want Doc Holliday to kill Johnny Ringo," Bell says, "It's part of the mythology."

However, there are some problems with this theory. For one thing, according to historic records, Doc Holliday appeared in court in Pueblo County, Colorado, a few days before and the day after Ringo's death. It seems unlikely that Holliday would have been able to make the 1,500-mile (2,414-kilometer) round-trip in less than 72 hours.

The Wyatt Earp theory is fairly similar to the Doc Holliday story, though Earp did claim credit for Ringo's demise four months after the fact. However, this story, too, has some holes. For one, Earp's account of how the killing went down differed significantly from the condition in which Ringo's body was found. For another, Earp later recanted his story.

For his part, Bell thinks suicide is the most likely option. Ringo had reportedly sunk deep into depression and alcohol dependence in the months leading up to his death after a life spent running from the law and his own personal demons.

"He was despondent, he was drinking way too much," says Bell. "And he gave an interview to the Tombstone Epitaph before his death and said he was going to be rundown or killed at some point. He certainly sounded down."

Ultimately, he may have decided to end his own life in a manner similar to the way his father died. "The weird thing about history is that, well, it doesn't repeat itself. But it does rhyme, as Mark Twain famously said, right?" Bell says.

Now That's Interesting The cliche that the good guys wore white Stetson hats while the villains wore black was likely an invention of 1930s Hollywood. In reality, cowboys favored bowler hats often made from brown felt.
Australias first Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioner since 2014 is set to be appointed in the next few weeks, Attorney-General Michaela Cash has confirmed as the chronically under-resourced Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) struggles withh a hundreds-strong backlog of FOI matters, many of which have dragged on for years.

The OAIC was managing 667 different FOI-related information commissioner (IC) reviews as of mid 2021, Senator Rex Patrick noted during recent questioning by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

It seems like were going nowhere, Patrick said, noting that the case load had increased steadily since 2018  when there were just 81 IC reviews pending  with 250 matters in 2019 and 460 matters as of mid 2020.

IC reviews are appeals lodged by parties whose FOI requests have been denied, or where an FOI request has not been met within the 30-day statutory timeframe provided for by the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

The OAICs failure to keep up with the FOI workload had been exacerbated by the large number of matters on hand, Falk said, noting that the number of reviews received during the last six months had increased by 38 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.

An acting arrangement with acting FOI commissioner Elizabeth Hampton, as well as the recent appointment of three extra staff, had increased agency throughput by 37 per cent during the same time; the extra support is and will continue to make a difference, she said.

Yet the surge in demand had been more than I had anticipated during earlier modelling, Falk continued, admitting that there is a significant cohort of cases on hand and noting that she and Hampton were conducting modelling to determine how many staff it would take to clear the backlog.

A history of neglect

Revelations of a hobbled FOI process are nothing new: Falk, who assumed the dual role of Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner in mid 2018, also oversees the operation of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, which was implemented in 2018 and has recorded thousands of data breaches against Australian organisations.

Falks multi-pronged responsibilities led Senator Patrick to praise her as a one-armed juggler  but with Falk now headlining a major multinational legal fight against Facebook that recently scored a Federal Court win, and a joint investigation with the UK Information Commissioners Office into biometric-scraping firm Clearview AI, the OAIC has never been under more pressure.

The escalating delays in resolving FOI matters highlight a long-festering issue with government transparency that traces back to 2015, when former FOI Commissioner James Popple resigned and the Abbott government unsuccessfully tried to abolish the role completely.

Australia may be a signatory to the Open Government Partnership, but more than six years and two prime ministers later  and despite pressure from transparency advocates to properly resource the agency  the continued absence of a dedicated FOI Commissioner has left Falk to maintain order in an overburdened agency that has struggled to keep up.

Despite the NDB schemes value as a tool of transparency, for example, in early 2020 the agency stopped issuing quarterly statistical reports on its functioning; it now issues biannual reports that provide less, not more, transparency into the more than 1,000 breaches reported every year.

The number of reports dropped in the latest report amidst concerns that many organisations arent reporting all of the breaches they should be.

A recent Information Age FOI request revealed the agency is limping along with just three NDB staff, providing little opportunity for follow-up into the largest and most significant data breaches affecting Australia.

Chronic resource constraints led Senator Patrick to warn last year that the FOI system is heading for a train smash, but the NDB and FOI schemes arent the only victims.

A letter from former Attorney-General Christian Porter and sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which is subject to an outstanding request by Patrick, has been lost during the transition to new Attorney-General Michaela Cash.

The handling of another matter, also relating to the Attorney-Generals Department and the administration of the FOI Act, had failed the basic test in terms of the way in which the Act should be properly administered, Senator Kim Carr said during questioning.

That matter had been outstanding for over 18 months, Carr said. It seems an extraordinary amount of time to complete an investigation.

Falk was unapologetic: Its a matter of giving each matter the attention that it deserves, she said, and considering the legal issues that are raised in the context of many other matters.
Jackson Park Elementary Schools Super Bowl food drive collected more than 700 food items for Cooperative Christian Ministry.

This was the first year for the schools Global Magnet and Spanish Immersion programs. Through the programs, students have also learned about Sustainable Development Goals, which are described as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. One of the schools sustainable goals is zero hunger, said fourth grade teacher Joshua Sherrill.

Its being more globally minded, mindful of other cultures, of how we can be more globally minded not only in our world view, but also in our community, Sherrill said. This project helps to bring that focus to help with making it a more sustainable world through zero hunger.

To help work toward that goal, the Student Council sponsored a Super Bowl canned food drive. The food drive also aligned with the schools Random Acts of Kindness Week. The council collected food items from Feb. 7-18.

All grade levels donated cans. At the last count, there were 747 cans.

CCM representatives arrived at the school Feb. 18 to collect the cans of food. Some student council members helped wheel out the cans to the truck.

While loading the donations, student council member Journey Lovelace said the food drive was a lot of fun.

We could come together and do stuff out of class together, she said.

Besides learning about hunger in the community, Lovelace said she also learned about teamwork through the project.

We learned to always work together no matter what and how to be a team, she said.

Fellow council member Carson Monteith said she was surprised at how many cans they collected.

We were surprised, she said. We met our 500 goal before today. Its a lot.

CCM Food Program Manager Kris Edscorn said the school collected more than 500 pounds of food which would amount to more than 400 meals.

In addition to canned food, the school was also able to collect baby food, formula and boost for older adults.

Edscorn said CCM is currently serving about 500-600 households a month.

He anticipates that number will go up in the coming months.

The cans from the food drive were taken to the main CCM warehouse and will be distributed to its satellite pantries in the area.
The Maltese Tourism Authority (MTA) plans to hold a series of meetings with its tour operator and travel agency partners and launch its marketing campaigns for 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai to make Malta a tourism destination of choice in the region.



MTA will hold a series of events throughout the year, marking Maltas shift to a higher quality tourism offer. There will be a strong emphasis on tailor-made experiences, a focus on its first-class boutique artisan talent, cultural heritage and culinary excellence.



An exclusive, intimate fashion presentation by leading Maltese couturier and fashion historian Luke Azzopardi will be the catalyst to showcase Malta as a bespoke travel destination where the concept of tailor-made experiences and bespoke service, even beyond fashion, will be highlighted.



A private fashion presentation by the Luke Azzopardi studio will be held at the Palace Downtown Hotel in Dubai, on February 24. A collection which looks at the fashion events in 1960s Paris by couturiers of the time will showcase contemporary Maltese artisan excellence in jewellery, materials and design.



We wanted to draw a parallel between high-end haute couture and bespoke luxury travel. Just like a tailor models a garment using the finest of materials and artistic flair, our travel specialists in Malta will know how to enchant you by combining elements together to create handcrafted vacations for the discerning Emirati traveller, explained Claude Zammit Trevisan, MTA Senior Marketing Manager for the Mena region.



The focus for 2022 and beyond will be on Maltas capacity to offer a bespoke service to deliver a distinctive hospitality experience for tourists visiting from this region.



We want to surprise Emirati travellers by showcasing a collection of curated experiences that connect them with unique narratives across the Maltese islands, weaving wellness, sustainable design, bespoke concierge services and community involvement into the guest experience, he added.



The event will be open by invitation to Maltas tour operator partners in the UAE, including Dnata, Al Rahlati, Emirates Holidays, Al Rostamani as well as private luxury concierges in the region.



The Mediterranean island archipelago offers a unique cultural heritage. Maltas innovative tourism strategy for the Middle East will favour private encounters with the islands pool of exceptional artists, designers, artisans and craftsmen, offering travellers an insight into the countrys cultural, natural and culinary heritage. This resonates well with the expectations of post-pandemic travellers, where private viewings, and one-to-one sensorial experiences are key.



Emirates offers regular flights to Malta all-year-round, with frequencies going up to daily flights starting July 1.  TradeArabia News Service






MATTOON  A new coffee shop and boutique has opened in Mattoon with a variety of drinks to choose from and clothes to check out.

"It doesn't quite feel real yet," said Shelby McDowell, owner of Milk & Honey Coffee House, 621 Charleston Ave. "I think my husband and I and even our works and management team are still trying to soak it in but we are just grateful that the community is being gracious."

Occupying what most residents refer to as the cabin, the shop has become the latest spot for coffee lovers to check out since Alliance Coffee Company decided to close its doors on Feb. 8.

Accompanying the cafe is the FD Boutique which is owned and managed by McDowell's sister, Rachel Cutright, who has been in business since 2016 with her online store and having opened a location in Casey in 2018.

"We were looking to expand and come into Mattoon and what's funny is Shelby and I had both had this building in mind but neither of us knew if it was for sale," Cutright said. "I looked at it, she had already talked to the owner and so we kind of came together on this."

McDowell, who has never owned a coffee shop before, said her and her husband, Curtis, normally go on trips out of town and always made it their deal to stop at a family-owned coffee shop during their trips.

Early last year, McDowell said she was home on maternity leave reading passages from the Book of Deuteronomy in her Bible when she came across a passage talking about a land flowing with milk and honey and thought over the idea of starting coffee shop with her husband.

"We talked about taking a building within the community and really transforming it into a peaceful environment for people to feel safe," McDowell said. "Then it just worked out to where God really helped us throughout the process."

Walking in, customers are greeted with a menu filled with drinks ranging from espressos to americanos and specialty drinks like chai lattes, cold brew, and homemade energy drinks.

After placing an order, customers can walk over into the boutique to browse a collection of women's clothing with sizes ranging from small to triple extra-large, as well as other items, including jewelry, bags and accessories.

"I think the boutique is going to help business because while people are waiting on their drinks they can shop," said barista Abbey Crist, who is a freshman marketing major at Lake Land College.

Others, like Callan Haldorsen, another barista at Milk & Honey and a freshman business major at Lake Land College, said even though they just opened, some customers have come back already and they have mainly seen a lot of walk-ins either on their way to work or going to class.

"A lot of customers have been saying how much they love the small business feel and how cozy the atmosphere feels inside," Haldorsen said. "Others have said they just want to support local businesses."

As for the future, McDowell said she hopes to one day have Milk & Honey Coffee Houses in other states like Tennessee or Alabama where they have family members. But for now, she is focused on the Mattoon community and listening to their feedback.

"We're going to do our best to cater to our community's needs and that way we can serve them to the best of our ability," McDowell said. "That way we have things that they want to enjoy whether that be flavors or new baked goods or continuing something that they love."

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SPRINGFIELD  The defendant arrested in Decatur after prosecutors allege he stabbed an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigator to death is scheduled to be tried April 18.

Benjamin H. Reed, 32, is pleading not guilty to three alternate first-degree murder charges in the Jan. 5 killing of 36-year-old Deidre Silas. She was murdered in the line of duty while visiting a home in Thayer, south of Springfield, to check out reports that children were in danger. Police said six children, aged from 1 to 7, had been present in the home when Reed attacked Silas.

Reed had later driven to Decatur and was arrested at HSHS St. Marys Hospital where he had shown up, apparently seeking treatment for a cut to his hand. Decatur police had been alerted and intercepted Reed at the hospital, holding him in custody until he could be handed over to the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office.

As well as the murder charge, Reed also denies further charges of aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful restraint.

His defense attorney, Craig Reiser, had earlier sought permission from the Sangamon County Circuit Court for a psychological evaluation of Reed, but later withdrew the motion.

Reed remains held in the custody of the Sangamon County Jail.

The death of Silas had provoked an outcry and Gov. J.B. Pritzker had paid tribute to her as a hero taken from us in the line of duty. Flags at Illinois state office buildings were lowered for three days to honor her memory.

Since the investigators murder, a group of state lawmakers have called for new laws that will allow DCFS workers to carry pepper spray to defend themselves while investigating allegations of child abuse.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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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.

His dad refused to get vaccinated. In late Jan., 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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February remains on pace to be the deadliest month for COVID-related deaths in Forsyth County even with the recent decline in new cases.

Tuesdays COVID-19 update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service reported Forsyth had five additional deaths since the previous day.

Forsyth has had 751 COVID-related deaths since mid-March 2020, including 59 so far in February.

The county ended January with 73 COVID-related deaths, the highest of any month during the pandemic.

DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so individuals may have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted.

Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said he remains confident that the number of COVID-related deaths will decline, as have numbers of new cases and hospitalizations in the past two weeks.

However, Swift said some of the most recent deaths in the county are likely individuals who were infected with COVID-19 in the early part of the omicron surge and are dying after a month or more being hospitalized in ICU units.

Statewide, 59 additional COVID-related deaths were listed in Tuesdays report, bringing North Carolinas total COVID-related deaths to 22,296.

Forsyth case counts

Forsyth reported 60 new cases Tuesday.

The 49 cases reported Monday marked the lowest daily count since the omicron variant surge began in mid-to late-December.

Forsyth has recorded a total of 90,795 cases since the pandemic began.

The decrease in new cases is among the factors that persuaded Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines to say he plans to end the citywide mask mandate on March 1.

Thats even though the city hasnt reached the COVID-19 targets set by Joines in October.

Joines said Oct. 29 that in order to lift the citys mask mandate, the city must have a COVID-19 positive test rate of 5% or less for at least two weeks and must average fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 people over five days.

As of Tuesday, Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 13%.

The statewide rate was 11.9% on Tuesday.

Tuesdays update had Forsyth averaging 32 cases per 100,000 residents over the most recent two-week period. Thats down from 82 per 100,000 residents in the Feb. 11 report.

Joines cautioned that if other COVID-19 variants emerge to cause large spikes in cases, reinstating the mandate is always a possibility.

Superintendent Tricia McManus is expected to recommend that Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools end the districts mask mandate on Monday.

Gov. Roy Cooper has encouraged local school boards and governments to end their mask mandates by March 7 if key COVID-19 numbers continue to decline at current rates.

Swift and Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, still encourage residents to wear a mask in indoor public settings if they believe there is a risk for exposure.

Swift also still encourages people to be fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible.

Statewide update

Statewide, DHHS reported 1,716 cases on Tuesday, compared with 2,060 Monday, 3,567 Sunday and 4,261 Saturday.

Mondays report marked the lowest daily statewide count since 1,041 on Nov. 28  about 2 weeks before the omicron surge commenced locally.

The record-high daily case count stands at 35,759, reported Jan. 14.

North Carolina has recorded 2.57 million cases during the pandemic, according to DHHS.

COVID-19 hospitalizations remain on a downward trend with 2,215 patients statewide on Monday. That's down from 2,311 on Sunday.

Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped for 26 consecutive days.

Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 457 COVID-19 patients Monday, down four from Sunday.

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ELKIN  For 50 years over the first half of the 20th century, a dam on privately owned land at Carter Falls on Big Elkin Creek generated power for nearby mills.

These days, the 60-foot falls  and several soothing eddy pools at its foot  lie within a new state park. A 1-mile trail looping through the hardwood forest attracts day hikers, canoodling couples and, on occasion, high-schoolers with wigs, costumes, toy swords and expensive cameras planning to engage in larp-ing  live action role playing.

A few hundred feet away, up a gentle rise on private land on the other side of the creek, sits a modest graveyard that contains a piece of history nearly lost to time  the final resting place of one William Harris, one of General George Washingtons bodyguards during the Revolutionary War.

There were three (gravestones) here when we bought the farm, said property owner Brandon Osteen. Two were in a pile and another was tossed under a rotten crab apple tree.

The inscription on one, a smooth white stone that had broken in two pieces, caught his attention  and fired his imagination.

Wm Harris, 10th VA Mil, Rev War

It felt like Indiana Jones when I saw it, Osteen said.

Front row seat to history

Uncovering such a footnote to history involves a few detours and dead ends, resolved in the end by people determined to know from whence they came.

And what better time to recall it than George Washingtons birthday?

How a farmer from Virginia, who was assigned to a militia unit charged with guarding the person (and property) of George Washington, came to rest on an open hillside in rural North Carolina is a story that was unearthed one piece at a time.

A few locals, including at least one descendant, knew about William Harris. Theyd shared the information from time to time with other interested parties, history buffs and genealogists mostly.

One, 66-year-old Stephen Harris, dug in deep and helped locate documents and manuscripts that breathed life into the story. Hes written a biography of William Harris and posts about his life online.

I read (a local history) book in the 8th grade, said Stephen Harris, who married a direct descendant of William Harris. But I forgot about it until I read it again in my 20s.

The big break in locating the gravesite came in 2015 when a realtor (with a keen interest in history) found the headstone while in the process of listing for sale the farm Osteen would soon purchase.

It was right there across from (Carter Falls), Stephen Harris said. I looked for it for 25 years and traversed (the creek) many times, but I had no idea it was right there about a mile from my house.

It was, to put it mildly, an exciting thing to finally lay eyes on after such a long time.

Its one thing to read words about history off a page, Harris wrote for the Yadkin Valley Magazine. Its quite another to touch history, to breathe the air surrounding it, to stand where my forebears once stood at a solemn moment on perhaps a gray and cold December, at ol Williams burial, and try and feel what they felt, try and learn what they knew.

William Harris will, along with records recorded by the U.S. government in deciding whether to award military pensions and a 1904 book called the Commander In Chiefs Guard Book filled in some blanks. One of William Harris grandsons provided more information to the author.

For our purposes, an abbreviated version reads this way:

William Harris was born in 1751 in Culpeper County, Virginia, not too far from where Washington lived. He joined the 10th VA Militia in 1777 and was chosen to serve in an elite unit known as the Commander in Chiefs Guard, which safeguarded Washington.

He served for three years and was present during several notable moments, including the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth, the march into Boston and the eventual British surrender at Yorktown.

He had a front row seat for so many historic things during the Revolution, Stephen Harris said.

The Guard, historians note, can be considered a forerunner to the U.S. Secret Service. According to Bruce Chadwick, a professor at Rutgers University who wrote the book The First American Army, Washingtons personal guards saw him during happy times, following victory in battle  and the flashes of anger that the general kept hidden from the army and the public, especially at Valley Forge.

At wars end, like most other American veterans, William Harris wanted nothing more than to settle down and live a peaceful life.

Supporting documentation

Harris eventually found that (and more) after he married into the Fields family from Wilkes County.

They settled near Stone Mountain, Stephen Harris wrote, and bought the land now owned by Osteen near Big Elkin Creek. They cleared the property, farmed it and put down roots by raising a family.

His story was recorded for posterity after he applied at the ripe old age of 67 for a federal pension afforded to veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Unlike the fanatical record-keeping machine it would later become, the fledgling U.S. military kept scant paperwork on its former soldiers.

In order for him to collect his veterans pension, he needed oral testimony about his service, Osteen said. Its not like now where I can pull out my DD-214 (discharge).

William Harris lived to be 96 (or 97, his exact date of birth being unknown) and died Dec. 18, 1848.

Most likely, the white headstone over his grave was put in place after the Civil War by relatives interested in honoring his service. It does bear more than a passing resemblance to similar veterans headstones seen in military cemeteries.

The gravesite eventually fell into disrepair, as evidenced by the fact William Harris stone cracked in two and wound up under rotting trees and brush.

The other headstones, Osteen thinks, probably marked the graves of descendant children who died long after William Harris. Life-saving vaccines against such known child killers as measles and smallpox were decades away from being developed.

After Osteen purchased the farm, local history buffs, aided by Scout troops, cleaned it and restored it as best they could. A flag pole flying the Stars and Stripes and the original Dont Tread on Me add a touch of dignity.

Additional plans to preserve and protect the area include Osteen granting an easement to the volunteer Elkin Valley Trail Association to extend the existing path from Carter Falls to his farm so that others can see and touch a sliver of history for themselves.

It had been forgotten for so long, Stephen Harris said. Its gratifying to help see that William Harris story is remembered. And to have it be such an interesting part of the trail.

As one who lives just a scant few hundred yards away, Osteen has another perspective.

I like to sit on the back porch, listen to the river run and think about William Harris sometimes, Osteen said. We complain about the stupidest things these days. There wasnt a tree left on this property by 1900. Everything in his time was built by hand.

Those people were tough and hard-working people who fought for everything they had. Theyre worth remembering, especially when we bicker about things on the Internet.

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Thanks to the civilian services of a resident goat, Virginia's Henry County Sheriffs Office got their man.

Capt. Scott Barker with the Henry County Sheriffs Office told the Bulletin that it was a goat who helped two deputies flush out the person they were chasing on Feb. 13.

Deputy David Parnell was investigating a domestic assault in the Fieldale area of Henry County, Barker said. At the point where Deputy Parnell explains to the suspect hes under arrest, the suspect flees on foot.

Barker said Parnell chased the fleeing person through a fence line and across a field.

A goat from the property joined Deputy Parnell in the chase, said Barker. When Deputy Parnell and the goat reached the next fence line of the field, the goat continued through the fence in front of Deputy Parnell and entered a wooded area.

After the goat took over the lead in the chase, Parnell halted to survey the situation and watched the goat chase the man into the woods.

The goat and the deputy on the other side flushed the man out of the woods, and Parnell took the man into custody.

The goat was returned to its owner by Deputy Parnell once the incident was resolved, Barker said.

Asked if the goat might be recognized by the department for its outstanding citizenship and contribution to the prevention of crime, Barker said: Thats about all I know at this point.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.
East African nation Kenya is inviting Gulf investors to set up shop in the country, saying it is committed to aligning with the needs of investors and removing the bureaucratic red tape that undermined trade.

At Expo 2020 Dubai, Kenya is pitching its investment opportunities to potential investors from the UAE and the world at large.

Kenya has so far recorded over 200,000 people visiting its pavilion, giving it an opportunity to re-establish its presence in the UAE and wider region as a prime destination for both trade and tourism.

Last weeks Kenya National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai was part of a broader Kenya Week which saw President Uhuru Kenyatta attend the celebrations at Expo. The President asked Kenyan government officials to be at the forefront in facilitating trade with the UAE to in order to further enhance the countrys appeal as an investment destination of choice.

At the same time, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife enhanced the marketing of Kenya as a prime tourist destination in the UAE market. Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife CS Balala, who was leading the Ministry delegation, said that Expo 2020 Dubai had offered Kenya a chance to showcase its tourism and investment opportunities through a series of high levels meetings and events that had attracted investors, tourism experts, travel trade and opinion leaders from different countries.

We want to see more investors come to Kenya and work together with the government to develop the tourism industry and have had many important discussions with important stakeholders to this end. For instance, we know that we still need further investment in infrastructure, especially in the hotel sector and in conservation, which is critical for the tourism in Kenya to thrive, said CS Balala.

During Kenya Week, the Ministry of Tourism through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) signed an MoU with Mastercard, forming a strategic partnership that will enable millions of Mastercard users to have visibility of Kenyas tourism products and experiences.

KTB CEO Dr Betty Radier says: Mastercard is currently present in 210 countries and territories around the world, this means that people from across these nations will have access to information that showcases our tourism offerings and selling propositions. We want to ensure that we use all the avenues possible to gain entry into all markets and this partnership takes us in the right direction.

As a follow up to the Presidents announcement to encourage more trade with the UAE, KTB hosted travel trade from 45 companies who met with the 15 Kenya companies that travelled for the B-to-B sessions. KTB also worked to identified key partners, leveraged on key media outlets to enhance the destinations brand visibility, and deployed integrative communication and promotional tactics to aid in repositioning the destinations brand for its diverse tourism experiences.

In 2021, Kenya recorded close to 11,000 tourists from the Middle East, thanks to the ease of access through Kenya Airways direct flights and other frequent flights into the UAE market, the expatriate community in UAE is a pulling factor for Kenyas entry into this market.-- TradeArabia News Service
Sometimes those of us living and working in the United States think of the physician assistant/associate (PA) profession as a purely American invention; however, the truth is that outside the United States, a vibrant PA profession has existed for some time and is continuing to spread across the world. As recently as 2018, nations besides the United States that had formally introduced the PA concept include Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.1 And as the profession has grown and expanded internationally, scholars are documenting those experiences. Many of the resulting articles are published in journals that may be difficult for many of us to access, and as a result we are not even aware they were published, denying us the opportunity to learn about the PA experience outside of the United States. So that JAAPA readers can more easily access articles that describe the international PA experience, we have created a new department, Global Insights. This new department will be dedicated to publishing articles of interest to JAAPA readers that describe the PA profession beyond the United States.

One never knows where the roots of our profession might take hold or already run deep. The PA profession strives to address how the 7.5 billion people in the world are being and will be cared for globally. The new Global Insights department will illustrate the PA movement beyond the United States and archive its history. The PA profession in the United States, created by physicians, is both predated and postdated by PAs and their analogues around the world. The PA and PA analogue movement is well under way globally, and our new department will provide history, context, original research, status updates, and other interesting aspects of the PA profession from countries and regions worldwide. This month's launch of this new department starts the process of providing a repository of articles from countries with a PA profession, articles that describe a country's history, its PA educational programs, deployment of graduates and their practice settings, as well as their national PA prescience and thoughts on the future. Additionally, these articles will add to the current and future body of knowledge about the global profession, and more importantly, the information published will leave an indexed publication archive, making it useful to policy makers and other interested parties.

This issue features our first Global Insights article, Physician associates in the UK: Development, status, and future by Kate Straughton, MSc, PA-R, and colleagues, all of whom serve as PA faculty in the United Kingdom. The authors describe the history of the PA profession in the United Kingdom, including its roots, development, development of regulations, title protection, development of educational programs, and the profession's growth. The article describes the profession's birth in 1980, when a PA student from the United States was placed in a general practice setting, leading to the establishment of demonstration projects using PAs from the United States. The profession matured as these demonstration projects led to government support for the development of PAs and establishment of an educational system in the United Kingdom to address healthcare workforce shortages. The authors document in detail the trials and tribulations of establishing a new profession within the confines of a nationalized healthcare system with strong historical physician and nursing roles. The profession's successes and challenges in the United Kingdom will sound familiar to those knowledgeable about the history of the PA profession in the United States.

We look forward to providing JAAPA readers with articles that will remind them of the long and interesting worldwide history of the PA profession and its vibrant global growth. We also look forward to the opportunity to illustrate for readers that nations where the profession is being considered or is established have supported the PA profession for a wide variety of reasons specific to each country, but most commonly to provide healthcare to more of their citizens. Lastly, we look forward to working with authors from around the world who will share with us their perspective of the profession we have in common. We hope you enjoy Global Insights.
Patrick Richards never thought hed have to save his wifes life.

The 20-year veteran of the North Platte Fire Department had performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation countless times before  in the field and during his 15 years of teaching at Great Plains Health.

But on the first morning of 2022, he found himself performing CPR on Kari, his wife. GPH cardiologist Dr. Azariah Kirubakaran credits Patricks quick response with saving her life.

The moral of the story, in my opinion, is without (Patrick) being there at the right time, theres no Kari now, Kirubakaran said.

According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. Of the 356,000 cardiac arrests that occurred outside a hospital in 2017, the AHA reports bystanders performed CPR in 46% of them.

The cardiologist hopes Karis story sparks a change.

If there is some way this triggers, in the community, an effort to teach everybody (CPR)  maybe not everybody, maybe 90%  then those who have a sudden cardiac arrest have a better chance of surviving, Kirubakaran said.

Patrick agreed.

A morning like any other

The morning of New Years Day started out normally enough.

It had snowed, and although the Richardses snowblower wasnt working, a friend had stopped by, bringing his own new snowblower to try it out.

With the driveway cleared in a matter of minutes thanks to their friend, Patrick was in the living room when Kari sat down beside him.

Shed just wrapped up what was left of a breakfast she couldnt quite finish.

I dont feel good, Kari told her husband.

Then she slumped over, taking two gasping breaths about five seconds apart.

Patrick remembers yelling at her  Kari, dont do this!  because he knew immediately what those breaths meant. He knew that when he pulled her off the couch, she wouldnt have a pulse.

Those breaths, called agonal respiration, are a natural reflex when the brain isnt getting the oxygen it needs to survive. Karis heart had stopped.

The former paramedic jumped into action, performing compressions on his wifes chest to keep oxygenated blood flowing in her body and using rescue breathing to put oxygen into her lungs. He paused briefly to call 911, and within five minutes, the EMTs were at his house. Kari was defibrillated twice and then was on her way to the hospital. There, she would be taken to the catheterization lab, where Kirubakaran would diagnose what happened.

I want to stress that (the EMTs and fire department) deserve everything, Patrick said.

You took one for the team

During a consultation with the couple, Kirubakaran would tell Patrick and Kari, Theres so much to this (situation), my brain hurts.

The cardiologist thinks Kari had a primary ventricular fibrillation, one of the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbances, which causes the heart to quiver instead of beating normally.

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of V-fib. Weakness in heart muscles  cardiomyopathy  is another.

We knew within about half an hour of being in the cath lab, it was neither one, Kirubakaran said.

Then something came up on the electrocardiogram that records the hearts electrical activity: a pattern identified by Spanish cardiologists Pedro Brugada and Josep Brugada in 1992, known as Brugada sign.

This specific pattern can indicate that there are defects in the hearts sodium channels, which can cause the electrical impulses in the heart to stop.

While the defects are always present, the specific pattern may not be, and the heartbeat eventually returns to normal, leaving a patient susceptible to another episode of cardiac arrest if it isnt identified.

If (Karis) EKG was delayed by six hours, you never would have known, Kirubakaran said. Kari was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a disease with a genetic component.

So now Patrick and Karis daughters are being screened for the syndrome, as well as Karis other family members.

My daughter made the best comment: You know, Mom, you took one for the team, Kari said.

Kari now has an internal cardioverter-defibrillator in her chest, which continuously monitors her heartbeat and will deliver a shock if it detects something wrong, which will make her heartbeat return to normal.

By the grace of God

Kirubakaran cant identify a reason why the channel defect affected Karis heart that day.

Theres no real good reason (we can) tell why it happened then, and not the day before or two minutes before, or 10 years before, Kirubakaran said.

The afternoon of Karis cardiac event, the Richardses were supposed to have a Catholic Mass to bless their marriage a week ahead of their 45th anniversary.

Perhaps God gave them a different blessing that day.

Theres a lot of miraculous things that happened that day, Patrick said.

First, Patricks snowblower wouldnt start that morning. It was odd, he said, because this machine started up every time, without fail. But if Patrick had been out clearing the driveway, he wouldnt have been beside Kari when her heart stopped.

Another out-of-the-ordinary occurrence also helped ensure Karis safety  the friend who stopped by to try out his new snowblower.

He has never, ever scooped our driveway, Kari said. He lives across town and had a new snowblower and was trying it out. He decided to come over and see if Pat needed help. He got it done within about five, 10 minutes, so Pat came in and sat down. I cant explain, except by the grace of God.

Another chance meeting solidified the feeling that there was a divine element to the situation.

In August 2003, Patrick and his partner Ron Holmes were in the back of a rescue unit when they were hit by a semitrailer truck. EMTs from York stopped when they saw the wreckage and picked me up off the drive shaft I was impaled on, Patrick said.

One of the EMTs visited Patrick while he was in the ICU, Kari said, but Patrick didnt remember.

Nearly 20 years later, one of the CNAs who was taking care of Kari at GPH after her cardiac event turned out to be the EMT who had rescued Patrick. They finally met.

Thats a God thing, Patrick said. Its beyond my thinking why God put him in our lives right then  maybe because we needed him  and it just tied everything up.

Digital editor for The North Platte Telegraph.

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The pandemic has both exacerbated and shone a spotlight on the challenges faced by health care workers.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing has received a three-year, $2.2 million federal grant to work with partners across Nebraska to address burnout in the states nursing workforce.

Alyson Hanish, an assistant professor in the college, said the initiative will focus on nursing students and on nurses and their employers in rural and medically underserved areas.

We had a nursing shortage before the pandemic, but the pandemic has exacerbated it, she said. We want to recruit nurses but then keep them healthy and well so that they want to have long professional careers in nursing.

The UNMC grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services. Its part of an estimated $103 million in American Rescue Plan funding over a three-year period to reduce burnout and promote mental health among the health care workforce.

Hospitals, Hanish said, are looking for solutions to retain nurses. But there arent a lot of evidence-based resources. The team will begin to develop that evidence base. It will start by deploying a stress-management program developed by Dr. Rebecca Wysoske and others in UNMCs psychiatry department and tailor it to meet the needs of nursing students and working nurses.

The program, called WHOLE, or Wellness  How One Lives Effectively, includes ways to manage acute stress as well as self-care, meditation and other proven strategies to reduce chronic stress.

The program already has been piloted in nursing students and received good feedback, Hanish said. The team will continue to work to adapt it.

The program will be implemented across all five campuses of UNMCs nursing college. For working nurses, they will focus primarily on the states smaller hospitals and offer the program both as wellness training and free continuing education credits.

Hanish, a pediatric nurse and sleep researcher, said she has seen family members and colleagues struggling with burnout during the pandemic. She saw the grant as a way to help.

I felt like I needed to do something, she said. I thought we could try to tackle it from a team perspective.

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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.

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Investigators with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Criminal Interdiction Task Force found 20 pounds of suspected methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 on Friday, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said deputies stopped a pickup with California plates that had been following other vehicles too closely near mile marker 393, between the western county line and Northwest 48th Street.

Wagner said a K-9 unit was deployed and indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, prompting a search.

Deputies found the suspected meth  worth about $450,000 on the street  underneath the rear seat, Wagner said.

The driver, 25-year-old Jesus Sanchez-Meza, of California, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was taken to the Lancaster County Jail.

Wagner said Sanchez-Meza had been headed to Omaha with the suspected drugs.

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A Lincoln man has admitted to selling drugs that led to six overdoses in August.

Brandon T. Davis, 38, will face at least 25 years in federal prison when he's sentenced in May, according to the plea agreement that caps his sentence at 27 years.

At a hearing Friday held by video, Davis pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl causing serious bodily injury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Fullerton said on Aug. 13, Lincoln Police were called to a bar near 14th Street and Cornhusker Highway after two men were found unconscious on the ground in the parking lot.

She said police did CPR until Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews arrived.

One of the men was revived with the overdose-reversing drug Narcan and told police they had shared cocaine in the other man's truck. Fullerton said the other man was taken to a hospital, where he was put on a breathing tube and placed on a heart and lung machine.

Fullerton said when his condition improved he told police he bought what he thought was 1 gram of cocaine from Davis for $100.

Lab results on the white powdery substance that police found in the truck came back positive for cocaine and fentanyl.

Additional information Those struggling with addiction can call the Lincoln Drug Crisis Hotline at 402-475-5683, CenterPointe at 402-475-6695 or the National Opioid Hotline at 800-662-4357.

Fullerton said three days later, police were called to a Lincoln home near First and Adams streets on overdoses involving four people.

Two women weren't breathing. The person who called 911 showed signs of overdose, too, after police got there.

Fullerton said police also found a man, who had been at the house before officers got there, passed out and not breathing on a nearby park bench.

All four survived with the help of CPR and Narcan.

Fullerton said a search of the house turned up a plate with cocaine and fentanyl residue and a cut straw and a plastic bag with residue.

The two women said they had gotten what they thought was a gram of cocaine from Davis.

Fullerton said that night police got a warrant to search Davis' home about a mile east of there, near Knox and Portia streets, and found Davis in the basement, along with 14.5 grams of suspected cocaine, a digital scale with residue, prescription pills and more than $6,000 in cash.

At the plea hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart asked Davis if what Fullerton said was true.

"Did you distribute illegal drugs?" she asked him.

"Yes," Davis answered.

The charges don't involve overdose deaths.

At a news conference in August, police said there had been six overdose deaths that month, and at least 26 of the 50 overdoses tracked in Lincoln over the previous month had been tied to cocaine laced with fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that, when mixed with illegal drugs, can cause an overdose even through amounts as small as a grain of sand.

Narcan, an emergency drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, is available for free at the Hy-Vee at 5010 O St., Kohlls Pharmacy at 27th and Vine streets, Genoa Healthcare at 2301 O St. and the U-Save Pharmacy in Waverly.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews battled a house fire and frigid temperatures early Tuesday morning after a blaze broke out at about 5:30 a.m.

Capt. Nancy Crist said no one was injured in the fire, which took several hours to fully extinguish and gutted the $236,000 house near 19th and South streets.

Crist said crews were initially able to enter the home at 1834 Ryons St., first fighting the fire from inside while searching for any occupants.

Eventually, Crist said the fire forced crews to retreat from the house. Responders later learned the owner was out of town.

Crist said the weather  which dropped to temperatures as low as 3 degrees  caused several hiccups in the fire department's efforts.

She said one fire hydrant froze in the frigid temperatures, while a pair of trees in the front yard developed ice on their branches, forcing responders to retreat farther from the residence.

Bill Moody, the city's chief fire inspector, said his team wasn't able to enter the home and investigate the cause of the fire Tuesday, as crews continued to douse hot spots with water for much of the day.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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An inactive fraternity at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that has been suspended twice since 2017 is suing a pair of administrators in federal court for allegedly violating members rights to free speech and due process.

UNL handed down a three-year suspension to Phi Gamma Delta  better known as Fiji  in 2017 for reckless alcohol use, hazing and inappropriate sexually based behavior following an investigation into members hurling sexually harassing comments at participants during the Jan. 21, 2017, Womens March.

In a complaint filed Feb. 18 in U.S. District Court, the fraternity argued it was punished and retaliated against for its members political viewpoints and protected political speech in support of then-President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit, which names UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green and Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards Andrea Barefield individually, alleges the fraternity and its members suffered from investigations, suspensions and false and misleading public statements made by university officials.

It also accuses the university of failing to follow its Student Code of Conduct and Title IX policies, of enhancing punishments because of Fijis political viewpoints, stigmatizing the chapter and its members, and depriving the organization of its status and due process rights.

A spokeswoman for UNL declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

UNL opened a Title IX investigation into Fiji after participants of the Womens March reported hearing sexually harassing comments being shouted by members at the chapter house at 1425 R St. as marchers passed the house on their way to a rally at the Capitol.

According to Brian Brislen, an Omaha attorney representing the fraternity, Fiji members were conducting their own political demonstration on the front lawn of the property.

The Title IX investigation did not result in any sanctions against the fraternity, but a second investigation focusing on violations of UNLs student code of conduct was later opened, and by March 2017, the university announced it was suspending Phi Gamma Delta through 2020.

According to the lawsuit, subsequent action taken by UNL against the fraternity resulted from the Jan. 21, 2017, event, which the fraternity argued was protected political speech in support of then-President Trump that UNL administrators disagreed with.

The chapters members political speech on or around January 21, 2017, played a part or a role in Chancellor Green and Director Barefields decision to revoke its recognition of the chapter as a student organization, the fraternity alleged.

Fiji alleges UNL administrators had already decided the chapter should face a lengthy suspension when they met with representatives of the fraternity days after the Womens March, and said the university based the suspension on a lesser violation of UNLs Student Code of Conduct.

Inappropriate sexually based behavior' and sexually harassing conduct are charges that involve moral turpitude and depravity, and are not equivalent or comparable to violations of the universitys alcohol policy, Brislen wrote in the complaint.

Fiji says it continued to face retaliation after its suspension was lifted in early 2021, being placed on probation again after two UNL police officers reported seeing members drinking in the basement of the chapter house.

While on probation, which the fraternity alleges was a continuation of being punished for its political speech, a 17-year-old student reported being sexually assaulted by a 19-year-old member of Fiji during the early morning hours of Aug. 24, 2021.

Word of the reported assault spread quickly on social media, and later that night, thousands of students gathered in front of the chapter house to protest the fraternity.

UNL placed Fiji under temporary suspension, but the protests continued for several more nights, including chants, marches and calls for the fraternity to be permanently banned from campus.

The 19-year-old fraternity member accused in the reported sexual assault has not been charged with a crime in Lancaster County. The Lincoln Police Department investigation into the incident remains open.

Fiji accused Green of stoking the unverified rumors in a statement he made on social media on Aug. 25, 2021, announcing the fraternity was on probation and would be temporarily suspended while the investigation moved forward without noting the previous punishment was for an alcohol violation.

The fraternity also alleged UNL ignored fraternity members offers to assist in the investigation by giving statements and helping collect evidence, and said the university refused requests from parents to meet to discuss their sons safety.

UNL, through the University Conduct Board, a committee of students and faculty, suspended Fiji through 2026 for violating several Student Code of Conduct rules related to alcohol use  but not sexual misconduct  and stripped the fraternity of its status as a recognized student organization.

The complaint says both Green and Barefield failed to train or supervise UNL staff in a manner sufficiently calculated to prevent them from violating fraternity members constitutional rights.

Chancellor Green and his leadership promulgated an official policy or unofficial custom by which the chapter, for engaging in constitutionally protected political speech, was known to be a bad fraternity, and subject to enhanced penalties based on that status, Brislen wrote.

The lawsuit alleges the university violated the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association, as well as the 14th Amendment right of due process of both the chapter and the housing corporation that owns the 1425 R St. property.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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OMAHA -- A vulgar joke and sexually explicit passages from several books were read aloud during a public meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Education, as one board member made his case that inappropriate books are showing up in school libraries.

In doing so, he sparked a debate resembling one happening across the U.S., as parents and education officials of differing political leanings jockey over what material is appropriate for school-aged children.

Board member Kirk Penner read aloud several passages depicting sex acts. A man from the audience also read a couple of passages, including a crude joke about gay sex, from the podium during the public comment period.

Penner said his goal at the Feb. 4 meeting was not to ban books but to alert parents and local school officials to the materials in some school libraries.

Were hyper-sexualizing our kids, he said.

Some of the passages Penner read depicted same-sex acts, and one book explained gender fluidity to kids.

Several board members said that choosing library books is a local decision, not one for the board, and that local districts should have processes in place for parents to challenge books.

Board member Lisa Fricke said that although the passages made her uncomfortable, the selection of books is a local control issue.

Why it was brought before the state board is not clear to me, Fricke said in a recent interview. We dont have a role in whats selected locally by school districts.

She said the U.S. Supreme Court has provided guidance for determining if material is obscene, a test that involves whether material has literary value. Fricke said theres not one litmus test for whats acceptable, but there is such a thing as decency, age appropriateness.

Another board member, Jacquelyn Morrison, questioned whether Penner was targeting books that portrayed same-sex relationships and gender identity.

If your position is we shouldnt have books about LGBTQ+ themes in schools, then I cant agree with that, Morrison said.

Penner responded that the passages he read reflected a mix of sexual orientations and that pornographys pornography to me.

Several Nebraska school districts, including in metro Omaha, confirmed that some of the books read at the meeting are in their collections.

Across the country, similar explicit public readings have been taking place at school board meetings as conservatives push back against what they view as a liberal-progressive agenda in school curriculum.

Nationally, various books have been challenged in recent years over comments and depictions deemed racist, among them several Dr. Seuss books, Huckleberry Finn and Little House on the Prairie.

The American Library Association reported last year an uptick in challenges of books and resources with gay, queer and transgender themes and that tell the stories of people who are Black, indigenous or are persons of color.

According to the association, more than 330 unique cases were reported to ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30.

Penner, who was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in December and is running to keep the seat beyond 2022, read passages depicting a girl performing oral sex on a boy, and a male ejaculating on another male. He also mentioned a graphic novel with images of two middle school girls kissing and a book that asserts gender is fluid.

After reading the passages aloud, Penner said: My goodness, I was scared to read that in public.

One of the books was Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson.

Penner read several passages from it including this one:

Parker unbuttoned his shorts and tugged them down around his knees. He rubbed his (deleted) against my thighs three maybe four times. His body stiffened ... and then he (deleted) on the leg of my jeans.

Penner did not delete any words.

He read the following passage from It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn:

When a baby is born, the parents make a guess as to the childs gender. As the child gets older, they can choose their identity.

Penner read a passage from Looking for Alaska by John Green, in which a boy describes a girl performing oral sex on him.

With me sitting watching the Brady Bunch, watching Marsha, Marsha Marsha up to her Brady antics, Laura unbuttoned my pants and pulled my boxers down a little and pulled out my (deleted) ... And then she wrapped her hand around it and put it in her mouth.

Penner also read several negative reviews submitted to Amazon.com about the graphic novel The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson.

It depicts two middle school girls kissing, he said.

If were finding these books in elementary, middle school and high school libraries, that is sick, he said.

The man who read from the podium recited a vulgar joke he said was in the book Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison.

The World-Herald checked with a number of Nebraska districts to see if any of the books mentioned are in school libraries.

Several metro Omaha districts, including Bellevue, Bennington, Ralston, Springfield Platteview and Papillion La Vista, had at least one of the books in their collections.

Millard, for instance, indicated that Looking for Alaska is available to high school and middle school students, Brave Face: A Memoir to high school students and The Breakaways in middle school.

Lawn Boy is not in the Millard collection, nor do kids have access to It Feels Good to Be Yourself, a spokeswoman said.

In the Omaha Public Schools, Lawn Boy is not available, but the other books are available at some middle and high schools, a spokeswoman said.

State board member Maureen Nickels said every district should have a complaint process when parents are concerned.

If the process is followed, the book could be taken away, it might be moved to a different grade level, it might not be removed at all, she said.

According to the Nebraska School Librarians Association, librarians work with local school boards to create policies for selection of materials and for requesting reconsideration of materials.

While an individual may not agree with a particular decision, numerous examples of local book challenges show that the process does indeed work, without inhibiting the First Amendment rights of other readers, the association said.

The Kearney Public Schools, which has several of the questioned books in its collection, implemented a new library policy last month.

The policy calls on parents to submit a permission form indicating whether they give prior consent for their child to check out materials.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Kent Edwards wrote that the district has a responsibility to serve readers of different ages, reading levels, backgrounds and experiences.

We have a responsibility to offer a wide range of book choices that meet all of their diverse needs, Edwards wrote, noting that some material in their libraries may be outside of their families moral values and philosophies.

Spokeswoman Tori Stofferson said the Kearney policy is a proactive effort to enlist parents in determining what they would like for their children while not limiting the learning opportunities or reading enjoyment of others.

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Call it the case of the Tell-Tale Art.

A sheet of paper the color and texture of stale toast appears at first glance to hold a key clue toward resolving a puzzle that has baffled scholars of the horror writer Edgar Allan Poe for more than a century regarding the date of the poets marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm.

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In reality, the document  a piece of sheet music titled Mr. Po and bearing the intriguing inscription: ascribed to my wife, Mrs. Poe, by E.A. Poe: 1835. Richmond, Virginia: editor  is nearly certainly a forgery, though a definitive determination has not yet been made. But, it would be a forgery so audacious and without any obvious motive that it amounts to a mystery in its own right.

Its very confusing, said Sam Bessen, who discovered the sheet music buried in a box at Johns Hopkins Universitys Sheridan Libraries. If its a forgery, its a pretty bold one. Why would someone go to all this trouble?

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If youre going to try to forge a document by Poe, why would you forge something in musical notation instead of trying to pass off a lost poem? If this were legitimate, it would be the only known example of musical notation in Poes hand that Im aware of.

Johns Hopkins University curator Sam Bessen holds a manuscript of sheet music that may have been copied by Edgar Allan Poe, but has not been authenticated. Poes signature and the date 1835 appear in the corner. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

The investigation into the documents origins and history is continuing; theres always a chance, experts say, that an as-yet undiscovered clue will resolve the question of authenticity beyond any doubt.

Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins curators are encouraging amateur sleuths to examine the sheet music for themselves when it goes on view next month at the George Peabody Library, in the exhibit Grace Notes in American History: 200 Years of Songs From The Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection.

The exhibit, which runs from March 15 through July 31, also will feature about 100 songs culled from the librarys collection of 30,000 pieces of sheet music. Highlights include works signed by the composer Ira Gershwin and aviator Amelia Earhart. The exhibit also includes a copy of the late Maryland jazz great Ethel Ennis recording of God Bless the Child.

Were very excited to have Mr. Po on display and to bring the public into this puzzle, said Bessen, the curator of sheet music and popular culture for the libraries. Everyone loves a mystery, and theres a lot of love for Poe here in Baltimore.

Though the author of The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart lived most of his life elsewhere, Poes family hailed from Baltimore, he died here, and Charm City has long claimed the 19th century bad boy as one of its own.

Sam Bessen, the curator of sheet music and popular culture for the Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries, holds a manuscript of sheet music, dated 1835, that may have been copied by Edgar Allan Poe. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

A musical mystery

Last year, Bessen was digging through four boxes of sheet music in preparation for the exhibit when he chanced upon a copy of the 1827 ditty Mr. Po with the curious inscription.

I saw that the piece of sheet music appeared to have been signed by Poe, Bessen said, and things about it confused me. For instance, it didnt appear to have been written by someone familiar with musical notation.

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In the first staff, a bass clef is hooked onto the bottom of a treble clef, which is a conflicting set of instructions for musicians.

It wouldnt be surprising if a wordsmith like Poe was unfamiliar with musical notation, Bessen thought. He consulted a colleague.

She almost jumped out of her chair, he said. Things kind of snowballed from there.

Mr. Po is a lighthearted tune that was popular in the 1800s about a woman who refuses to marry the man she loves because she doesnt like his last name. (The word poor spoken in a Southern accent sounds a lot like po.) The woman comes to regret her foolish pride.

A manuscript of sheet music, dated 1835, which may have been copied by Edgar Allen Poe, is laid on top of a printed version of sheet music, circa 1830. The printed version at left shows the proper placement of the treble clef on the top staff and the base clef at bottom. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

I was greatly to blame, she sings, to refuse a good man on account of his name.

The songs anonymous author was likely unaware of the then-18-year-old Poe, who self-published his first book that same year. But over the next decade, the lyrics developed uncanny resonances to the poets courtship of his young cousin.

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Poe was indeed po and spent most of his life on the brink of financial ruin. Moreover, some of Clemms relatives opposed the match. In 1835, another cousin offered to take the girl in and educate her to avoid her being married off to an penniless poet twice her age.

Nonetheless, on May 16, 1836, the couple were wed  at least officially. Some scholars suspect that they secretly eloped eight months earlier. These experts point to a marriage license that Poe obtained in Baltimore on Sept. 22, 1835.

If the inscription on the sheet music is legitimate, it would be evidence that their wedding actually took place in 1835 instead of 1836, Bessen said.

Some believe the document, which refers to Mrs. Poe, may have been written by Poe for his young wife, his cousin Virginia Eliza Clemm. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

He investigated further, and found that the piece of sheet music had been purchased in 1939 by Baltimores Edgar Allan Poe Society from George H. Wright of Palo Alto, California, who claimed in a letter to have found the document in a second hand store. Wright accepted a price of $12.50 for the sheet music of Mr. Po, a sum that would be worth about $250 in 2022 dollars.

George Wright basically donated that manuscript to the Poe Society, Bessen said. If he was the forger, his motive clearly was not financial.

The following year, May Garrettson Evans, the first female reporter for The Baltimore Sun, referred to the song in her book, Music and Edgar Allan Poe: A Biographical Study:

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The text and the signature markedly resemble examples of Poes handwriting, Evans wrote. If genuine (and its genuineness remains to be further considered), the copy was probably made by Poe for the amusement of his bride.

The paper tells the tale

Early indications were that the document might be the real thing. Hopkins conservation researcher Patricia McQuiggan examined the paper under white, ultraviolet and infrared light and concluded: The ink has iron in it, which would be consistent with inks of the 19th century.

In addition, the paper itself is old. Jeffrey Savoye, secretary/treasurer of Baltimores Poe Society, said that the sheet was not made out of wood pulp, indicating that it dates to before the Civil War.

But as Savoye and other experts studied the manuscript further, the case for authenticity fell apart.

Peter Bower, a paper historian and analyst based in London, concluded that the watermark  a pattern on paper aimed at discouraging counterfeiting  was made using an electrotype. That process that wasnt created until 1838, or three years after the piece of sheet music supposedly was written.

Having looked very very closely at the watermark images you sent, Bower wrote in his report, I can say without any hesitation that it cant be right.

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About 100 pieces of sheet music that will be on view at the Peabody Library in an exhibition, Grace Notes in American History: 200 Years of Songs from the Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection, on view from March 15 through July 31. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

Savoye detailed other problems:

The paper was a flyleaf torn from a book, something Poe didnt do.

Poe had access to stacks and stacks of paper, Savoye said. He did not have to take a flyleaf from a book like this.

In places, the ink on the sheet music is blurred, indicating that fresh ink might have been applied to very dry old paper and bled as it was absorbed into the sheet.

Its not difficult to come up with something that looks like old ink, Savoye said.

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The A in Poes signature is also atypical  large and rounded, instead of the angular A the poet preferred.

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Finally, the signature contains an obvious and uncharacteristic error. It uses the word ascribed which means attributed to when the writer surely meant to refer to the written record as inscribed.

Poe certainly knew the difference between these words, Savoye said, estimating that the odds are less than 1% that Poe copied the song and signed it himself.

These are big tipoffs, he said. Some of these things are common forgers tricks.

Nonetheless, Savoye is pretty sure that Poe would greatly enjoy the forgery and subsequent fuss. After all, the poet wasnt above pulling a prank himself, as was demonstrated by a notorious balloon hoax of 1844.

It seems that Poe wrote an article for the New York Sun newspaper about a trip across the Atlantic Ocean supposedly undertaken by a man named Monck Mason in just three days in a gas balloon. Unfortunately, not a single word was true. Two days later, the newspaper was forced to retract the article.

Poe absolutely adored hoaxes, Savoye said. I think hed get a big kick out of this.
From legalizing medical cannabis to requiring an ID to vote to raising the minimum wage, backers of statewide petition efforts are up against a July deadline to gather tens of thousands of signatures to get their initiatives before Nebraska voters.

And one of the committees collecting signatures is working with substantially deeper pockets than the others: Citizens for Voter ID, which supports amending the state constitution to require valid photo identification before voters cast their ballot.

As first reported by News Channel Nebraska, that group had gotten nearly all its money from Marlene Ricketts, mother of Gov. Pete Ricketts, as of the end of January.

According to financial reports, Marlene Ricketts made a $376,000 donation last July. The same month, former Omaha Mayor and U.S. Rep. Hal Daub donated $1,000. The group hadnt reported any other donations, cash or otherwise.

Almost all of the roughly $271,000 the committee had spent went to national Republican political consulting firm Axiom Strategies and Vanguard Field Strategies, a grassroots arm of Axiom.

According to Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling, one of the petitions sponsors, Axiom is leading coordinating efforts and Vanguard is doing the on-the-ground work. The groups cash balance at the end of January was about $106,000.

Slama pushed back against the idea that the groups biggest donor is driving the effort, saying volunteers are on the ground and some grassroots donors have given below the reporting threshold.

It definitely is a team effort, she said. After this legislative session wraps up, Slama said shell be leading a statewide tour to gather signatures.

But theres another committee organized thatd like to thwart that initiative: Nebraskans for Free and Fair Elections.

Its not working with the funding of its nemesis  as of the end of January, it hadnt received any cash donations. But it had attracted about $66,000 in in-kind contributions.

In terms of it being a grassroots campaign, we truly are one, for sure, at this point. And you cant really say that about the other guy, said John Cartier, director of voting rights for Civic Nebraska, one of the organizations behind the opposition committee.

Cartier said theyve been focused on building a coalition of supporters  he shared a lengthy list of organizations with the Omaha World-Herald  but soon plan to start volunteer phone-banking across the state to persuade people against voter ID.

The biggest in-kind contribution to the group, about $55,000, came from ACLU of Nebraska, for a public opinion poll in October. Cartier said that included polling on voter ID and some effective talking points. He declined to share specific findings of the research but said it was informative.

Essentially what were dealing with is a billionaire trying to fundamentally change how our elections are ran, he said, referring to Ricketts.

While Citizens for Voter ID has been the most well-funded ballot question committee, Raise the Wage Nebraska ended January with the highest cash balance.

The group is gathering signatures for a petition that would put an incremental minimum wage increase on ballots. If voters approved it, state law would change to raise the minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026, upping it $1.50 a year. After that, the states minimum wage would be adjusted each year for cost-of-living increases.

As of the end of January, the group had reported receiving about $158,000 in cash and spent about $29,000, leaving it with a cash balance of about $129,000. It had also received about $91,000 in in-kind contributions.

It was mostly bankrolled by the 501c4 affiliate of Nebraska Appleseed, which gave $148,000. The Nebraska State AFL-CIO and ACLU of Nebraska also donated $5,000 apiece.

Its in-kind contributions have come mostly from organizations that support the effort, including Nebraska Appleseed, ACLU of Nebraska, Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, Voices for Nebraska and YWCA Lincoln. In addition to in-kind contributions  staff time, email consulting, a website domain and other help  the committee has spent cash on printing, paying people to circulate petitions and compliance consulting.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, which hopes to get a pair of questions on the ballot this November, has also raised money from supporters this cycle.

The effort is an encore of an initiative the same group tried to get on the November 2020 ballot. Despite surpassing the required number of signatures, it was disqualified by the Nebraska Supreme Court for containing more than one subject.

This time around, after seeking advice from experts, the group hopes to avoid a similar fate. One initiative would focus on patient and caregiver protections, and the other on regulations.

As of the end of January, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana had received about $68,000 in cash and spent about $38,000, leaving it with a cash balance of about $30,000. It had also received more than $22,000 in in-kind donations.

About $13,000 of its cash came from individuals whove given $250 or less per calendar year. Several other individuals pitched in with donations above $250, including Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, whos co-sponsoring the petitions and gave $1,000.

The group received a $21,000 transfer from the previous campaigns committee and $25,000 from a company called Agmed, based in Elkhorn. The campaign's roughly $22,000 in in-kind contributions have come from the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., which offered staff time as well as legal research through Omaha law firm Fraser Stryker.

The Marijuana Policy Project also donated about $2,600 in cash.

No formal committee has registered in opposition to the medical cannabis ballot initiatives. However, campaign coordinator Crista Eggers pointed out theres certainly opposition, and third-party groups such as SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) Nebraska, which opposes legalization, have run ads.

Were a grassroots campaign, Eggers said. Our donors are people all over the state, all over the country who want to see a medical cannabis program started in this state, truly, to help people. Thats who our donors are.

Among its expenses, the committee has spent its cash on a texting program, postage and mailing, printing petitions and paying a coordinator and signature gatherers.

Representatives of the three committees in support of ballot questions all sounded positive about their chances of hitting their mark by the July 7 deadline, but none would share how many signatures theyve gathered so far.

Petitions for initiatives that would change state law have to collect valid signatures from 7% of registered voters. Theres a higher, 10% threshold for those that would change the state constitution.

Based on the most recent voter registration numbers, that would equate to roughly 87,000 signatures for the minimum wage and medical marijuana efforts and 124,000 for the voter ID effort.

Both types also have to get signatures from 5% of registered voters in 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties.

According to the Nebraska Secretary of States Office, there are 16 petitions in circulation now. Committees that support or oppose those causes only have to register and file financial reports if they receive or spend at least $5,000 in a calendar year.

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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.

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Fast and early.

Thats how Andy Caven describes the start of this years sandhill crane migration. Hes the director of conservation research at the Crane Trust in Wood River, Nebraska.

About 27,500 cranes were counted on the Crane Trust's first aerial survey on Feb. 14. The report also listed 23,200 dark geese, 73 trumpeter swans and seven bald eagles.

Thats one of the highest week one totals in the 20 years that the Crane Trust has been conducting surveys over an 82-mile stretch of the Central Platte River Valley from Chapman to Overton. The average for the first survey over the past 20 years is between 4,000 to 8,000 cranes.

We had a high number for this early in the year, Caven said. Warm droughty winters in their wintering grounds mean they come earlier. Thats been a trend. We keep getting these early migrations.

On average, the sandhill crane migration has advanced a day each year over the past few decades, per Crane Trust research published in the Western North American Naturalist. That doesnt sound like much for just a year, Caven said, but when you look at it long-term, that translates into almost a month earlier migration than in the past.

Sandhill cranes both arrive earlier and stay longer, he said. In more than 50% of the years in the past decade, a few hundred to several thousand cranes have spent the winter along the Platte River. That had occurred only a couple of times over the preceding 50 years per published records.

Crane numbers used to peak in early April, and now that comes most often in mid-March. A one-degree difference in winter temperatures and in drought conditions affects when the cranes migrate.

Over time with climate change, they are coming earlier, Caven said. Climate change and winter food availability. We increasingly get good numbers in February, which didnt used to happen.

The cranes that stop in central Nebraska overwinter from coastal Texas to southeast Arizona, south into Chihuahua, Mexico, and north into the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma.

The clear trend this year in those areas is drought, Caven said, which affects the birds food supply and wetland habitat availability. Its also been warmer.

In Nebraska, the birds are able to feast on waste grain and invertebrates in meadows before heading north to their breeding grounds throughout Canada, Alaska and even into Siberia.

Surveys are done for 10 weeks in the spring. Numbers often double by the second weekly aerial survey and can occasionally increase sharply in the third week depending on weather conditions.

About 1 million birds are in the Central Platte River Valley at the peak of migration and another 200,000 use the North Platte River Valley. Data suggests the population is growing overall.

The exact peak date has been highly variable across the last couple of decades, Caven said.

Its very weather dependent, and a cold snap could slow migration down and bring it back to normal, he said. Whether or not we sustain this quick migration pace will depend on weather conditions, not only in the CPRV but also in the southern Great Plains.

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RACINE  A Racine man has been accused of a stabbing and multiple assaults dating back to May. He was taken into custody Sunday.

Michael Lee Cunningham, 36, of the 1700 block of Center Street, was charged with a felony count of substantial battery, two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting an officer.

An initial court appearance via Zoom was set for Tuesday.

According to criminal complaints:

Violence in May

On May 30, an officer was sent to a Community Oriented Policing house to speak to a woman about an assault that happened the day before.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the woman who said that at 3 a.m. on May 29, she and her fiance were at the home of Cunningham and his girlfriend in the 1700 block of Center Street.

They were drinking and gambling and her fiance ended up winning all of the money, causing Cunningham to get upset. He told them they were not allowed to leave until he got his money back. When her fiance refused, Cunningham slapped her. He then armed himself with a glass beer bottle and told him What you gonna do? I slapped your (expletive)!

He then released his two dogs to bite them.

She received medical attention and showed the officer paperwork stating she suffered an abrasion to her right cornea and needed medication. She had a broken blood vessel in her left eye in addition to abrasions on her left knee and right elbow.

Man stabbed nine times

On June 13, officers were sent to an apartment in the 2400 block of 19th Street for a man that had been in a fight and was bleeding heavily from his head. There was a large amount of blood. Cunningham was considered a suspect.

Officers located the bleeding man in his apartment and saw there was a large amount of blood in the home.

is upper torso was covered in fresh blood and he had a towel wrapped around his head with blood soaking through. He initially did not want to be seen by rescue, but ultimately was transported for treatment.

He had nine stab wound injuries to his head, shoulder and left arm.

He had to get staples in his head to stop the bleeding. He said that Cunningham struck him over the head with a bottle, causing him to stumble backwards and fall into a glass cabinet.

Arrest

Cunningham was taken into custody Sunday.

He was reported to have been on the 1700 block of Center Street, and police were called because he was considered to be an unwanted party. Police found him inside a residence.

Officers said that, as they tried to arrest him, Cunningham pulled away and refused to comply with orders before being taken into custody.

Once inside a police wagon, he allegedly yelled at and swore at officers, who reported they could smell the odor of intoxicants on his (Cunninghams) breath.

According to a complaint filed Monday, Cunningham was transported to the hospital for medical clearance. While inside the hospital room, he become upset and would kick and stomp on the wheelchair foot pedals almost damaging them. Cunningham continued to cause a disturbance inside the hospital by yelling and kicking the foot pedals on the wheelchair. Cunningham also continued to swear at officers.
Kyle Rittenhouse says he is now fundraising for lawsuits against those who he claims mischaracterized him as a white supremacist and murderer  including members of the media, actress/comedian Whoopi Goldberg and President Joe Biden.

First Amendment experts say Rittenhouses chances of winning such lawsuits are a longshot, if that.

Announcement and reaction

Me and my team have decided to launch The Media Accountability Project as a tool to help fundraise and hold the media accountable for the lies they said and deal with them in court,Rittenhouse, 19, told Fox News Channel prime-time host Tucker Carlson on Monday evening. Were going to hold everybody who lied about me accountable  Were going to handle them in a courtroom.

According to its website, TMAP is a Nevada-based LLC and Contributions are not tax-deductable (sic).

That announcement came accompanied by a social media video that includes clips from various media reports connecting Rittenhouse to white supremacists. The video specifically called out Biden, who prior to being elected accused Donald Trump of having refused to disavow white supremacists in a video that included a photograph (taken by a Journal Times reporter) of Rittenhouse on Aug. 25, 2020, the night Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two of them, in Kenosha amid riots following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer.

I think his chances of success are close to zero, Erik Ugland, associate professor in the college of communication at Marquette University, said of Rittenhouse. I think the things published about him are reasonable interpretations of the observable facts.

Kevin Goldberg, a media attorney with 25 years of experience who now works for the Freedom Forum, a nonprofit that educates the public about the First Amendment, said: I would say he has very little, to no, shot at winning. I will not say zero percent, because I have learned in the law to never say zero percent.

Seven hurdles For an ordinary citizen to win a defamation lawsuit, they need to prove the defendant's statement was all seven of the following things: False

Defamatory

An assertion of fact

Was published

Was about the plaintiff themself

Was published with fault (i.e. with disregard for the truth)

Harmed the plaintiff Since Kyle Rittenhouse would be considered a public figure, he  like any other famous person  would have to prove an even higher level of fault, and must show that the false statement was published with "actual malice." Proving all of that, said Kevin Goldberg, a media attorney with 25 years of experience who now works for the Freedom Forum, is a "nearly insurmountable bar" to reach in court.

Rittenhouse winning any libel suit would be really, really hard, said Robert E. Drechsel, professor emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication.

Public figure

The fact that Rittenhouse is now famous and would be considered a public figure by the court creates some huge obstacles for him to win any kind of lawsuit, Dreschel said.

In libel lawsuits, a higher burden of proof must be achieved if the plaintiff is considered a public figure. Whereas the average person can win a libel suit if someone publishes something against him negligently  i.e., if the publisher was sloppy or careless with the information, Ugland said  Rittenhouse, who is now internationally recognized, must prove that the publisher of the inaccurate information acted with malice.

He took an action that put him into the public sphere, Kevin Goldberg said. Because of that, the bar to win a defamation lawsuit anywhere the country was taken even higher.

Because hes nationally known and has continued to place himself in the public eye, Rittenhouse is going to have to prove that the people (hes suing)  either knew they were saying something defamatory or untrue, or had serious doubts about it and went ahead and published it anyway, according to Dreschel.

That can be almost impossible to prove, Dreschel said, since it would rely on Rittenhouses team either:

1. Getting a defendant  whether they be a reporter or Whoopi Goldberg  to admit that they said or wrote something they knew to be untruthful, or

2. Gathering a really overwhelming package of circumstantial evidence to show they knew what was being published was incorrect.

White nationalist allegations

At the bar, Rittenhouse posed for photos holding up the OK hand gesture with members of the group. That hand gesture has been co-opted by white supremacists, since the gesture loosely forms the shapes of the letters W and P, referencing White Power. However, the hand gesture also has been co-opted by the Proud Boys themselves, a multiracial group while still being predominantly white.

Ugland said that Rittenhouse willingly associating with that group and holding up the symbol, even if he wasnt an avowed member and didnt strictly hold those views, means that it could be found those who referred to Rittenhouse as a white supremacist made a reasonable.

Libel is about dispute over false claims about someone that you assert as fact. But there is allowance, in the law, for people to express their opinions and give their own interpretations, Ugland said. Given that he has inserted himself into this racially charged news context and subsequently has put himself in the position of being associated with Proud Boys  even if he doesnt view himself as a racist  merely putting himself in that position invites a reasonable interpretation by other people that he embraces those viewpoints 

The perception that Rittenhouse is racist may be incorrect, but is not unreasonable, Ugland concluded. If somebody had published an article saying Kyle Rittenhouse is a member of a white supremacist organization, thats a statement of fact, and can be proven to be true or untrue. But if an article said he posed with the Proud Boys and flashed a white supremacist sign and is a white supremacist, that may be an incorrect conclusion, but its a reasonable one.

The keyword here, in a legal context, is reasonable. Ugland asserts that Rittenhouse holding up the OK symbol and associating with Proud Boys means that it is reasonable, and thus not libelous, for a blogger or politician or celebrity to call him a white supremacist even if the teenager wouldnt describe himself as such.

Those images of Rittenhouse at the bar were not allowed to be brought up at the homicide trial, Judge Bruce Schroeder ruled. But if Rittenhouse wants to sue those who called him a white supremacist, which he says is an inaccurate description, he will likely have to defend those photographs in court.

A murderer?

Legally speaking, Rittenhouse is not a murderer. He may have killed two people, but murder specifically refers to unlawful killing. A jury found that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense, and thus the homicides he was criminally charged with are not legally considered murders.

But, the courts would not expect the ordinary citizen, or an ordinary journalist for that matter, to be able to make distinction between technical points of law, Dreschel said.

And thus the people who Rittenhouse has called out for calling him a murderer  such as Whoopi Goldberg on ABCs The View and Cenk Uygur, founder of the progressive talk show The Young Turks, whom Rittenhouse called out by name Monday  are likely in the clear from a legal standpoint, Dreschel said.







Sandmann

Some recent lawsuits, like those Rittenhouse says he is planning, have been successful.

Carlson, Ugland and Kevin Goldberg alluded to Nick Sandmann, a Catholic school teenager from Kentucky who settled confidentially out of court  possibly for millions  with The Washington Post, CNN and NBC Universal, the parent company of MSNBC.

Sandmann sued multiple outlets after a January 2019 video went viral of him, while wearing a Make America Great Again cap on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, staring at and apparently smirking toward a Native American man singing and beating a drum. Sandmann, who was attending the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., asserted he was trying to diffuse a tense situation  in which a separate group, of Black Hebrew Israelites, was hurling racist insults and other taunts at a concurrent Indigenous Peoples Rally.

Ugland said that Sandmanns case is different than Rittenhouses.

With the Sandmann case, we were seeing little snippets of video telling a totally different story than what actually occurred. In this (Rittenhouse) case, its not like were missing crucial pieces of information, Ugland said. We can interpret that information in a variety of ways.

Added Kevin Goldberg: This is not a Nick Sandmann situation where a student from Covington, Kentucky, happened to walk into a situation  he (Rittenhouse) is making this a crusade, himself, to go after the media.

After Rittenhouse was found not guilty, Sandmann said he spoke with Rittenhouse on the phone, encouraging him to sue the media.







Not avoiding the public eye

Mondays appearance on Fox News, and subsequent interviews with other right-leaning outlets Tuesday, are the latest episode in Rittenhouse choosing to remain in the public eye after being acquitted. In the days following the not guilty verdict, Rittenhouse said in multiple interviews that he was to lay low and live a normal life.

As Ugland put it, Rittenhouses announcement could ultimately turn out to be a publicity stunt, or a way to generate attention and money and not turn into libel suits.

It could be an attempt to silence critics, Kevin Goldberg said. If a news outlet fears a lawsuit, it might not run a story.

Kevin Goldberg said such lawsuits could be considered SLAPP suits.

A SLAPP suit, or strategic lawsuit against public participation, as defined by the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, is a civil claim filed against an individual or an organization, arising out of that partys speech or communication to government about an issue of public concern. At the heart of the SLAPP suit is the petition clause of the First Amendment. A SLAPP suit may look like a civil lawsuit for defamation, nuisance, interference with contract, interference with economic advantage, or invasion of privacy, but its purpose is different ... Professors George W. Pring and Penelope Canan coined the term SLAPP suit in the 1980s after noting a surge in lawsuits filed to silence public criticism by citizens.

NFTs and social media Coinciding with his appearance on Tucker Carlsons program, a video was posted to Kyle Rittenhouses social media channels announcing The Media Accountability Project. The video, narrated by Rittenhouse, opens with a quote from Malcolm X: "The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power." As Rittenhouse says, and make the guilty innocent, the mugshot of Darrell Brooks  the Milwaukee man accused of killing six and injuring dozens more by driving through a Waukesha parade  is shown; no one in any legacy media company has aimed to portray Brooks as innocent. In an interview with Fox News, Brooks said he felt the media was portraying him as a "monster." Rittenhouse's video also showed a clip of the teenager with glowing red lasers for eyes, a trend that gained popularity in 2019 with supporters of Bitcoin (including members of Congress and Elon Musk) celebrating the digital currencys rising price; since, the glowing eyes image has become a sort-of meme without any real meaning. Rittenhouse, in social media posts, has indicated he is also considering launching an NFT (non-fungible token). An NFT is similar to a digital currency like Bitcoin, except instead of it being a virtual form of currency it is a virtual representation of something like a piece of art, a sports play or a viral video. Since digitally owning a work of art is that can be viewed freely by anyone with an internet connection is practically worthless, NFTs are frequently alleged to be Ponzi schemes even though some of them have sold for high prices. Former first lady Melania Trump has already sold multiple NFTs and some NFT artworks have sold for millions.

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MADISON  A challenge to long-term lease terms like that at the heart of a solar deal for the Town of Paris, immediately south of Union Grove, could have a major impact on that project and others in Wisconsin.

Opponents of a solar farm proposal in Dane County argue that utilities should not be allowed to buy the project because it depends on leases that may violate the Wisconsin Constitution.

Invenergy, the Chicago-based developer behind Paris Solar, is also seeking a permit to build a solar farm and storage facility on about 2,400 acres west of Cambridge, which three utilities, including We Energies and Madison Gas and Electric, want to purchase for $649 million.

The Town of Christiana and two residents who are against the project filed a motion Tuesday asking the Public Service Commission to dismiss the utilities application on the grounds that the leases are void under a little-known clause in the state Constitution that limits leases on agricultural land to 15 years.

According to the application, Invenergy secured land for the project with 25-year leases that can be extended for another 25 years. The opponents argue projects that depend on legally void leases cannot be in the interest of the ratepayers, or anyone else and should be stopped.

Paris Town Chairman John Holloway said the lease agreements reached with landowners here also have 25-year terms renewable for another 25 years at the discretion of Paris Solar.

Frank Joblonski, an attorney representing the Town of Christiana and the residents Roxann Engelstad and Edward Lovell, said given this is contrary to the state Constitution, it makes no sense for the PSC to approve solar facilities.

Constitutional wording

The language in question comes from Article 1, Section 14, which states in part, Leases and grants of agricultural land for a longer term than fifteen years in which rent or service of any kind shall be reserved, and all fines and like restraints upon alienation reserved in any grant of land, hereafter made, are declared to be void.

In support of their argument, the opponents submitted a one-page primer on agricultural lease law prepared by a UW-Extension professor who died in 2018 that says a lease of agricultural land for more than 15 years is void.

Jablonski said the provision was brought to his attention by people not happy with their communities being overrun by energy sprawl.

After researching it and confirming his reading with two other attorneys, Jablonski said hes confident the UW-Extension summary is accurate and that the leases for the project, known as the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center, are void, which he contends invalidates the application.

But there could be other legal interpretations of the 174-year-old document, and there are no court rulings to offer guidance.

UW-Madison law professor Heinz Klug said opponents may be misreading the clause, which was designed to prevent feudal tenure, a system of servitude, rather than restricting a landowners ability to lease out land.

Impact uncertain

Its unclear how a constitutional ban might affect other recently approved solar projects such as Paris Solar, which plans to break ground this spring.

The Paris solar farm is planned to be located on 5,350 acres of farmland about 1.5 miles west of I-94, bordering Highway KR on the north, Highway 45 on the west and partly adjacent to Highway 142 (Burlington Road) on the south.

Approximately 1,500 acres are slated to be developed to host the proposed solar facilities, including a large-scale battery storage facility for which Invenergy has requested approval from the Public Service Commission. The battery storage facility would add 110 megawatts, for a combined 310 megawatt system that could provide power even when the sun is not shining.

Iowa County project

Likewise, 25-year leases are also in place for the 300-megawatt Badger Hollow farm in Iowa County.

Spokespeople for MGE and We Energies, which jointly own Badger Hollow, said they were still reviewing the motion Wednesday. An Invenergy spokesperson had not responded to a request for comment.

Even if the developers and the utilities argue otherwise, there is just too much risk for ratepayers, Jablonski said. At this point, with the issue exposed, there may be too much risk for developers too.

Tuesdays motion marks the opponents second effort to derail the Koshkonong project, which has sparked fierce opposition from neighbors and the nearby Village of Cambridge, which wants to develop some of the farmland for future housing.

In November, the commission rejected a motion to dismiss the permit application on the grounds that Invenergy and the utilities were exploiting a legal loophole to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Thats because unregulated companies like Invenergy dont have to justify the need or cost of a project or show that it is the most cost-effective solution. Utilities like MGE, which pass on the costs to their ratepayers, are held to a higher standard.

Invenergy and the utilities insist the so-called site and acquire method, which has been used in eight of the 11 large-scale solar projects approved by the PSC, follows the letter of the law.

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RACINE  Poet Kelsey Harris wants to give black artists, black authors and black creators their flowers. Not roses, daisies, orchids or tulips, though. By flowers she means the recognition and praise that a lot of them have not received and are not getting.

Were so often marginalized in these worlds, she said. Its very important that we celebrate those who are putting in the work right now, celebrating people while theyre here, giving them their flowers. Supporting their work just so they can keep working, keep doing it, because poetry doesnt pay that well. A lot of them dont get the credit that they deserve. They have some amazing work, and it should be shared with everyone. It shouldnt take for them to be long gone for us to recognize their work.

Several studies have shown that people of color often face even greater challenges when trying to make ends meet as artists than their white counterparts.

A 2021 study in Dane County, as reported on by ToneMadison.com found that in the music ecosystem, the average income (was) $29,968 for white people, $13,485 for black people, and $12,715 for Asian people. In the Rest of the economy, the average income is shown as $50,943 for white people, $31,867 for black people, and $45,529 for Asian people.

Similarly, as The Washington Post reported in 2014, Nearly four out of every five people who make a living in the arts in this country are white, according to an analysis of 2012 Census Bureau data by BFAMFAPhD, a collective of artists dedicated to understanding the rising cost of artistry  The lack of diversity is, for instance, even more pronounced for those with art school degrees  more than 80 percent of people with undergraduate art school degrees are white, according to the analysis. And its most severe among art school graduates who go on to make it (or, at the very least, a living) in the art world  more than 83 percent of working artists with an art school degree are white.

As of 2020, 12.4% of Americans were black, 57.8% white, 18.7% Hispanic and 6% Asian.

Ongoing exposition

Harris was among those whose art received deserved recognition by an audience Saturday at an event that is part of the Wisconsin Black Art and Culture Expo hosted at Mahogany Gallery and Black Arts and Cultural Center, 1422 Washington Ave., in Uptown Racine.

The Wisconsin Black Art and Culture Expo is a two-month-long series, from February to March, of 10 events celebrating black creatives and their contributions to society, especially as Black History Month continues. Its focused not only on black artists and creatives from Wisconsin, but also from the Midwest and across the country.

Events a part of the expo have included panel discussions, jazz performances and an art show. Events still to come include a fashion show, a painting class and a conversation for black women.

More info To see the remaining events for the Wisconsin Black Art and Culture Expo, go to mahoganygallery.com/expo-events.

The event Saturday was called Power to the People! A Tribute to Black Poetry and was focused on literature, poetry and music. The works of Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Sister Souljah and other icons were recited by local poets and attendees.

The evening was hosted by Harris, who also read aloud some poems, and included a soundtrack by Nico Moore.

Harris highlighted some authors and told the audience to consider adding their work to their library. She said she was excited to introduce the audience to new poets, something shes wanted to do for a while, and hear others recite poetry.

Its important to expand these teachings and these celebrations outside of February. Three-sixty-five we should be doing this. We should be celebrating black artists, black poets, black creators, Harris said.

Among those in the approximate 20-person audience Saturday was Nick Demske, deputy director at the Racine Public Library and District 1 supervisor for the Racine County Board.

I dont get to do poetry stuff very often anymore, so this is really, really, really nice to read to you  Im very glad to be with you all, Demske said, addressing the attendees Saturday. He read two poems with animation.

Scott Terry, owner of the gallery, said that with the approximate 300 participants so far and another expected 100 participants by the end of the series, this expo may be the largest Black History Month celebration in Wisconsin.

We just figured this would be a fantastic way to celebrate Black History Month and do it in an epic way, Terry said.

He noted the expo is to showcase black talent and skill sets and help creatives connect with buyers of their work.

There are so many amazing black poets with boots on the ground, putting in the work right now, Harris said. We do a pretty good job of celebrating those who came before us, but tonight we celebrate those who are doing the work right now. Thats very important to me.

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The state Legislature approved more than a dozen education bills Tuesday that form a key plank of the Republican midterm election strategy: eliminating courses on racism and diversity, expanding private school vouchers and giving parents more control over their students education.

Republican lawmakers approval of the education-related bills Tuesday  which coincides with Public Schools Week, during which supporters emphasize the importance of public education  underscore conservatives ongoing contention that public schools, especially in cities, are inflexible and failing.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers would almost certainly veto most or all of the proposed bills, but legislative Republicans as well as statewide gubernatorial candidates are likely to hit back at Evers, saying he is perpetuating racist policies and stymying parental control of schools.

The bills

The wide-ranging bills the Assembly approved include a proposal by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, AB 884, that would specify that if any University of Wisconsin System institution requires a course in diversity or ethnic studies, students could instead complete a course on the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. That bill passed the Assembly 60-34 and Senate 21-12 along party lines.

The Assembly passed 60-34 along party lines another Republican bill, AB 963, that proposes a Parental Bill of Rights that would allow a parent or guardian to sue a school district or school official if they dont allow parents to:

Determine the names and pronouns used for the child while at school;

Review instructional materials and outlines used by the childs school;

Access any education-related information regarding the child;

Receive advance notice of any polls or surveys conducted in the childs classroom;

Request notice of when certain subjects will be taught or discussed;

Opt out of a class or instructional materials for reasons based on either religious or personal conviction.

The bill is now headed to the Senate.

A third bill the Assembly and Senate approved Tuesday, SB 409, would prohibit any instruction at UW campuses and technical colleges that promotes race or sex stereotyping. The bill, aimed at prohibiting instruction about systemic racism, known broadly as critical race theory, and systemic sexism instruction, would also prohibit training materials covering the same topics for UW System and technical college employees.

The bill passed the Senate 21-12 and Assembly 60-33 along party lines. Democrats criticized the measure as an attempt by Republicans to insert themselves into higher education curriculum and to limit confronting uncomfortable components of the past.

We see discrimination, we see hate happening every single day in this country. Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, said ahead of the Assembly vote. How do we stop that? In no small part, through education, through learning from our past.

Evers, a lifelong educator, has already vetoed a substantively similar critical race theory ban bill that applied to public schools, saying, Our kids deserve to learn in an atmosphere conducive to learning without being subjected to state legislative encroachment that is neither needed nor warranted.

Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, Tuesday offered a substitute amendment to the critical race theory ban bill that would instead require students to study Asian American history. That amendment was first worded in a bipartisan bill that hasnt gotten a hearing despite urgings by lawmakers on both sides. The Assembly voted to table the amendment.

The Assembly passed on a voice vote a bill, AB 966, that would dissolve the Milwaukee Public School System, which Republican lawmakers have long said is failing, replacing it with four to eight school districts. The bill is now headed to the Senate.

The divisive measure, which earned some Republican opposition at an executive hearing last week, comes as one bill proponent, the conservative IRG Action Fund, says the district is simply too big to succeed and too broken to be healed through half-measures.

Lawmakers in the Assembly approved a fifth bill, AB 970, that would vastly expand private school vouchers by eliminating the income limits in the statewide, Milwaukee County and Racine County private school voucher programs as well as create a temporary education expense reimbursement program for public school students. The bill, which a fiscal report stated could raise property taxes as much as $577 million, passed on a 59-34 vote, with Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay voting against it. The bill is now headed to the Senate.

In a statement, Kitchens said his stance against the bill came from his opposition to put a burden on our taxpayers and I dont want to do it at the expense of our public schools.

Other proposals the Assembly approved Tuesday would create a statewide Charter School Authorizing Board and allow the board to authorize independent charter schools (Republicans previously created such a board under the University of Wisconsin System), which passed on a voice vote; require certain schools to employ armed school resource officers, which passed 61-32, with Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska, voting in favor; authorize a parental opt-out from face covering requirements in school buildings, which passed 60-32 along party lines; and loosen requirements to become a substitute teacher, which passed on a voice vote.

The context

The statewide Republican plan follows nationwide conservative efforts to revamp public schools and redefine what is and isnt appropriate for students to learn in taxpayer-funded schools.

Education was the campaign centerpiece for Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who won on a platform urging the banning of critical race theory curricula in K-12 schools despite educators insisting that the college-level theory examining how policies and laws perpetuate systemic racism in the United States was not taught below the college level.

Opponents of critical race theory contend the theory itself is racist and seeks to address an issue that doesnt exist.

In his first few days as governor, Youngkin signed an executive order banning critical race theory from being taught in schools, which is similar to the measure Evers vetoed. The Virginia governor also signed an order stating parents must be allowed to decide whether their child wears a mask in school, similar to Vos bill that Evers is likely to veto.

While most if not all of the Wisconsins Republican measures will likely fail this session because of Evers veto pen, the bills could be ready for swift passage next session should a Republican gubernatorial candidate replace Evers.

In a statement, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said, Gov. Evers will continue to do whats best for our kids and supporting Republicans agenda to radicalize our classrooms isnt it.

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A bipartisan bill that would authorize nearly $42 million in borrowing to build a juvenile correctional facility to replace the state's embattled Lincoln Hills facility is unlikely to come before the GOP-led Assembly before the chamber adjourns in a matter of weeks, Speaker Robin Vos said Tuesday.

The Republican-led state Senate passed the legislation Tuesday, as well as a package of bills that would allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state elections commission when it's deemed not to have complied with state election laws, as well as measures to limit public benefits to force more unemployed people back into the workforce. The bills  which include more legislative oversight of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, as well as numerous proposals to restrict access to unemployment payments  underscore Republicans' focus on elections and the economy as the Nov. 8 midterm approaches.

Speaking to reporters before Tuesday's session, Vos, R-Rochester, expressed doubt that SB 520 will pass his chamber  citing a lack of details while also casting blame on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has supported longstanding plans to close Lincoln Hills. The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously and without debate hours later, would pave the way for a juvenile correctional facility near Milwaukee.

"Its very challenging for us to just say were going to pass a bill with a bunch of money without a site to have it actually go to, without the due diligence that happens, and that has to happen from the Evers administration," Vos said. "But not surprising to anybody thats watching, theyve dropped the ball so we have to wait and see what happens."

Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, has pledged to close Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls in northern Wisconsin, facilities that in the last decade have faced reports of child neglect, violent outbursts from inmates, use of pepper spray to cause bodily harm and intimidation of witnesses.

Evers included in his two budget proposals plans to create replacement sites for Lincoln Hills, but each was rejected by legislative Republicans.

"It is the height of hypocrisy for Republicans to blame anyone but themselves for failing to close Lincoln Hills after repeatedly rejecting Gov. Evers and our administrations efforts to do so  and that includes Speaker Vos, who is now once again singlehandedly obstructing bipartisan legislation on this very issue," Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in an email.

The bipartisan bill comes nearly four years after Republican then-Gov. Scott Walker signed a measure authorizing the state to shut Lincoln Hills by January 2021 and replace it with smaller, more regional facilities. Evers in 2019 signed into law a bill extending the closure date to July 2021, a deadline he later said was unrealistic.

Following the Senate's vote, Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, urged Vos to have the Assembly take up the bill, citing safety concerns among staff at Lincoln Hills.

"Every day that we delay action is a day my constituents are risking their lives," Felzkowski tweeted. "Do the right thing."

Elections

The Senate also voted on a package of election-related bills that would, among other things, allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state elections commission when it's deemed not to have complied with state election laws.

Republicans have touted the measures as an effort to clean up election processes in the state following a report last year from the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau that found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election but made several recommendations for improvements. President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump by close to 21,000 votes in the battleground state.

Republican scrutiny over the 2020 election continues to grow as part of a nationwide GOP effort to overhaul elections following baseless claims by some Republicans, including Trump, of widespread fraud in the presidential election.

Vos last year hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers, to review the 2020 election. Vos said on Tuesday the GOP-ordered review should be completed by the end of the month.

Gableman's review has failed to meet previous deadlines and the former justice filed another petition Friday seeking to once again jail the mayors of Madison and Green Bay  and now a list of city and election staff  if they dont comply with a lengthy list of demands.

Vos has criticized the legal challenges filed against several of Gableman's subpoenas, which he described as efforts by liberals to "obfuscate and obstruct."

We still have to litigate a lot of those situations to make sure the Legislature has the power to move forward and we shouldn't let somebody's own obstruction of justice be the reason that we don't get our investigation done," Vos said.

Among bills before the Senate, SB 214 would allow election officials to begin counting absentee ballots the day before election day, a measure local clerks have pushed for to help address the massive number of ballots that must be counted after polls close. The measure passed 20-13, with Sen. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, joining Democrats in opposition.

However, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said Tuesday that bill also is unlikely to come before the Assembly before the chamber adjourns.

SB 942 would give the GOP-led budget committee the ability to enforce staffing cuts or reduce agency funding at the state elections commission or departments of Transportation, Corrections and Health Services if the committee finds the departments failed to comply with election-related laws. The committee would have the ability to cut staff or reduce agency funding by up to $50,000 for each day of noncompliance. The bill passed 19-13, with Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, joining Democrats against the measure.

Other bills include:

SB 937 would limit who could claim "indefinitely confined" status. The bill passed with Sens. Stephen Nass, R-Whitewater, Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, and Julian Bradley, R-Franklin, joining Democrats in opposition.

SB 943 passed along party lines and would require the elections commission to submit to the Legislature's rules committee any guidance issued to elections officials. That would allow the committee to nullify that guidance.

SB 941 passed along party lines and would give the Joint Finance Committee final say over how the elections commission spends any federal funds allocated to the agency and require the bipartisan commission's lawyers to be partisan attorneys appointed by Republican and Democratic leaders.

SB 935 would prohibit special voting deputies from being barred from assisting nursing home residents with casting absentee ballots unless a public health emergency is in place or the facility is closed due to infectious disease. The bill passed 19-13, with Nass and Bradley joining Democrats in opposition.

SB 939 would bar election clerks from filling in any missing information on a voter's absentee ballot envelope and prohibit anyone other than a voter, immediate family member or guardian or designated individual to return an absentee ballot.

The Assembly could take up the measures later this week.

Evers is expected to veto most, if not all, of the bills. He has pledged to strike down any attempt to make voting harder in the state.

Unemployment bills

The Senate was also slated to vote on a package of bills that Republicans say are geared toward addressing the state's ongoing workforce shortage by restricting access to state unemployment benefits in order to force more people back into the labor pool.

The bills have cleared the Assembly, but appear likely to be vetoed by Evers, who has pushed for increased spending on training and recruitment, as well as efforts to reduce employment barriers some individuals face.

One of the bills, AB 937, would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the state's overall unemployment rate.

Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the state's unemployment rate. Claimants would only receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate were greater than 9%, while the number of weekly benefits would be reduced to as few as 14 weeks if the rate were at 3.5% or lower.

The bill passed 19-14, with Sens. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, and Nass joining Democrats against the measure.

Other bills before the Senate include:

AB 936 passed along party lines and would remove an individual's Medicaid eligibility if they knowingly fail to accept an offer for legal, paid employment or an increase in paid hours.

AB 934 would require the state Department of Health Services to determine a person's Medicaid eligibility every six months. The bill passed 20-13, with Sen. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, joining Democrats against the bill.

AB 935 also passed along party lines and would require DHS to enforce a federal work requirement, including drug screenings, for able-bodied adults without dependents in order to take part in the state's FoodShare program, which helps people with limited money buy food.

AB 939 passed along party lines and would require DWD to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimant's eligibility for benefits.

Constitutional amendments

While Republicans in the Senate and Assembly lack enough votes to override Evers' vetoes, conservatives have also proposed constitutional amendments that cannot be vetoed. Such an amendment would need to pass the Senate and Assembly in two successive sessions before being decided by voters in a general election, meaning the proposals could reach voters a year before the 2024 presidential election.

One of those, AJR 134/SJR 101, passed along party lines and would bar the state from receiving private funds to help administer elections.

AJR 107 passed 23-10, with Democratic Sens. Tim Carpenter and Brad Pfaff joining Republicans in support. The bill would change the state Constitution by requiring courts to consider alleged violent offenders charges, criminal record and risk to public safety, as well as the need to prevent the intimidation of witnesses, in determining bail amounts.

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Baltimore is using $90.4 million in federal funding to create emergency housing and other housing assistance programs, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Tuesday. The majority of the funds are drawn from the citys $641 million COVID-19 relief money and mark the largest dollar amount the city has spent on homeless services.

The Mayors Office of Homeless Services plans to use $75 million of the citys American Rescue Plan Act funds to change housing methods first used widely during the public health emergency, namely sheltering people temporarily in individual hotel rooms instead of congregate shelters where COVID-19 could easily spread.

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Irene Agustin, director of the Mayors Office of Homeless Services, proposed five projects that address critical points within [Baltimores] homelessness response system that would be financed by American Rescue Plan funds and a recent $15.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The federal funds will serve as a catalyst to transform the citys response to homelessness, Agustin said. That transformation will start with more shelters becoming private rooms, rather than group shelters.

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One project proposes buying and renovating two hotels into emergency housing for residents who need shelter immediately. The hotels would replace 275 beds located at several congregate shelters that will be closed. The same number of beds will be available in Baltimore but primarily in private rooms between the two hotels.

Non-congregate shelter is a best practice were seeing throughout the nation, said Agustin, referring to temporarily housing individuals in hotel rooms. We know this is an intervention thats going to work within the city of Baltimore.

Kyana Underwood, a spokeswoman for the Mayors Office of Homeless Services, said the office has not yet identified which hotels it will purchase. The city will solicit proposals from interested hotel owners soon.

Another project funded by the combined $90.4 million would focus on transitioning people quickly out of hotels rooms serving as emergency shelters and into more permanent housing. That transition would include city employees providing case management to individuals by guiding them through the rental assistance process.

About 2,200 Baltimore residents experienced homelessness daily in 2020, according to the most recent data available.

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The funding also will be used to speed up traditionally slow-moving processes in Baltimores homeless response system, such as the time period between submitting a rental application and waiting for a landlord to review it, Agustin said. New housing navigation strategies include using housing employees to communicate with landlords and help fill out forms for people searching for housing.

The homeless services office also plans to develop incentives for landlords to lease affordable units.

Agustin said her office has not finalized how it will attract private landlord partners, but pointed to a landlord incentive fund, for instance, through which the city would pay for property repair costs.

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The goal is to get more landlords to come to the table, Agustin said. So that we have a pool of properties and that we can connect people who are experiencing homelessness to, so that theyre able to move out of the shelter, off the street, and into housing.

Other project proposals include building or renting more housing units for people experiencing chronic homelessness and having the manpower to provide those people with support services, such as a dedicated case manager.

The office of homeless services plans to create a flexible fund for temporary support to prevent individuals from becoming homeless. The flexible fund would act as short-term rental assistance to cover a few months rent or a security deposit to keep a person in their home, and also could help individuals in shelters to quickly find a more permanent residence.

The reality is investments in housing, investments in rental assistance, theyve just been lacking for many, many years and decades, Agustin said. What the federal government and HUD have seen is that housing helps keep people safe. It helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Overall, for people, its the best place for them.
1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

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Days after six youth were arrested in connection with fights in the Towson Town Center, a county councilman and chamber of commerce director are stressing the incident is not commonplace.

Councilman David Marks, a Republican who represents Towson, told The Baltimore Sun incidents like this can create a bad perception of what its like to visit, when downtown Towson remains a safe place.

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We had not had incidents like this since before the pandemic, so this was really an aberration, Marks said. But unfortunately it was such a serious and widely transmitted event that its taken on a life of its own.

Baltimore County Police said officers made six arrests after responding to the mall around 7 p.m. Saturday, where there was a group of people fighting. A large crowd of young people eventually left the mall and caused some traffic jams.

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The six youth face charges for offenses including assault and disorderly conduct, according to police. Two officers and a mall security guard were injured.

We expect everyone, including our young people, to behave appropriately in our communities. I am working closely with the police department and Towson Town Center management to understand what happened there last night and to ensure it doesnt happen again.  County Executive Johnny Olszewski (@BaltCoExec) February 20, 2022

Police spokeswoman Joy Lepola-Stewart said Monday several hundred youths were present at the mall. She said police would not release surveillance footage publicly, as the agency is still reviewing it to identify anyone involved in criminal activity.

These individuals will be held accountable for their actions, she said.

The Baltimore County Police Department will have supplemental resources at Towson Town Center and other area malls to ensure the safety and security of mall patrons, Lepola-Stewart said.

Both Marks and the Towson Chamber of Commerces executive director, Nancy Hafford, praised law enforcements response and the malls escort policy, which requires youth under 18 years old to be with a parent or guardian after 5 p.m.

The police work closely with the mall and its security guards, Hafford added, saying law enforcement disbanded it as quickly as possible.

Its a shame that it happened, Hafford said, but everybody handled it exactly the way that they should have.

The malls policy requiring teens to have adult escorts on weekend nights, instituted in 2016, was a response to complaints about young people congregating at the mall. In 2015, a group of youth clashed with police, and politicians including Marks called for a curfew.

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There hasnt been a similar occurrence since December 2019, Hafford and Marks said, when five teenagers were arrested and accused of disturbing the peace and blocking traffic.

Lindsay Kahn, a spokeswoman for the malls landlord, Brookfield Properties, said this weekend that Saturdays incident was very unfortunate, calling it terrible behavior that we absolutely do not tolerate.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., too, said in a tweet that he expects everyone, including youth, to behave appropriately. He said he was working with police and mall management to ensure something similar doesnt happen again.

Hafford and Marks said they didnt know why the teens were gathered on Saturday evening, with Hafford saying it was like a flash mob of teens arriving by Lyft or Uber.

Marks said on Facebook the police had acted swiftly to contain the situation.
It can be hard for a student to share concerning information with school officials without classmates finding out who told.

That reality has inspired a growing number of school districts to turn to Safe2Help Nebraska, a reporting system created through a partnership between Boys Town National Hospital and the Nebraska Department of Education. It offers students, staff and community members a way to anonymously report concerning behavior around the clock.

Since it was made available last fall to every Nebraska school district that chooses to use it, the number of districts relying on Safe2Help has increased, as has the number of tips coming into the service.

Students often dont feel like they can share details about others who are struggling, especially in a smaller school district, said Jolene Palmer, the states school safety and security director.

The saying snitches get stitches holds true many times, she said.

Safe2Help Nebraska began as a pilot program in Douglas County in January 2020, but expanded statewide in September through LB322, introduced by Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg.

Palmer said anonymity is one of the hotlines greatest assets  school districts cant even find out who reports a tip.

No one sees (a student) walk out of a principals office after sharing information like this, Palmer said. The only way a student becomes known is if they choose to tell somebody.

Anyone can report behavior through Safe2Help online, by phone or mobile app. About 70% of reports come through the app or online.

Trained Boys Town crisis counselors receive the tip reports and immediately gather as much information as they can, said Diana Schmidt, Safe2Help manager.

A person can submit a tip report under more than 40 diverse event types, including assault, eating disorders, suicide and school threats.

Reports about suicide are the most common, followed by bullying and drugs. Schmidt said child-abuse tips have also been increasing.

The hotline has topped more than 1,000 total reports since January 2020, including 10 tip reports about planned school attacks.

Schmidt said that if the report includes a life safety emergency, counselors will collaborate with law enforcement to dispatch help to the person of concern.

School districts are also contacted with every tip report, no matter its content. If its an emergency, the district usually has a threat-assessment team made up of school officials who respond within minutes along with law enforcement.

Chad Denker, superintendent of David City Public Schools, said it was a simple process to create a threat-assessment team after the district decided last fall to start using Safe2Help. The team includes himself, an assistant high school principal, school counselors and a Butler County Sheriffs Office deputy.

The team has received about eight reports since the hotline was implemented before Thanksgiving. Denker said he was nervous at first that some students were going to submit prank reports, but every tip the district has received thus far warranted attention.

Schmidt said schools will notify Boys Town if they need help communicating with the student or coordinating outside services. Boys Towns team of nearly 20 crisis counselors  who rotate in shifts  are trained to assess a situation and determine next steps.

If we can secure safety without law enforcement, then that is a savings to the law enforcement resources, Schmidt said. If we have to send law enforcement for an active rescue, we will.

Schmidt said the majority of tip reports are students concerned about their friend. But teachers and community members have also used the hotline.

About 23% of Nebraskas school districts are enrolled so far, Schmidt said. The program is optional, and districts that have their own established hotline dont have to switch.

Lincoln Public Schools encourages staff, students and family to report any concerning behavior through a "Safe to Say" link on the district's website.

Bennington Public Schools has been using the hotline since it began as a pilot program. Superintendent Terry Haack said before the district got involved, it didnt have a way for people to report concerns anonymously.

The district has received 56 tip reports since the school year began. Haack said when the district first starting using Safe2Help at Bennington Middle School, some students called in curious about the program. But the hotline has received a steady flow of credible reports since its first month.

We didnt think as a small school we would need something like this, he said. I do think it has helped families and individuals from something that could be very harmful and sometimes fatal.

Safe2Help is currently in 17 states. Its costing Nebraska about $810,000 a year, Palmer said. The hotline is funded for three years, and the Nebraska Legislature will reassess LB322 for funding in 2024.

Since September, the number of tip reports to the hotline has increased each month, Schmidt said. In January, the hotlines call volume skyrocketed 94% over December.

Palmer said shes heard some Nebraska school administrators have apprehension about using Safe2Help because they think their districts could be labeled as a bad school if they receive too many reports.

Its a badge of honor for a school to have large numbers of reports (because) the school has done a phenomenal job of teaching students what to report, Palmer said.

Denker encouraged every Nebraska school to get involved, saying he was as skeptical as anyone, but now Im one of their biggest advocates.

Schools are reluctant to add one more thing to their plate, but this hasnt added anything to our workload, its actually alleviated it, Denker said. We thought, Why would we not become involved with this even if it prevented one tragedy?"
LINCOLN  State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil has announced he will seek reelection to the District 38 seat in the Nebraska Legislature.

Murmans district includes the counties of Clay, Franklin, Furnas, Harlan, Nuckolls, Red Willow, Webster, and the portion of Phelps County that includes the city of Holdrege and the Highway 183 corridor to the south.

Having spent nearly all of my life in District 38, and in listening to the residents of the district, I have a strong sense of what is really important to the people who live here. It would be an honor to continue to represent their interests, Murman said. Ill continue to fight to lower taxes, especially property taxes, work for fair funding of schools, support Christian and family values that our nation was founded upon, and defend our inalienable rights including the second amendment. Ill also continue to promote agriculture and economic development, and work to limit the size and scope of government.

In announcing his bid for reelection, Murman specifically pointed to the importance of his efforts to help lower property taxes.

With increased revenue in the last year our state is in a great position to lower taxes. As part of the Legislature, I supported the refundable income tax credit based on property taxes paid to schools. This years refundable income tax credit will be 25 percent of the property tax paid to schools. This is significant and amounts to $548 million in property tax relief. These tax relief dollars are a big target that many in the legislature would love to use to fund other projects. My priority is to protect that property tax relief that we have fought so hard to achieve, said Murman.

Murman currently serves on the Education Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee as well as the Committee on Committees.

As a member of the Education Committee Ive worked to promote and enhance parental involvement in educating our children. Parents are the ultimate authority on how and where their own children are educated, said Murman. In the Health and Human Services Committee, I will continue to target our limited resources to helping children, the disabled, elderly and our veterans. These limited resources must be spent wisely.

As a farmer and former dairy farmer the Murmans live on the family farm near Glenvil. Murman is a graduate of Sandy Creek High School in 1971 and graduated with high distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture.

Murman is a LEAD IX graduate and formerly served with the following organizations; Sandy Creek High School Board, President of the Nebraska State Dairy Association, President of the Nebraska Dairy Improvement Association, National Resolution Committee Dairy Farmers of America, Adams County Farm Bureau, Nebraska Farm Bureau State Legislative Policy Committee, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Glenvil Fire and Rescue, and is an active member of Hastings Evangelical Free Church.
Former Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee, is changing his party registration to Republican in order to vote for his former legislative colleague, Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, in the GOP gubernatorial primary election.

"I'm going to change parties and I will support Lindstrom," Krist said in a telephone conversation.

"We all have values," he said, and those values are sometimes measured by choosing among available options.

Gov. Pete Ricketts won his initial 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary race with 26% of the vote, Krist said, and that may point to an opening for Lindstrom in his primary contest with perceived GOP frontrunners Jim Pillen and Charles Herbster.

"If those two guys split the vote, there might be a path," Krist said.

Krist, who was appointed to a seat in the Legislature by former Republican Gov. Dave Heineman in 2009 and served 10 years, changed his party registration from Republican to Democratic when he challenged Ricketts' re-election as the Democratic nominee in 2018.

Meanwhile, in another political development, Dan Wik of Norfolk, the Democratic nominee for the 1st District House seat in 2016, said he will file as a candidate for western and central Nebraska's 3rd District congressional seat.

Candidates for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives do not need to live in the district they seek to represent, but Wik noted that he owns a house and has a medical practice in Grand Island in the 3rd District.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon
La Crosse Countys record for biggest methamphetamine bust didnt last long, according to local police.

Twenty-two-year-old Jimmy Castillo of Topeka, Kansas, was arrested Feb. 19 after police reportedly recovered 15 pounds of methamphetamine at an Onalaska hotel.

The amount reportedly seized eclipses the 11 pounds that were allegedly seized from three suspects in La Crosse Jan. 20. The previous record before that was two pounds.

Castillo was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court Monday with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $250,000 cash bond.

According to the criminal complaint, the La Crosse County Sheriffs Office received an anonymous tip that a Hispanic male in a vehicle with Kansas license plates would be transporting a large amount of methamphetamine to Holiday Inn & Suites in Onalaska. Police from four jurisdictions set up surveillance at the hotel. Several hours into the stakeout, a white Nissan with Kansas plates pulled into the parking lot. The driver, a Hispanic male later identified as Castillo, exited the vehicle carrying a backpack and entered the hotel.

The complaint says Castillo bypassed the lobby and went directly to a second floor room. He left the room a short time later and was arrested as he exited the hotel. Police searched the backpack and reportedly found methamphetamine divided among seven freezer bags. Police estimated the street value of the drugs at $250,000.

Castillo reportedly told police that it was his second trip to La Crosse and that he obtained the methamphetamine in Kansas City before driving to Onalaska. He said he was supposed to meet someone in La Crosse to deliver the backpack and get paid $3,000. He told police he didnt drop off the backpack at the hotel after the location of the meeting place was changed.

Assistant La Crosse County District Attorney Danielle Kranz requested the $250,000 cash bond. She acknowledged that Castillo has no significant criminal history but added that he has no ties to the area and described him as a flight risk.

Public defender Allison West asked for a high signature bond. She said Castillo has a steady job and is likely to show for his virtual court appearances.

Judge Scott Horne agreed with Kranz. He said the nature of the offense and his out-of-state residence justified a high cash bail.

Castillo has a preliminary hearing set for March 2.

La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net.

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A 34-year-old La Crosse man is being held in the La Crosse County Jail without bail after allegedly shooting at a La Crosse police officer early Tuesday morning.

Curtis W. Ross II was referred to the La Crosse County District Attorney for the following charges:

First-degree recklessly endangering safety

Felon in possession of a firearm

Possession of heroin with intent to deliver

Possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

Resisting an officer

Felony bail jumping

La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Scott Horne continued Ross bail hearing until Wednesday. He is being held on a federal warrant.

According to the La Crosse Police Department, police responded to a theft complaint around 1:30 a.m. and noticed Ross in the area. As police attempted to initiate contact, Ross allegedly turned around and fired one shot at an officer, who escaped injury.

With the assistance of the La Crosse County Sheriffs Office, UW-La Crosse police and Wisconsin State Patrol, police established a perimeter to keep Ross from leaving the area. A witness reported Ross hiding nearby, and police were able to take Ross into custody without further incident.

This incident highlights the dangers our officers face protecting and serving the La Crosse community, La Crosse police chief Shawn Kudron said. I am extremely grateful our officer was not injured, or worse, and that the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The La Crosse Police Department and the La Crosse community we serve have no tolerance for this reckless behavior, that puts officers and citizens in harms way.

Ross had four warrants for his arrest at the time of the shooting  two in La Crosse County, one in Milwaukee County and a federal warrant. He was arrested for similar drug charges in La Crosse County in Sept. 9, 2021. He was released on a signature bond the following day.

In December, Ross was charged in La Crosse County with several misdemeanors, including two counts of criminal damage to property. Police were unable to locate him, and a warrant for his arrest was issued Dec. 14.

La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net.

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Mayo Clinic Health System is moving forward with its plans to build a new six-floor hospital tower on its La Crosse campus.

Mayo in January brought a proposed hospital expansion before the citys commercial/multi-family design review committee, and following approval from the committee  and funding and internal approval secured from the Mayo enterprise  the project will move forward this spring.

This is an historic day for our community said Dr. Paul Mueller, regional vice president for Mayo southwest Wisconsin. Mayo Clinic Health System is a recognized leader in quality, safety and service. A new, state-of-the-art hospital will further enhance our ability to provide Mayo Clinic care to patients in this region and a great workplace for our staff.

Per Mayos Commercial Design Standard Application, the new building will be approximately 290,000 square feet, and Mueller during a press briefing Tuesday morning stated the $198 million building will be be connected to Mayos Center for Advanced Medicine and Surgery (CAMS) facility, constructed in the patient/visitor parking lot located between Walgreens and CAMS.

The facility, Mayo says, will replace the current hospital building and foster a culture of excellence and equip staff with the latest tools to Cure, Connect and Transform community health care.

Included will be a surgical and procedural floor adjacent to and integrated with the current operating rooms, housing pre-recovery and post-recovery rooms; endoscopy suites; cardiac catheterization labs and interventional radiology; medical-surgical units; ICU and Progressive Care Unit; and a new Family Birth Center. A shell space will allow for future growth.

Muller during the briefing expressed that new construction was a more economical option than renovating the current aging building, and the facility will improve efficiency with patient rooms in closer proximity to medical and procedural service departments. In reflection of the hospitals of the future, it will allow for expanded telehealth, digital health and artificial intelligence technology.

As telehealth and home hospital/home monitoring services become more popular, and technology limits the need for inpatient post surgical stays, there is a real shift in the delivery of care that will be reflected in the new building.

Karen Finneman Killinger, regional chair of facilities and support services for Mayo SWWI, says patient rooms, including the bathrooms, will be more spacious, and rooms will feature interactive smart boards displaying care team and care plan information.

Mueller notes the new building is part of a larger beautification plan for the La Crosse campus, and will feature green space and be more walkable. Enhancing the Washburn neighborhood by making the new building and grounds attractive and accessible was a priority.

Lisa Archer, CNO at Mayo, says the dedication and efforts of staff have been instrumental in helping Mayo reach the goal of updating and upgrading its campus, and says a new building generates excitement within the health system and will likely help attract new workers.

Michael Morrey, regional chair of administration for Mayo Clinic SWWI, notes, Our staff deserve a facility they can take pride in.

Groundbreaking on the building is anticipated in mid-April, with a projected completion date in 2024. No services or operations will be disrupted during construction, and the helipad will be temporarily relocated. Parking will be moved to alternate Mayo lots, and there is no plan at this time to construct an underground parking ramp.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in a statement Tuesday expressed excitement for the project, stating, It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome plans for Mayo Clinic Health Systems new hospital in La Crosse. This replacement to the current Mayo hospital will not only enhance health care delivery for our region, but will also generate energy for enhanced development opportunities in the neighborhoods surrounding the hospital and clinic.

I truly appreciate the work Mayo staff has put into engaging the neighborhood and other community stakeholders on this project and look forward to watching the construction progress on a new, state-of-the-art hospital facility in La Crosse.

In addition to construction on the La Crosse Campus, Mayo will be expanding and modernizing its hospital in Mankato, Minn., with a three-floor vertical expansion atop the Emergency Department, Cancer Center and Specialty Clinic foyer.

Combined, the projects total $353 million, which a Mayo spokesperson says is the largest capital investment in Mayo Clinic Health System history.

As part of our 2030 strategy, Mayo Clinic Health System will invest in forward-looking facilities and technologies that equip our staff to bring the best of Mayo Clinic care close to home for our patients and communities, says president of Mayo Clinic Health System Prathibha Varkey.

When completed, our hospitals in La Crosse and Mankato will utilize technology and efficient design to support our staff and enhance the healing environment, as well as provide convenience, safety and comfort for patients and visitors. These next-generation hospitals are part of our long-term vision to transform community care locally while also setting the standard for community health systems across the country.

Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.

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Local health officers would be unable to shut down churches or businesses in response to COVID-19 without elected officials approval under a Republican-authored proposal being circulated for co-sponsors.

While the measure would almost certainly be vetoed if it receives legislative approval, its intent in reining in local agency power is part of an ongoing, multi-pronged conservative effort to keep more power in the state Legislature and local elected boards.

That effort by Republicans in Wisconsin  spurred by business interests leery of government regulations, unwanted shutdowns and a general belief in small government  has led to state Supreme Court cases regarding COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and local health officers decision-making authority as well as similar legislative bills.

The latest measure, which is focused on local rather than state agencies, is an expanded version of a bill Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed in April 2021.

In his veto message for that bill, which only focused on places of worship, Evers said he objected to the measures intent to take away existing tools available to state and local public health officials to combat COVID-19.

Our response to this pandemic should be about following the science and public health experts, not finding ways to make it harder to fight it, Evers said. It should be about working together to save as many lives as we can.

But according to the proposed measures authors, public health officers have sometimes abused their authority.

Accountable democracy requires we have checks in place on the power of bureaucrats, and that elected officials who are answerable to the voters are involved and accountable, Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, and Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, wrote in their co-sponsorship memo.

Under the Republican lawmakers measure, a local health officer would need a local committees approval before asking the court to enforce an order to implement a closure or restriction on businesses.

Local health officers would also be barred under the bill from submitting the name of any individual for inclusion on the Transportation Security Administrations Do Not Board list.

Testin, Dittrich and Evers did not respond to requests for comment.

Other measures

While efforts to reduce public health officers authority through measures in the state Legislature are almost certainly doomed to fail under Evers, conservatives have had more success in Wisconsin courts.

A couple of months after the pandemic began, the Supreme Court struck down Evers stay-at-home order, after which Republicans indicated they wanted local authorities to make those decisions instead of new statewide regulations. But the latest measures seek to limit how that local control can be exercised.

Since December, the Supreme Court has also been examining the nondelegation doctrine, or the idea that elected legislative bodies cannot pass the buck on decision-making to non-elected agencies and bureaucrats in most cases.

In that court case, the alleged breach of the doctrine is a Dane County ordinance that made enforceable any order that the Dane County public health officer deemed necessary to control the pandemic.

If the Supreme Court agrees with the plaintiffs, city and county elected officials would have to vote on public health policy changes rather than delegate that power to health officials. On a statewide level, more power would rest with the Republican Legislature if the Supreme Court decides executive agencies have too much rule-making authority.

It is our position that the Legislature ought not delegate major or significant policy questions to the executive branch or administrative agencies, said Rick Esenberg, president and general counsel at the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which is representing the plaintiffs in the case.

On a local level, Esenberg said in a statement last month, local administrative officers should not be empowered to decide what the law on COVID restrictions should be.

But the disputed local orders are legal, a spokesperson for Public Health Madison and Dane County said in a statement.

We are confident that the Wisconsin Supreme Court will uphold the legality of our public health orders, spokesperson Morgan Finke said.

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With adjournment fast approaching, Republicans in the GOP-led Legislature are fast-tracking a slew of election-related bills that would, among other things, allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state elections commission when its deemed not to have complied with state election laws.

Gov. Tony Evers has pledged to veto any attempt to make voting more difficult. With the Democratic governor up for reelection this fall and Republican gubernatorial candidates already supporting new restrictions on how elections are run, the topic is expected to dominate campaign discussions leading up to the Nov. 8 midterm.

I will stop anything that makes it harder for eligible voters to vote, Evers tweeted Monday. Our democracy is on the line and I will protect it.

Republicans have touted the measures as an effort to clean up election processes in the state following a report last year from the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau that found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election but made several recommendations for improvements. President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump by close to 21,000 votes in the battleground state.

Even so, Republican scrutiny over the 2020 election continues to grow as part of a nationwide GOP effort to overhaul elections following baseless claims by some Republicans, including Trump, of widespread fraud in the presidential election.

This isnt just Republicans, this is Americans, Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger, said in an Assembly committee hearing where several of the bills were discussed Monday. This is an attempt to put confidence back into our electoral system.

Opponents have blasted the bills as an attempt by Republicans to appease Trump by putting up more barriers to voting, primarily among people of color and individuals with disabilities.

This is just shameful, Rep. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, said. This goes in the opposite direction, where were trying to make it harder to vote.

Among the bills before the Senate on Tuesday, SB 942 would give the GOP-led budget committee the ability to enforce staffing cuts or reduce agency funding at the state elections commission or departments of Transportation, Corrections and Health Services if the committee finds the departments failed to comply with election-related laws. The committee would have the ability to cut staff or reduce agency funding by up to $50,000 for each day of noncompliance, or leave staffing and funding levels untouched.

Other bills include:

SB 937, which would limit who could claim indefinitely confined status and SB 943

, which would require the elections commission to submit to the Legislatures rules committee any guidance issued to elections officials. That would allow the committee to nullify that guidance.

, which would give the Joint Finance Committee final say over how the elections commission spends any federal funds allocated to the agency and require the bipartisan commissions lawyers to be partisan attorneys appointed by Republican and Democratic leaders.

, which would prohibit special voting deputies from being barred from assisting nursing home residents with casting absentee ballots unless a public health emergency is in place or the facility is closed due to infectious disease  at which point personal care voting assistants must be trained to assist residents.

, which would bar election clerks from filling in any missing information on a voters absentee ballot envelope and prohibit anyone other than a voter, immediate family member or guardian or designated individual to return an absentee ballot.

The Assembly could take up the measures later this week.

While Republicans in the Senate and Assembly lack enough votes to override Evers vetoes, conservatives have also proposed constitutional amendments that cannot be vetoed. Such an amendment would need to pass the Senate and Assembly in two successive sessions before being decided by voters in a general election, meaning the proposals could reach voters a year before the 2024 presidential election.

One of those, AJR 134/SJR 101, would bar the state from receiving private funds to help administer elections. Another, SJR 32, would amend the state Constitutions provision allowing that Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district to state that Only a United States citizen could vote in that district. The measure is meant to head off initiatives in other states to allow noncitizens to vote in some local elections.

Republicans introduced the first constitutional amendment in response to private election grants provided to cities in 2020 by the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) that they say were used to unfairly increase turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine.

Court rulings have found nothing illegal about the more than $10 million in grants CTCL distributed to about 214 municipalities in 39 of Wisconsins 72 counties, including many in areas solidly won by Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them.

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Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot wants two banks to help an elderly Carroll County woman who lost $175,000 through check fraud. (Baltimore Sun staff)

I shook a tree and lots of bruised fruit fell out. My two recent columns about the failure of banks to protect an elderly womans retirement savings from fraud and theft  and not a small amount, but $175,000  prompted others similarly ripped off to contact me with their horror stories.

First, let me get the official outrage out of the way.

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Comptroller Peter Franchot told me what he told everyone at last Wednesdays Board of Public Works meeting  hes appalled that PNC Bank and JPMorgan Chase both missed opportunities to stop the theft from the checking account of 87-year-old Myrle Bratcher of Finksburg.

Someone apparently stole a signed blank check from Mrs. Bratcher, made it out to a Chinese technology company for home renovations and managed to get the money deposited in a Chase bank in New York City. The money was withdrawn a short time later.

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The loss, described by her attorney as substantial and tragic, forced Mrs. Bratcher to leave her residence in an assisted living center and move in with a relative in Reisterstown. Her family believes Mrs. Bratchers bank, PNC, is at fault because it failed to take simple precautions to deter the theft.

Franchot agrees. (Hes running for governor and tends to grandstand on issues, but combating elder fraud has been a cause of his for some years now.) I will be speaking with the  two major, multibillion-dollar, international banks that cashed this obviously fraudulent $175,000 check, he said. I hope these banks are responsive and do the right thing and reimburse [Mrs. Bratcher]. I think the banks can certainly find something in their insurance policies to fix this issue.

Franchot said banks should have security systems in place that detect suspicious activity. Hes amazed that neither Chase nor PNC appear to have hit a pause button when someone in New York presented a sketchy check from Maryland for $175,000.

I heard a similar complaint from a North Baltimore couple, who asked to remain anonymous, about the theft of $39,200 from their checking account last year.

In this case, the victims suspect that someone stole four mailed checks from the mailbox in their neighborhood and used the routing and account numbers to get a cashiers check from a branch of their bank, a national bank, in California. The thief used a bogus drivers license for identification. It all happened relatively quickly, the couple told me, and they were shocked the transaction did not raise red flags immediately with their bank.

Its hard to explain to someone that it hasnt happened to, but this was one of the most stressful things I have ever experienced, the wife told me. I have hundreds of hours invested in doing all the things you are supposed to do when you are a victim of identity theft.

While the bank eventually restored their money, the couple remains wary of the U.S. Postal Service. They wont use the street boxes again. Instead of a 58-cent stamp, they just spent $9 to have FedEx deliver a check to an address in Ohio.

Ive not been a victim so its not for me to call that an overreaction. However, if you want to mail a check or gift card and feel safer about it, walk it into a post office and slip it into a mail slot in the lobby.

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Its not a new problem. Thieves have been fishing envelopes out of mailboxes for several years, using string and shoelaces attached to adhesive pest traps to harvest bill payments and other financial documents. Its why the USPS retrofitted thousands of mailboxes with narrower slots.

Last week, in Montgomery County, police warned residents not to use street mailboxes in the Silver Spring and Bethesda areas after a news report about checks being stolen and used by crooks to get thousands of dollars from personal accounts.

I asked if mail theft had increased around Baltimore  it has just about everywhere else in the country  but the regional office of the USPS did not respond to my question.

Just last week, however, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Baltimore reported a criminal case of the worst kind for those of us who adore and trust the Postal Service and the carriers who work long, hard hours delivering mail to our homes.

A former letter carrier in Baltimore, 25-year-old Johnson Ogunlana, received a six-year federal prison sentence for stealing checks from the mail, opening phony bank accounts and depositing stolen checks into them. Ogunlana and his co-conspirators then withdrew the money from the accounts and bought stuff, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Their scheme also involved stolen credit and debit cards. It went on for nearly three years. Prosecutors say the schemers got $565,000 in stolen checks from two businesses. Ogunlana was ordered to pay $232,588 in restitution.

Stolen checks obviously cause big headaches, but, when it comes specifically to crimes against elderly parents, phone calls from con artists can lead to financial losses, too.

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Fraudsters were calling my parents and pretending to be bank employees asking about account numbers, George Crisan, a reader in Anne Arundel County, told me. They manufactured their own checks with my parents account number and routing number. Fortunately, the son caught the scheme while the losses were in the hundreds, not thousands. And the bank refunded their money. It was Riggs Bank, later acquired by PNC  Mrs. Bratchers bank.
Less than a year after the last Lancaster County Kmart went dark in Willow Street, a closeout retailer has announced plans to move into part of that shuttered store.

Sometime this summer Ocean State Job Lot says it will open in the Kendig Square spot where Kmart operated for nearly 30 years, occupying half of the roughly 88,000-square-foot space. The Rhode Island-based retailer, which plans to buy the store at 2600 Willow Street Pike, says it will look for a tenant to lease the other half.

The announcement of a new tenant for the former Willow Street Kmart will erase the last vestige of a retailer that had been a major part of Lancaster Countys retail scene for half a century. Known for its blue light specials, Kmart once operated six stores in the county but began closing them seven years ago.

Kmart opened its first county store in 1970 at Fruitville Pike and West Roseville Road in Manheim Township. The company had previously operated stores in Lancaster Shopping Center and downtown Lancaster under its prior name, S.S. Kresge. Kmarts local presence peaked in 1992 when it opened two new stores, giving it half a dozen in Lancaster County.

But fierce competition from other discounters as well as e-commerce merchants led to a bankruptcy filing and several rounds of store closings, beginning with the 2015 closure of the East Lampeter Township Kmart in East Towne Center and ending in April 2021 when the Willow Street store closed.

However, the spots Kmart once occupied in suburban shopping centers around the county have not remained idle for long. For example, the East Lampeter Township Kmart was mostly reoccupied within two months by Gabes, a York-based discount retailer.

Of the countys six former Kmarts, four have been reoccupied by new tenants. With Ocean State Job Lot planning to purchase the Willow Street store, that leaves the former Elizabethtown Kmart with no new tenants. However, the propertys leasing agent says it is in negotiations with two tenants that would take half the roughly 95,000-square-foot space.

Ocean State Job Lot will sell household goods, clothing, pet supplies and seasonal merchandise. The location will be the first Lancaster County store for Ocean State Job lot, which has 147 stores in the Northeast. The stores name is derived from Rhode Islands official nickname, The Ocean State, and Job Lot, which means a miscellaneous group of sale items.
One person was injured after a vehicle went off-road and crashed into a pole along an East Hempfield Township road Monday afternoon, according to a supervisor with Lancaster County-Wide Communications.

The vehicle crashed into a pole in the 900 block of Rohrerstown Road, just south of the Route 30 intersection, at 3 p.m., the supervisor said.

A dispatch report stated a woman inside the vehicle was unconscious.

The supervisor was unsure if the driver of the vehicle was transported to a hospital.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Rohrerstown Road was shut down between Oreville Road and Route 30.
An East Lampeter Township woman will get $15,001 from Lancaster citys insurer to settle a lawsuit in which she accused a police officer of pepper-spraying her and her son during a demonstration after George Floyds death.

The settlement comes more than a decade after a federal judge threw out a 2009 excessive force lawsuit brought by Lori Kreider against the city and police.

That case was dismissed after Kreiders ex-boyfriend, who she intended to call as a witness, said she threatened to kill him after he testified at a deposition that she didnt appear to be hurt, as she claimed, according to court documents.

In her June 2021 federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which was settled out of court earlier this month, Kreider claimed an unidentified officer wearing a mask approached her on May 30, 2020, as she was holding a sign with a picture of a Lancaster detective that stated, This is what police brutality looks like.

The detective on the sign, Kreider said Monday, was Roland Breault, the subject of her 2009 lawsuit. He retired in January 2020.

The officer inspected Kreiders sign for several seconds at the protest before spraying her and her son directly in the face near the police station, the lawsuit said. The boy was 10 at the time and was sitting on a curb eating a slice of pizza.

Kreider and her son suffered physical and psychological pain as well as financial losses, their suits claimed. She claimed her son had chemical burns on his neck and torso, but the suit didnt specify how severe.

The Feb. 7 settlements by Travelers Insurance with Kreider and her son arent an admission of wrongdoing, according to copies of the releases she signed. Her son is to receive $5,001, which is to be kept in an account until he turns 18.

Kreider, in a brief interview Monday afternoon at her house, said she felt she was targeted by the officer who sprayed her because of her sign with Breaults image on it, adding she and her son were not doing anything to warrant being sprayed.

The lawsuits werent about money, she said.

I just basically wanted to hold him accountable in some sort of way, she said. She said she has since learned the officers name, but does not know if he ever was disciplined.

Previous suit

In Kreiders previous lawsuit, she claimed Breault threw her down onto her mothers couch, pressed the back of her neck hard and yanked her right leg up behind her back when law enforcement arrested her ex-boyfriend at her mothers house in May 2007 on a state parole violation.

Though Breault was employed as a city police officer at the time, he was working on a detail for the U.S. Marshals Service. Kreiders suit against Breault was initially filed in Lancaster County Court but was transferred to federal court in July 2010.

Kreider claimed damage to her spine and nerve damage to her back and legs, which meant she had to deliver her child by cesarean section.

But the ex-boyfriend testified at a June 2012 deposition that as police were leading him downstairs to the first floor, he saw Breault lifting her by her arm to seat her upright on the couch and that she did not appear to be in pain, nor did she complain about being hurt when they were taken together in a police vehicle to the police station.

Shortly after the deposition, the ex-boyfriend contacted a defense attorney on the case and provided a recording of a phone call in which Kreider threatened him.

According to a court filing containing a transcript of the recording, the ex-boyfriend told Kreider to stop calling him.

She responded, Dont worry about me calling your phone OK, because  get this down, if I see you, Im going to kill you, OK?, the transcript said.

A federal judge dismissed Kreiders suit in 2013 as sanctions for the threat, according to court records.

Kreider pleaded guilty in 2010 to hindering apprehension in connection with her ex-boyfriends May 2007 arrest. She was sentenced to time served to 23 months. She spent eight days in jail.
When: Conoy Township supervisors meeting, Feb. 10.

What happened: Solicitor Matthew Creme gave an update on the Townsedge residential development, a plan the county approved in 2006 but that remains unfinished.

Background: In fall 2021, the developer, DDM Development Inc., expressed interest in finishing the project and has now completed required work on trees, sidewalks and roadways, Creme said.

Whats next: The township holds $112,000 as security on the work, but Creme said the developers obligations are substantially met, and lawyers will move forward with paperwork for the dedication of the streets. The developer still must address stormwater management, and the township will continue to hold the funds until the work is complete.

Governor Stable bridges: Bob Lynn of Hanover Engineering indicated engineers are in the process of securing a permit and working on structural plans for the Governor Stable Road bridge closest to Route 441. Chair Justin Risser said supervisors made a commitment to the public to have a plan in place by spring 2022 for the roads three bridges. Lynn said they will be close to meeting that goal.

Rezoning: Supervisors discussed whether to move forward with a hearing they planned to schedule in April regarding the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authoritys petition to rezone land from agricultural to industrial along Route 441 between Billmeyer Quarry and the roadway, north of the incinerator. Supervisors will decide about the hearing in March, as they are still waiting on recommendations from the township planning commission.

Pandemic relief funds: The board unanimously approved spending $350,000 in federal pandemic relief funds for the ultraviolet disinfectant project for the sewer system.

Salt Shaker building: Supervisors awarded a $2,100 bid to Paul Peterson to paint the interior of the Salt Shaker building, 2346 River Road (Route 441). The board voted to raise the buildings rental rates from $75 to $100 for residents and from $100 to $150 for nonresidents.

Blacksmith building: Risser requested written comments from the public regarding how the township should use the historic blacksmith building at 15 S. Second St. The township purchased the building in 2019. Residents can email the township at conoytownship@conoytownship.org.

Personnel: The board hasnt filled its township administrator position and relisted the position on Indeed.com. Supervisors also voted to advertise for a full-time office assistant. The office assistant is not a new position, but the township hasnt had someone full-time in that role since last spring, Risser said by phone Feb. 11.
Its been about two years since the first COVID-19 cases were identified in Pennsylvania, and although there is some optimism that the omicron variant will mark the end of the pandemic as we know it, our country has a lot of work to do to get back on its feet.

But the challenges of the past two years leave room for new opportunities. To echo Gov. Tom Wolf in his 2022 budget address earlier this month, Pennsylvania has days of opportunity ahead.

In the Feb. 8 address, Wolf highlighted the importance of supporting Pennsylvanians in pursuing careers theyre passionate about. Wolf has supported and continues to support job training programs and small business assistance, so that his constituents can find more than a job that pays  but a job that opens up new possibilities.

As the CEO of the International Franchise Association, I know that the local franchise businesses scattered across Pennsylvania do just that. With proven business models and wide-reaching support systems, local franchise businesses provide opportunities for bright, ambitious entrepreneurs to open their own businesses with a playbook for success already in their hands.

In fact, there are more than 26,000 local franchises across Pennsylvania, and collectively they employ more than 270,000 people.

Here in Lancaster County, your franchise neighbors include the businesses you see every day, like Fastsigns on Centerville Road and CertaPro Painters of Lancaster on Reading Road.

Nationwide there are more than 730,000 franchises that support 7.6 million jobs. These local businesses  the people who own them and the workers  stepped up during the pandemic in a way few other business models allowed. Franchises are leaders in the small business community raising wages to attract and retain workers and providing better benefits and higher wages.

Franchising also provides a path to local business ownership in communities that have been historically underrepresented. More than 25% of franchises are owned by people of color, compared to just 17% of independent businesses. And, on average, Black-owned franchises earn 2.2 times more profit than their independent counterparts.

The opportunities created by the franchise business model helps to uplift communities all across Pennsylvania. The essential workforce skills developed by franchise employees instills in them the confidence to pursue their own dreams.

It isnt uncommon to meet a franchise hotel, restaurant or retail owner and learn they got their start as a manager, a line cook or an assistant. The substantial assistance franchises deliver to business owners, including access to capital, training, managerial assistance, and supply chain savings, reduce traditional barriers to business ownership.

It doesnt matter whether you are from Lancaster or Erie, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh  a successful entrepreneur in franchising can be anyone from anywhere with the right support.

So as Wolf promises opportunity for Pennsylvanians, so does the International Franchise Association. We want him and the rest of Pennsylvania to hear the stories of their local franchise owners and workers. We want Pennsylvania to know that these local franchises are critical drivers of the workforce that do so much to support local communities  and we invite them to pursue their dreams and be open for opportunity in 2022.

Matt Haller is the CEO of the International Franchise Association.
THE ISSUE

LNP | LancasterOnlines Carter Walker reported last week that a Lebanon County judge sided primarily with Lancaster County on Thursday in his ruling in the case of a lawyer seeking payment for the legal bills of then-District Attorney Craig Stedman. The legal bills stemmed from a dispute between the county and Stedman  now a judge on the Court of Common Pleas  regarding his handling of Lancaster County Drug Task Force money. Philadelphia law firm Kleinbard LLC was seeking $74,139.06 from the county. Lebanon County Senior Judge Robert Eby, who was assigned to the case to avoid the conflict of interest posed had a Lancaster County judge presided, ruled Thursday that the county would have to pay only $5,000. Kleinbard partner Mark Seiberling said the firm would appeal.

This plea is probably futile, because lawyers are going to be lawyers, but we hope that Kleinbard refrains from appealing last weeks ruling about the fees it says its still owed by Lancaster County.

Or perhaps Craig Stedman could pay his own legal bill.

The former district attorney should not have assumed that the county  that is, county taxpayers  would agree to subsidize his injudicious lawsuit against the county commissioners.

And it shouldnt be left to taxpayers to foot the bill for Stedmans fit of pique.

Following is a recap of the events that got us to this point.

In early March 2019, LNP reported that then-DA Stedman used more than $20,000 in drug task force money to lease an SUV for himself outside of the countys normal procurement process. Stedman also reimbursed himself for miles driven in the vehicle ... though he paid some of the reimbursement back after he was notified that LNP requested records about the vehicle, Walker noted in his article Friday.

The county commissioners issued statements critical of Stedmans actions. The county human resources department also issued recommendations regarding personnel issues in the DAs office because of a separate matter related to the suspension of an assistant district attorney.

Stedman didnt merely bristle at what he viewed as inappropriate interference from the commissioners.

Following the commissioners statements, Stedman hired Kleinbard and sued in Commonwealth Court, claiming the commissioners were interfering with his constitutional authority to independently run his office and also that they were trying to improperly audit his use of drug forfeiture funds, Walker explained.

We believed that Stedmans lawsuit against the commissioners was strangely ill-judged for a person then on the path to becoming a county judge. But that wasnt his only perplexing move.

Shortly before taking his seat on the county bench, Stedman submitted an invoice to the county for the legal expenses he had incurred in pressing that lawsuit.

County Commissioner Josh Parsons was scathing  understandably so  in his response. So he improperly spent DAs office forfeiture account money on an SUV for himself, then when called on it filed a frivolous lawsuit to silence those who called him on it, and now to pay for the lawsuit he proposes to again improperly spend DA office account funds on something for which those funds were not intended, Parsons said in a January 2020 statement.

The commissioners had valid concerns about Stedmans use of civil forfeiture funds  those seized assets were meant to be spent on fighting drug crimes. The commissioners responded to Stedmans lawsuit by citing their First Amendment right to criticize his actions, and pointed out that they had taken no steps to block the DAs use of the drug forfeiture funds.

Heather Adams, who succeeded Stedman as county district attorney, wisely ended the lawsuit in January 2020.

We completely understand why the commissioners balked at paying Stedmans legal fees. They already had spent $100,000 of taxpayer money defending their position in the lawsuit.

As we wrote in January 2020, For Stedman to request that the county now use public funds to cover his legal fees is the very definition of adding insult to injury.

Stedman wanted the county controller to pay the Kleinbard bill out of the district attorney offices legal fund, as well as the accounts for the drug and alcohol diversionary programs and bad check restitution fund. The latter two accounts are funded by fees paid by participants of the programs and are generally used to purchase miscellaneous law enforcement equipment, office supplies, support nonprofits and fund drug investigations, Walker explained at the time.

The commissioners had set aside $5,000 for the district attorney offices legal fees. The funds in those other accounts arent intended to pay for unnecessary lawsuits. If those accounts are tapped, it seems likely that any expenses they wont be able to cover will end up being paid for with county  again, taxpayer  money. Which is why we feel compelled to defend the taxpayers stake in this dispute.

As we wrote in January 2020, we dont blame Seiberling or his law firm for wanting to be paid. This mess is the fault of the former district attorney turned judge and his legal vanity project. The county shouldnt have to pay for his temper tantrum.

Now that hes a judge, we wonder how Stedman would rule if a similar matter landed in his courtroom.

We hope hed rule as the Lebanon County judge did. We have two additional hopes: that last weeks ruling was the end of this sorry saga. And that we never see anything like this saga repeated in Lancaster County.
Silly me! I have just learned that requiring identification to vote is apparently a means to prevent one from voting.

The Jan. 25 letter Voters should provide ID, from the writer who pointed out that many of the things we already do require an ID, was right-on.

As far as I can tell, the only people who are prevented from voting by requiring said ID are dead ones or those who are here illegally. It has also been pointed out to me that the United States is an outlier among the democracies of the world when it comes to requiring voter ID. Not only does Mexico require a voter ID, but also a fingerprint made with indelible ink.

I, for one, do not ever want a repeat of the last presidential election. Or the aftermath of another Jan. 6, 2021, on which there has been a ton of taxpayer money spent and from which the powers that be seem unable to move on. Has anyone noticed our national debt?

Nancy Pharoah

Manheim Township
Following the death of three Baltimore firefighters this year in the collapse of a vacant home, a Baltimore City Council member has proposed a bill creating restrictions on when firefighters can enter vacant buildings and requiring firefighters to wear body cameras.

The bill, introduced Tuesday evening by Councilwoman Danielle McCray, would bar city firefighters from entering vacant buildings if 25% or more of the structure has been consumed by fire. Additionally, firefighters could only enter a vacant building if the department confirmed an occupant was inside and structural and hazardous conditions permit a safe entry.

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Firefighters would be barred from entering a collapsed structure unless someones life was in immediate danger, according to the proposed legislation. The bill also requires firefighters to be equipped with a recording device that collects audio and video to be used only at the scene of fires.

The proposal comes in the wake of last months deadly fire in the New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood, which claimed the lives of fire Lts. Paul Butrim and Kelsey Sadler and paramedic/firefighter Kenny Lacayo. The trio were trapped in a vacant home at 205 S. Stricker St. when it collapsed, also seriously injuring a fourth firefighter. The blaze in Southwest Baltimore is one of the deadliest for firefighters in the citys history.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 42 Baltimore City firefighters salute as an ambulance carries the body of Lt. Paul Butrim from the scene of a vacant row house fire on S. Stricker Street. Four firefighters were trapped in a collapse while fighting the fire Monday morning. Three have died and a fourth is in critical condition. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

During Tuesdays City Council meeting, McCray applauded the firefighters for their bravery and said their deaths have brought pain and grief not just to their families but also to the residents of Baltimore.

Although we cannot bring back those we have lost, as a council we are in a position to abate the great consequences of future eras, McCray said. And we can see to it that safety measures and equipment are in place to ensure Baltimore City does not incur such great loss again on our watch.

McCray said her legislation was based on best practices from both the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The proposal does not, however, have the immediate blessing of city firefighters.

Rich Langford, president of the Baltimore Firefighters Local 734, said neither he nor leadership from the citys other fire union was consulted on the legislation.

Langford strongly objected to idea of body cameras on firefighters, arguing they regularly handle medical calls where sensitive information is shared.

We go into a house with a camera, people will no longer trust us with whats going on, he said.

Langford, whose union represents the departments rank-and-file members, said he also has concerns about City Council legislating policy for the department.

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McCrays proposal also states that department personnel cannot exceed 15 mph over the speed limit on their way to an emergency.

I think thats an internal operational issue the department should be looking to address and not the City Council, Langford said.

Blair Adams, spokeswoman for the fire department, said Fire Chief Niles Ford was not consulted on the legislation in advance.

We do however look forward to a robust conversation with the Council, she said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Two firefighters hug in front of Truck 14, who lost two members in the collapse. A viewing is held for firefighters Lt Kelsey Sadler, and firefighter/paramedic Kenneth Lacayo at Duda-Ruck Funeral Home in Dundalk. They died while fighting a vacant row house fire. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. >

In the aftermath of the Stricker Street fire, questions have been raised about whether the firefighters should have entered the building, which was also the site of a 2015 fire that injured three firefighters.

On the day of the fire, Ford cited an occupied home next to the Stricker Street property as a potential reason for the firefighters going inside. Battalion Chief Josh Fannon, president of the Baltimore Fire Officers Association, later said first responders were told there may be a person trapped inside the dwelling.

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Mayor Brandon Scott has ordered a citywide review of Baltimores operations related to vacant properties following the deadly fire. During an announcement of that review, Ford said the city has a computer system onboard emergency vehicles to provide details about the condition of a property before firefighters enter.

Within that program, certain structures are marked unsafe, Ford said. Asked whether the system has been updated regularly, Ford replied: It should be.

Were trying to evaluate how recently its been updated, he said at the time.

The citywide review is due to be completed by the end of this month.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the Stricker Street fire and has not yet determined a cause. Investigators are seeking a person of interest related to the blaze, and a $100,000 reward has been offered for information about the person.
Benton County officials have given the green light to an Alsea resident to collect signatures which could place the recall of two Alsea school board members on the ballot.

Max Hildebrand filed the paperwork with the county after voicing his dissatisfaction at the latest school board meeting, on Feb. 10, when he continued to feel unheard and misrepresented by the current administration, he said.

He is specifically targeting school board Chair Ron Koetz and Vice Chair Jeff Davis. On Friday, he was told he could start circulating his petition and gathering signatures.

This is something I thought long and hard on and decided that something needed to change with our school board, Hildebrand said in an interview with Mid-Valley Media. They represent Alsea, and they represent the community.

By making indoor masking optional in January, going against statewide guidelines set forth by the Oregon Health Authority, the district also acted contrary to its own policy, Hildebrand said. That policy states: The district will follow the rules and regulations of both the state and local health authorities, pertaining to communicable diseases.

In the petition, Hildebrand also states the board members have a duty to keep lines of communication open with the community and have ignored concerns raised by district employees and the public.

It is Jeff (Davis)s failed leadership as ASB Vice-Chairman that has led to the current crisis of levied fines, violations of law, civil liability and withholding of federal funds at Alsea school, he wrote in the petition. The same language is used in regard to Koetz.

After the district announced that it would return "local control" to the school board and ditch mandatory masking  a move only the state can make  officials at the state Department of Education said it would withhold federal funds designed to help school districts navigate the pandemic.

To get the recall before voters in May, Hildebrand must collect 76 signatures of registered voters living in the Alsea district. Alternatively, the board members may step down of their own volition within 10 days of the county receiving the petition.

On Saturday morning, Hildebrand began gathering signatures outside of the John Boys Mercantile store in Alsea, answering questions of prospective signees and reaching out to people who he knows feel the same way about the board members.

A recall committee of six community members has been working on getting enough signatures to send the petition back to the county. Their goal is to get to 100.

George Foster, a member of the recall committee and a former Alsea school board member, said he has met many people who want to sign the petition but are reluctant in fear that family members who work in the district could face retaliation.

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Last week, three employees made public their formal complaints about Superintendent Marc Thielman and the school board creating a hostile environment that makes them anxious to speak their minds. Koetz is heading the investigation into the claims.

Theres a lot of threatening behavior, Foster said. The superintendent, board chair and vice chair are too closely aligned. Its time to hit the reset button.

The school board called a closed special session meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, followed by a public comment session. It is unclear what the topic of the special session is.

Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_.

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Things to do between Feb. 22 and Feb. 25 in the mid-Willamette Valley
LEXINGTON  Most of Nebraska is under moderate drought conditions as the lack of moisture is starting to cause a rise in fires and burn bans are going into effect.

According to the United States Drought Monitor, Dawson and Gosper counties are under D1, moderate drought conditions, an increase from D0, abnormally dry conditions just two week ago.

Much of the state saw an upgrade in their drought conditions, two weeks only 38 percent was in D1 conditions, this increased to 74 percent last week. The Drought Monitor releases updates on Thursdays.

Under D1 conditions, pasture and crop growth are stunted and surface water levels decline.

Nebraska and Kansas saw a broad expansion of moderate drought (D1) and abnormal dryness (D0). Here, 30-to-90-day precipitation totals rank in the top five driest on record. Fires on the rise in these areas and burn bans are going into effect, the Drought Monitor stated.

Indeed, the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department called for no open burning in their district until the area has received more moisture. Recent large wildfires in Custer County and Dawson County have stretched manpower and equipment.

The National Weather Service  Hastings is eyeing more chances for near-critical fire weather conditions in the coming week. To state the obvious, until we get a decent precipitation event within the county warning area (CWA), above average fire danger, especially by February standards will continue to plague us, a NWS forecast discussion stated.
Sen. Ben Sasse on Tuesday described President Joe Biden's sanctions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine as "too little, too late."

"These sanctions should have happened before (Russian President Vladimir) Putin further invaded Ukraine -- not after," the Republican senator said.

"Second, economic sanctions now need to more aggressively target Putin's oligarchs to make sure they feel real pain," he said.

"Third, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that today's incremental sanctions will deter Putin from trying to install a puppet government in Kyiv."

The United States should supply Ukraine with more weapons, Sasse said, and "arm the Ukrainian people to the teeth."

Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said "late-game sanctions after a failed (Vice President) Kamala Harris visit to Germany are not going to stop this determined aggressor."

Fortenberry suggested immediate return to American energy independence, an end to European dependence on Russian natural gas, re-establishment of Europe's burden-sharing with NATO and "arms for and support of reform within Ukraine" as actions that would make a difference.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon
A judge on Tuesday deferred ruling on whether to keep alive a challenge by Republican lawmakers to Marylands plan for redrawing the states congressional district boundary lines.

Judge Lynne A. Battaglia, a retired state appeals court judge assigned to the case, had said last week that she would issue a decision by Tuesday after hearing arguments from attorneys for two groups of Republicans, as well as lawyers for Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat defending the state in the case.

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But Battaglia told attorneys in an email on Tuesday that she would not rule until after convening a hearing Wednesday on the challenge by one of the groups. That group includes Del. Neil Parrott, a Washington County Republican who was among the organizers of last Decembers lawsuit.

Both GOP groups contend the map was unfairly drawn to favor Democrats and doesnt abide by Maryland constitutional guidelines.

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Democratic leaders maintained during the General Assemblys debate last year that the new map is fair.

The state has moved to dismiss both challenges, saying the maps dont violate state constitutional provisions.

If Battaglia allows the challenge to go forward, the judge said she hopes to hold a trial in mid-March and issue a final ruling before that months end.

The primary is June 28, and the state has said it is concerned that its time to prepare for the balloting may be shortened.
Land will need to be rezoned and creative thinking will be required for Santa Barbara County to meet its state-mandated housing allocation in unincorporated areas, according to Planning and Development Department staff.
Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley libraries are requesting input from members of the community on new book titles to be purchased as an increased book budget is anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1.
Wisconsin experienced one of the steepest drops in the nation in its unionized workforce over the last two decades, according to a new report.

In 2000, 17.8% of all employed Wisconsinites were members of a union  the 10th-largest concentration in the country, according to the report, released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. But last year, that percentage fell to 7.9%, putting Wisconsin below the national average of 10.3%.

The 55.6% decline in the rate of union membership in Wisconsin over the same time period ranked second-highest in the country, behind only South Carolina (whose overall membership was lowest nationwide in both 2000 and 2021), the report states. The report attributes the decline to a combination of legislation like Act 10, former Gov. Scott Walkers 2011 measure that gutted public sector unions, and broader national trends.

Among conservatives, the trend is widely seen as a win for taxpayers and economic growth, the report said. To liberals, it is viewed as a blow to workers and income equality.

Meanwhile, a tight labor market could influence how the numbers look in the next few years to decades, said Forum senior research associate and report author Ari Brown.

In what some experts call the Great Resignation and even the Great Renegotiation  brought on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic  workers across industries, some through unionization efforts locally and around the state, are not only pushing for higher wages but better workplace cultures, job conditions and benefits. Thats as businesses scramble for solutions to both attract and retain talent.

At the Middleton video game developer Raven Software, owned by California-based parent company Activision Blizzard, a group of just over 30 quality assurance contractors last month formed the aspiring Game Workers Alliance union.

The alliance and Activision Blizzard continue to participate in hearings facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board that will determine whether an election can be held to formally recognize the union. The hearings started Feb. 16. Quality assurance testers play video games to check for glitches.

The unionization efforts come after Activision faced complaints about workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. Raven Software workers themselves had qualms about low wages, excessive overtime and unexpected layoffs.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, drafted a letter Tuesday to Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick urging the management at Raven Software to negotiate in good faith with the workers, and suspend any efforts to undermine your employees legal right to form a union and collectively bargain.

Workers at hundreds of Starbucks locations across the U.S. have also announced their intent to unionize within the last few weeks, including stores in Plover and Oak Creek. The workers are seeking to bargain for higher wages and better benefits, among other things, according to a statement Monday from the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.

At the same time, large employers like Madison-based American Family Insurance have raised their wages within the past few weeks  from $20-$23 an hour.

Brown said hes not surprised by the trends mentioned in the Forum report, which uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Thats partly because of whats happened to the states manufacturing and construction industries, which used to make up many of the states private sector unions. If jobs in that field werent outsourced to another state or country, they were replaced by automation, he said.

Act 10 impact

Wisconsin, the birthplace of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), became the first state to allow public sector unions to negotiate contracts in 1959.

The decline in union membership has happened over decades, but was more pronounced after most state and local workers lost collective bargaining rights in 2011.

Act 10 also required most public employees to contribute more for their pension and health care benefits, limiting costs for local governments and helping to offset the impacts of cuts to state aid to local school districts and schools that were used to help bridge a $3 billion budget gap, according to the report.

The law also required public employee unions to recertify every year by garnering the votes of at least 51% of all members of their bargaining unit, even if those members did not vote, and restricted bargaining to a limited range of wage increases, meaning that unions could no longer officially negotiate working conditions, benefits and work rules.

States across the nation followed suit with similar policies, but in a less expansive way, said Brown, adding that the same scenario happened in 2015, when Wisconsin officials passed legislation that prohibited private employers and unions from reaching contracts that required workers to pay union dues  money that covers a unions operational costs.

Though the effect of policies impacting organized labor such as Act 10 are still being debated, they likely have a connection to the decline in Wisconsins tax burden compared to most states as well as a drop in its national ranking on spending per student by K-12 schools, the report states.

Jobs disappear

The Forum report includes data from the federal Current Population Survey, a monthly survey of households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau regarding employment. CPS data regarding state-level union membership goes back to 1983.

That year, around 2 million people were employed in Wisconsin, with around 465,600 belonging to a union. And one in five private sector employees were union members, with manufacturing and construction driving those numbers.

Since that time, manufacturing and construction jobs have begun to disappear in the state, the report said. In 1983, 31.5% of the total Wisconsin workforce was employed in private manufacturing and construction; by 2020, that had dropped to 24.2%.

Union membership in both industries has eroded, the report found. Construction union membership dropped from 42.4% in 1983 to 20.3% in 2020.

The decline in manufacturing has been more stark: In 1983, 197,032 (36.0%) private manufacturing employees in Wisconsin were union members, compared to just 65,571 (12.8%) in 2020, the report states.

The drop in public sector union membership has been more recent, according to the report.

The peak year for total public union membership and concentration in Wisconsin was 1999, with 214,994 (57.9%) public employees participating in a union. From 1984 to 2011, that percentage point stayed between 45% and 60%.

Since that time, however, union concentration has dropped significantly, and by 2020, just 22.1% of Wisconsins public employees were union members, the report states. Since 2011, Wisconsins public sector unions have lost about 11,500 members per year.

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A 23-year-old Monroe man pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child for separate incidents involving two 12-year-old girls in 2020 and 2021.

Jacan L. Flores faces up to 60 years of combined prison and extended supervision for each of the convictions, one of which happened at a Dane County park, the other when he walked into the apartment of the girls family and improperly touched her, according to criminal complaints.

A plea agreement between Deputy District Attorney William Brown and Flores and his attorney, Peter Moyers, does not contain a limit on the sentence that Brown can seek from Circuit Judge Mario White.

As part of the plea agreement, one count of child enticement and two counts of bail jumping were dismissed.

A sentencing date will be set later, and in the meantime, the state Department of Corrections will conduct a presentence investigation.

Flores, formerly of Oregon, was charged in January 2021 with luring one of the girls out of her home and to Fish Camp County Park in the town of Dunn where, the girl told police, he got grabby with her and touched her inappropriately, according to one of the criminal complaints.

She told police she and Flores had been communicating on Snapchat for a week or two and he asked to meet her even after learning she was 12. Flores and the girl were found at the park by a Dane County sheriffs deputy on routine patrol, the complaint states.

Then in April 2021, another girl told police that in October 2020, a few months before the Fish Camp incident, Flores had entered her familys apartment, got into her bed and touched her inappropriately, according to a second criminal complaint. They had also communicated by Snapchat, and in one of the messages Flores told her she was the love of my life, the complaint states. He later told police he was just being funny.

After his arrest for the Fish Camp incident, the girl told police, Flores continued to contact her, and members of the girls family told police Flores was always trying to hang around their apartment, the complaint states.

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